bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Academic Freedom and Its Protection in the Law of European States
Authors: Beiter Klaus D. , Karran Terence , Appiagyei-Atua Kwadwo
Published: September 2016

Focusing on those countries that are members of the European Union, it may be noted that these countries are bound under international human rights agreements, such as the International Covenants on Civil and Political, and Economic, Social and Cultural Rights or the European Convention on Human Rights, to safeguard academic freedom under provisions providing for the right to freedom of expression, the right to education, and respect for ‘the freedom indispensable for scientific research.’ unesco’s Recommendation concerning the Status of Higher-Education Teaching Personnel, a ‘soft-law’ document of 1997, concretises international human rights requirements to be complied with to make the protection of the right to academic freedom effective. Relying on a set of human rights indicators, the present article assesses the extent to which the constitutions, laws on higher education, and other relevant legislation of eu states implement the Recommendation’s criteria. The situation of academic freedom in practice will not be assessed here. The results for the various countries have been quantified and countries ranked in accordance with ‘their performance.’ The assessment demonstrates that, overall, the state of the protection of the right to academic freedom in the law of European states is one of ‘ill-health.’ Institutional autonomy is being misconstrued as exhausting the concept of academic freedom, self-governance in higher education institutions sacrificed for ‘executive-style’ management, and employment security abrogated to cater for ‘changing employment needs’ in higher education.
Nomenclature survey of the genus Amaranthus (Amaranthaceae). 5. Moquin-Tandon’s names
Authors: IAMONICO DUILIO
Published: September 2016

A comprehensive nomenclatural study of the 109 names in Acnida, Amaranthus[1] and Euxolus, which were firstly published by Moquin-Tandon, is here presented. 49 names are invalid since 1) were proposed as synonyms under legitimate names (36 names, Art. 36.1c of the ICN), 2) are nomina nuda (11 names, Art. 38.2 Ex. 1 of the ICN), or 3) were uncorrectly named or published (2 names). 10 names are actually new proposed combinations. The remaining 50 names are valid (48 legitimate and 2 illegitimate). Six names (Ac. tuberculata, Am. hybridus var. erythrostachys, Am. sect. Pyxidium, Am. muricatus, E. caudatus var. gracilis, and E. caudatus var. maximus) are already lectotypified, while the remaining ones appears to be untypified. Types (lecto-, isolecto- and neo-) are designated on specimens preserved at BR, G, GH, HAL, HOH, K, MO, MPU, P, UPS, and iconographies by Vellozo (for Am. brasiliensis), Wight (Am. tristis var. wightii), Morandi (Euxolus viridis var. purpurascens), and Dodoëns (Euxolus viridis var. rubens). Syntypes are preserved at BR, MO, RO, and TUB. For the nomenclatural purposes the name Am. lanceolatus was also investigated and lectotypified on a specimen preserved at P. No typifications were proposed for 4 names: Am. paniculatus var. monstruosus (which is to be considered a teratogenous form) Am. flavus var. bernhardi, Am. hypochondriacus var. racemosus, and Am. tristis var. flexuosus. Concerning the latter three names, since the difficult in understanding the concepts of these taxa and finding useful specimens and in the interest of nomenclatural stability, a rejection of is hoped for (Art. 56 of the ICN). New synonymies are proposed for Amaranthus blitum var. nanus (= Am. blitoides), Am. brasiliensis (= Am. cruentus), Am. tristis var. leptostachys (= Am. cruentus), Euxolus viridis var. rubens and Euxolus viridis var. purpurascens (= Am. blitum var. blitum). The name Amaranthus ×wallichii was proposed to formalize a putative hybrid between Am. cruentus and Am. hybridus, which still does not appear to be published.
A new species of Goeppertia (Marantaceae) from the Atlantic forest of northeastern Brazil
Authors: LUNA NAÉDJA , PESSOA EDLLEY , SAKA MARIANA N. , ALVES MARCCUS
Published: September 2016

A new species from the Atlantic forest of northeastern Brazil, Goeppertia yoshida-arnsiae, is described and illustrated. It is morphologically similar to G. umbrosa (Körnicke 1862: 137) Borchsenius & Suárez (2012: 635), but differs mainly by the indumentum of the leaf blades and petioles, length of the peduncles, number of bracteoles per pair of flower, and indumentum of the sepals.
Neonauclea connicalycina: a new myrmecophytic species of Naucleeae (Rubiaceae) from Cebu, Philippines
Authors: ORDAS JORGE ANTON D. , TARADJI AR-RAUF J. , VALDEZ JR. MARCOS B. , BANAG CECILIA I. , ALEJANDRO GRECEBIO JONATHAN D.
Published: September 2016

The new myrmecophytic species, Neonauclea connicalycina, from Carmen, Cebu, Philippines closely resembles N. formicaria, which also occurs in Philippines, but differs from that by its smaller mature flowering heads, fusiform apical portions of the calyces, longer and sharply pyramidal calyx summits that are pallid brown when dry, calyx lobes that are connate for 1–2 mm and fall off together in a unit, and smaller, more slender corollas. Description, illustration and ecological comments about the new species are provided.
Nomenclatural notes on Pamphalea (Asteraceae: Nassauvieae)
Authors: PLATT FERNANDO HENRIQUE , BÜNDCHEN MÁRCIA , MIOTTO SILVIA TERESINHA SFOGGIA
Published: September 2016

As part of a study on Pamphalea conducted in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, we present here the lectotypifications of P. bupleurifolia, P. cardaminifolia, P. ramboi and P. ramboi var. scaposa, as well as the synonymization of the latter and comments on the proper orthography of the generic name.
A review of the Australian endemic clam shrimp, Paralimnadia Sars 1896 (Crustacea: Branchiopoda: Spinicaudata)
Authors: TIMMS BRIAN V.
Published: September 2016

Paralimnadia was recently re-erected to accommodate Australian limnadiids formally placed in Limnadia. They are characterised by the lack of a spine on the posterior ventral corner of the telson, a cercopod divided by a spine midlength into a cylindrical seta bearing basal section and a narrowing denticle bearing distal section, males amplex females on the posterior body margin keeping the body in line, and gonochoristic reproduction, so typically sex ratios are broadly 1:1. These characters separate Paralimnadia from the closely related Eulimandia. Paralimnadia is endemic to and diverse in Australia, and includes the transferred P. stanleyana (King), P. sordida (King), P. badia (Wolf), P. cygnorum (Dakin) and P. urukhai (Webb & Bell) as well as 10 new species. All are variable morphologically, the most conservative characters being the morphology of their eggs and the cercopod setae. Although found across Australia, there are hot spots of diversity in the coast and montane areas of New South Wales and southwest of areas of Western Australia and few in the vast inland arid zone. As in Eulimnadia, a few occur in rock pools. However those in sandy coastal pools subject to urbanisation or mining are becoming rare.
Whip spiders (Amblypygi, Arachnida) of the Western Palaearctic—a review
Authors: BLICK THEO , SEITER MICHAEL
Published: September 2016

All records of the two amblypygid species occurring in the Western Palaearctic are mapped and both species (Charinus ioanniticus and Musicodamon atlanteus) are discussed. Charinus ioanniticus is known from the Eastern Mediterranean (Greece, Turkey, Israel and Egypt) from 10 localities and Musicodamon atlanteus is known from the Maghreb (Morocco, Algeria) from three localities. All records are mapped.
The assassin bug genera Nagustoides and Stenolemus (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Reduviidae) newly recorded from Japan
Authors: ISHIKAWA TADASHI , NAKA TAKERU
Published: September 2016

Two assassin bug genera, Nagustoides Miller, 1954 of Harpactorinae and Stenolemus Signoret, 1858 of Emesinae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Reduviidae), are recorded from Japan for the first time, with the presence of the representative species N. lii Zhao, Cai & Ren, 2006 and S. alikakay Rédei & Tsai, 2010. Distribution ranges of the two species are revised by the present finding.
Zanobatus maculatus, a new species of panray from the Gulf of Guinea, eastern central Atlantic (Elasmobranchii: Batoidea: Zanobatidae)
Authors: SÉRET BERNARD
Published: September 2016

A new species of panray, Zanabatus maculatus sp. nov., is described from 12 type specimens collected in the Gulf of Guinea (Eastern Central Atlantic). The new species is distinguished from its sympatric congener, the striped panray Zanobatus schoenleinii, by its smaller size, heavier thorn pattern, spearhead-shaped dermal denticles and maculate colour pattern.
New cave species of Sinella Brook, 1882 from China (Collembola: Entomobryidae)
Authors: ZHAO LINA , ZHANG FENG
Published: September 2016

Springtails, especially entomobryids, are abundant in Karst faunas. Five new species of Sinella Brook are described here from caves in southern China: S. liuae sp. nov., S. hunanica sp. nov., S. tigris sp. nov., S. minuta sp. nov. and S. tiani sp. nov. A new record of Sinella sineocula Chen & Christiansen, is also recorded. These species differ in claw structure, chaetae on ventral side of the head, and body chaetotaxy. An updated key to cave species of Sinella from China is provided.
Taxonomic and morphological studies on the Lygephila dorsigera (Walker, 1865) species-group, with description of a new species (Lepidoptera, Erebidae, Toxocampinae)
Authors: PEKARSKY OLEG
Published: September 2016

A new species of the L. dorsigera species-group, Lygephila pallidivena sp. n. is described. A diagnostic comparison is made with L. dorsigera and Lygephila lilacina (Butler, 1878). The female genitalia of the holotype of L. dorsigera is described and illustrated for the first time, and Lygephila kishidai Kinoshita, 1989 is treated here as a junior subjective synonym, syn. n.
Redescription of the poorly known crab spider Xysticus spasskyi (Araneae: Thomisidae)
Authors: MARUSIK YURI M. , AZARKINA GALINA N.
Published: September 2016

With 372 species, Xysticus C.L. Koch, 1835 is the largest genus in the family Thomisidae (WSC 2016). As with other speciose genera, the genus has never been revised on a global scale and is only thoroughly known in a few parts of the Holarctic, namely Central and Northern Europe, North America, Israel and Japan. Over 200 species are known from one/two taxonomic references only, or from a single illustrated description/redescription (WSC 2016). The fact that 40% of species are known from only one sex (104 females and 54 males) or from juveniles (8 species) (WSC 2016) suggests that Xysticus requires revision. During a study of crab spiders of the Caucasus, we experienced difficulties in identifying Xysticus spasskyi Utochkin, 1968 due to the lack of detailed figures of the male palp and female epigyne. This species was based on the holotype female collected from an unspecified locality in the coastal part of modern Kransnodar Province (Utochkin 1968). The male of X. spasskyi was described as X. umbrinus Utochkin, 1968 from Kuban' Region (currently Krasnodar Province). The two species were synonymised by Ovtsharenko (1979). Besides Krasnodar Province, the species has been reported from North Ossetia (Ponomarev & Komarov 2013) and South Ossetia (Ponomarev & Komarov 2015), Georgia, Azerbaijan and the Crimea (Mikhailov 2013; Otto 2015). The illustrations in the descriptions of Utochkin (1968) and Ovtsharenko (1979), are either very small, schematic or provide no diagnostic details. The endogyne (=vulva) of this species has never been illustrated. Here we redescribe this species and compare distant populations.
Hylaperdina squamosa, a new species of Neotropical Lycoperdininae (Coleoptera, Endomychidae) from Brazil
Authors: ARRIAGA-VARELA EMMANUEL , TOMASZEWSKA WIOLETTA
Published: September 2016

Endomychidae or Handsome Fungus Beetles are a moderately large family of mycophagous beetles distributed worldwide but with the highest diversity in the tropics (Shockley et al. 2009a, b). The concept of the family (e.g. Lawrence & Newton 1995; Tomaszewska 2000, 2010; Shockley et al. 2009a) has recently been restricted by an elevation of former subfamilies Eupsilobiinae, Mycetaeinae and Anamorphinae to the level of independent families in the newly recognized superfamily Coccinelloidea (Robertson et al. 2015).
Increased Surface Ocean Heating by Colored Detrital Matter (CDM) Linked to Greater Northern Hemisphere Ice Formation in the GFDL CM2Mc ESM
Authors: Kim Grace E. , Gnanadesikan Anand , Pradal Marie-Aude
Published: September 2016

Recent observations of Arctic Ocean optical properties have found that colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM) is of primary importance in determining the nonwater absorption coefficient of light in this region. Although CDOM is an important optical constituent in the Arctic Ocean, it is not included in most of the current generation of Earth system models (ESMs). In this study, model runs were conducted with and without light attenuation by colored detrital matter (CDM), the combined optical contribution of CDOM and nonalgal particles. The fully coupled GFDL CM2 with Modular Ocean Model version 4p1 (MOM4p1) at coarse resolution (CM2Mc) ESM was used to examine the differences in heating and ice formation in the high northern latitudes. The annual cycle of sea surface temperature (SST) is amplified in the model run where the optical attenuation by CDM is included. Annually averaged integrated ice mass is 5% greater and total ice extent is 6% greater owing to colder wintertime SSTs. Differences in ocean heating (i.e., temperature tendency) between the two model runs are well represented by the combined changes in heating by penetrating shortwave radiation, mixing, and surface heat fluxes in the upper 100 m. Shortwave radiation is attenuated closer to the surface, which reduces heating below 10 m during summer months. Mixing entrains colder waters into the mixed layer during the autumn and winter months. Increased cloudiness and ice thickness in the model run with CDM reduces incoming shortwave radiation.
Dynamic mechanical relaxations of electrospun poly(acrylonitrile-co-methyl acrylate) nanofibrous yarn
Authors: Hosseini Seyed Abdolkarim , Pan Ning , Ko Frank
Published: September 2016

The phase structure and dynamic mechanical properties of poly(acrylonitrile-co-methyl acrylate) (P(AN-co-MA)) nanofibers collected in the form of twisted yarn via the two-nozzle conjugated electrospinning method were investigated to study the effects of solution concentration and take-up velocity on the relaxation behavior of nanofibers yarn. The wide-angle X-ray diffraction analyses of P(AN-co-MA) nanofibers show a two-phase structure of nanofibers consisting of crystalline and amorphous phases and polymorphic transition from hexagonal to orthorhombic. Heating P(AN-co-MA) nanofibers at over the glass transition temperature led to an increased degree of both crystallinity and crystallite size with no polymorphic change. Three transitions (tan δ peaks) were observed in nanofibrous yarn prepared at different spinning dope concentrations and take-up speeds, except for the specimen prepared at a concentration of 14 wt% and collecting speed of 8 cm/min, wherein no α transition was observed due to improved molecular orientation. The temperature dependence of the dynamic Young’s modulus of nanofibrous yarn at different spinning dope concentrations was mainly affected by the diameter of the nanofiber as the morphological property and molecular orientation. Take-up speed was found to affect the γ and α transitions more than the β transition. Moreover, the maximum storage modulus was obtained at a take-up speed of 8 cm/min at all over recorded temperatures.
Strategic interaction in local governments’ industrial land supply: Evidence from China
Authors: Huang Zhonghua , Du Xuejun
Published: September 2016

Land is an important tool for local governments to attract investments and promote local economic growth in China. Based on panel data of Chinese prefecture-level cities from 2003 to 2012, this paper employs spatial panel data models to examine the strategic interaction among local governments in industrial land supply and to indentify its possible sources. The empirical results show that there exists strategic interaction among local governments in industrial land leasing price. Local governments’ industrial land leasing price is significantly impacted by the action of neighbouring cities. They mimic each other – in terms of industrial land leasing price to attract outside investments. Empirical evidence reveals that the strategic interaction comes from both yardstick competition and resource flow effects. Local governments react more to their neighbours’ industrial land leasing price during political cycle periods.
Alternative Methods to Make Efficient Use of Two Decks of Cards in Randomized Response Sampling
Authors: Johnson Michael Lee , Sedory Stephen A. , Singh Sarjinder
Published: September 2016

In this article, alternative randomized response models are proposed, which make use of sum of quantitative scores generated from two decks of cards being used in a survey. The proposed methods are compared to the Odumade and Singh and Singh and Grewal models through a simulation study. It is shown that the modified methods can be used more efficiently than those both models.
Age differences in emotion perception
Authors: Murry Matthew W. E. , Isaacowitz Derek M.
Published: September 2016

Older adults tend to have lower emotion-perception accuracy compared to younger adults. Previous studies have centered on individual characteristics, including cognitive decline and positive attentional preferences, as possible mechanisms underlying these age differences in emotion perception; however, thus far, no perceiver-focused factor has accounted for the age differences. The present study focuses on perceived social-context factors and uses the Social Input Model as the framework for investigating the relation between the expressivity of the social environment and emotion-perception accuracy in younger and older adults. Younger ( n = 32) and older adults ( n = 29) reported on the make-up of their social circles and the expressivity of their three closest social partners and then completed a static facial emotion-perception task. Older adults reported greater positive and negative expressivity in their social partners compared to younger adults. Moreover, older adults were marginally less accurate than younger adults when perceiving emotions. Positive expressivity of the social partners predicted lower emotion-perception accuracy in younger but not older adults. Our findings mark the first step to identifying possible characteristics of the social environment that may contribute to the age difference in emotion-perception accuracy.
Making the Most of What We Already Know
Authors: Rebelo Da Silva Natalie , Zaranyika Hazel , Langer Laurenz , Randall Nicola , Muchiri Evans , Stewart Ruth
Published: September 2016

Background:

Conducting a systematic review in social policy is a resource-intensive process in terms of time and funds. It is thus important to understand the scope of the evidence base of a topic area prior to conducting a synthesis of primary research in order to maximize these resources. One approach to conserving resources is to map out the available evidence prior to undertaking a traditional synthesis. A few examples of this approach exist in the form of gap maps, overviews of reviews, and systematic maps supported by social policy and systematic review agencies alike. Despite this growing call for alternative approaches to systematic reviews, it is still common for systematic review teams to embark on a traditional in-depth review only.

Objectives:

This article describes a three-stage approach to systematic reviewing that was applied to a systematic review focusing in interventions for smallholder farmers in Africa. We argue that this approach proved useful in helping us to understand the evidence base.

Results:

By applying preliminary steps as part of a three-stage approach, we were able to maximize the resources needed to conduct a traditional systematic review on a more focused research question. This enabled us to identify and fill real knowledge gaps, build on work that had already been done, and avoid wasting resources on areas of work that would have no useful outcome. It also facilitated meaningful engagement between the review team and our key policy stakeholders.
Glycogen serves as an energy source that maintains astrocyte cell proliferation in the neonatal telencephalon
Authors: Gotoh Hitoshi , Nomura Tadashi , Ono Katsuhiko
Published: September 2016

Large amounts of energy are required when cells undergo cell proliferation and differentiation for mammalian neuronal development. Early neonatal mice face transient starvation and use stored energy for survival or to support development. Glycogen is a branched polysaccharide that is formed by glucose, and serves as an astrocytic energy store for rapid energy requirements. Although it is present in radial glial cells and astrocytes, the role of glycogen during development remains unclear. In the present study, we demonstrated that glycogen accumulated in glutamate aspartate transporter (GLAST)+ astrocytes in the subventricular zone and rostral migratory stream. Glycogen levels markedly decreased after birth due to the increase of glycogen phosphorylase, an essential enzyme for glycogen metabolism. In primary cultures and in vivo, the inhibition of glycogen phosphorylase decreased the proliferation of astrocytic cells. The number of cells in the G1 phase increased in combination with the up-regulation of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors or down-regulation of the phosphorylation of retinoblastoma protein (pRB), a determinant for cell cycle progression. These results suggest that glycogen accumulates in astrocytes located in specific areas during the prenatal stage and is used as an energy source to maintain normal development in the early postnatal stage.
Emotional reactions to the French colonization in Algeria: The normative nature of collective guilt
Authors: Bonnot Virginie , Krauth-Gruber Silvia , Drozda-Senkowska Ewa , Lopes Diniz
Published: September 2016

Fifty years after the end of the Algerian war of independence, French colonization in Algeria (1830–1962) is still a very controversial topic when sporadically brought to the forefront of the public sphere. One way to better understand current intergroup relationships between French of French origin and French with Algerian origins is to investigate how the past influences the present. This study explores French students’ emotional reactions to this historical period, their ideological underpinnings and their relationship with the willingness to compensate for past misdeeds, and with prejudice. Results show that French students with French ascendants endorse a no-remorse norm when thinking about past colonization of Algeria and express very low levels of collective guilt and moral-outrage related emotions, especially those students with a right-wing political orientation and a national identification in the form of glorification of the country. These group-based emotions are significantly related to pro-social behavioral intentions (i.e. the willingness to compensate) and to prejudice toward the outgroup.
Assessing Fidelity to Suicide Reporting Guidelines in Canadian News Media: The Death of Robin Williams
Authors: Creed Michael , Whitley Rob
Published: September 2016

Objective:

Mindset is a short recently-published booklet funded by the Mental Health Commission of Canada outlining evidence-based guidelines and best practices for journalists writing about mental health and suicide. Our study aimed to assess fidelity to Mindset recommendations in Canadian newspaper reports of a recent celebrity suicide. A secondary aim is to identify common themes discussed in these newspaper articles.

Methods:

Articles about Robin Williams’ suicide from major Canadian newspapers were gathered and coded for presence or absence of each of the 14 recommendations in the “Covering Suicide” section of Mindset. A threshold of 80% was set to test for high fidelity to the guidelines. A qualitative content analysis of the articles was also undertaken to discern common themes and social issues discussed in the articles.

Results:

Fifty-five per cent of articles surpassed the 80% threshold for high fidelity, while 85% applied at least 70% of the recommendations. The recommendation most commonly overlooked was “Do tell others considering suicide how they can get help,” which was absent in 73% of articles. The most common themes discussed were those of addictions and stigma.

Conclusions:

The news articles generally follow the evidence-based guidelines regarding the reporting of suicide set out in Mindset. This is a welcome development. Future research should continue to examine reporting of suicide to assess for further improvements, while also examining the wider impact of Mindset on the reporting of mental illness per se.
Planning for an Uncertain Future
Authors: Ellen Ingrid Gould , Yager Jessica , Hanson Melinda , Bosher Luke
Published: September 2016

The realities of climate change demand updated approaches and tools to support decision making. In this article, we examine the promise of an emerging tool, multicriteria analysis (MCA), in climate-change planning. We find that MCA has the potential to perform better than cost-benefit analysis and working group approaches in supporting decision-making processes that are more participatory, transparent, comprehensive, rigorous, and scenario-driven. However, in practice, MCA may not achieve all of these effective planning principles, and it is more likely to fall short in cases where planners have limited resources.
“How You Bully a Girl”
Authors: Miller Sarah A.
Published: September 2016

Over the past decade, sexual rumor spreading, slut-shaming, and homophobic labeling have become central examples of bullying among young women. This article examines the role these practices— what adults increasingly call “bullying” and what girls often call “drama”— play in girls’ gendering processes. Through interviews with 54 class and racially diverse late adolescent girls, I explore the content and functions of “sexual drama.” All participants had experiences with this kind of conflict, and nearly a third had been the subject of other girls’ rumors about their own sexual actions and/or orientations. Their accounts indicate that sexual drama offers girls a socially acceptable site for making claims to, and sense of, gendered sexuality in adolescence. While they reproduce inequality through these practices, sexual drama is also a resource for girls—one that is made useful through the institutional constraints of their high schools, which reinforce traditional gender norms and limit sexuality information.
A Closer Look at the 2015 Beers Criteria
Authors: Salbu Rebecca L. , Feuer Judith
Published: September 2016

The Beers Criteria identifies potentially inappropriate medications for patients who are 65 years of age and older. Initially published in 1991, the criteria have been updated multiple times, most recently in 2015. The Beers Criteria is a tool designed to alert health-care providers to the potential harms of specific medications so they may better tailor therapeutic regimens for their elderly patients. The expert panel of the 2015 update made changes to a number of previous recommendations and provided 2 new tables on select drug interactions and select medications requiring renal dose adjustments. The purpose of this review is to provide additional details and rationale behind selected noteworthy changes within the 2015 criteria. Specific information is provided on the changes in recommendations for the use of nitrofurantoin, antiarrhythmics, nonbenzodiazepine receptor agonist hypnotics, antipsychotics, and proton pump inhibitors in the elderly. Additional comparisons are made between the 2012 recommendations and newer recommendations made in the 2015 update, along with rationale for the change. This review will allow practitioners to apply the 2015 Beers Criteria and integrate their clinical judgment when evaluating and selecting drug therapy for elderly patients.
Statin Adherence Rates in Patients Utilizing a Patient-Centered Medical Home-Based Pharmacy
Authors: Slazak Erin M. , Kozakiewicz Jessica T. , Winters Natalie S. , Smith Jason R. , Monte Scott V.
Published: September 2016

Background:

Medication nonadherence contributes to approximately US$290 billion per year in avoidable health-care spending. Statins are of particular interest because of their importance to patient outcomes, costs of treatment failure, and categorization as a Medicare star measure linked to financial reimbursement.

Objective:

To evaluate statin adherence as defined by the proportion of days covered (PDC) among patients who use an embedded dispensing pharmacy in a patient-centered medical home (PCMH).

Methods:

This study is a retrospective chart review of Lifetime Health Medical Group’s electronic health record and third-party prescription claims data of statin therapy. Statin adherence is reported using PDC, with 0.8 or greater considered adherent for statin therapy. Statistics used include 2-sample unpaired t test to compare PDC between gender and age, and analysis of variance was used to determine differences in PDC among different insurance types.

Results:

One hundred ninety-three patients were included, and 917 statin prescriptions were filled. PDC for statin medications in the population was 0.92 ± 0.20. Eighty-six percent of patients were considered adherent, with a PDC ≥80%. The average insurance and patient costs for brand prescriptions (n = 106) were US$233 ± US$143 and US$31 ± US$27, respectively, and costs for generic prescriptions (n = 811) were US$8 ± US$13 and US$7 ± US$6, respectively.

Conclusion:

Statin adherence rates for patients utilizing a dispensing pharmacy embedded in a large PCMH exceed the national average of 40% to 50% adherence.
Contributions of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) to Quality Education: A Synthesis of Research
Authors: Laurie Robert , Nonoyama-Tarumi Yuko , Mckeown Rosalyn , Hopkins Charles
Published: September 2016

This research is a synthesis of studies carried out in 18 countries to identify contributions of education for sustainable development (ESD) to quality education. Five common questions were used for the interviews in each country to solicit education leaders and practitioners’ views on the outcome and implementation of ESD. The analysis revealed that major themes repeated across the 18 studies, showing that ESD contributes in many ways to quality education in primary and secondary schools. Teaching and learning transforms in all contexts when the curriculum includes sustainability content, and ESD pedagogies promote the learning of skills, perspectives and values necessary to foster sustainable societies. The research also identified the need to integrate ESD across all subjects, to provide professional development for teachers to ensure ESD policy implementation and to adopt ESD management practices to support ESD in the curriculum in order to broaden ESD across countries.
Policy Change Through Parent and Consumer Leadership Education
Authors: Schuh Mary , Hagner David , Dillon Ann , Dixon Beth
Published: September 2016

This study examines the impact of intensive training in leadership and advocacy skills on the level of knowledge about services and supports, advocacy activity, and the clarity of vision for the future of 123 individuals with disabilities and family members who participated in an annual New Hampshire Leadership Series over 7 years. There was a significant increase in knowledge about services and supports following training in every year, and consistently significant increases in advocacy activity and clarity of vision in Years 4 through 7, with particularly striking improvement associated with the addition of a stronger emphasis on person-centered planning within the curriculum. The implications of a sustained effort to develop a statewide grassroots leadership capacity on policies and practices are discussed.
Differences and Similarities in Mother and Child Reports About IPV Risks: Concordance Is Likely but Cannot Be Assumed
Authors: Simmons Catherine A. , Craun Sarah W. , Farrar Melissa , Ray Rebekah
Published: September 2016

Reports from 297 mother–child dyads were compared to explore concurrence in relation to violence committed by the father on specific high-risk items and in terms of general risk to the mother and to the child using composite measures. Results indicated the majority of the mother–child dyads report similar risk using eight individual items (60.9%-77.1%) and on the composite measures (61.9% and 54.2%). However, concordance was lower than anticipated. Findings highlight the importance of not simply relying on parental report but instead obtaining the child’s report about their own exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV) in clinical, research, and forensic applications.
An Application of Difference-in-Difference-Difference Model
Authors: Harris Thomas Russell , Mukhopadhyay Sankar , Wiseman Nathan
Published: September 2016

Institutional laws and arrangements such as prevailing wage laws influence the employment levels and wage rates of the local labor supply. Conflicting research, however, has shown that prevailing wage laws lead to higher construction costs, while others show little to no relationship. Most of these studies are completed at the national level whose results at the regional level may not be applicable. This article examines the impact of prevailing wage laws on construction wages in the Mountain States of the nation. Difference-in-difference-difference models were used, and results indicate that for the Mountain States, removal of prevailing wage laws decreased wages by 4.4% after 10 years of the repeal. However, because of the available data used in this analysis, the impacts of repealing the prevailing wage laws on benefits could not be determined, which from previous research could be significant.
Integrating QCA and HLM for Multilevel Research on Organizational Configurations
Authors: Meuer Johannes , Rupietta Christian
Published: September 2016

Mixed methods systematically combine multiple research approaches—either in basic parallel, sequential, or conversion designs or in more complex multilevel or integrated designs. Multilevel mixed designs are among the most valuable and dynamic. Yet current multilevel designs, which are rare in the mixed methods literature, do not strongly integrate qualitative and quantitative approaches for use in one study. This lack of integration is particularly problematic for research in the organization sciences because of the variety of multilevel concepts that researchers study. In this article, we develop a multilevel mixed methods technique that integrates qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) with hierarchical linear modeling (HLM). This technique is among the first of the multilevel ones to integrate qualitative and quantitative methods in a single research design. Using Miles and Snow’s typology of generic strategies as an example of organizational configurations, we both illustrate how researchers may apply this technique and provide recommendations for its application and potential extensions. Our technique offers new opportunities for bridging macro and micro inquiries by developing strong inferences for testing, refining, and extending multilevel theories of organizational configurations.
Periventricular lesions and MS diagnostic criteria in young adults with typical clinically isolated syndromes
Authors: Brownlee Wallace J , Miszkiel Katherine A , Altmann Daniel R , Ciccarelli Olga , Miller David H
Published: September 2016

In patients who present with a clinically isolated syndrome (CIS), whose features are suggestive of multiple sclerosis (MS), fulfilling McDonald 2010 magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) criteria for dissemination in space (DIS) and dissemination in time (DIT) enables a diagnosis of MS. While ⩾1 periventricular lesion is included in the 2010 DIS criteria, earlier McDonald criteria required ⩾3 periventricular lesions to confirm DIS and recent Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Multiple Sclerosis (MAGNIMS)-recommended DIS criteria also require ⩾3 lesions. We investigated the effect of varying the required number of periventricular lesions and found that the best combination of specificity and sensitivity for clinically definite MS was seen for ⩾1 periventricular lesion using both the McDonald 2010 and MAGNIMS 2016 criteria.
Stressful life events and the risk of initial central nervous system demyelination
Authors: Saul Alice , Ponsonby Anne-Louise , Lucas Robyn M , Taylor Bruce V , Simpson Steve , Valery Patricia , Dwyer Terence , Kilpatrick Trevor J , Pender Michael P , van der Mei Ingrid AF
Published: September 2016

Background:

There is substantial evidence that stress increases multiple sclerosis disease activity, but limited evidence on its association with the onset of multiple sclerosis.

Objective:

To examine the association between stressful life events and risk of first demyelinating event (FDE).

Methods:

This was a multicentre incident case–control study. Cases ( n = 282 with first diagnosis of central nervous system (CNS) demyelination, including n = 216 with ‘classic FDE’) were aged 18–59 years. Controls without CNS demyelination ( n = 558) were matched to cases on age, sex and study region. Stressful life events were assessed using a questionnaire based on the Social Readjustment Rating Scale.

Results:

Those who suffered from a serious illness in the previous 12 months were more likely to have an FDE (odds ratio (OR) = 2.35 (1.36, 4.06), p = 0.002), and when we limited our reference group to those who had no stressful life events, the magnitude of effect became stronger (OR = 5.41 (1.80, 16.28)). The total stress number and stress load were not convincingly associated with the risk of an FDE.

Conclusion:

Cases were more likely to report a serious illness in the previous 12 months, which could suggest that a non-specific illness provides an additional strain to an already predisposed immune system.
The significance of cultural capital and parental mediation for digital inequity
Authors: Yuen Allan HK , Park Jae , Chen Lu , Cheng Miaoting
Published: September 2016

A digital divide continues to be reported across and within nations, first as an access issue and second as an issue of effective usage. To address the latter issue, we argue that digital equity should not be conceptualized solely as a technical or resource related issue. We developed a conceptual framework based on cultural capital and parental mediation to investigate the complexity of digital inequity. Our in-depth case study of 22 Hong Kong students revealed that although information and communication technology (ICT) is thoroughly integrated with students’ everyday lives, some students lack the cultural or parenting resources required to build their capacity to effectively and meaningfully use ICT. Three salient clusters of users emerged: “celebrating” users, “coping” users, and “struggling” users. The results reveal the significance of parental mediation and cultural capital for students’ ICT use and thus digital equity.
Addressing Mental Illness Stigma in the Psychology Classroom
Authors: Maranzan K. Amanda
Published: September 2016

A number of initiatives are aimed at reducing mental illness stigma, yet stigma remains a problem in the general population. A focus on stigma reduction with students is particularly relevant, as students often hold negative attitudes toward mental illness, have regular contact with persons experiencing mental health difficulties, and because stigma influences students’ own help-seeking attitudes and behaviors. The psychology classroom presents an ideal opportunity to address stigma, since many courses include mental health-related topics and are taken by large numbers of students from diverse fields. This paper undertook a review of the published literature to determine the extent that knowledge and/or contact-based strategies to address stigma were implemented in the psychology classroom; successful interventions are described and contextualized within the larger stigma reduction literature. Recommendations for instructors who are interested in integrating an anti-stigma approach in their classroom include (1) consider a social contact-based approach, (2) look locally for resources, (3) be familiar with optimal conditions for contact, and (4) evaluate your outcomes.
A Lesion-Based Response Prediction Model Using Pretherapy PET/CT Image Features for Y90 Radioembolization to Hepatic Malignancies
Authors: Mehta Rahul , Cai Kejia , Kumar Nishant , Knuttinen M. Grace , Anderson Thomas M. , Lu Hui , Lu Yang
Published: September 2016

We present a probabilistic approach to identify patients with primary and secondary hepatic malignancies as responders or nonresponders to yttrium-90 radioembolization therapy. Recent advances in computer-aided detection have decreased false-negative and false-positive rates of perceived abnormalities; however, there is limited research in using similar concepts to predict treatment response. Our approach is driven by the goal of precision medicine to determine pretherapy fluorine-18-2-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose positron emission tomography and computed tomography imaging parameters to facilitate the identification of patients who would benefit most from yttrium-90 radioembolization therapy, while avoiding complex and costly procedures for those who would not. Our algorithm seeks to predict a patient’s response by discovering common co-occurring image patterns in the lesions of baseline fluorine-18-2-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose positron emission tomography and computed tomography scans by extracting invariant shape and texture features. The extracted imaging features were represented as a distribution of each subject based on the bag-of-feature paradigm. The distribution was applied in a multinomial naive Bayes classifier to predict whether a patient would be a responder or nonresponder to yttrium-90 radioembolization therapy based on the imaging features of a pretherapy fluorine-18-2-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose positron emission tomography and computed tomography scan. Comprehensive published criteria were used to determine lesion-based clinical treatment response based on fluorine-18-2-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose positron emission tomography and computed tomography imaging findings. Our results show that the model is able to predict a patient with liver cancer as a responder or nonresponder to yttrium-90 radioembolization therapy with a sensitivity of 0.791 using extracted invariant imaging features from the pretherapy fluorine-18-2-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose positron emission tomography and computed tomography test. The sensitivity increased to 0.821 when combining extracted invariant image features with variable features of tumor volume.
A multi-hop angular routing protocol for wireless sensor networks
Authors: Akbar Mariam , Javaid Nadeem , Imran Muhammad , Rao Areeba , Younis Muhammad Shahzad , Niaz Iftikhar Azim
Published: September 2016

In this article, we propose two new routing protocols for wireless sensor networks. First one is AM-DisCNT (angular multi-hop distance–based clustering network transmission) protocol which uses circular deployment of sensors (nodes) for uniform energy consumption in the network. The protocol operates in such a way that nodes with maximum residual energy are selected as cluster heads for each round. Second one is iAM-DisCNT (improved AM-DisCNT) protocol which exploits both mobile and static base stations for throughput maximization. Besides the proposition of routing protocols, iAM-DisCNT is provided with three mathematical models: two linear-programming-based models for information flow maximization and packet drop rate minimization and one model for calculating energy consumption of nodes. Graphical analysis for linear-programming-based mathematical formulation is also part of this work. Simulation results show that AM-DisCNT has 32% and iAM-DisCNT has 48% improved stability period as compared to LEACH (low-energy adaptive clustering hierarchy) and DEEC (distributed energy-efficient clustering) routing protocols. Similarly, throughput of AM-DisCNT and iAM-DisCNT is improved by 16% and 80%, respectively, in comparison with the counterpart schemes.
A dynamic Markov chain prediction model for delay-tolerant networks
Authors: Jeon Il-kyu , Lee Kang-whan
Published: September 2016

In this study, prediction routing algorithms are proposed to select efficient relay nodes. While most prediction algorithms assume that nodes need additional information such as node’s schedule and connectivity between nodes, the network reliability is lowered when additional information is unknown. To solve this problem, this study proposes a context-aware Markov chain prediction based on the Markov chain that uses the node’s movement history information without requiring additional information. The evaluation results show that the proposed scheme has competitive delivery ratio but with less average latency.
Nonlinear control study on aircraft engine using a generalized minimum variance approach
Authors: Yu Bing , Gao Yang , Wang Jiqiang
Published: September 2016

With the requirements of the advanced propulsion systems for aircraft control performance increasing, it has attracted the attention to design more efficient controller that is based on the nonlinear model over the flight envelope directly. A nonlinear aircraft engine control method based on generalized minimum variance approach is studied. A nonlinear autoregressive with extra input aircraft engine model for a certain turbofan engine is built and is chosen as the control plant in this study. Then, a controller is designed for the identification model based on the nonlinear generalized minimum variance theory. And simulation results manifest the controller to satisfy the requirements of the tracking with the transient process and the regulation with the steady process.
Parameter identification algorithm of kinematic calibration in parallel manipulators
Authors: Liu Yuzhe , Wu Jun , Wang Liping , Wang Jinsong
Published: September 2016

In this article, a parameter identification algorithm of kinematic calibration in parallel manipulators is proposed and compared with two conventional algorithms. By analyzing the identification matrix with singular value decomposition, the mathematical properties of the identification algorithms are investigated, and a novel algorithm based on singular value decomposition is proposed. Two parallel manipulators, which have been successfully applied in practice, are introduced and their system models are established, respectively. In order to show the reliability and feature of algorithms, the calibration simulations of these two parallel manipulators are performed with different parameter identification algorithms. Since these parallel manipulators are needed to guarantee 5-degree-of-freedom motion accuracy at least, the parameter identification simulations are performed based on both 6-degree-of-freedom measurement and 5-degree-of-freedom measurement. Compared with two conventional algorithms, the novel algorithm has the best solution in all simulation situations. The investigation in this article is very helpful for the parameter identification of kinematic calibration in parallel manipulators.