bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
External ultrastructure of Progonoia diatreta sp. nov. (Bacillariophyta, Scoliotropidaceae) differs from P. musca and P. intercedens comb. nov.
Authors: Lobban Christopher S.
Published: November 2015

Navicula musca was described by Gregory in 1857 as having moniliform areolae in unbroken striae; a detailed ultrastructural study by Schrader, who transferred the species to Progonoia in 1971, was consistent with the original description. However, going back at least to Peragallo & Peragallo at the turn of the 20th century, the same species has been described as having alveoli with fine puncta around the edge and a longitudinal break in the striae. I found examples of both forms in a collection of calcareous sand from Guam, examined them with light and scanning electron microscopy, and also examined authentic material of N. musca in the light microscope. I conclude that one of these taxa is consistent with N. intercedens, which must be removed from synonymy with P. musca, and that the form with the fine puncta is an undescribed species not previously observed ultrastructurally. This species, P. diatreta sp. nov., has an internal valve structure that clearly places it in Progonoia, but an external structure quite different from that of its congeners.
Molecular and cytogenetic confirmation of the hybrid origin of Jacobaea ×mirabilis (Asteraceae, Senecioneae), with nomenclatural notes on this name
Authors: Mas de Xaxars Gemma , Fridlender Alain , Garnatje Teresa , Vallès Joan
Published: November 2015

Jacobaea ×mirabilis is a hybrid taxon, formerly included in the genus Senecio, originating from J. adonidifolia and J. leucophylla as progenitors. It inhabits a few French mountain locations in the Pyrenees and in the Massif Central. In this paper, we characterize the hybrid and its parental taxa using molecular phylogenetic and cytogenetic (genome size) methods. These data are useful to confirm the hybrid status of the studied taxon. Additionally, we clarify nomenclatural issues connected with this species and fulfil the conditions for valid publication of its name in Jacobaea. The name of this hybrid is also lectotypified.
A new species of Laelaspis Berlese (Acari: Mesostigmata: Laelapidae) from Iran, with a revised generic concept and notes on significant morphological attributes in the genus
Authors: KAZEMI SHAHROOZ
Published: November 2015

A short diagnosis and a more detailed diagnosis of the genus Laelaspis are presented. Until now, a total of 40 described species belong to the genus, including a new species described here, and excluding the four following species previously described as Laelaspis or Hypoaspis (Laelaspis): L. badrii Nasr & Nawar [considered as Cosmolaelaps badrii comb. nov.], L. zuluensis Trägårdh, Hypoaspis (L.) lawrencei Van Aswegen & Loots, and Hypoaspis (L.) latodentis Karg. In addition, L. morazae sp. nov., is described on the basis of adult female and male specimens associated with Lepisiota semenovi (Ruzsky) (Formicidae) in Mashad County, northeastern Iran, and in the nest of an unknown ant in Shahreza County, central Iran. Laelaspis persicus is redescribed based on the holotype, paratype and additional specimens collected in north, southeastern and southwestern Iran.
A Lagrangian Study of Precipitation-Driven Downdrafts*
Authors: Torri Giuseppe , Kuang Zhiming
Published: November 2015

Precipitation-driven downdrafts are an important component of deep convective systems. They stabilize the atmosphere by injecting relatively cold and dry air into the boundary layer. They have also been invoked as responsible for balancing surface latent and sensible heat fluxes in the heat and moisture budget of tropical boundary layers. This study is focused on precipitation-driven downdrafts and basic aspects of their dynamics in a case of radiative–convective equilibrium. Using Lagrangian particle tracking, it is shown that such downdrafts have very low initial heights, with most parcels originating within 1.5 km from the surface. The tracking is also used to compute the contribution of downdrafts to the flux of moist static energy at the top of the boundary layer, and it is found that this is on the same order of magnitude as the contribution due to convective updrafts, but much smaller than that due to turbulent mixing across the boundary layer top in the environment. Furthermore, considering the mechanisms driving the downdrafts, it is shown that the work done by rain evaporation is less than half that done by condensate loading.
Variability, Instabilities, and Eddies in a Snowball Ocean
Authors: Ashkenazy Yosef , Tziperman Eli
Published: November 2015

Oceanic variability and eddy dynamics during snowball Earth events, under a kilometer of ice and driven by a very weak geothermal heat flux, are studied using a high-resolution sector model centered at the equator, where previous studies have shown the ocean circulation to be most prominent. The solution is characterized by an energetic eddy field, equatorward-propagating zonal jets, and a strongly variable equatorial meridional overturning circulation (EMOC), on the order of tens of Sverdrups (Sv; 1 Sv ≡ 106 m3 s−1), restricted to be very close to the equator. The ocean is well mixed vertically by convective mixing, and horizontal mixing rates by currents and eddies are similar to present-day values. There are two main opposite-sign zonal jets near the equator that are not eddy driven, together with multiple secondary eddy-driven jets off the equator. Barotropic stability analyses, the Lorenz energy cycle (LEC), and barotropic-to-baroclinic energy conversion rates together indicate that both baroclinic and barotropic instabilities serve as eddy-generating mechanisms. The LEC shows a dominant input into the mean available potential energy (APE) by geothermal heat flux and by surface ice melting and then transformation to eddy APE, to eddy kinetic energy, and finally to mean kinetic energy via eddy–jet interaction, similarly to the present-day atmosphere and unlike the present-day ocean. The EMOC variability is due to the interaction of warm plumes driven by geothermal heating that reach the ocean surface, leading to ice-melt events that change the stratification and, therefore, the EMOC. The results presented here may be relevant to the ocean dynamics of planetary ice-covered moons such as Europa and Enceladus.
The expression of personality among adolescents exposed to community interpersonal violence
Authors: Visser Maretha J , Coetzee Nicoleen , Claassen Marleen
Published: November 2015

The high level of crime in South Africa affects many adolescents. Experience of community interpersonal violence affects the social, emotional, and cognitive functioning of adolescents and could have an impact on their personality development. The aim of the study was to explore possible differences in the expression of personality between adolescents exposed to community interpersonal violence and those not exposed to such violence. The sample comprised 183 Grade 12 learners from a secondary school in a middle-class community in Gauteng. Participants were divided into two groups: adolescents who reported exposure to community interpersonal violence ( n = 93) and those who did not report exposure to such violence ( n = 90). Both groups completed the 16 Personality Factor and Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scales. Differences between the groups were explored using a one-way between-groups multivariate analysis of variance and t-tests for independent groups. Results indicated statistically significant differences between the two groups on Factor G (rule consciousness), Factor I (emotional sensitivity), and Factor Q4 (anxiety). Adolescents exposed to interpersonal violence reported higher levels of posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms than the control group. The group that experienced posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms differed more in terms of personality functioning (Factors I and Q4). Violence-exposed adolescents experienced more emotional volatility, difficulty to regulate emotions, anxiety, and sensitivity to environmental stressors than those not exposed to such violence. Although causality cannot be assumed, it is possible that exposure to community interpersonal violence, which could result in posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms, has implications for the personality development of adolescents. Interventions for adolescents exposed to interpersonal violence are recommended to prevent the development of posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms.
The meaning of developmental trauma: validation of a brief screen for developmental trauma appraisals
Authors: Valjee Sachet R , Collings Steven J
Published: November 2015

This article describes the development and validation of a brief screen for developmental trauma appraisals. The 7-item screen was administered to a non-clinical sample of 477 South African adolescents who had experienced interpersonal violence during childhood. In all, 216 participants (45%) met the study criteria for a diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder and 41 (9%) met the study criteria for a diagnosis of complex posttraumatic stress disorder. Exploratory factor analysis yielded one factor which had a high level of internal consistency (α = .91) and acceptable levels of construct and concurrent validity for both posttraumatic stress disorder and complex posttraumatic stress disorder outcomes. Mediation analyses indicated that the appraisal screen measures a construct which effectively mediates the relationship between traumatic exposure and the severity of posttraumatic outcomes across a broad range of maltreatment types.
Power calculations and political decentralisation in African post-conflict states
Authors: Aalen Lovise , Muriaas Ragnhild Louise
Published: November 2015

Although many African governments introduced provisions for subnational elections in the early 1990s, there is variation in the extent to which these reforms were implemented and sustained. Our inductive analysis of three post-conflict cases – Angola, Ethiopia and South Africa – suggests that one factor explaining this variation is elite discontinuity when an insurgent group wins power in the aftermath of conflict. Systems of subnational elections adopted by new governments with an extensive social base derived from an insurgency, as in South Africa and Ethiopia, have proved relatively robust. By contrast, in Angola, where there was no change of executive power after the conflict ended, routinised subnational elections have not been implemented. The identified causal mechanism is that, for the new governments in the first two cases, subnational elections served as opportunities to mobilise party support and to consolidate control by sidelining local elites aligned with the previous regime.
Analysis of 473 US Head and Neck Cancer Trials (1996‐2014)
Authors: Devaiah Anand , Murchison Charles
Published: November 2015

Objective

To report on types of investigations being conducted in US clinical trials, the types of therapeutic investigations that predominate, and the publication rates.

Study Design

Retrospective analysis.

Settings

US head and neck cancer clinical trials.

Subjects and Methods

We used the information available on ClinicalTrials.gov to identify trends in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma clinical trials to characterize the types of trials and treatments being investigated. The publication rate for these trials was also examined with PubMed.gov.

Results

Of the 473 trials analyzed, similar drug regimens have been used repeatedly in head and neck cancer clinical trials. Drug studies are highly represented, composing 62% of all trials. The most common drugs studied were cisplatin, cetuximab, and docetaxel. Among all head and neck cancer clinical trials, 33% included radiation therapy in their treatment, while 10% included a surgical component. Forty‐nine percent of trials had their results published in a medical journal, and 70% of the publications reported positive results.

Conclusion

Head and neck cancer trials are heavily weighted toward drug trials and demonstrate redundancy. Other therapies are underrepresented, especially surgery. There is a gap between the trials conducted and the rate of reporting, with an emphasis on positive results. Better balance in studying treatment modalities, less redundancy in clinical trials, and reporting all results have potential benefits for head and neck cancer and the public good.
A systematic review of reasons for gatekeeping in palliative care research
Authors: Kars Marijke C , van Thiel Ghislaine JMW , van der Graaf Rieke , Moors Marleen , de Graeff Alexander , van Delden Johannes JM
Published: November 2015

Background:

When healthcare professionals or other involved parties prevent eligible patients from entering a trial as a research subject, they are gatekeeping. This phenomenon is a persistent problem in palliative care research and thought to be responsible for the failure of many studies.

Aim:

To identify potential gatekeepers and explore their reasons for gatekeeping in palliative care research.

Design:

A ‘Review of Reasons’ based on the systematic Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses approach and a thematic synthesis.

Data source:

PubMed, Embase, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature and PsycINFO from 2000 to May 20 2015 were searched. Studies in children (aged <18 years) and patients with dementia were excluded.

Results:

Thirty papers on gatekeeping in palliative care research were included. Five groups of potential gatekeepers were identified: healthcare professionals, research ethics committees, management, relatives and researchers. The fear of burdening vulnerable patients was the most reported reason for gatekeeping. Other reasons included ‘difficulty with disclosure of health status’, ‘fear of burdening the patient’s relatives’, ‘doubts about the importance or quality of the study’, ‘reticent attitude towards research and (research) expertise’ and ‘logistics’. In hospice and homecare settings, the pursuit of comfort care may trigger a protective attitude. Gatekeeping is also rooted in a (perceived) lack of skills to recruit patients with advanced illness.

Conclusion:

Gatekeeping is motivated by the general assumption of vulnerability of patients, coupled with an emphasis on the duty to protect patients. Research is easily perceived as a threat to patient well-being, and the benefits appear to be overlooked. The patients’ perspective concerning study participation is needed to gain a full understanding and to address gatekeeping in palliative care research.
Improved human–robot team performance through cross-training, an approach inspired by human team training practices
Authors: Nikolaidis Stefanos , Lasota Przemyslaw , Ramakrishnan Ramya , Shah Julie
Published: November 2015

We design and evaluate a method of human–robot cross-training, a validated and widely used strategy for the effective training of human teams. Cross-training is an interactive planning method in which team members iteratively switch roles with one another to learn a shared plan for the performance of a collaborative task.

We first present a computational formulation of the robot mental model, which encodes the sequence of robot actions necessary for task completion and the expectations of the robot for preferred human actions, and show that the robot model is quantitatively comparable to the mental model that captures the inter-role knowledge held by the human. Additionally, we propose a quantitative measure of robot mental model convergence and an objective metric of model similarity. Based on this encoding, we formulate a human–robot cross-training method and evaluate its efficacy through experiments involving human subjects [Formula: see text]. We compare human–robot cross-training to standard reinforcement learning techniques, and show that cross-training yields statistically significant improvements in quantitative team performance measures, as well as significant differences in perceived robot performance and human trust. Finally, we discuss the objective measure of robot mental model convergence as a method to dynamically assess human errors. This study supports the hypothesis that the effective and fluent teaming of a human and a robot may best be achieved by modeling known, effective human teamwork practices.
Parsing the Practice Turn: Practice, Practical Knowledge, Practices
Authors: Kustermans Jorg
Published: November 2015

A substantial body of literature centers on the concept of ‘practice’. This article parses the practice turn in International Relations. It suggests that the meaning of ‘practice’ is a moving target. Sometimes it means process. Sometimes it refers to a particular type of knowledge and related action. And sometimes it is used as a quasi-synonym for institution. There are actually three concepts animating the practice turn: ‘practice’, ‘practical knowledge’, and ‘practices’. These concepts hail from different intellectual pastures and lead to different ways of explaining and understanding international relations. The article introduces the three concepts, explains how each concept entails a particular interpretation of the nature and possibility of change, as well as affords a particular theory of peace(making).
Product Differences in Intra-articular Hyaluronic Acids for Osteoarthritis of the Knee
Authors: Altman Roy D. , Bedi Asheesh , Karlsson Jon , Sancheti Parag , Schemitsch Emil
Published: November 2015

Background:

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a common and often disabling joint disorder among adults that may result in impaired activity and daily function. A variety of treatment options are currently available and prescribed for knee OA depending on the severity of the disorder and physician preference. Intra-articular hyaluronic acid (IA-HA) injection is a treatment for knee OA that reportedly provides numerous biochemical and biological benefits, including shock absorption, chondroprotection, and anti-inflammatory effects within the knee. Clarity is needed as to whether the available IA-HA products should be considered for therapy as a group or whether there are significant differences in the products that need to be considered in treatment of OA of the knee.

Purpose:

To determine whether there are differences in efficacy and safety with respect to intrinsic properties of available IA-HA injections for knee OA.

Study Design:

Meta-analysis.

Methods:

A comprehensive literature search of the Medline, EMBASE, and PubMed databases was conducted for all existing randomized trials of IA-HA. The primary outcome measure analyzed was the mean pain score at the reported follow-up nearest to 26 weeks after injection. Pooled efficacy and safety results were recorded for subgroupings of HA product characteristics.

Results:

A total of 68 studies were included for analysis. Products with an average molecular weight ≥3000 kDa provided favorable efficacy results when compared with products of an average molecular weight <3000 kDa. Products with a molecular weight ≥3000 kDa demonstrated significantly fewer discontinuations due to treatment-related adverse events than did ≤1500 kDa counterparts, while trial discontinuation rates were similar between biological fermentation–derived HA products and avian-derived HA. The results did not demonstrate a significant difference in the occurrence of effusion across molecular weight subgroups. Additionally, biological fermentation–derived HA had a significantly smaller incidence of effusion than did avian-derived HA. Biological fermentation–derived HA demonstrated fewer acute flare-ups at the injection site than did avian-derived HA products, while high-molecular-weight products demonstrated the highest rate of injection site flare-up.

Conclusion:

Despite similarities, IA-HA products should not be treated as a group, as there are differences in IA-HA products that influence both efficacy and safety. In the available literature, IA-HA products with a molecular weight ≥3000 kDa and those derived from biological fermentation relate to superior efficacy and safety—factors that may influence selection an IA-HA product for OA of the knee.
Comparison of Patellar Tendon and Hamstring Tendon Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction
Authors: Webster Kate E. , Feller Julian A. , Hartnett Nigel , Leigh Warren B. , Richmond Anneka K.
Published: November 2015

Background:

Numerous studies have compared patellar tendon (PT) and hamstring tendon (HS) anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstructions in the short to midterm, but fewer long-term results have been published.

Hypothesis:

There will be no difference in functional outcome between ACL reconstruction performed with PT and HS grafts, but PT grafts will have more donor site morbidity.

Study Design:

Randomized controlled trial; Level of evidence, 1.

Methods:

Sixty-five patients undergoing ACL reconstruction were randomized to receive either a PT graft or a 4-strand HS graft. Early results were reported at 4, 8, 12, 24, and 36 months. Forty-seven patients (22 of 31 PT and 25 of 34 HS) were reviewed at a mean of 15.3 years.

Results:

Four graft ruptures (1 PT, 3 HS) and 6 contralateral ACL injuries (4 PT, 2 HS) occurred in the group that was reviewed. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups for any of the variables measured. There was a similar incidence of anterior knee pain and kneeling pain in both groups. The previously observed increased extension deficit in the PT group at 3 years was not present at 15 years, and there was no significant between-group difference in knee laxity. A higher proportion of patients in the PT group were participating in sport on a weekly basis (73% PT, 48% HS; P = .05). There was no difference in the degree of osteoarthritis between the groups.

Conclusion:

This randomized controlled trial showed that HS and PT ACL reconstructions have comparable results at an average 15-year follow-up. Contrary to the study hypothesis, some of the graft differences seen at earlier review were not present at 15 years, and patients with PT grafts were more active in sport participation. Overall, both graft types provided good long-term subjective and objective outcomes.
A novel scalar tracking method for optimising film cooling systems
Authors: Thomas Mitra , Povey Thomas
Published: November 2015

The purpose of this paper is to outline a novel passive-scalar tracking method for computational fluid dynamics optimisation studies. An example of its utility is in isolating the contributions of individual film cooling holes to overall cooling effectiveness on a heavily film cooled component. To isolate individual cooling contributions, passive (not a physical property of the flow, and therefore non-interacting) scalar variables are associated with the flow at each cooling hole outlet, with the scalar variable diffusivity set equal to the effective turbulent thermal diffusivity to replicate the mixing behaviour of the thermal field. The scalar tracking method is demonstrated by application to the optimisation of a nozzle guide vane endwall film cooling system, allowing a highly optimised system to be designed in three to five computational fluid dynamics simulations, orders of magnitude faster than optimisations performed using automated design space exploration. The test case for the method is an improved design of platform cooling system in which a relatively small quantity of high-momentum coolant is injected upstream of the vanes to reduce the total pressure deficit in near-wall region, followed by additional film cooling in low Mach number regions deeper into the passage. The optimised design uses half the coolant mass flow of a baseline design, while maintaining similar cooling effectiveness levels in critical regions.
Buckling of a two-layered circular plate with a prestressed layer
Authors: Eremeev Vadim V , Zubov Leonid M
Published: November 2015

Within the framework of nonlinear elasticity we analyze instability of a uniformly compressed circular two-layered plate with an initially compressed or stretched layer. For a constitutive relation of the material we use the incompressible neo-Hookean model. We assume that the lower layer is subjected to radial tension or compression. As a result in this layer there are initial strains and stresses. The two-layered plate is subjected to a uniform lateral compression. We study the stability of the plate with the use of the static Euler method. Within the method we determine loading parameters for which the linearized boundary-value problem has non-trivial solutions. We derive the three-dimensional linearized equilibrium equations for each layer. The solutions of the latter equations are obtained with the help of the Fourier method. The equation for critical strains is derived. We present an analysis of dependence of critical stress resultants on the initial strains and stiffness parameters.
Photo-elicitation in prison ethnography: Breaking the ice in the field and unpacking prison officers’ use of force
Authors: Gariglio Luigi
Published: November 2015

Research papers on prisons have occasionally been illustrated with photographs. Yet rarely have visual methods been used critically in prison ethnography; image-making and images themselves have been used illustratively rather than as constitutive sites of knowledge production and, therefore, as objects to be interrogated in their own right by the researcher through, for example, participant collaboration. This paper focuses on the use of ‘photo-elicitation’ interviewing as a method for unpacking prison officers’ use of force. The discussion is based on an ethnography conducted inside an Italian custodial complex that hosts both a forensic psychiatric hospital and a prison. Prison officers, psychiatric staff and prisoners were invited to discuss a number of images produced by the researcher–in the wing where they were working and/or living–representing the use of force and violence, thereby helping the researcher to address what Joe Sim (2008: 187) calls an ‘inconvenient criminological truth’ and at the same time giving the participants a voice.
Improving Intelligence Analysis With Decision Science
Authors: Dhami Mandeep K. , Mandel David R. , Mellers Barbara A. , Tetlock Philip E.
Published: November 2015

Intelligence analysis plays a vital role in policy decision making. Key functions of intelligence analysis include accurately forecasting significant events, appropriately characterizing the uncertainties inherent in such forecasts, and effectively communicating those probabilistic forecasts to stakeholders. We review decision research on probabilistic forecasting and uncertainty communication, drawing attention to findings that could be used to reform intelligence processes and contribute to more effective intelligence oversight. We recommend that the intelligence community (IC) regularly and quantitatively monitor its forecasting accuracy to better understand how well it is achieving its functions. We also recommend that the IC use decision science to improve these functions (namely, forecasting and communication of intelligence estimates made under conditions of uncertainty). In the case of forecasting, decision research offers suggestions for improvement that involve interventions on data (e.g., transforming forecasts to debias them) and behavior (e.g., via selection, training, and effective team structuring). In the case of uncertainty communication, the literature suggests that current intelligence procedures, which emphasize the use of verbal probabilities, are ineffective. The IC should, therefore, leverage research that points to ways in which verbal probability use may be improved as well as exploring the use of numerical probabilities wherever feasible.
Three Principles to REVISE People’s Unethical Behavior
Authors: Ayal Shahar , Gino Francesca , Barkan Rachel , Ariely Dan
Published: November 2015

Dishonesty and unethical behavior are widespread in the public and private sectors and cause immense annual losses. For instance, estimates of U.S. annual losses indicate $1 trillion paid in bribes, $270 billion lost due to unreported income, and $42 billion lost in retail due to shoplifting and employee theft. In this article, we draw on insights from the growing fields of moral psychology and behavioral ethics to present a three-principle framework we call REVISE. This framework classifies forces that affect dishonesty into three main categories and then redirects those forces to encourage moral behavior. The first principle, reminding, emphasizes the effectiveness of subtle cues that increase the salience of morality and decrease people’s ability to justify dishonesty. The second principle, visibility, aims to restrict anonymity, prompt peer monitoring, and elicit responsible norms. The third principle, self-engagement, increases people’s motivation to maintain a positive self-perception as a moral person and helps bridge the gap between moral values and actual behavior. The REVISE framework can guide the design of policy interventions to defeat dishonesty.
Maximizing the Gains and Minimizing the Pains of Diversity
Authors: Galinsky Adam D. , Todd Andrew R. , Homan Astrid C. , Phillips Katherine W. , Apfelbaum Evan P. , Sasaki Stacey J. , Richeson Jennifer A. , Olayon Jennifer B. , Maddux William W.
Published: November 2015

Empirical evidence reveals that diversity—heterogeneity in race, culture, gender, etc.—has material benefits for organizations, communities, and nations. However, because diversity can also incite detrimental forms of conflict and resentment, its benefits are not always realized. Drawing on research from multiple disciplines, this article offers recommendations for how best to harness the benefits of diversity. First, we highlight how two forms of diversity—the diversity present in groups, communities, and nations, and the diversity acquired by individuals through their personal experiences (e.g., living abroad)—enable effective decision making, innovation, and economic growth by promoting deeper information processing and complex thinking. Second, we identify methods to remove barriers that limit the amount of diversity and opportunity in organizations. Third, we describe practices, including inclusive multiculturalism and perspective taking, that can help manage diversity without engendering resistance. Finally, we propose a number of policies that can maximize the gains and minimize the pains of diversity.
Identifying Challenging Job and Environmental Demands of Older Nurses Within the National Health Service
Authors: Durosaiye Isaiah Oluremi , Hadjri Karim , Liyanage Champika Lasanthi
Published: November 2015

Objectives:

To explore the existing theoretical contexts of the job and environmental demands of the nursing profession in the National Health Service (NHS) and to investigate how these job and environmental demands impact on the personal constructs of older nurses within the NHS.

Background:

Nursing is the single most widely practiced profession in the healthcare sector in the United Kingdom. However, nurses contend with challenging job and environmental demands on a daily basis, which deplete them of personal constructs (or resources) required to stay in the profession.

Methods:

A multilevel exploratory qualitative research design was employed. Ten managers were interviewed for the preliminary study, based on which the three characteristics of an age-friendly NHS workplace were established: health, retirement, and flexibility. Then an in-depth literature review revealed that the most adversely affected job within the NHS was the nursing profession. Finally, a focus group study was undertaken with six older nurses working in the NHS.

Results:

The most compelling finding of this study is that older nurses would generally not want to stay on the job if they had to work in the ward area. The physical, cognitive, and sensory constructs of older nurses are negatively affected by the job and environmental demands of the ward areas.

Conclusions:

Understanding how these job and environmental demands of the workplace affect an older nurse’s personal constructs may help support a better design of nurse work and the wards and help extend the working lives of older nurses in the NHS.
Teaching Diversity
Authors: McChesney Kay Young
Published: November 2015

This article is targeted to faculty teaching race and ethnicity, racism, diversity, and multicultural courses. Many students equate race with skin color. The premise of this article is that to teach students about the social construction of race, teachers must first know enough science to teach students that race is not biological. This article examines the biology of race by showing how advances in DNA sequencing led to genetics research that supports arguments that race is not biological. DNA comparisons show that all human populations living today are one species that came from Africa. The article explains the migration of humans out of Africa about 60,000 years ago and how they populated Australia, then Asia, Europe, and the Americas. The article shows how recent research maps the timing of the migration and admixture of specific population groups into Europe and India. The article shows how a mutation in one nucleotide can result in a trait like blue eyes, or Hemoglobin S (which confers resistance to malaria), which can be subject to evolution through natural selection. DNA comparisons show how natural selection shaped the genetics of human skin color to adapt to less UV light in the northern latitudes of Europe and Asia. The article shows that there is no relation between skin color or other “racial” characteristics and complex traits like intelligence. The science in this article will help teachers explain that as race is not biological, race is socially constructed and culturally enacted.
Second Screen and Sports: A Structural Investigation Into Team Identification and Efficacy
Authors: Cunningham Nicole R. , Eastin Matthew S.
Published: November 2015

A second screen is defined as a second electronic device used by audience members while watching a television program. While second screen use during sport programming is on the rise, current understanding of second screen use and engagement is lacking. Thus, in an attempt to extend Niche Theory, the current study employs a structural equation model to further understanding of second screen use. Further, to better understand the outcome of second screen use, the current study examines the relationship between team identification, engagement, and self-efficacy with second screen use. Results suggest that engagement and self-efficacy both have a direct influence on attitude, whereas team identification and self-efficacy have a positive impact on engagement. Each of the hypothesized relationships is tested individually as well as in a theoretically constructed model of engagement and use.
The Influence of Psychological Factors on Sports Injuries
Authors: Junge Astrid
Published: November 2015

The influence of psychological factors on sports injuries has been demonstrated in numerous empirical studies. Almost all investigations have been based on stress theory or a personality-profile approach. Although the majority of studies have employed different methods, the results are in general agreement that “life events” can influence the risk of injury in athletes. In this context, social support appears to have a buffering effect. According to existing results, the influence of stress-coping strategies is somewhat questionable. From the numerous psychological attributes that have been investigated in relation to sports injuries, only competitive anxiety has been shown to be associated with injury occurrence. A personality profile typical of the “injury-prone” athlete does not exist. However, several studies have shown a certain readiness to take risks (lack of caution, adventurous spirit) on the part of injured athletes. In this review, the current knowledge regarding the relationship between psychological factors and sports injuries is presented and a stress theory model is developed.
Psychological and Sport-Specific Characteristics of Football Players
Authors: Junge Astrid , Dvorak Jiri , Rosch Dieter , Graf-Baumann Toni , Chomiak Jiri , Peterson Lars
Published: November 2015

It is hypothesized that players of different levels of play might differ not only in their football skills but also in their way of playing football and with respect to psychological factors such as concentration, reaction time, or competitive anxiety. The psychological characteristics of a player might influence his way of playing football (in particular with respect to fair play) and also his risk of injury. A group of 588 football players were studied by questionnaire; additionally, reaction time tests were performed. Psychological characteristics were assessed by three established self-evaluation questionnaires: the Athletic Coping Skills Inventory, the State Competitive Anxiety Test, and the State-Trait-Anger-Expression-Inventory. Football-specific characteristics that were investigated included playing experience and positions played, style of play, number of training hours and games, as well as aspects of fair play. Reaction time was tested twice: without the influence of physical exercise and immediately after a 12-minute run. A significant reduction in reaction time was observed after physical exercise. In high-level players, the reaction time immediately after the 12-minute run was significantly shorter than it was in low-level players. The questionnaire answers given regarding fair play clearly indicated that fair play is not paid sufficient respect. The relationship between psychological characteristics and attitudes toward fair play was analyzed and discussed.
Career Development among American Biomedical Postdocs
Authors: Gibbs Kenneth D. , McGready John , Griffin Kimberly
Published: November 2015

Recent biomedical workforce policy efforts have centered on enhancing career preparation for trainees, and increasing diversity in the research workforce. Postdoctoral scientists, or postdocs, are among those most directly impacted by such initiatives, yet their career development remains understudied. This study reports results from a 2012 national survey of 1002 American biomedical postdocs. On average, postdocs reported increased knowledge about career options but lower clarity about their career goals relative to PhD entry. The majority of postdocs were offered structured career development at their postdoctoral institutions, but less than one-third received this from their graduate departments. Postdocs from all social backgrounds reported significant declines in interest in faculty careers at research-intensive universities and increased interest in nonresearch careers; however, there were differences in the magnitude and period of training during which these changes occurred across gender and race/ethnicity. Group differences in interest in faculty careers were explained by career interest differences formed during graduate school but not by differences in research productivity, research self-efficacy, or advisor relationships. These findings point to the need for enhanced career development earlier in the training process, and interventions sensitive to distinctive patterns of interest development across social identity groups.
Role of interferon-γ and cytotoxic T lymphocytes in intraocular tumor rejection
Authors: Ligocki Ann J , Brown Joseph R , Niederkorn Jerry Y
Published: November 2015

The eye is normally an immunosuppressive environment. This condition is better known as immune privilege and protects the eye from immune-mediated inflammation of tissues that cannot regenerate. However, immune privilege creates a dilemma for the eye when intraocular neoplasms arise. In some cases, immune privilege is suspended, resulting in the immune rejection of intraocular tumors. This study employed a mouse model in which interferon-γ–dependent intraocular tumor rejection occurs. We tested the hypothesis that this rejection requires interferon-γ for the generation and functional capacity of cytotoxic T lymphocyte–mediated rejection of intraocular tumors. Tumors grew progressively in the eyes of interferon-γ knockout mice, even though the mice generated tumor-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses in the periphery. However, interferon-γ knockout mice rejected tumors that were introduced into extraocular sites. Subcutaneous tumor immunization before intraocular challenge led to tumor rejection and preservation of the eye in wild-type mice. By contrast, tumors grew progressively in the eyes of interferon-γ knockout mice despite their ability to generate peripheral tumor-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes as well as the capacity of CD8+ T cells to enter the eye as shown by the presence of CD8 and perforin message and CD3+CD8+ leukocytes within the tumor-bearing eye. We found that cytotoxic T lymphocytes generated in wild-type mice and adoptively transferred into interferon-γ knockout mice mediated the rejection of intraocular tumors in interferon-γ knockout hosts. The results indicate that interferon-γ is critical for the initial priming and differentiation of cytotoxic T lymphocytes residing in the periphery to produce the most effect antitumor function within the eye.
Platelet-neutrophil complex formation—a detailed in vitro analysis of murine and human blood samples
Authors: Mauler Maximilian , Seyfert Julia , Haenel David , Seeba Hannah , Guenther Janine , Stallmann Daniela , Schoenichen Claudia , Hilgendorf Ingo , Bode Christoph , Ahrens Ingo , Duerschmied Daniel
Published: November 2015

Platelets form complexes with neutrophils during inflammatory processes. These aggregates migrate into affected tissues and also circulate within the organism. Several studies have evaluated platelet-neutrophil complexes as a marker of cardiovascular diseases in human and mouse. Although multiple publications have reported platelet-neutrophil complex counts, we noticed that different methods were used to analyze platelet-neutrophil complex formation, resulting in significant differences, even in baseline values. We established a protocol for platelet-neutrophil complex measurement with flow cytometry in murine and human whole blood samples. In vitro platelet-neutrophil complex formation was stimulated with ADP or PMA. We tested the effect of different sample preparation steps and cytometer settings on platelet-neutrophil complex detection and noticed false-positive counts with increasing acquisition speed. Platelet-neutrophil complex formation depends on platelet P-selectin expression, and antibody blocking of P-selectin consequently prevented ADP-induced platelet-neutrophil complex formation. These findings may help generating more comparable data among different research groups that examine platelet-neutrophil complexes as a marker for cardiovascular disease and novel therapeutic interventions.
Macroscopic framework for viscoelasticity, poroelasticity, and wave-induced fluid flows — Part 1: General linear solid
Authors: Morozov Igor B. , Deng Wubing
Published: November 2015

Field and laboratory observations of seismic wave propagation and attenuation are usually explained using the viscoelastic (VE) model and effective moduli. However, in sedimentary rocks, wave velocities and attenuation rates are dominated by pore-fluid effects, such as poroelasticity, squirt, and mesoscopic wave-induced fluid flows. Physically, such effects are significantly different from viscoelasticity, and the pore-fluid and VE phenomena are difficult to compare quantitatively without a common theoretical framework. We develop such a unified macroscopic framework that we call the general linear solid (GLS). The GLS is based on Lagrangian continuum mechanics, and it can be summarized as multiphase poroelasticity extended by solid and fluid viscosities. The formulation is carried out strictly in terms of continuum mechanics, measurable physical properties, and boundary conditions, from which the observable wave velocities and attenuation are predicted. Explicit differential equations are derived in matrix form, from which a variety of numerical modeling schemes can be obtained. A rigorous correspondence principle is formulated, in which viscosity effects contribute to complex-valued VE moduli, and Darcy friction lead to a complex-valued density matrix. Within the GLS framework, the viscoelasticity represents an end member characterized by zero Darcy-type friction, whereas the poroelasticity is an end member with zero solid viscosity. Transitions between these end members and their extensions yield macroscopic models of viscoporoelasticity, poroelasticity with multiple saturating fluids and double porosity, and poroelasticity with squirt flows. The approach is illustrated on models of layered poroelastic and viscoporoelastic media. Applications of the GLS framework are continued in part 2 of this study.
Reflectivity inversion for attenuated seismic data: Physical modeling and field data experiments
Authors: Chai Xintao , Wang Shangxu , Wei Jianxin , Li Jingnan , Yin Hanjun
Published: November 2015

We have developed a method of nonstationary sparse reflectivity inversion (NSRI) that directly retrieves the reflectivity series from nonstationary seismic data without the intrinsic instability associated with inverse [Formula: see text] filtering methods. We have investigated the NSRI performance in the presence of input error (e.g., the phase shift and the peak frequency of the wavelet), which determined that NSRI results are reasonable in the case of moderate error. NSRI was then applied to data collected from a laboratory physical model made of highly attenuating media, for which true reflectivities were known, but the wave propagation and the [Formula: see text] filtering mechanism were not. Analysis of data from the physical model, therefore, represented a blind test for evaluating the effectiveness and accuracy of NSRI. The physical model had a specified spatial scale of 1:5000 (relative to the field scale) and an approximate 1:1 velocity scale. Because the [Formula: see text] input is required by NSRI, attenuation of the P-wave was measured in the laboratory at ultrasonic frequencies with a pulse transmission technique and the spectral ratio method. Although multiples, side reflections from the model boundaries, diffractions, and other event types were clearly observed from the raw data, no preprocessing was done to avoid affecting the [Formula: see text] filtering effects. Results from the physical modeling data demonstrated that the derived formula for an attenuated seismogram was correct and estimated [Formula: see text] values were reliable. The functions and advantages of NSRI were confirmed. The [Formula: see text] compensated seismogram generated by NSRI was superior to that generated using gain-limited inverse [Formula: see text] filtering. We have also investigated NSRI’s capabilities in analyzing a marine data set from the Gulf of Suez. These examples provided a basis for discussing assumptions and limitations of NSRI.