bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
New and rarely found species of asynaptine Porricondylinae (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) in northern Europe
Authors: JASCHHOF MATHIAS , JASCHHOF CATRIN
Published: May 2019

An ongoing taxonomic inventory of mycophagous gall midges (Cecidomyiidae) in Sweden has revealed several previously unnamed species of asynaptine Porricondylinae, which are described here on the basis of male adults mostly from Malaise trap catches. The new species are classified and named as follows: Asynapta inflatoides sp. nov., A. rickebasta sp. nov., A. taigensis sp. nov., Camptomyia capitata sp. nov., C. hedmarki sp. nov., C. oldhammeri sp. nov., C. rhynchostylata sp. nov., and Stackelbergiella sikorai sp. nov. Specimens studied here prove the presence of both Asynapta inflatoides and A. taigensis in Finland, and of Stackelbergiella sikorai in Estonia. Other species new to the Finnish fauna are Asynapta thuraui Rübsaamen and Camptomyia ulmicola Mamaev, whereas Asynapta inflata Spungis has to be deleted from the Finnish checklist. Males of two species recorded in Sweden for the first time, and three species whose Swedish distribution is reconfirmed here, are redescribed: Asynapta baltica Spungis; A. inflata; Camptomyia fulva Mamaev; C. piptopori Panelius; and C. ulmicola. New junior synonyms recognized here are Niladmirara Fedotova syn. nov. (of Camptomyia Kieffer) and Asynapta panzari Jaschhof & Jaschhof syn. nov. (of A. breviata Spungis). The genitalic morphology of male Asynaptini is reinterpreted to include two pairs of parameres in the ancestral ground pattern. The extraordinary diversity of male genitalic structures found in asynaptine genera is highlighted, along with considerations of how this source of information can be exploited for the benefit of classification. Small-area remnants of ancient, naturally grown forest are shown to support populations of previously unnamed species of Asynaptini.
An annotated checklist of the Indian species of the band-winged grasshopper genus Sphingonotus Fieber, 1852 (Orthoptera: Acrididae) with description of a new species
Authors: GUPTA SUNIL KUMAR , CHANDRA KAILASH , HUSEMANN MARTIN
Published: May 2019

Sphingonotus (Sphingonotus) changlangensis sp. nov.  is a new species of  Sphingonotus  described from Namdapha National Park, Changlang District, Arunachal Pradesh, India. An annotated checklist of members of the genus  Sphingonotus occurring in India is provided.
New records of Endectyon (Endectyon) xerampelina (Lamarck, 1814 (Demospongiae: Axinellida: Raspailiidae) from the Tropical Western Atlantic Ocean, with comments on its distribution and type locality
Authors: SANDES JOANA , RECINOS RADHARANNE , PINHEIRO ULISSES , MURICY GUILHERME
Published: May 2019

The demosponge genus Endectyon is characterized by the presence of acanthostyles with recurved or clavulate spines. Two subgenera are recognized, Endectyon and Hemectyon, distinguished mainly by the acanthostyles being located only in the periphery of the axial skeleton in Endectyon, or forming the ectosomal brushes in Hemectyon. Sixteen species are known worldwide, of which only two were reported from the Western Atlantic Ocean. However, the type locality of Endectyon xerampelina is uncertain, and it could be located either in the Western Atlantic or in Australia. In the present study, we describe new records of E. xerampelina from the Brazilian coast and propose that Raspailia (R.) johnhooperi from the Guyana shelf is a junior synonym of E. xerampelina. Our results support the hypothesis that the type locality of E. xerampelina is located somewhere in the Tropical Western Atlantic Ocean and also that the species belongs to the subgenus Endectyon (Endectyon). We amended the diagnosis of the subgenus Endectyon (Endectyon) to account for the variability of acanthostyle shape in E. (E.) xerampelina, assigning greater taxonomic value to the position of the echinating megascleres than to their shape and pattern of spination.
Seasonal Precipitation Influences Streamflow Vulnerability to the 2015 Drought in the Western United States
Authors: Konrad Christopher P.
Published: May 2019

Streamflow was exceptionally low in the spring and summer of 2015 across much of the western United States because of a regional drought that exploited the sensitivity of both snow- and rain-dominant rivers. Streamflow during 2015 was examined at 324 gauges in the region to assess its response to the amount, form, and seasonal timing of precipitation and the viability of using spatially aggregated, normative models to assess streamflow vulnerability to drought. Seasonal rain and spring snowmelt had the strongest effects on runoff during the same season, but their effects persisted into subsequent seasons as well. Below-normal runoff in the spring of 2015 was pervasive across the region, while distinct seasonal responses were evident in different hydroclimatic settings: January–March (winter) runoff was above normal in most snow-dominant rivers and runoff in all seasons was above normal for much of the desert Southwest. Summer precipitation contributed to summer runoff in both the Pacific Northwest and desert Southwest. A first-order model that presumes runoff is a constant fraction of precipitation (the precipitation elasticity of runoff, E = 1) could be used for assessing and forecasting runoff responses to precipitation deficits across the region, but runoff generally is more vulnerable to drought (E > 1) than predicted by a first-order model. Uncertainty in spring and summer precipitation forecasts remain critical issues for forecasting and predicting summer streamflow vulnerability to drought across much of the western United States.
X-Band Dual-Polarization Radar Observations of Snow Growth Processes of a Severe Winter Storm: Case of 12 December 2013 in South Korea
Authors: Allabakash S. , Lim S. , Chandrasekar V. , Min K. H. , Choi J. , Jang B.
Published: May 2019

The characteristics of microphysical processes of a severe winter storm that occurred on the Korean Peninsula on 12 December 2013 was studied in this work for the first time via X-band dual-polarization weather radar observations. A new range–height indicator (RHI) scan-based quasi-vertical profile methodology, in which polarimetric radar variables were averaged at each height of the RHI scan, was introduced to investigate the snow microphysics, and the obtained polarimetric radar signatures served as fingerprints of the dendritic growth, aggregation, and riming processes. Enhanced differential reflectivity (Zdr) and specific differential phase shift (Kdp) bands were detected near the −15°C isotherm, which signified the growth of dendrites or platelike crystals. The observed correlation between the increases in the reflectivity factor at horizontal polarization Zh and copolar correlation coefficient ρhv and the decreases in Zdr and Kdp magnitudes at lower heights suggested the occurrence of the aggregation process. The combination of high Zh and low Zdr values with turbulent atmospheric conditions observed at the ground level indicated the occurrence of the riming process. In addition, the negative Kdp and Zdr values combined with high Zh and ρhv magnitudes (observed near the end of the snow event) indicated the formation of graupel particles. The polarimetric radar signatures obtained for the snow growth processes were evident from ground observations and agreed well with the results of the Weather Research and Forecasting Model and Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications data. Furthermore, the spatial variability of Zh methodology was implemented to describe both aggregates and rimed ice particles.
Affirmative Action and Its Persistent Effects: A New Perspective
Authors: Miller Conrad
Published: May 2019

This article examines how firms respond to federal affirmative action regulation when it is temporary. As intended, affirmative action increases a firm’s black share of employees. Strikingly, the black share continues to grow at a similar pace even after a firm is deregulated. This persistence is driven in part by affirmative action inducing employers to improve their methods for screening potential hires.
A description of teachers’ approach to handwriting instruction in primary schools
Authors: Cantin Noémi , Hubert Janie
Published: May 2019

Background.

When handwriting becomes a significant obstacle to children’s academic success, occupational therapists are routinely asked to intervene. At times, therapists wonder whether teachers’ instructional approaches have a role to play in explaining children’s handwriting challenges.

Purpose.

This study aimed to describe elementary school teachers’ current instructional approach to handwriting throughout the school year.

Method.

A descriptive study design utilizing a survey approach to data collection was selected for this study. The survey was completed by 399 teachers. Survey responses were collated and descriptive statistics were used for analysis.

Findings.

The heterogeneity of responses illustrates that many teachers are unaware of the best practices to implement to promote students’ acquisition of handwriting.

Implications.

As occupational therapists, knowing that the school environment might not always offer the right context to enable children’s acquisition of the task-specific features of handwriting should permeate our evaluation process and guide our interventions.
Indices of Subscore Utility for Individuals and Subgroups Based on Multivariate Generalizability Theory
Authors: Raymond Mark R. , Jiang Zhehan
Published: May 2019

Conventional methods for evaluating the utility of subscores rely on traditional indices of reliability and on correlations among subscores. One limitation of correlational methods is that they do not explicitly consider variation in subtest means. An exception is an index of score profile reliability designated as [Formula: see text], which quantifies the ratio of true score profile variance to observed score profile variance. [Formula: see text] has been shown to be more sensitive than correlational methods to group differences in score profile utility. However, it is a group average, representing the expected value over a population of examinees. Just as score reliability varies across individuals and subgroups, one can expect that the reliability of score profiles will vary across examinees. This article proposes two conditional indices of score profile utility grounded in multivariate generalizability theory. The first is based on the ratio of observed profile variance to the profile variance that can be attributed to random error. The second quantifies the proportion of observed variability in a score profile that can be attributed to true score profile variance. The article describes the indices, illustrates their use with two empirical examples, and evaluates their properties with simulated data. The results suggest that the proposed estimators of profile error variance are consistent with the known error in simulated score profiles and that they provide information beyond that provided by traditional measures of subscore utility. The simulation study suggests that artificially large values of the indices could occur for about 5% to 8% of examinees. The article concludes by suggesting possible applications of the indices and discusses avenues for further research.
The Paradox of the Easy Yoke: A Survey of χρηστός in Greek Literature and the Interpretational Implications for Matthew 11:30
Authors: Bates Clark
Published: May 2019

Matthew 11:30 could easily be considered one of the most recognizable passages of the New Testament. Many find comfort and fortitude in the words of Jesus, and warm to the idea that his ‘yoke’; is ‘easy’ and ‘burden’, ‘light’. However recognized and familiar this passage may be, it has not gone unnoticed throughout scholarship as a persistent word study in need of incessant explanation. While copious amounts of ink have been spilt discussing the nature of the ‘yoke’ in Matthew 11:30, it is the position of this article that the author of Matthew, had no intention of creating such a mystery. Rather, that the emphasis is to be found in the nature of the yoke itself and the attributive use of χρηστός in Greco-Roman literature, including that of the Greek Old Testament, and the writings of the first-century Christians. This article seeks to demonstrate that the use of χρηστός in the Matthean Gospel does not mean ‘easy’ by English standards, nor was this what the audience of this Gospel would have taken it to mean, given the common use of the term. This is accomplished through an engagement of the text and message of Matthew, followed by an examination of the word’s use in Classical Greek compositions and the Apostolic Fathers, as well as its use in the LXX and the New Testament.
Fabrication and characterization of MWCNT/natural Azerbaijani bentonite electroconductive ceramic composites
Authors: Huseynov Asgar , Israfilov Aydin , Mammadova Samira , Abdullayeva Sevda , Sokolov Sergey , Goryunkov Alexey , Guliyev Akif
Published: May 2019

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes have been synthesized by Aerosol-Chemical Vapor Deposition method. Carbon nanotubes firstly have been used as filler in affordable and prevalent natural Azerbaijani bentonite clays for fabrication electroconductive ceramic composites. In this paper, multi-walled carbon nanotubes/natural Azerbaijani bentonite ceramic composites were prepared by two-factor mechanical method and followed by calcination at 1050℃ in an inert atmosphere. The ceramic composites were characterized by scanning electron microscope, atomic force microscope, X-ray diffraction and thermogravimetric-differential-thermal analysis. X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed the presence of two principal components – multi-walled carbon nanotube and bentonite in composites. From the thermogravimetric-differential-thermal data, it was revealed that multi-walled carbon nanotube/ bentonite ceramic composites demonstrate thermo-oxidative stability up to 580–640℃. Scanning electron microscope images demonstrated a sufficiently high dispersibility of carbon nanotubes and satisfactory homogeneity in the composites. Experimental results demonstrated that by increasing the mass fraction of multi-walled carbon nanotubes from 1% to 8% in multi-walled carbon nanotube/bentonite ceramic composites, the electrical conductivity enhances substantially. The enhancement of electrical conductivity of the composites explained the mass fraction of multi-walled carbon nanotubes, as well as the uniform dispersion of multi-walled carbon nanotubes in the bentonite clays. Compared with other 8% multi-walled carbon nanotubes/bentonite ceramic composites, the electrical conductivity of heptane-multi-walled carbon nanotube/Gobu bentonite (σ = 397 S·m−1) and heptane-multi-walled carbon nanotubes/Atyali (σ = 305 S·m−1) composites is 2–5 times higher than the conductivity of composites obtained with cyclohexane carbon nanotubes- cyclohexane-multi-walled carbon nanotube/Atyali (σ = 78 S·m−1), cyclohexane-multi-walled carbon nanotube/Gobu (σ = 111,5 S·m−1). These results can be explained with the structure, the number of layers, purity and diameter distribution, as well as the type and amount of defects in internal and external layers of Hep-multi-walled carbon nanotubes which cause better dispersion in bentonite clays. Due to the high conductivity and high temperature stability, these composites can be used as promising material for fabrication heating elements, electrodes, substrates for microelectronic devices, etc.
Kindergarten Training in Phonological Awareness: Fluency and Comprehension Gains Are Greatest for Readers at Risk in Grades 1 Through 9
Authors: Kjeldsen Ann-Christina , Educ Lic , Saarento-Zaprudin Silja K. , Niemi Pekka O.
Published: May 2019

Training in phonological awareness has brought about well-documented positive effects on learning to read in lower-primary grades. Less is known about long-term gains extending to upper-primary and junior high school. The few longitudinal studies covering at least 5 years suggest that gains in decoding are sustained, whereas effects on reading comprehension have either not been studied or produced equivocal results. The present study followed up the reading development of 209 Finland Swedish students from kindergarten until Grade 9, half of whom participated in an 8-month phonological intervention in kindergarten. The intervention group outperformed the control group in both word reading and reading comprehension in Grades 1 through 9. However, albeit statistically significant, the differences at the group level were small. The main result was a clear-cut difference in both skills among readers at risk belonging to the lowest 25% in foundational skills at the beginning of kindergarten. In Grade 6, altogether 60% of the nontrained readers at risk still belonged to the lowest quartile in reading comprehension as opposed to 24% of their peers in the intervention group. The pattern was repeated in Grade 9, with trained readers at risk performing at the level of nontrained mainstream readers.
Managing Laggards: The Importance of a Deep Sales Bench
Authors: Boichuk Jeffrey P. , Bommaraju Raghu , Ahearne Michael , Kraus Florian , Steenburgh Thomas J.
Published: May 2019

Sales leaders often use threats of punishment to manage poor performers (i.e., laggards), but little research has examined the effect of these threats. The current research addresses this gap by investigating an intervention termed the “bench program” with a field-based quasi experiment and a randomized lab experiment. In the field, the company under study told salespeople in treatment districts that a trainee would replace them at the end of the year if they failed to hit their quota and placed last in their district. Difference-in-differences analyses of matched treatment and control groups show that the bench program had an immediate and sustained impact on performance. Moreover, laggards improved their performance more than higher performers, and salespeople with larger advice networks improved their performance more than salespeople with smaller advice networks. A lab experiment compares the bench program with a program that had the same threat of firing but did not have replacements in sight. Performance in the bench program exceeded that in the firing condition, indicating that the vividness of a threat can increase its deterrent value.
Gnotobiotics: Past, present and future
Authors: Basic Marijana , Bleich André
Published: May 2019

Gnotobiotics or gnotobiology is a research field exploring organisms with a known microbiological state. In animal research, the development of gnotobiotics started in the late 19th century with the rederivation of germ-free guinea pigs. Cutting-edge achievements were accomplished by scientists in the Laboratories of Bacteriology at the University of Notre Dame (LOBUND). The primary goals of gnotobiotics were not only the development of the equipment required for long-term husbandry but also phenotypic characterization of germ-free animals. The first isolators were designed by Reynolds and Gustafsson as rigid-wall stainless steel autoclave-like chambers, which were subsequently replaced by Trexler’s flexible-film polyvinyl plastic isolators. Flexible-film or semi-rigid isolators are commonly used today. The long-term maintenance of gnotobiotic rodents is performed in positive-pressure isolators. However, to facilitate gnotobiotic experimental procedures, short-term husbandry systems have been developed. Gnotobiotic animal husbandry is laborious and requires experienced staff. Germ-free animals can be rederived from existing rodent colonies by hysterectomy or embryo transfer. The physiology and anatomy of germ-free rodents are different from those of specified pathogen-free (SPF) rodents. Furthermore, to guarantee gnotobiotic status, the colonies need to be regularly microbiologically monitored. Today, gnotobiotics provides a powerful tool to analyse functional effects of host-microbe interactions, especially in complex disease models. Gnotobiotic models combined with ‘omics’ approaches will be indispensable for future advances in microbiome research. Furthermore, these approaches will contribute to the development of novel therapeutic targets. In addition, regional or national gnotobiotic core facilities should be established in the future to support further applications of gnotobiotic models.
Investigating the effect of raising on the sound absorption behavior of polyester woven fabrics
Authors: Suvari Fatih , Dulek Yasemin
Published: May 2019

This work presents the results of efforts focused on the development of sound absorptive woven fabrics by the raising process. Four woven fabrics with rib and basket weave patterns were produced for the raising process. Micro-fiber-based polyester weft yarns were used in one set of rib and basket weave fabrics, while weft yarns comprising regular polyester fibers were used in the other set. Fabrics were subjected to dyeing and heat setting prior to the raising process. Fabrics were then passed one to three times through the raising unit in order to obtain fabrics with different voluminous characteristics and different quantities of fiber ends on the fabric surface. The mass per unit area, thickness, air permeability, and sound absorption coefficient of the fabrics were measured and surface images of the fabrics were taken. The solid volume fraction and airflow resistivity of the fabrics decreased significantly after the first and second raising passes. Increasing the number of raising passes up to two passes resulted in higher sound absorption (average increment of 20% at 5 kHz) in the higher frequencies at the expense of that in the lower frequencies. Sound absorption change beyond two passes was insignificant, though. The results demonstrated that raised fabrics having a lower solid volume fraction and airflow resistivity had better acoustical properties in the higher frequency region.
The chemical degumming process and effect on the composition, structure and properties of Apocynum venetum
Authors: Lou Jianting , Yao Lan , Qiu Yiping , Lin Huoyue , Kuang Ye , Qi Sihao
Published: May 2019

Apocynum venetum (AV) is a kind of rare wild plant with a strong capability for survival in the world and is named the “the king of wild fiber.” As AV bast fibers have defects due to natural and operational interventions, it is difficult to degum them thoroughly. In this study, chemical degumming was applied to obtain degummed fibers for further treatment. The details of degumming were provided and the necessary characterizations of the degummed fibers were tested and analyzed. The average length of AV fiber was 29.68 mm, concentrated in the range of 10–50 mm, which was suitable for blending with cotton, wool, etc. In addition, the fineness of AV fibers was 4673.25 Nm. From the results of color data, AV fibers were reddish yellow. Scanning electron microscopy results showed that the degummed single AV fiber had a certain number of nodes distributing randomly on the surface. The Fourier transform infrared spectrum showed that the peaks associating with the pectin, hemicellulose and lignin decreased significantly, indicating the effectiveness of the chemical degumming. In addition, the AV bast fibers and AV fibers had strong abilities in absorbing water moisture with regains of 11.56% and 8.7%, respectively. For the mechanical properties, the degummed AV fibers had a similar modulus of 401.56 cN/dtex to that of ramie fibers. The X-ray diffraction results indicated that after degumming, the crystalline structure was more obvious. These results provided the necessary basis for studying the structures of AV bast and degummed fibers and provided preparation for further fiber mat reinforced composites.
An international housing market in the British Isles: Evidence from business and medium-term cycles using a Friedman test
Authors: Gray David
Published: May 2019

It has been averred that there is an international market in housing (inter alia, Adams Z and Füss R (2010) Macroeconomic determinants of international housing markets. Journal of Housing Economics 19(1): 38–50; Helbling T and Terrones M (2003) When Bubbles Burst – Chapter II, World Economic Outlook. April. Washington, DC: IMF; Pomogajko K and Voigtländer M (2012) Co-movement of house price cycles – A factor analysis. International Journal of Housing Markets & Analysis 5(4): 414–427). Although some authors examine the business cycle range, the mechanism by which this comes about is more likely to reflect financial market integration and evidence for this should be found in the medium-term cycle range. As a case study, there is an analysis of three associated ‘regional’ housing markets and their price movements. Northern Ireland’s economy is distinct but should be linked to the rest of the UK by common policy shocks, and to Eire through a mutual border. Using a Friedman test, it is found that even this small cluster is not integrated. It is asserted that a housing cycle has both a financial and a business component. As Drehmann et al. (Drehmann M, Borio C and Tstasaronis K (2012) Characterising the financial cycle: Don’t lose sight of the medium term! BIS Working Papers, No. 380, Bank for International Settlements, June) argue, cycles in the medium-term range are significant in housing. A dual component approach highlights the relevance of cyclical interaction for both revealing integration and the need to intervene to moderate cyclical reinforcement for crisis-avoidance. After 1995, Dublin and London are found to be more integrated than before, which is consistent with the international city integration thesis of Holly et al. (Holly S, Pesaran H and Yamagata T (2011) The spatio-temporal diffusion of house prices in the UK. Journal of Urban Economics 69(1): 2–23). Lastly, a simple test for cyclical asymmetry indicates that there is highness (the obverse of deepness, where the troughs are deeper than peaks) in the UK financial cycle.
How sensitive are measures of polycentricity to the choice of ‘centres’? A methodological and empirical exploration
Authors: Zhang Weiyang , Derudder Ben
Published: May 2019

In the literature dealing with measuring ‘urban polycentricity’, relatively little attention has been paid to the identification of what constitutes an ‘urban centre’. In this paper, we assess the sensitivity of polycentricity measures to one particular aspect of this identification: using the case of ‘polycentric urban regions’, we empirically examine the sensitivity of the ‘level’ of polycentricity to the number of cities included in the analysis. Using a two-mode firm–city data source, we do so by stepwise measuring the polycentricity of the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) as cities are added to the analysis. This measurement of ‘stepwise polycentricity’ is benchmarked against an ideal typical urban system with a rank-size distribution. The results suggest that the measure of polycentricity is indeed highly sensitive to the choice of the number of cities, so that the alleged level of polycentricity is contingent on the choice of a cut-off point. We propose that the analysis of the sensitivity of polycentricity can help researchers to (1) investigate the different role of cities in shaping polycentric structures of urban regions, and (2) better identify mono- or polycentric structures of urban regions. Analyses of trends in the ‘stepwise polycentricity’ of the YRD and seven other urban regions along the Yangtze River Economic Belt serve to illustrate.
What Can Mechanisms Do for You? Mechanisms and the Problem of Confounders in the Social Sciences
Authors: Jiménez-Buedo María , Squitieri Juan Carlos
Published: May 2019

The idea that mechanisms are crucially important to differentiate between genuine and spurious causal relations is ubiquitous both in the philosophical and in the social scientific literature. Yet philosophers of the social sciences have seldom attempted to spell out systematically the way in which mechanistic reasoning or evidence are concretely used to deal with spurious association and the problem of confounders in the social sciences. In this paper, we analyze two recent such accounts, proposed by Harold Kincaid and Daniel Steel. We show how these two accounts radically differ in their notion of mechanism (a process account, and a complex system account, respectively), and how this ultimately impacts in the way in which they understand the inferential role of mechanisms in the social sciences. We then confront both accounts with the details of a well-known controversy around the purportedly causal association between the legalization of abortion and the subsequent fall in criminality in the United States. We show the limitations of both accounts in representing accurately the role of mechanistic evidence and hypotheses in practice.
Realizing the Performance Benefits of Workforce Diversity in the U.S. Federal Government: The Moderating Role of Diversity Climate
Authors: Moon Kuk-Kyoung , Christensen Robert K.
Published: May 2019

Conventional wisdom in diversity research holds that biodemographic diversity is harmful to performance, whereas job-related diversity is beneficial to performance. Empirical evidence in this area, however, remains mixed and inconclusive. Due to this inconsistency, scholars have recently called for a search for moderators of the relationship between diversity and performance to expand the theoretical perspectives on organizational diversity. In this context, we examine how biodemographic (gender, race, and age) and job-related (function and tenure) diversity influence organizational performance and how diversity climate as a potential moderator shapes the relationships between the two dimensions of diversity and performance. Using panel data from the U.S. federal government, we find that racial and tenure diversity have positive relationships with organizational performance, whereas functional diversity has a negative relationship. Further analysis reveals that a diversity climate positively moderates the relationship between racial diversity, functional diversity, tenure diversity, and organizational performance. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
Modeling hyperviscoelastic behavior of elastomeric materials (HDPE/POE blend) at different dynamic biaxial and uniaxial tensile strain rates by a new dynamic tensile-loading mechanism
Authors: Aligholizadeh E , Yazdani M , Sabouri H
Published: May 2019

This article presents a new model developed to investigate hyperviscoelastic behavior of elastomeric materials/polyolefin elastomers (HDPE/POE blend) under dynamic biaxial and uniaxial tensile loading. Various strain energy functions (SEF) have been used in this model, and their capability to predict hyperelastic behavior of the aforementioned materials was validated by experimental data. In the experimental part, a new dynamic tensile-loading mechanism was designed and developed to be mounted on a drop-weight impact-testing machine. As a novelty, this mechanism has the ability to perform either uniaxial or biaxial dynamic tensile tests for any type of material, especially for investigating the hyperviscoelastic behavior of materials like elastomers at various strain rates. In addition, a new hyperviscoelastic model has been developed for elastomeric material, which can predict the behavior of the material well at different strain rates. By increasing the strain rate in the dynamic biaxial and uniaxial loading, Pucci–Saccomandi and Yeoh SEF predicted the dynamic behavior of material well due to its lower root mean square error. In fact, in this case, these functions are more capable than Mooney–Rivlin, Neo-Hookean, and polynomial SEF in predicting the effect of the strain rates. In addition, the results show that Yeoh SEF performs much better than the other SEFs in predicting the material behavior in cases of dynamic biaxial and uniaxial tensile strain. The results also indicated that the newly designed mechanism was capable of performing dynamic tensile loading and extracting its accurate results and could reduce the cost of testing compared to other methods.
Ingroup Love or Outgroup Hate (or Both)? Mapping Distinct Bias Profiles in the Population
Authors: Hamley Logan , Houkamau Carla A. , Osborne Danny , Barlow Fiona Kate , Sibley Chris G.
Published: May 2019

Researchers have long argued that ingroup favoritism and outgroup derogation are separable phenomena that occur in different, meaningful combinations. Statistical methods for testing this thesis, however, have been underutilized. We address this oversight by using latent profile analysis (LPA) to investigate distinct profiles of group bias derived from ingroup and outgroup warmth ratings. Using a national probability sample of Māori (the indigenous people of New Zealand; N = 2,289) and Europeans ( N = 13,647), we identify a distinct profile reflecting ingroup favoritism/outgroup derogation (Type III in Brewer’s typology of ingroup bias) in both groups (6.7% of Māori, 10.3% of Europeans). The factors associated with this type, however, differed between groups. Whereas ethnic identity centrality predicted membership for Type III for Māori, social dominance orientation predicted this type for Europeans. Thus, although both groups may express the same kind of bias pattern, the motivation underlying this bias varies by status.
Evaluating the Fit of Sequential G-DINA Model Using Limited-Information Measures
Authors: Ma Wenchao
Published: May 2019

Limited-information fit measures appear to be promising in assessing the goodness-of-fit of dichotomous response cognitive diagnosis models (CDMs), but their performance has not been examined for polytomous response CDMs. This study investigates the performance of the Mord statistic and standardized root mean square residual (SRMSR) for an ordinal response CDM—the sequential generalized deterministic inputs, noisy “and” gate model. Simulation studies showed that the Mord statistic had well-calibrated Type I error rates, but the correct detection rates were influenced by various factors such as item quality, sample size, and the number of response categories. In addition, the SRMSR was also influenced by many factors and the common practice of comparing the SRMSR against a prespecified cut-off (e.g., .05) may not be appropriate. A set of real data was analyzed as well to illustrate the use of Mord statistic and SRMSR in practice.
Factors Associated With Quality of Life of Family Caregivers of Dialysis Recipients
Authors: Starks Shaquita A. , Graff J. Carolyn , Wicks Mona N.
Published: May 2019

Chronic kidney failure may contribute to the diminished quality of life of African American women who care for adults affected by the disorder. Few studies document the quality of life of these caregivers. For this descriptive correlational study, caregiver demographic, caregiver burden, depressive symptoms, family functioning, and quality-of-life self-report data from 75 African American women were extracted from an existing database. Ferrans’ Conceptual Model of Quality of Life guided the selection of study variables. Several significant associations were found. Caregiver education, employment status, marital status, and caregiver burden explained 63% of the variance in the caregivers’ quality of life. Findings support the need to explore further and design interventions to improve the quality of life of working African American women supporting individuals with chronic kidney failure.
Salivary Gland Cancers of the Nasopharynx: A Population‐Based Analysis of 383 Cases
Authors: Booth J. Renee , Unsal Aykut A. , Tadros Sandra , Byrd J. Kenneth , Kountakis Stilianos E.
Published: May 2019

Objectives/Hypothesis

Salivary gland nasopharynx cancers (SGNPCs) are rare malignancies with few cases discussed in the literature. This study represents the largest cohort of SGNPC to date.

Study Design

Retrospective population‐based analysis.

Methods

The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results registry from 1973 to 2015 was utilized to extract 383 cases of SGNPC. Data were analyzed for demographic characteristics, incidence, clinicopathologic traits, and outcome prognosticators.

Results

White female patients aged >40 years were most commonly affected. The incidence was measured as 0.019 per 100,000 people. The majority of tumors presented at advanced stages (stage III/IV, 60.8%). Adenoid cystic carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, and mucoepidermoid carcinoma were the most commonly encountered histologies (43.1%, 31.6%, 13.3%, respectively). Cervical node involvement and distant metastasis were measured at 23% and 11.9%, respectively. Mucoepidermoid carcinomas presented with the best disease‐specific survival at 5 and 10 years. Asian ethnicity, age <80 years, and earlier American Joint Committee on Cancer stages were positive prognostic factors. The inclusion of surgical therapy improved 5‐year outcomes among the most common histologies, except for mucoepidermoid carcinoma.

Conclusions

Salivary gland nasopharyngeal cancer represents a group of rare histologies with similar outcomes as squamous cell carcinomas. However, prognosis is primarily dependent on histologic subtype, race, age, and American Joint Committee on Cancer stage.
The color continuum: Skin tone and online dating preferences among Asian Americans
Authors: Tsunokai Glenn T. , Kposowa Augustine J. , Carroll Ellen , Karamoko Miriam
Published: May 2019

Despite the increasing body of literature surrounding online dating preferences, there remains a paucity of research that analyzes whether skin color influences the dating selection process. To fill this empirical gap, the present study uses data collected from 2,024 Asian dating profiles, including the skin tone of the daters, to assess the impact that skin color variation may have on the inter- and intraracial dating preferences of heterosexual males and females as well as gay males and lesbians. This research also examines whether skin tone has a pronounced effect on the relationship between sexual orientation and the willingness to date Asians, African Americans, and Latino/Latinas. The current findings suggest that darker skinned Asians are more likely to state a preference to date African Americans and Latino/Latinas compared to their lighter skinned counterparts; however, they are less willing to date another Asian. The results also document significant interaction effects between sexual orientation and skin color differences. Our findings are discussed in relation to the racial hierarchy of preference and privilege that are inherently linked to the longstanding concept of colorism.
Interpreting ‘the social’: Exploring processes of social sustainability in Danish nonprofit housing
Authors: Langergaard Luise L
Published: May 2019

The article aims at analyzing and discussing how “the social” is perceived in processes of social sustainability within the context of the nonprofit housing sector in Denmark. The investigation takes as point of departure a specific renovation project, which exemplifies an attempt to bring social sustainability to the core of the process. As such, the study analyses the process by distilling various understandings of “the social” appearing in the project and herein the different types of participation that these understandings relate to. The analysis demonstrates that working with social sustainability and the aims and ideals connected to it is not straight forward, since “social sustainability” is not a tangible target, but rather something which is reinterpreted and subject to changing perceptions along the process. The dynamic and changing character of “sociality” suggests that social sustainability requires a focus on the platforms and on-going processes and interactions which continuously constitute the social life in a neighborhood and the relations between the residents. In this manner the article adds to empirical knowledge about processes organized to strengthen social sustainability in urban environments and contributes theoretically with a nuanced understanding of what “social” denotes in the context of sustainable development.
Cessation and reduction in alcohol consumption and misuse after psychedelic use
Authors: Garcia-Romeu Albert , Davis Alan K , Erowid Fire , Erowid Earth , Griffiths Roland R , Johnson Matthew W
Published: May 2019

Background:

Meta-analysis of randomized studies using lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) for alcohol use disorder (AUD) showed large, significant effects for LSD efficacy compared to control conditions. Clinical studies suggest potential anti-addiction effects of LSD and mechanistically-related classic psychedelics for alcohol and other substance use disorders.

Aims:

To supplement clinical studies, reports of psychedelic use in naturalistic settings can provide further data regarding potential effects of psychedelics on alcohol use.

Methods:

An anonymous online survey of individuals with prior AUD reporting cessation or reduction in alcohol use following psychedelic use in non-clinical settings.

Results:

343 respondents, mostly White (89%), males (78%), in the USA (60%) completed the survey. Participants reported seven years of problematic alcohol use on average before the psychedelic experience to which they attributed reduced alcohol consumption, with 72% meeting retrospective criteria for severe AUD. Most reported taking a moderate or high dose of LSD (38%) or psilocybin (36%), followed by significant reduction in alcohol consumption. After the psychedelic experience 83% no longer met AUD criteria. Participants rated their psychedelic experience as highly meaningful and insightful, with 28% endorsing psychedelic-associated changes in life priorities or values as facilitating reduced alcohol misuse. Greater psychedelic dose, insight, mystical-type effects, and personal meaning of experiences were associated with a greater reduction in alcohol consumption, controlling for prior alcohol consumption and related distress.

Conclusions:

Although results cannot demonstrate causality, they suggest that naturalistic psychedelic use may lead to cessation or reduction in problematic alcohol use, supporting further investigation of psychedelic-assisted treatment for AUD.
A Closer Examination of the Temporal Relationship Between Self-Competence and Depressive Symptoms During Early Adolescence
Authors: Ohannessian Christine McCauley , Vannucci Anna
Published: May 2019

This study examined the temporal relation between self-competence and depressive symptoms in a large, diverse, U.S. community sample of 1,344 adolescents (51% female; [Formula: see text] = 12.73, SD = .69, range = 11-14 years). Surveys were administered to seventh- and eighth-grade students at participating high schools in the fall of 2016 and the spring of 2017. Girls reported higher levels of depressive symptoms and self-competence in behavioral conduct and close friendships than boys, whereas boys reported higher levels of self-competence in athletic, physical appearance, and social domains than girls. Results from autoregressive, cross-lagged path models indicated that depressive symptoms predicted self-competence more consistently than the reverse. There were no gender differences in the associations between self-competence and depressive symptoms. Findings from this study underscore the importance of considering both directions of effect when examining psychosocial factors associated with depressive symptoms during early adolescence.
IDH genotypes differentiation in glioblastomas using DWI and DSC-PWI in the enhancing and peri-enhancing region
Authors: Xing Zhen , Zhang Hua , She Dejun , Lin Yu , Zhou Xiaofang , Zeng Zheng , Cao Dairong
Published: May 2019

Background

Isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) mutation has diagnostic and prognostic values in glioblastomas. Peritumoral invasion of glioma cells is a cardinal feature of glioblastomas.

Purpose

To evaluate the contribution of DWI and DSC-PWI in the enhancing and peri-enhancing region for discriminating glioblastomas IDH genotypes, and the diagnostic values of combining two techniques in the peri-enhancing region compared with those in the enhancing region.

Material and Methods

We retrospectively reviewed the conventional MRI (cMRI), DWI and DSC-PWI obtained from 10 patients with IDH-mutated (IDH-m) glioblastomas and 65 patients with IDH wild-type (IDH-w) glioblastomas. Features of cMRI, relative minimum ADC in the enhancing region (rADCmin-t) and peri-enhancing area (rADCmin-p), and relative maximum CBV values in the enhancing region (rCBVmax-t) and peri-enhancing region (rCBVmax-p) were compared between two groups. Receiver operating characteristic curves and logistic regression analysis were used to assess diagnostic performance.

Results

IDH-m glioblastomas tended to present in frontal lobes and younger patients. The rADCmin-t ( P = 0.042) were significantly lower in IDH-w than IDH-m. Both rCBVmax-t and rCBVmax-p showed significant differences between two subgroups (all P < 0.001). The optimal cutoff values in prediction of IDH-m were >0.98 for rADCmin-t, <7.27 for rCBVmax-t, and < 0.97 for rCBVmax-p. Multivariate logistic regression revealed that the combination of rADCmin-t and rCBVmax-t yielded the highest sensitivity and specificity.

Conclusion

The rCBVmax-t or rCBVmax-p may serve as preferable and comparable imaging biomarkers for evaluation of glioblastomas IDH status. The combination of rADCmin-t and rCBVmax-t may yield the maximum predictive power for differentiating IDH status.
The Chinese herb Xiaoaiping protects against breast cancer chemotherapy-induced alopecia and other side effects: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Yu Fujie , Li Yuanmei , Zou Jiaqun , Jiang Lisha , Wang Chun , Tang Yi , Gao Bo , Luo Donglin , Jiang Xiaojuan
Published: May 2019

Objective

To investigate the effects of the Chinese herbal medicine Xiaoaiping to treat chemotherapy-induced side effects in breast cancer patients.

Methods

Ninety-three adult patients who attended our hospital and met the entry criteria from January 2016 to December 2017 were included. Patients were randomly divided into the control group (routine chemotherapy only) and the combined group (routine chemotherapy and Xiaoaiping). Demographic data and clinical variables were collected, and side effects including alopecia, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, white blood cell (WBC) count, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels, and the quality of life were evaluated.

Results

Basic clinical characteristics were not different between the groups. There were significantly fewer patients with alopecia grade 3–4, but significantly more patients with alopecia grade 1–2, in the combined group compared with the control group. Disease-free time for alopecia was longer in the combined compared with the control group. Overall, the side effects were significantly more serious in the control compared with the combined group. Patients in the combined group had better quality of life than the control patients.

Conclusion

Xiaoaiping can improve alopecia, nausea and vomiting, and diarrhea symptoms, WBC count, AST levels, and the quality of life in breast cancer patients.