bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Type-Specific Human Papillomavirus Prevalence in Iranian Women with Normal Cervical Cytology: The Impact of Current HPV Vaccines
Authors: Hamkar Rasool , Shoja Zabihollah , Ghavami Nastaran , Heydari Nasrin , Farahmand Mohammad , Jalilvand Somayeh
Published: January 2018

Objective: Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination is currently not included in the national vaccination program in Iran. Regional data on the distribution of HPV types in women are important as they can predict the impact of currently available vaccines and help health policy makers to consider all the possibilities with regard to HPV vaccination. Methods: A total of 1,218 Iranian women with normal cervical cytology were included in this study. The presence of the HPV genome was investigated in all specimens by PCR assay, and all HPV-positive samples were genotyped. Results: Totally, HPV was detected in 88 samples (7.2%). According to different geographical regions, the HPV prevalence varied: the highest HPV prevalence was observed in the North (11.7%) and the lowest in the Center (4.5%) of Iran, and this difference reached a statistically significant level (p < 0.05). In this study, the most frequent HPV types were HPV 16, 18, 66, and 11, representing 63.8% of all HPV infections. Conclusion: Based on this study, it is estimated that HPV vaccines could have a great impact on the prevention of cervical cancer in Iran. This study highlights the necessity of introducing educational programs in high schools, robust screening programs, and vaccination in Iran.
Body Mass Index Change and Hospitalization Risk in Elderly Hemodialysis Patients: Results from Japanese Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study
Authors: Sumida Keiichi , Yamamoto Shungo , Akizawa Tadao , Fukuhara Shunichi , Fukuma Shingo
Published: January 2018

Background: Short-term weight gains and losses are associated with a lower and higher mortality risk, respectively, in patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD). However, little is known about their association with the risk of subsequent hospitalization. Methods: In a prospective cohort of 1,804 HD patients aged ≥65 years enrolled in the Japanese Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study phases 3 (2005–2008) and 4 (2009–2011), we examined the associations between changes in body mass index (BMI) over a 4-month baseline period (<–3%, –3 to <–1%, –1 to <1% [reference], 1 to <3%, and ≥3%) and subsequent risk of all-cause, cardiovascular, and noncardiovascular hospitalization using Cox models with adjustment for potential confounders. Results: During a median follow-up of 1.2 years, we noted 1,028 incident hospitalizations for any cause, including 275 and 753 hospitalizations for cardiovascular and noncardiovascular causes, respectively. An L-shaped association was observed between BMI change and all-cause hospitalization. The multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios (HRs; 95% CI) of all-cause hospitalization associated with BMI changes of <–3%, –3 to <–1%, 1 to <3%, and ≥3% (vs. –1 to <1%) were 1.29 (1.01–1.65), 1.22 (0.98–1.51), 1.04 (0.83–1.29), and 1.10 (0.83–1.45), respectively. Qualitatively similar associations were present for cardiovascular-related hospitalization (corresponding HRs [95% CI]: 1.58 [1.06–2.37], 1.09 [0.75–1.58], 0.99 [0.72–1.36], and 0.91 [0.51–1.64], respectively) but not for noncardiovascular-related hospitalization (corresponding HRs [95% CI]: 1.19 [0.90–1.57], 1.26 [0.99–1.59], 1.06 [0.84–1.35], and 1.18 [0.86–1.63], respectively). Conclusions: Decreases in BMI over a relatively short-term period were independently associated with higher risk of subsequent hospitalization, particularly cardiovascular-related hospitalization, among elderly HD patients.
Maternal Vitamin D Status and Risk of Gestational Diabetes: a Meta-Analysis
Authors: Hu Lingmin , Zhang Yue , Wang Xing , You Lianghui , Xu Pengfei , Cui Xianwei , Zhu Lijun , Ji Chenbo , Guo Xirong , Wen Juan
Published: January 2018

Background/Aims: Whether maternal vitamin D deficiency is associated with gestational diabetes remains controversial. This meta-analysis aimed to systematically evaluate published evidence on the association between maternal vitamin D status and the risk of gestational diabetes. Methods: We retrieved relevant articles from the PubMed, Medline and Embase databases up to May 2017 for observational studies investigating the association between vitamin D status and the risk of gestational diabetes. Odds ratios (OR) or risk ratios (RR) from individual studies were pooled using the fixed and random effect models. Results: The meta-analysis of 29 observational studies included 28,982 participants, of which 4,634 were diagnosed with gestational diabetes, and showed that maternal vitamin D insufficiency was associated with a significantly increased risk of gestational diabetes by 39% (pooled OR = 1.39, 95%CI = 1.20-1.60) with moderate heterogeneity (I2 = 50.2%; P = 0.001). Moreover, the 25(OH)D level was significantly lower in gestational diabetes cases than in controls with a pooled effect of -4.79 nmol/L (95% CI = -6.43, -3.15). Significant heterogeneity was also detected (I2 = 65.0%, P < 0.001). Further subgroup analysis indicated that this association was also evident in most subpopulations. Conclusion: This meta-analysis indicated a significant association between vitamin D insufficiency and increased risk of gestational diabetes. Further well-designed large-scale clinical trials are essential to verify this association.
2018 Guidelines for the Early Management of Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Guideline for Healthcare Professionals From the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association
Authors: Powers William J. , Rabinstein Alejandro A. , Ackerson Teri , Adeoye Opeolu M. , Bambakidis Nicholas C. , Becker Kyra , Biller José , Brown Michael , Demaerschalk Bart M. , Hoh Brian , Jauch Edward C. , Kidwell Chelsea S. , Leslie-Mazwi Thabele M. , Ovbiagele Bruce , Scott Phillip A. , Sheth Kevin N. , Southerland Andrew M. , Summers Deborah V. , Tirschwell David L.
Published: January 2018

Correction

This article has two related Corrections:

(10.1161/STR.0000000000000163)

(10.1161/STR.0000000000000172)
Redescription of Chimaera ogilbyi (Chimaeriformes; Chimaeridae) from the Indo-Australian region
Authors: FINUCCI BRITTANY , WHITE WILLIAM T. , KEMPER JENNY M. , NAYLOR GAVIN J.P.
Published: January 2018

An integrated taxonomic approach, combining both morphological and molecular data, was adopted to investigate the Hydrolagus lemures-ogilbyi group in the Indo-Australian region. Single mitochondrial markers (CO1 and NADH2) provided evidence supporting the separation of four distinct species in this group. However, detailed morphological data collected from specimens from across their range failed to find any consistent differences, and many features previously considered to be diagnostic were found to be variable. Nuclear DNA data also failed to support the differences found with the single mitochondrial markers and, together with the morphological data, supported the hypothesis that only a single species in this group is present in the Indo-Australian region. In addition, the results failed to support the current generic placement of this group in Hydrolagus, suggesting they belong to the genus Chimaera with doubt over the validity of Hydrolagus as a valid genus. The oldest available name for this group is Chimaera ogilbyi and a redescription is provided. This species occurs throughout Australia, eastern Indonesia (Java, Bali, and Lombok) and northern Papua New Guinea.
A remarkable new species of Nemoura (Plecoptera: Nemouridae) from Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture of Yunnan Province, China
Authors: QIAN YU-HAN , XIAO QIAN , CHEN ZHI-TENG , DU YU-ZHOU
Published: January 2018

A new species of the genus Nemoura, N. latilongispina sp. nov. from Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture of Yunnan Province, southwestern China is described and illustrated. The new species is characterized by ventral sclerite of epiproct extended laterally, forming upcurved plates fringed with long spines along upper margin, and by the strongly sclerotized, fork-shaped cercus.
On the Scale Interactions that Dominate the Maintenance of a Persistent Heavy Rainfall Event: A Piecewise Energy Analysis
Authors: Fu Shen-Ming , Liu Rui-Xin , Sun Jian-Hua
Published: January 2018

Persistent heavy rainfall events (PHREs) are the product of the combined effects of multiscale systems. A PHRE that occurred during the 2016 mei-yu season was selected to further the understanding of the scale interactions accounting for the persistence of this type of event. The scale interactions were analyzed quantitatively using a piecewise energy budget based on temporal scale separation. Results show that the strongest interactions between the precipitation-related eddy flow and its background circulation (BC) occur in the mid- to lower troposphere, where a significant downscale kinetic energy (KE) cascade alone dominates eddy flow persistence. An obvious upscale KE cascade (i.e., a feedback effect) appears in the mid- to upper troposphere but has a negligible effect on the BC. Overall, within the precipitation region, the downscale KE cascade is primarily dependent on BC signals with shorter periods, whereas the upscale KE cascade is more dependent on BC signals with longer periods. Thus, the BC has asymmetric effects on the KE cascades. The most significant BC signal as determined via wavelet analysis [i.e., quasi-biweekly (10–18 days) oscillations in this event] does not play the leading role in the downscale KE cascade. Instead, the quasi-weekly oscillations provide the maximum amount of energy for eddy flow maintenance. Semi-idealized simulations of various BC signals show similar results: precipitation and the intensities of lower-level shear lines and transversal troughs (both of which are closely related to the precipitation-related eddy flow) are more sensitive to the quasi-weekly oscillation than to the quasi-biweekly oscillation.
Experiences of women aging with the human immunodeficiency virus: A qualitative study
Authors: Akhtar Nosheen F. , Garcha Ramanjit K. , Solomon Patricia
Published: January 2018

Background.

While the literature on HIV and aging has grown significantly in the past decade, there has been little examination of the needs of older women living with HIV and their disability experiences.

Purpose.

The purpose of this study was to uncover the experiences of aging with HIV from the perspective of older women.

Method.

An interpretive qualitative study was undertaken using semistructured interviews to explore the experiences of 10 women who are HIV positive between the ages of 51 and 62 years. Interview transcripts were analyzed thematically.

Findings.

Data analysis revealed seven themes: varying levels of acceptance, battling stigma of disclosure, declining functionality, living with negative emotions, practising healthy lifestyles, seeking social supports, and maximizing support from community services.

Implications.

There is a need for women’s peer support groups, education for women with HIV and their families, and enhanced support services. Suggestions are provided for how occupational therapists can enable participation.
The Daily Experiences of Pleasure, Productivity, and Restoration Profile: A case study
Authors: Atler Karen E. , Barney Lindsey , Moravec Allyson , Sample Pat L. , Fruhauf Christine A.
Published: January 2018

Background.

Occupational therapy enables clients to self-manage their health through the use of occupation; however, additional occupation-focused assessments are needed to capture people’s subjective experiences associated with everyday activities as awareness of one’s experiences can help promote change.

Purpose.

This qualitative case study explored the utility of one such assessment, the Daily Experiences of Pleasure, Productivity, and Restoration Profile (PPR Profile).

Method.

Five spousal caregivers completed and discussed the PPR Profile with an occupational therapist. Interviews with the caregivers and therapist occurred during and following use. Content analysis revealed several themes.

Findings.

Both caregivers and the occupational therapist reported that use of the PPR Profile provided benefits but not without challenges.

Implications.

The findings support preliminary utility of the PPR Profile; however, additional research is needed and occupational therapists need to be aware of the challenges when deciding to use the tool.
Précis – Discours commémoratif Muriel Driver 2017 Possibilités en matière de bien-être: Le droit à la participation occupationnelle
Authors: Hammell Karen Whalley
Published: January 2018

Description.

Le thème du Congrès 2017 de l’Association canadienne des ergothérapeutes a suscité des réflexions sur les différentes manières d’orienter l’avenir de notre profession.

But.

Ce discours commémoratif Muriel Driver examine comment nous pourrions façonner l’avenir de l’ergothérapie afin qu’elle devienne plus importante, plus pertinente et plus avantageuse pour la société.

Questions clés.

Comme la participation occupationnelle est essentielle au bien-être humain et comme le bien-être fait partie intégrante des droits de la personne, l’ergothérapie pourrait promouvoir le droit de toute personne de participer à des occupations qui contribuent positivement à son propre bien-être et à celui de sa communauté.

Conséquences.

L’importance de l’ergothérapie pour la société sera manifeste lorsque nous nous concentrerons sans ambiguïté sur le bien-être, lorsque nous déploierons nos efforts au-delà de l’amélioration des capacités des individus dont la vie est déjà touchée par la maladie, les blessures ou les handicaps et lorsque nous aborderons les différents moyens d’atteindre le bien-être par la participation occupationnelle de toutes les personnes dont les possibilités—les occasions de faire ce que leurs capacités leur permettent de faire—sont contraintes de manière inéquitable.
Burnout and Vigor Among Health Service Psychology Doctoral Students
Authors: Swords Brett A. , Ellis Michael V.
Published: January 2018

The purpose of the study was to address shortcomings in the literature by applying conservation of resources theory to assess and identify predictors of burnout and vigor among health service psychology doctoral trainees. Descriptively, most of the 203 health service psychology doctoral trainees experienced burnout (74.9%) and vigor (76.8%) at some point during their doctoral training. Compared to the norm samples, the trainees evidenced substantively more burnout and less vigor. Collectively, five predictors—pressure, threat, financial strain, relationship conflict, supervisory working alliance—explained 22% of the variance in the multivariate construct of burnout and vigor. Although the supervisory working alliance and a type of work-related stress (threat) uniquely predicted burnout and vigor, pressure, financial strain, and relationship conflict did not. Theoretical and practical implications, limitations, and suggested future research are provided based on the study findings.
Looking Back, Moving Forward: Technical, Normative, and Political Dimensions of School Discipline
Authors: Wiley Kathryn E. , Anyon Yolanda , Yang Jessica L. , Pauline Malina E. , Rosch Alyssa , Valladares Giovana , Downing Barbara J. , Pisciotta Lisa
Published: January 2018

Purpose: School discipline reformers have presumed that such work is largely a technical task, emphasizing discrete changes to discipline policies and protocols. Yet prior theory and research suggest that emphasizing technical changes may overlook additional and important aspects of reform, namely, the normative and political dimensions within which technical aspects are embedded. Although this earlier work appears relevant to contemporary school discipline reform, the extent to which this theory extends to school discipline remains unestablished. The purpose of this article is to show how this earlier line of theory extends to the topic of school discipline. Method: We draw on data collected as part of a qualitative study in which we conducted semistructured interviews and focus groups with 198 educators from 33 public schools on the topic of school discipline. We applied an equity-minded reform theory to examine technical, normative, and political dimensions of school discipline. Findings and Implications: We found the technical dimension of school discipline was characterized by educators’ strategic use of school resources and capacity building; normative conditions that supported conflict prevention and increased responsibility; and political dynamics in which administrators shifted power to encourage more inclusive discipline strategies. Furthermore, using this model illuminated interrelationships between dimensions, suggesting that unidimensional models—and their related reforms—may overlook nuances of this important reform issue. This theoretical extension provides a more holistic conceptualization than currently used in reform efforts, contributes to earlier lines of scholarship, and opens up new avenues of future inquiry.
The Identification of Students Who Are Gifted and Have a Learning Disability: A Comparison of Different Diagnostic Criteria
Authors: Maddocks Danika L. S.
Published: January 2018

Students who are gifted and have a learning disability (GLD) may not be identified, in part because of disagreement regarding appropriate identification criteria. In this study, suggested GLD identification criteria were applied to a nationally representative sample of school-age students to determine the number and characteristics of students identified by each set of GLD criteria. Many but not all students identified as potentially GLD had relative weaknesses in lower order processing abilities and achievement, as hypothesized for this population. Students also exhibited academic strengths, which suggests dual differentiation would be appropriate. Commonly used intraindividual discrepancy criteria identified most potentially gifted students as potentially learning disabled; therefore, these are not valid stand-alone criteria to identify learning disabilities in gifted youth. Results suggest it may be best to combine alternative gifted criteria, an intraindividual LD criterion, and examination of absolute deficits in processing and achievement. Additional implications for research and practice are discussed.
“Failure-to-Identify” Hunting Incidents: A Resilience Engineering Approach
Authors: Bridges Karl E. , Corballis Paul M. , Hollnagel Erik
Published: January 2018

Objective

The objective was to develop an understanding, using the Functional Resonance Analysis Method (FRAM), of the factors that could cause a deer hunter to misidentify their intended target.

Background

Hunting is a popular activity in many communities. However, hunters vary considerably based on training, experience, and expertise. Surprisingly, safety in hunting has not received much attention, especially failure-to-identify hunting incidents. These are incidents in which the hunter, after spotting and targeting their quarry, discharge their firearm only to discover they have been spotting and targeting another human, an inanimate object, or flora by mistake. The hunter must consider environment, target, time of day, weather, and many other factors—continuously evaluating whether the hunt should continue. To understand how these factors can relate to one another is fundamental to begin to understand how incidents happen.

Method

Workshops with highly experienced and active hunters led to the development of a FRAM model detailing the functions of a “Hunting FRAM.” The model was evaluated for correctness based on confidential and anonymous near-miss event submissions by hunters.

Results

A FRAM model presenting the functions of a hunt was produced, evaluated, and accepted. Using the model, potential sources of incidents or other unintended outcomes were identified, which in turn helped to improve the model.

Conclusion

Utilizing principles of understanding and visualization tools of the FRAM, the findings create a foundation for safety improvements potentially through training or safety messages based on an increased understanding of the complexity of hunting.
Establishing presence through absence: Dom Moraes’s ambivalence towards India
Authors: Bhattacharya Rima
Published: January 2018

As a poet, journalist, autobiographer, and travel writer, Dom Moraes was a prolific presence in the Anglophone literary world throughout the second half of the twentieth century. Though born in Bombay, Moraes had moved to England at a young age and his very first book of poetry, A Beginning, had earned him fame in the emergent post-Second World War British cultural scene of the late 1950s and early 1960s, winning him the Hawthornden Prize at the age of 19. He was equally popular when he came back to India during the 1980s, and regular volumes of his poetry and prose were published by the newly established Penguin Books India until his death in 2004. Surprisingly, in spite of being such a well-known and well-published author, Moraes’s work in general, and his poetry in particular, have strangely fallen out of critical focus. My article explores this contradictory situation of an apparently famous poet being persistently ignored by critics and anthologists. It attempts to show how this unusual situation can be traced back to a sense of bafflement that most critics and anthologists share when it comes to categorizing Moraes so as to initiate a discussion on him. It also attempts to depict how this sense of puzzlement in categorizing Moraes is connected to Moraes’s own ambivalent attitude towards India, his country of birth, which frequently vacillates between a strong sense of aversion and a feeling of deep empathy. In conclusion, the paper tries to probe how Moraes grapples with his complex sense of affiliation to and distance from India by representing his creative self and its cultural location in the form of a variety of absences — a process which makes him difficult to categorize and as a consequence challenging to discuss.
The Effects of Networked Professional Learning Communities
Authors: Prenger Rilana , Poortman Cindy L. , Handelzalts Adam
Published: January 2018

Teacher professional learning is considered crucial for improving the quality of education. Teacher collaboration in professional learning communities can contribute to the effectiveness of professional development efforts. In the past decade, there has been a shift from within-school to between-school professional learning communities. However, results regarding their effectiveness have been inconsistent. In this study, we examine the effects of 23 networked professional learning communities in the Dutch context, using a mixed-methods approach. Results showed moderately positive effects on teachers’ perceived satisfaction; the knowledge, skills, and attitude developed; and their application to practice. Considering the early stage of development of these professional learning communities, teachers’ participation in networked professional learning communities seems promising for enhancing their professional learning.
Analysis of dental injuries with clinical implications: A forensic case report
Authors: Tan Si-lei , Peng Shu-ya , Wan Lei , Chen Jie-min , Xia Wen-tao
Published: January 2018

Dental injuries, especially of the incisors, caused by punches in violent criminal attacks could be seen in daily forensic casework involving the identification of injuries to a living body. Sometimes, when there is neither circumstantial evidence nor information about the surrounding circumstances, it is difficult to discern the cause of these injuries and the manner in which they were inflicted. As an example of clinical forensic medicine, we present the case of a 58-year-old woman whose teeth were injured when fighting with her son-in-law over household affairs with no witnesses present. The two parties had conflicting stories about the cause of the woman’s injury. The woman claimed that her teeth were lost while she was being beaten by her son-in-law, and the man argued that the damage to his mother-in-law’s teeth was self-inflicted when she bit his fingers. The police attending the crime called for a forensic examination. Forensic practitioners analysed the mechanism of the tooth loss using multi-slice spiral computed tomography (MSCT) and imaging reconstruction technology. Local alveolar bone (medial alveolar) fracture and a small area of alveolar bone loss were found on MSCT. Thus, forensic medical experts speculated that the woman’s lower central and lateral incisors were lost as a result of a violent attack and were not self-inflicted. Finally, forensic practitioners helped police in avoiding a miscarriage of justice and wrongful conviction.
A forensic evaluation of impalement injuries
Authors: Byard Roger W
Published: January 2018

Impalement injuries transfix a victim in an inescapable or helpless position. A study was undertaken at Forensic Science SA from 2002 to 2016 of all impalement deaths. There were six vehicle accidents (M:F=5:1; age 14–67 years, average age 38.5 years) involving impalements with a tree branch ( n=2; groin and chest), a metal pipe ( n=2; leg and head), a metal bridge railing (groin) and a metal fence post (chest). Two cases (both males, aged 47 and 18 years) had slipped on fences/gates, with impalements of the ankle and groin. A case of suicide (male, aged 80 years) was impaled through the head on a bolt fixed to the floor. A homicide case (male, aged 27 years) involved impalement through the chest by a spear from a spear gun. In certain cases (e.g. with anogenital injuries), differentiating accidental from inflicted impalement injuries may be difficult. In equivocal cases, adequate scene evaluations with photographic documentation are required prior to autopsy, ideally with the object available for examination.
“We Take Care of People; What Happens to Us Afterwards?”: Home Health Aides and Bereavement Care in Hospice
Authors: Ghesquiere Angela , Bagaajav Ariunsanaa
Published: January 2018

After a hospice patient dies, hospice providers can experience a variety of emotional responses. While work has been done on social workers’ and nurses’ reactions to patient death, home health aides (HHAs) have been overlooked. To address this gap, we conducted focus groups and individual qualitative interviews with 14 hospice HHAs. Questions covered HHAs’ grief responses and how they coped with grief. We found a high burden of grief reactions; many HHAs often developed very close patient relationships. HHAs also noted that they often started working with new patients almost immediately after a death, leaving little time to process the loss. However, HHAs found support from other HHAs, their supervisors, as well as family, friends, and spiritual practices to be helpful in coping with their grief. Future work should enhance support to HHAs around patient loss; for example, grief support may be embedded into hospice team activities.
Completion and Recidivism Rates of High-Risk Youth on Probation: Do Home Visits Make a Difference?
Authors: Alarid Leanne Fiftal , Rangel Luis M.
Published: January 2018

Probation supervision with and without home visits is an underresearched area for adjudicated higher risk youth. This study compared 287 juvenile probationers receiving police/probation home visits with similar youth ( n = 437) who were supervised on regular probation without home visits. Youth performance was measured during supervision and up to 24 months following probation. The most notable finding was that the rearrest rate for youth who had home visits during supervision was 3 times lower after probation supervision ended than for youth who did not have home visits.
Confirmatory Analysis of an Ethics Instrument for Corrections
Authors: Mei Xiaohan , Cortright Carly E. , Stohr Mary K. , Hemmens Craig , Collins Peter A. , Iannacchione Brian , Hudson Marianne
Published: January 2018

In this research, we quantify the difference in correctional officers’ ethical standards, as perceived by both officers and inmates. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and higher order modeling were used to validate the correctional ethics instrument. Group invariance tests at first-order level were applied to examine the invariance structure of conceptualized and operationalized ethics across staff and inmates. The evidence indicates the construct validity of the ethic instrument. Furthermore, correctional officers have a higher perception of their ethical practice than inmates on two of five common dimensions (“professional relationship with inmates” and “use of force”).
The legal status of religious minorities: Exploring the impact of the European Court of Human Rights
Authors: Fokas Effie
Published: January 2018

In the last 25 years the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has evolved into a venue where some of the most contentious questions related to religion in European society are addressed. This article focuses on the grassroots level impact of the ECtHR in the domain of legal status of religious minorities. In light of scholarly debates questioning the direct effects of courts on the issues they address (i.e., legal reform and policy change), the research on which this article is based explores the nature and extent of the Court’s indirect effects on the legal status of religious minorities: how and to what extent does the ECtHR impact upon religious minorities in terms of their conceptions of, discourse around, and mobilisations pursuing their legal status-related rights? This question is addressed through results of empirical qualitative research conducted at the grassroots level in four country cases – Greece, Italy, Romania and Turkey.
Droits de l’homme, droits de Dieu : Une inévitable tension ?
Authors: Ferrari Silvio
Published: January 2018

The conflicts between rights of God and human rights are on the rise. On the one hand, there are some rights that are qualified as human rights in the most important international conventions and in many national constitutions. As such, they are to be respected always and everywhere. On the other hand, there are rights that are directly or indirectly attributed to the will of God. Their respect is regarded as a religious obligation to be upheld even when it implies the violation of human rights. These are the terms of the conflict and the fact that they sink their roots in non-negotiable beliefs – rights related to the very nature of man vs. rights dependent on the will of God–makes this conflict particularly serious and complex. This article discusses the structural and historical causes of this conflict and proposes a few strategies to reduce the tensions between these two sets of rights.
Female breast shape categorization based on analysis of CAESAR 3D body scan data
Authors: Pei Jie , Park Huiju , Ashdown Susan P.
Published: January 2018

In this study we explore the variation in female breast shape across the younger (age: 18–45), non-obese (BMI < 30) North American Caucasian population, a population that has not previously been well-represented in studies of breast shape. A method of classifying breast shape was developed based on multiple data-mining techniques. Forty-one relative measurements (i.e., ratios and angles) were constructed from 66 raw measurements (circumferences, depths, widths, etc.), extracted from 478 CAESAR (Civilian American and European Surface Anthropometry Resource) scans, using self-developed Matlab® programs. Seventy subjects were regarded as outliers and were removed. The remaining data were transformed and standardized to ensure robust analysis. To judge results, an algorithm was developed to visualize clustering outcomes in the form of side profiles of breasts. The results of three clustering methods, namely hierarchical, K-means, and K-medoids clustering, were compared. Finally, breast shapes were categorized into three and five groups by two different cluster number selection criteria proposed by the study: (1) based on misclassification rate; (2) based on the goodness-of-fit of the model. Several of the relative body measurements were identified to be critical in defining breast shape. The findings and the proposed methods of this study can contribute to the development of improved shape and sizing systems of bra products that work for both manufacturers and consumers. The new methodology developed in this study can also be applied to other types of intimate apparel products where an understanding of body shape plays a key role in body support, comfort, and fit.
A Catholic Inclusive Approach to Homosexuality in Nigeria
Authors: Asue Daniel Ude
Published: January 2018

This essay discusses Same-Sex Marriage Prohibition Bill in Nigeria, with a focus on the contribution of the Nigerian Catholic Church to the law. Though the Catholic Church in Nigeria did not actively contribute towards the public debates about homosexuality that resulted into the Same-Sex Marriage Prohibition Bill it nevertheless welcomed the bill. However, the official teachings of the Catholic Church and elucidations from the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria could potentially contribute to creating an inclusive society. In what way can we potentially utilize the principles of Catholic Social Teaching to make room for an inclusion of homosexual persons in the life of the church and in society?
Living Upside Down: Inverting Consumerism’s Notion of Freedom
Authors: Dickens W. T.
Published: January 2018

Pope Francis’s efforts to reduce the worst effects of global climate change can be enhanced by recourse to some of Augustine’s insights into excessive self-love; by criticizing consumerism’s ideal of freedom as the absence of constraint with the help of Michael Sandel and David Kelsey; and by identifying resources in Augustine, Francis, and Sandel for how to envision forms of life that, by enacting a deeper, bounded freedom, are healthier for humanity and for the rest of the planet.
A View from Within: The LGBTQ Struggle at Princeton Theological Seminary
Authors: Wall David Henry
Published: January 2018

This article is a summary of the history of the LGBTQ movement on the campus of Princeton Theological Seminary from the perspective of the author, David H. Wall, who was a student (1979–1980) and served in the administration from 1980 to 2016. Wall describes his own journey as a gay Christian, along with a series of events and people that contributed to changes within the PTS community and the Presbyterian church from condemnation to welcome of LGBTQ people and their allies. Many LGBTQ students’ stories are included. The impact and work of the student organization CLGC (Church and Lesbian/Gay Concerns), later named BGLASS is covered as the organization’s leadership and mission evolved from a focus on education to one of advocacy. Included are the roles of the faculty and administration.
The dynamic connectedness of UK regional property returns
Authors: Antonakakis Nikolaos , Chatziantoniou Ioannis , Floros Christos , Gabauer David
Published: January 2018

In this study, we examine the network topology of UK regional property returns over the period 1973Q4–2014Q4 using a dynamic measure of connectedness developed by Diebold and Yilmaz (2014). Overall, our findings indicate that the transmission of inter-regional property returns shocks is an important source of regional property return fluctuations. What is more, this is a dynamic, event-dependent process which implies that, over time, any UK region can be both a net transmitter and a net receiver of shocks. This in turn is conducive to evidence that the ripple effect is not the only driving force propelling changes in the UK housing market. In fact, we find that the regions of the South West, Outer South East, East Midlands and Northern Ireland seem to be dominant transmitters of property returns shocks throughout the sample period. We further suggest that additional evidence regarding weak segmentation in the UK may stem from the fact that there is constant interaction across all regions over time. Most interestingly, we show that London may also act as a net-recipient of shocks. Findings are important for policy makers purporting to alleviate regional imbalances and achieve balanced growth, as well as investors who formulate portfolio diversification strategies. Our results exhibit robustness to a series of tests.
Financial Literacy Among Hong Kong’s Chinese Adolescents
Authors: Zhu Alex Yue Feng , Chou Kee Lee
Published: January 2018

Against today’s global backdrop where financial responsibility has been transferred from the government to individuals, financial literacy, as a key component of financial capacity, could be an effective strategy to escape from lifecourse poverty. Compared with young adults, research demonstrates that financial literacy among adolescents is of greater importance. The present study fills the theoretical gap to measure the financial literacy of Hong Kong Chinese adolescents by validated Financial Fitness for Life (FFFL) Test, and explore its development by fitting data collected in Hong Kong into a model of socialization and a model of general poverty and comparing their ability to explain the link between family income and the financial literacy of adolescents. The results of the model of socialization show that parental financial behavior can explain the link between family income and the financial literacy of adolescents. The results of the model of general poverty are associated with better influential power, showing that the same link can be mediated by both parental stress and positive parenting behavior. The findings of this study specify the critical role of parents, offer specific entry points for interventions by policymakers and educators, and provide parents with pathways to positively influence the development of financial literacy among adolescents.
Increasing Full Child Immunization Rates by Government Using an Innovative Computerized Immunization Due List in Rural India
Authors: Ganguly Enakshi , Gupta Rahul , Widge Alik , Reddy R. Purushotham , Balasubramanian K. , Reddy P. S.
Published: January 2018

Increasing child vaccination coverage to 85% or more in rural India from the current level of 50% holds great promise for reducing infant and child mortality and improving health of children. We have tested a novel strategy called Rural Effective Affordable Comprehensive Health Care (REACH) in a rural population of more than 300 000 in Rajasthan and succeeded in achieving full immunization coverage of 88.7% among children aged 12 to 23 months in a short span of less than 2 years. The REACH strategy was first developed and successfully implemented in a demonstration project by SHARE INDIA in Medchal region of Andhra Pradesh, and was then replicated in Rajgarh block of Rajasthan in cooperation with Bhoruka Charitable Trust (private partners of Integrated Child Development Services and National Rural Health Mission health workers in Rajgarh). The success of the REACH strategy in both Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan suggests that it could be successfully adopted as a model to enhance vaccination coverage dramatically in other areas of rural India.
Emotional Well-Being Following a Later Life Career Change: The Roles of Agency and Resources
Authors: Vogelsang Eric M. , Shultz Kenneth S. , Olson Deborah A.
Published: January 2018

More individuals are attempting career changes in later life, as an increasing number of people face precarious retirement prospects. Although many of these older job seekers eventually find new livelihoods, little is known about their emotional well-being subsequent to these changes. Using the 2014 American Institute for Economic Research Older Worker Survey, we evaluate the contributions of demographic characteristics, agency, and resources when estimating three measures of emotional well-being following a successful later life career change ( n = 337). We found that having financial resources during the career transition was associated with all three positive emotional outcomes, while family support and intentionality were also associated with positive emotions. Conversely, prior job prestige and purposeful job training had no relationships with subsequent well-being. These results suggest that later life career changes, despite their challenges, often result in positive emotional outlooks—for those who have the resources to support them.
When Pedagogy Is Painful: Teaching in Tumultuous Times
Authors: Martinez-Cola Marisela ,   with, English Rocco , Min Jennifer , Peraza Jonathan , Tambah Jamesetta , Yebuah Christina
Published: January 2018

What happens when the outside world begins to affect the classroom? Is the classroom supposed to be neutral, objective, and devoid of feelings? Or is it a space where students and teacher meet for healing, understanding, and critical thinking? From news reports of police brutality to highly publicized acts of racial aggression, students are inundated with examples of intolerance, hatred, and racial inequality. Those committed to critical pedagogy and social justice invite, embrace, and use these events to enhance classroom materials. What happens, however, when pedagogy is painful for both the student and the teacher? Several articles address the teacher’s experience and others the student experience. This article is dedicated to synthesizing and discussing both experiences from one course, Race and Ethnicity, at a height of racial tensions in the United States and on campus and providing the personal and pedagogical strategies that developed from the course.
Sampled-data control for nonlinear singular systems based on a Takagi–Sugeno fuzzy model
Authors: Minjie Zheng , Yujie Zhou , Shenhua Yang , Lina Li
Published: January 2018

The sampled-data admissibility problem for nonlinear singular systems in Takagi–Sugeno fuzzy models is discussed. By adding some novel terms, a novel fuzzy time-dependent Lyapunov–Krasovskii functional is proposed to fully capture the available characteristics of the actual sampling pattern. Sufficient conditions are derived to determine the regularity, absence of impulses and asymptotic stability of the system by using Lyapunov stability theorems. Then, the fuzzy sampled-data controller is obtained by analysing the admissible condition. One practical example involving a truck–trailer system is considered. It is shown that the proposed method and the designed controller for the system are effective and that less conservativeness can be obtained.
Robust backstepping control for uncertain chaotic multi-inputs multi-outputs systems using type 2 fuzzy systems
Authors: Meskine Khadidja , Khaber Farid
Published: January 2018

In this paper, a new backstepping type 2 fuzzy control is developed for a class of uncertain multi-inputs multi-outputs (MIMO) chaotic systems, with a complicate of uncertainties and external disturbances. The system consists of interconnected subsystems that are duffing equation. In the control design, type 2 fuzzy logic systems are used to approximate the unknown functions. Hybrid adaptive robust tracking control schemes that are based upon a combination of bounds of type 2 fuzzy approximation parameters and the backstepping design are developed such that all the states and signals are bounded and the proposed approach alleviate the online computation burden and improves the robustness to dynamic uncertainties and external disturbances. Finally, the control of chaotic duffing systems with unknown parameters is given as example to verify the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Event-triggered piecewise-continuous observer design based on system output data received from network
Authors: Song Chengcheng , Wang Haoping , Tian Yang
Published: January 2018

This paper proposes an event-triggered piecewise-continuous observer (E-PCO) that can estimate continuous-time undelayed system state using event-triggered (aperiodic) sampled and delayed system output that is received from network. The key point of this estimation method is the design of three reconstructions and an event-triggered reduced-order discrete-time Luenberger observer (E-RODL-O). First, Reconstruction I compensates for the effects of event-triggered sampling. Based on Reconstruction I, the E-RODL-O is designed for obtaining a periodic sampled delayed system state. Then, Reconstruction II makes up for the influences of time delays, which brings the periodic sampled undelayed system state. Based on this, Reconstruction III finally calculates the continuous-time undelayed system state. Through some parameters selections, the stability of E-PCO system is guaranteed. The theoretical design is applied to a networked visual servoing mobile cart system for verifying its validity.
Do bilingual and monolingual preschoolers acquire false belief understanding similarly? The role of executive functioning and language
Authors: Diaz Vanessa , Farrar M. Jeffrey
Published: January 2018

Bilingual children often show advanced executive functioning (EF) and false belief (FB) understanding compared to monolinguals. The latter has been attributed to their enhanced inhibitory control EF, although this has only been examined in a single study which did not confirm this hypothesis. The current study examined the relation of EF and language proficiency on FB reasoning in bilingual and monolingual preschoolers to answer two questions: (1) Are there differences in bilinguals’ and monolinguals’ FB, language proficiency, and EF? If so, (2) is there a differential role for language proficiency and EF in predicting FB reasoning in these two groups? Thirty-two Spanish–English bilinguals and 33 English monolinguals (three to five years old) were compared. While monolinguals outperformed bilinguals on language proficiency, after controlling for this, bilinguals outperformed monolinguals on FB reasoning, and marginally on EF. General language ability was related to FB performance in both groups, while short-term memory and inhibitory control predicted FB only for monolinguals.