bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
1.4.2 Hydrolysis of Nitriles to Carboxylic Acids
Authors: Martinková L. , Veselá A. B.
Published: May 2016

The synthesis of carboxylic acids from nitriles utilizes two pathways of nitrile biotransformations: direct hydrolysis by nitrilase and bienzymatic hydrolysis by nitrile hydratase and amidase. General procedures consist of using whole cells or isolated enzymes as catalysts in aqueous media with a small fraction of organic cosolvent. These methods afford a number of products that are often difficult to prepare by chemical means such as 3-oxoamides, cyano carboxamides and cyano carboxylic acids, enantiopure 2- and 3-substituted carboxylic acids and carboxamides, and enantiopure (hetero)cyclic carboxylic acids and carboxamides. Stereochemistry is mainly recognized by amidase, but in some cases also by nitrilase and nitrile hydratase. Nitrile hydrolysis has also been employed in chemoenzymatic and multienzymatic methods such as the synthesis of aromatic and heterocyclic amides from aldehydes, the synthesis of enantiopure 2-hydroxy acids from aldehydes, the synthesis of enantiopure 3-hydroxy acids from 3-oxonitriles, and the synthesis of cyclophellitols from benzo-1,4-quinone.
1.4.4 Enzymatic Synthesis of Amides
Authors: Schmidberger J. W. , Hepworth L. J. , Green A. P. , Flitsch S. L.
Published: May 2016

The synthesis of amides is one of the most common reactions performed in organic chemistry. Biocatalysis is an attractive alternative to chemical methodologies because of the mild reaction conditions and excellent atom economy, combined with the potential for stereoselectivity. Here, we provide an overview of the literature on enzyme-catalyzed amide-bond formation on a preparative scale, with a focus on nonnatural substrates.
Pushing nanoparticles with light — A femtonewton resolved measurement of optical scattering forces
Authors: Zensen C. , Villadsen N. , Winterer F. , Keiding S. R. , Lohmüller T.
Published: May 2016

Optomechanical manipulation of plasmonic nanoparticles is an area of current interest, both fundamental and applied. However, no experimental method is available to determine the forward-directed scattering force that dominates for incident light of a wavelength close to the plasmon resonance. Here, we demonstrate how the scattering force acting on a single gold nanoparticle in solution can be measured. An optically trapped 80 nm particle was repetitively pushed from the side with laser light resonant to the particle plasmon frequency. A lock-in analysis of the particle movement provides a measured value for the scattering force. We obtain a resolution of less than 3 femtonewtons which is an order of magnitude smaller than any measurement of switchable forces performed on nanoparticles in solution with single beam optical tweezers to date. We compared the results of the force measurement with Mie simulations of the optical scattering force on a gold nanoparticle and found good agreement between experiment and theory within a few fN.
A hybrid-exchange density functional study of the bonding and electronic structure in bulk CuFeS2
Authors: Martínez-Casado Ruth , Chen Vincent H.-Y. , Mallia Giuseppe , Harrison Nicholas M.
Published: May 2016

The geometric, electronic, and magnetic properties of bulk chalcopyrite CuFeS2 have been investigated using hybrid-exchange density functional theory calculations. The results are compared with available theoretical and experimental data. The theoretical description of the bonding and electronic structure in CuFeS2 is analyzed in detail and compared to those computed for chalcocite (CuS2) and greigite (Fe3S4). In particular, the behavior of the 3d electrons of Fe3+ is discussed in terms of the Hubbard-Anderson model in the strongly correlated regime and found to be similarly described in both materials by an on-site Coulomb repulsion (U) of ∼8.9 eV and a transfer integral (t) of ∼0.3 eV.
1/f noise measurements for faster evaluation of electromigration in advanced microelectronics interconnections
Authors: Beyne Sofie , Croes Kristof , De Wolf Ingrid , Tőkei Zsolt
Published: May 2016

The use of 1/f noise measurements is explored for the purpose of finding faster techniques for electromigration (EM) characterization in advanced microelectronic interconnects, which also enable a better understanding of its underlying physical mechanisms. Three different applications of 1/f noise for EM characterization are explored. First, whether 1/f noise measurements during EM stress can serve as an early indicator of EM damage. Second, whether the current dependence of the noise power spectral density (PSD) can be used for a qualitative comparison of the defect concentration of different interconnects and consequently also their EM lifetime t50. Third, whether the activation energies obtained from the temperature dependence of the 1/f noise PSD correspond to the activation energies found by means of classic EM tests. In this paper, the 1/f noise technique has been used to assess and compare the EM properties of various advanced integration schemes and different materials, as they are being explored by the industry to enable advanced interconnect scaling. More concrete, different types of copper interconnects and one type of tungsten interconnect are compared. The 1/f noise measurements confirm the excellent electromigration properties of tungsten and demonstrate a dependence of the EM failure mechanism on copper grain size and distribution, where grain boundary diffusion is found to be a dominant failure mechanism.
Dynamic and temperature dependent response of physical vapor deposited Se in freely standing nanometric thin films
Authors: Yoon Heedong , McKenna Gregory B.
Published: May 2016

Here, we report results from an investigation of nano-scale size or confinement effects on the glass transition and viscoelastic properties of physical vapor deposited selenium films. The viscoelastic response of freely standing Se films was determined using a biaxial membrane inflation or bubble inflation method [P. A. O’Connell and G. B. McKenna, Science 307, 1760-1763 (2005)] on films having thicknesses from 60 to 267 nm and over temperatures ranging from Tg, macroscopic − 15 °C to Tg, macroscopic + 21 °C. Time-temperature superposition and time-thickness superposition were found to hold for the films in the segmental dispersion. The responses are compared with macroscopic creep and recoverable creep compliance data for selenium [K. M. Bernatz et al., J. Non-Cryst. Solids 307, 790-801 (2002)]. The time-temperature shift factors for the thin films show weaker temperature dependence than seen in the macroscopic behavior, being near to Arrhenius-like in their temperature dependence. Furthermore, the Se films exhibit a “rubbery-like” stiffening that increases as film thickness decreases similar to prior observations [P. A. O’Connell et al., Macromolecules 45(5), 2453-2459 (2012)] for organic polymers. In spite of the differences from the macroscopic behavior in the temperature dependence of the viscoelastic response, virtually no change in Tg as determined from the thickness dependence of the retardation time defining Tg was observed in the bubble inflation creep experiments to thicknesses as small as 60 nm. We also find that the observed rubbery stiffening is consistent with the postulate of K. L. Ngai et al. [J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 51(3), 214-224 (2013)] that it should correlate with the change of the macroscopic segmental relaxation.
A low noise and high precision linear power supply with thermal foldback protection
Authors: Carniti P. , Cassina L. , Gotti C. , Maino M. , Pessina G.
Published: May 2016

A low noise and high precision linear power supply was designed for use in rare event search experiments with macrobolometers. The circuit accepts at the input a “noisy” dual supply voltage up to ±15 V and gives at the output precise, low noise, and stable voltages that can be set between ±3.75 V and ±12.5 V in eight 1.25 V steps. Particular care in circuit design, component selection, and proper filtering results in a noise spectral density of 50nV/Hz at 1 Hz and 20nV/Hz white when the output is set to ±5 V. This corresponds to 125 nV RMS (0.8 μV peak to peak) between 0.1 Hz and 10 Hz, and 240 nV RMS (1.6 μV peak to peak) between 0.1 Hz and 100 Hz. The power supply rejection ratio (PSRR) of the circuit is 100 dB at low frequency, and larger than 40 dB up to high frequency, thanks to a proper compensation design. Calibration allows to reach a precision in the absolute value of the output voltage of ±70 ppm, or ±350 μV at ±5 V, and to reduce thermal drifts below ±1 ppm/∘C in the expected operating range. The maximum peak output current is about 6 A from each output. An original foldback protection scheme was developed that dynamically limits the maximum output current to keep the temperature of the output transistors within their safe operating range. An add-on card based on an ARM Cortex-M3 microcontroller is devoted to the monitoring and control of all circuit functionalities and provides remote communication via CAN bus.
Probing and exploiting the chaotic dynamics of a hydrodynamic photochemical oscillator to implement all the basic binary logic functions
Authors: Hayashi Kenta , Gotoda Hiroshi , Gentili Pier Luigi
Published: May 2016

The convective motions within a solution of a photochromic spiro-oxazine being irradiated by UV only on the bottom part of its volume, give rise to aperiodic spectrophotometric dynamics. In this paper, we study three nonlinear properties of the aperiodic time series: permutation entropy, short-term predictability and long-term unpredictability, and degree distribution of the visibility graph networks. After ascertaining the extracted chaotic features, we show how the aperiodic time series can be exploited to implement all the fundamental two-inputs binary logic functions (AND, OR, NAND, NOR, XOR, and XNOR) and some basic arithmetic operations (half-adder, full-adder, half-subtractor). This is possible due to the wide range of states a nonlinear system accesses in the course of its evolution. Therefore, the solution of the convective photochemical oscillator results in hardware for chaos-computing alternative to conventional complementary metal-oxide semiconductor-based integrated circuits.
Trends in general practitioner services to residents in aged care
Authors: Hillen Jodie B. , Vitry Agnes , Caughey Gillian E.
Published: May 2016

To date, access to appropriate and timely GP services for those in aged care has been described as limited, in part due to inadequate models of care and remuneration. As the Australian population ages and more Australians become dependent on aged-care services, the need for good quality medical care that meets the needs of residents will continue to grow. The purpose of this study was to provide a current analysis of trends in GP services in residents in Australian aged-care facilities. Longitudinal population data (2005–2014) was used to describe the changing population demographics and calculate annual rates for GP services specific to this population. Total population and age-group strata (<85 years and 85+ years) rates were calculated for standard consultations, after-hours consultations, contribution to a care plan and collaborative medication review. For the period 2005–2014 there was an increase of 1.5 million GP services to this population, which had simultaneously grown by 19800 residents, aged (6% increase in residents aged 85+ years) and become more dependent (14% increase is high-care residents). Significant increases in all GP service rates were observed, with a shift towards after-hours consultations. Residents aged <85 years received significantly more services than residents aged 85+ years. GP service delivery to the whole aged-care population continues to be heavily weighted towards standard and after-hours consultations, while collaborative GP services remain a very small proportion of services accessed by this population. There is scope to increase collaborative GP services, which have been linked to improved outcomes for this population.
Is there a role for a primary health nurse in a learning support team in a disadvantaged high school? Evaluation of a pilot study
Authors: Dennis Sarah , Noon Ted , Liaw Siaw Teng
Published: May 2016

Disadvantaged children experience more health problems and have poorer educational outcomes compared with students from advantaged backgrounds. This paper presents the quantitative and qualitative findings from a pilot study to determine the impact of the Healthy Learner model, where an experienced primary care nurse was embedded in a learning support team in a disadvantaged high school. Students entering high school with National Assessment Program, Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) scores in the lowest quartile for the school were assessed by the nurse and identified health issues addressed. Thirty-nine students were assessed in 2012–13 and there were up to seven health problems identified per student, ranging from serious neglect to problems such as uncorrected vision or hearing. Many of these problems were having an impact on the student and their ability to engage in learning. Families struggled to navigate the health system, they had difficulty explaining the student’s problems to health professionals and costs were a barrier. Adding a nurse to the learning support team in this disadvantaged high school was feasible and identified considerable unmet health needs that affect a student’s ability to learn. The families needed extensive support to access any subsequent health care they required.
Identity as space
Authors: Goutsos Dionysis , Polymeneas George
Published: May 2016

The chapter studies the textual, discursive and social practices of the Greek “aganaktismeni” (indignados) movements, which mainly took place in the public gathering of tens of thousands of Greeks in Syntagma Square, outside the Greek parliament from May to August 2011. Data come from multiple sources, including the General Assembly proceedings and resolutions, while a linguistically-informed approach is followed, which combines Critical Discourse Analysis concepts with corpus linguistic methods. It is argued that the Syntagma protests generated a new context in Greek politics, by introducing new genres and the innovative articulation of already existing discourses. It was also found that social/political identities and social/public space were co-articulated, since the identity of the movement was crucially constructed in terms of space.
Lenguas de signos y educación en España
Authors: Cabeza-Pereiro María del Carmen , Ramallo Fernando F.
Published: May 2016

El objetivo principal de este trabajo es valorar el impacto de la ley que reconoce la oficialidad de dos lenguas de signos en España. Para tal fin, diseñamos una encuesta orientada a conocer las opiniones de la comunidad sorda sobre los diferentes ámbitos en que la ley concede derechos lingüísticos a las personas sordas. La encuesta se realizó sobre una plataforma en línea y se difundió por medios electrónicos, con una estrategia de bola de nieve. El análisis de los resultados muestra diferencias relevantes entre las respuestas relativas al ámbito educativo con respecto a otros en que también se valora la posibilidad de usar una lengua de signos. El importante papel que juega la escuela en la transmisión lingüística dentro del contexto de la comunidad sorda ofrece una explicación a estas diferencias y, al mismo tiempo, constituye un reto para el futuro.
Foreign language policies in Asia and Australia in the Asian century
Authors: Hamid M. Obaidul , Kirkpatrick Andy
Published: May 2016

This article provides a comparative analysis of foreign language policies in Asia and Australia with reference to policy contexts, motivations and processes. The analysis is specifically motivated by the recent publication of theAustralia in the Asian CenturyWhite Paper that represents Australia’s renewed desire to engage with Asia by developing “Asia literacy” including the development of national proficiency in selected Asian languages. It is argued that, although foreign language policies in the two regions present interesting similarities in terms of policy contexts and goals, there is notabledisconnectbetween Asia and Australia that potentially undermines Australian policy desire toconnectwith Asia. Furthermore, although languages, like other national resources, are planned to address social needs and aspirations, subjecting languages to economic imperative reflects not only misconceptions of languages but also misappropriation of their potential.
Language education policy enactment and individual agency
Authors: Van Huy Nguyen , Hamid M. Obaidul , Renshaw Peter
Published: May 2016

This article explores language planning and policy from the perspective of individual agency and its embodiments in the process of implementing an English language education policy ensemble at a public university in Vietnam. The policy exemplifies the influence of globalized standards on local language education systems. It aims to build a national framework in Vietnam based on a Western model known as the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) which is expected to serve as a platform for reforming curriculum design, course materials development, and testing and assessment. Drawn from a set of data obtained through in-depth interviews with university administrators, the findings highlight the conflicting policy positions taken up by teacher-cum-administrators engaged in the policy enactment process. The paper argues that a critical barrier to CEFR enactment lies in the constraints and demotivation within each participant, particularly of those involved at a higher level of decision-making process in the institution. It is important, therefore, to deal with these conflicts at the level of macro policy planning to neutralize the paradox of policy enactment at the local site.
Metaphors for ‘good’ and ‘bad’ deaths
Authors: Demjén Zsófia , Semino Elena , Koller Veronika
Published: May 2016

This paper discusses the metaphors used by sixteen palliative healthcare professionals from around the United Kingdom in semi-structured interviews to describe what they see as ‘good’ and ‘bad’ deaths. The interviews, conducted for the large-scale “Metaphor in End-of-Life Care” project, are set against the background of contemporary practices and discourses around end-of-life care, dying and quality of death. To date, the use of metaphor in descriptions of different types of deaths has not received much attention. Applying the Metaphor Identification Procedure (Pragglejaz Group, 2007) we find that the difference between good and bad deaths is partly expressed via different frequencies of contrasting metaphors, such as ‘peacefulness’ and ‘openness’ as opposed to ‘struggle’ and ‘pushing away’ professional help. We show how metaphors are used to: evaluate deaths and the dying; justify those evaluations; present a remarkably consistent view of different types of deaths; and promote a particular ‘framing’ of a good death, which is closely linked with the dominant sociocultural and professional contexts of our interviewees. We discuss the implications of these consistent evaluations and framings in broader end-of-life care contexts, and reflect on the significance of our findings for the role of metaphor in communication about sensitive experiences.
The role of metaphor and metonymy in framing terrorism
Authors: Pinelli Erica
Published: May 2016

In this paper I analyze the role of metaphor and metonymy in framing conflict events. In particular, when framing a terrorist attack in media discourse these two linguistic elements are crucial for the interpretation of the event. The data from two Russian newspapers, the “Novaja Gazeta” and the “Rossijskaja Gazeta”, show how metaphorical and metonymical processes are used to promote a particular interpretation and modify the structure of the event itself.
Being ‘indecisive’ in Japanese
Authors: Asano-Cavanagh Yuko
Published: May 2016

Japanese speakers are often characterised as ‘indecisive’. The indecision is indicated by epistemic markers being frequently added to express the doubt. The sentence-final particlekanashows an indecisive attitude and is usually translated into English asI wonderormaybe. There are other similar Japanese expressions, for example,darou kaand(n) janai ka. Both expressions represent uncertainty and are generally interpreted asI wonderormaybe. Althoughkana,darou kaand(n) janai kaare often treated as ‘synonyms’, they are not necessarily interchangeable. The aim of this study is to define these Japanese epistemic markers using the reductive paraphrase methodology of the Natural Semantic Metalanguage approach. New definitions are presented to clarify semantic differences and the invariant concept embedded in each expression. This analysis elucidates Japanese speakers’ epistemic stance when they are in doubt.
Constructional change vs. grammaticalization
Authors: Heine Bernd , Narrog Heiko , Long Haiping
Published: May 2016

Building on recent findings made in the framework of Construction Grammar, on the one hand, and within the framework on grammaticalization, on the other, the present paper is concerned with the development from lexical compounding to derivation. Compounding is presumably the most common source of derivational categories and this applies in particular to modifying (endocentric) compounds, which are the main subject of this paper. By looking at three cases of grammatical change in English, German, and the West African language Ewe it is argued that the two frameworks differ in their goals and in their approaches. Both frameworks search for regularities in grammatical change, but whereas Construction Grammar has a focus on constructional change, that is, change in the development of constructions, the central question asked by students of grammaticalization is how and why, e.g., lexical categories give rise to grammatical (or functional) categories.
Survival, Age-0 Abundance, and Growth of Black Crappie and Hybrid Crappie in 0.1-ha Earthen Ponds
Authors: Baumhoer Brandon M. , Kelly Anita M.
Published: May 2016

Crappie Pomoxis spp. are a popular sportfish in the United States; many private pond owners would like to stock crappie, but crappie display inconsistent reproduction, which can lead to overpopulation and result in a stunted population. Crappie with limited reproduction would be an attractive management option for minimizing overpopulation. An experiment was conducted to measure survival, abundance of age-0 offspring, and growth of Black Crappie and hybrid crappie (female Black Crappie P. nigromaculatus × male White Crappie P. annularis) in small impoundments. Sixteen unfertilized 0.1-ha ponds were stocked with Black Crappie or hybrid crappie. Half of the ponds with Black Crappie and hybrid crappie were also stocked with Largemouth Bass Micropterus salmoides and Bluegill Lepomis macrochirus, and all ponds were stocked with Fathead Minnow Pimephales promelas as supplemental forage. In September 2013, ponds were harvested and drained; weight and lengths were recorded from all adult Black Crappie and hybrid crappie, and all age-0 Black Crappie and hybrid crappie were counted and recorded. Adult survival rates did not differ among groups (F = 0.72, df = 2, P = 0.5059), ranging from 25% to 58%. Predation and increased competition with other centrarchids may be a function of adult Black Crappie and hybrid crappie survival. The number of age-0 fish recovered from each pond was highly variable and ranged from 0 to 52,162 individuals, with no significant differences observed among the groups with and without predators (F = 3.73, df = 2, P = 0.0524). Hybrid crappie were significantly heavier (F = 14.36, df = 2, P = 0.0011) and longer (F = 8.45, df = 2, P = 0.0071) than Black Crappie. Growth rates for hybrid crappie were higher than any previously documented research of individual crappie species. High densities of Fathead Minnow for forage may explain the high growth rates. Hybrid crappie may be a viable alternative for stocking in small impoundments, but further investigation of the long-term success of stocked hybrid crappie is warranted.

Received July 20, 2015; accepted December 11, 2015 Published online May 9, 2016
Leveraging limited information to understand ecological relationships of endangered Florida salt marsh vole
Authors: McCleery Robert A. , Zweig Christa L.
Published: May 2016

We were able to substantially increase our knowledge of what is likely the least understood endangered terrestrial mammal in the United States, the Florida salt marsh vole (FSMV; Microtus pennsylvanicus dukecampbelli). We developed a predictive landscape model that estimated 264 ha of potential habitat for FSMVs. Evaluating our model, we found voles at 8 of the 36 sites sampled, yielding a model accuracy of 22% for a subspecies that previously was known from only 3 locations. Within areas of potential habitat, FSMVs selected patches of marsh vegetation > 0.49 ha with at least some (≥ 16.75% and ≤ 43.61%) smooth cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora) cover. Suggestive of a meta-population dynamic, FSMV activity decreased outside of patches of smooth cordgrass and saltgrass (Distichlis spicata) identified by the predictive landscape model. Our hierarchical approach to studying FSMVs allowed us to leverage a limited amount of data to ultimately produce important ecological information about an endangered species. This approach easily may be adapted to other mammals with similar information needs.
Hypoxia and acidification in ocean ecosystems: coupled dynamics and effects on marine life
Authors: Gobler Christopher J. , Baumann Hannes
Published: May 2016

There is increasing recognition that low dissolved oxygen (DO) and low pH conditions co-occur in many coastal and open ocean environments. Within temperate ecosystems, these conditions not only develop seasonally as temperatures rise and metabolic rates accelerate, but can also display strong diurnal variability, especially in shallow systems where photosynthetic rates ameliorate hypoxia and acidification by day. Despite the widespread, global co-occurrence of low pH and low DO and the likelihood that these conditions may negatively impact marine life, very few studies have actually assessed the extent to which the combination of both stressors elicits additive, synergistic or antagonistic effects in marine organisms. We review the evidence from published factorial experiments that used static and/or fluctuating pH and DO levels to examine different traits (e.g. survival, growth, metabolism), life stages and species across a broad taxonomic spectrum. Additive negative effects of combined low pH and low DO appear to be most common; however, synergistic negative effects have also been observed. Neither the occurrence nor the strength of these synergistic impacts is currently predictable, and therefore, the true threat of concurrent acidification and hypoxia to marine food webs and fisheries is still not fully understood. Addressing this knowledge gap will require an expansion of multi-stressor approaches in experimental and field studies, and the development of a predictive framework. In consideration of marine policy, we note that DO criteria in coastal waters have been developed without consideration of concurrent pH levels. Given the persistence of concurrent low pH–low DO conditions in estuaries and the increased mortality experienced by fish and bivalves under concurrent acidification and hypoxia compared with hypoxia alone, we conclude that such DO criteria may leave coastal fisheries more vulnerable to population reductions than previously anticipated.
An investigation of the influence of managerial factors on industrial accidents in the construction industry using the gray FTA method
Authors: Omidvari Manouchehr , Abootorabi Seyyed Morteza , Mehrno Hossein
Published: May 2016

Purpose

– The statistical report published by the Iranian Social Security Organization in 2012 showed that, of all industries, the construction industry is associated with the highest number of work-related accidents. Furthermore, as this sector contains a large human workforce, identification of the factors contributing to the occurrence of such accidents is vital. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– Furthermore, as this sector contains a large human workforce, identification of the factors contributing to the occurrence of such accidents is vital. In the present study, such factors were initially identified, after which the most important of these, managerial factors, were selected. Subsequently, the identification of the causes of the managerial factors was carried out with the use of the fault tree analysis (FTA) method and application of OR and AND entries.

Findings

– Since it is difficult to determine the probability of occurrence of events in this industry with certainty, and because gray numbers (numbers of which the exact value is unknown, and which represent uncertain information) have a strong relationship with human expressions, the probability of occurrence of the main undesired events was also evaluated using the gray numbers as input entries, in addition to ranking the probability of occurrence of intermediate events.

Originality/value

– The findings revealed that FTA using gray numbers is a useful and effective tool in risk assessment.
Comparing library wayfinding among novices and experts
Authors: Zaugg Holt , Child Curtis , Bennett Dalton , Brown Jace , Alcaraz Melissa , Allred Alexander , Andrus Nathaniel , Babcock Drew , Barriga Maria , Brown Madison , Bulloch Lindsey , Corbett Todd , Curtin Michelle , Giossi Victoria , Hawkins Samantha , Hernandez Sergio , Jacobs Kayia , Jones Jette , Kessler David , Lee Samuel , Mackay Sara , Marshall Amy , Maxfield Dallin , McFarland Cory , Miller Brennen , Roberson Maia , Rogers Kristy , Stoker Devin , Tonga Manase , Twitchell Abby , Zandamela Tinesha
Published: May 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate similar and different wayfinding strategies used by novice and expert patrons at an academic library.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study employed a usability study approach. In total, 12 people, places, or things were identified as important for students to be able to locate within an academic library. Students from one of three groups (high school, freshmen, and seniors) were randomly assigned a scenario requiring them to find the indicated person, place, or thing. Student researchers video recorded participants and took field notes during the wayfinding activity and conducted an interview about participant’s experience following the exercise.

Findings

– Total and average time needed to locate the person, place, or thing indicated in the scenario were determined for each group. In addition, wayfinding tools (signs, maps, help desks, technology, and experience) used by participants were identified.

Originality/value

– The research compares novice and expert wayfinding strategies. It is unique in its use of student researchers as part of a sociology class project, to collect and analyze the data.
TOXINZ, the New Zealand Internet poisons information database: The first decade
Authors: Fountain John S , Slaughter Robin J
Published: May 2016

Objective

The New Zealand National Poisons Centre has, over a number of years, developed an electronic poisons information database. In 2002, this was released as toxinz™ (University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand), an Internet accessible version. The objective of this study is to describe New Zealand subscriber utilisation of TOXINZ with an emphasis on pharmaceutical monographs viewed.

Methods

A retrospective review was conducted of records of New Zealand subscriber access to TOXINZ monographs during the period 1 January 2003 to 31 December 2012. Telephone enquiry data to the New Zealand National Poisons Centre was also obtained for the same time period.

Results

Over the decade, 201 255 TOXINZ monographs were accessed, with annual numbers of documents viewed doubling from 13 718 in 2003 to 28 782 in 2012. Pharmaceuticals were the largest group viewed with 132 316 documents accessed (65.7% of all documents), followed by monographs relating to chemicals 46 061 (22.9%), substances of abuse 6698 (3.3%), plants 6563 (3.3%), supportive care 4668 (2.3%), animals 2553 (1.3%), and other 2396 (1.2%). In regard to the pharmaceuticals, high or rapidly increasing levels of enquiries were identified for venlafaxine, quetiapine, paracetamol, zopiclone and tramadol. Investigation of telephone enquiries to the New Zealand National Poisons Centre showed total poisoning calls increased slightly over the 10 year period, whereas telephone enquiries from hospitals halved.

Conclusion

The TOXINZ Internet accessible poisons information database has proved to be a well‐utilised addition to the New Zealand National Poisons Centre's service.
The contribution of the melanin pathway to overall body pigmentation during ontogenesis of Periplaneta americana
Authors: Lemonds Thomas R. , Liu Jin , Popadić Aleksandar
Published: May 2016

The most prominent colors observed in insects are black or brown, whose production is attributed to the melanin pathway. At present, though, the contribution of this pathway to overall body pigmentation throughout ontogenesis is still lacking. To address this question we examined the roles of 2 key melanin genes (TH and DDC), in embryonic and postembryonic development of the American cockroach, Periplaneta americana. Our results show that the melanin pathway does not contribute to the light brown coloration observed in the first nymphs. However, the dark brown coloration in mid nymphs and adults is produced solely from the melanin pathway. In addition, the DDC RNAi results reveal that it is dopamine melanin, not DOPA melanin, acts as the main contributor in this process. Overall, present study provides a new insight into insect pigmentation suggesting that genetic mechanisms of coloration can change during ontogenesis. Future studies of additional basal insect lineages will be required to assess in more details the generality of this phenomenon.
Cadmium Removal from Rice by Separating and Washing Protein Isolate
Authors: Huo Yinqiang , Du Hongying , Xue Bingying , Niu Meng , Zhao Siming
Published: May 2016

In this study detoxification of 3 Chinese Cd‐contaminated cultivars (Jinyou463, Yuchi, and Xiangzaoxian 32) of rice was explored. By separation with an alkaline method, Cd concentrations of the starch isolates were decreased from 0.2769, 0.4037, and 0.5156 mg/kg in starting milled rice to 0.1056, 0.1585, and 0.1923 mg/kg, respectively. However, the Cd concentrations reached up to 2.5905, 3.1628, and 4.8593 mg/kg in the protein isolates, respectively. Therefore, 10 common acids in food industry were investigated to remove Cd from protein isolate by washing process. The optimal washing conditions were 0.5 M citric acid, acid to rice protein isolate ratio of 6:1 v/w, shaking time of 1 h at room temperature. The rice protein isolate showed a significant decrease in Cd concentration and the removal efficiency was more than 95% after 2 washings at optimized conditions. Rice proteins were not degraded at all and had very little loss during citric acid washing process. The study presents a promising way of depurating Cd‐contaminated rice, and meanwhile it reduces the risk of heavy metal causing food safety issues effectively.
Quantifying carbon and amphibian co‐benefits from secondary forest regeneration in the Tropical Andes
Authors: Basham E. W. , González del Pliego P. , Acosta‐Galvis A. R. , Woodcock P. , Medina Uribe C. A. , Haugaasen T. , Gilroy J. J. , Edwards D. P.
Published: May 2016

Tropical land‐use change is a key driver of global declines in biodiversity and a major source of anthropogenic carbon emissions, yet there is a substantial shortfall in the funding available to tackle these issues. We urgently need mechanisms that can simultaneously tackle both biodiversity and carbon losses, with carbon‐based payments for ecosystem services (e.g. REDD+) of particular interest. A critical question is whether such payments offer strong carbon–biodiversity co‐benefits via the regrowth of forests on abandoned farmlands (carbon enhancements) for amphibians, which are the most threatened vertebrate group and reach the greatest richness of threatened and small‐ranged species in the montane tropics (>1000 m a.s.l.). Here, we study changes in amphibian communities across a typical Andean habitat transition from cattle pasture through secondary forests (8–35 years) to primary forest. As secondary forests mature, they recovered the abundance, species richness, species composition and Red‐listed (near threatened and threatened) species typically found in primary forest. By contrast, cattle pasture contained much lower richness of Red‐listed species and a different species composition compared to forest. We then reveal positive relationships between carbon stocks and amphibian species richness and abundance, Red‐listed species richness and abundance and the similarity of communities to primary forests, confirming significant carbon–biodiversity co‐benefits. Our results underscore the high conservation value of secondary forests and the strong potential for carbon and biodiversity recovery. Using carbon‐based funding initiatives to support the regrowth of forests on marginal agricultural land is therefore likely to conserve threatened biodiversity in the Tropical Andes.
Religion and Corporate Governance: Evidence from 32 Countries
Authors: Kim Jaehyeon , Daniel Shirley J.
Published: May 2016

This study seeks to understand the effects of informal constraints, particularly religious denominations, on corporate governance. Using archival data from a panel sample of 32 countries—between 2006 and 2010—we find that a higher proportion of Protestantism is associated with stronger corporate governance after controlling for cultural, economic, legal, and institutional factors. This study provides empirical support for the socio‐cultural theory, which posits that socio‐cultural variables such as religion are associated with the level of agency costs (Charreaux, 2004, Corporate governance theories: From micro theories to national systems theories, Working Paper). The findings of this study contribute to the corporate governance, accounting, finance, and management literature by showing that social norms, especially religion, have a strong effect on corporate governance practices. Moreover, this study provides insights for policy makers who are interested in enhancing corporate governance, allowing them to strengthen formal constraints such as rule of law for countries where there is a low proportion of Protestants, in order to improve corporate governance.
The Deservingness Heuristic and the Politics of Health Care
Authors: Jensen Carsten , Petersen Michael Bang
Published: May 2016

Citizens’ social policy opinions are strongly influenced by a simple heuristic: Are the recipients of social benefits deserving or not? Adding to this growing literature, we provide evidence that the deservingness heuristic does not treat all social benefits alike. Already at the level of preconscious processing, the heuristic displays a bias toward tagging the recipients of health care—that is, sick individuals—as deserving. This powerful, implicit effect overrides other opinion factors and produces broad‐based support among the public for health care—across levels of self‐interest, media frames, ideological divides, and national cultures. In contrast, when the deservingness heuristic is utilized for reasoning about unemployment benefits, implicit psychological constraints are fewer and political conflict erupts depending on differences in interest and worldviews. Using a variety of methodologies, we track this fundamental difference between the politics of health care and unemployment benefits from the level of implicit processing to the level of political attitudes.
Change in visual acuity and associated risk factors after trabeculectomy with adjunctive mitomycin C
Authors: Kashiwagi Kenji , Kogure Satoshi , Mabuchi Fumihiko , Chiba Tatsuya , Yamamoto Tetsuya , Kuwayama Yasuaki , Araie Makoto ,   the Collaborative Bleb‐Related Infection Incidence and Treatment Study Group
Published: May 2016

Purpose

To report the 5‐year incidence of visual impairment after mitomycin C‐augmented trabeculectomy (MMC trabeculectomy) and the risk factors for visual impairment.

Methods

This is a multicentre prospective observational cohort study. Among glaucoma patients registered in the Collaborative Bleb‐related Infection Incidence and Treatment Study performed in Japan, the patients with eyes meeting the following qualifications were included: eyes with primary open‐angle glaucoma; eyes with primary angle‐closure glaucoma; eyes with exfoliative glaucoma; eyes with ≥3/60 in blindness analysis; and eyes with ≥20/60 in low‐vision analysis and visual acuity loss analysis. The patients were followed at 6‐month intervals for 5 years. The entry data and follow‐up data were analysed to determine the incidence of blindness (<3/60), low vision (≥3/60 and <20/60) and visual acuity loss (≥0.2 logMAR) during the follow‐up period. Risk factors for visual impairment were also analysed.

Results

A total of 694 eyes of 694 or 559 eyes of 559 glaucoma patients were subjected to the blindness analysis or the low‐vision and visual acuity loss analysis, respectively. Visual acuity significantly deteriorated (p < 0.0001): 12.2% (95%CI: 9.8–14.7%) of the patients became blind; 12.1% (95%CI: 9.4–14.9%) were judged to have low vision at the final examination; 28.3% (95%CI: 24.5–32.0%) were judged to have visual acuity loss. Glaucoma subtypes, poor preoperative visual function and postoperative complications are the main risk factors for visual impairment.

Conclusions

Visual acuity was significantly reduced after MMC trabeculectomy in 5 years, and we identified several risk factors associated with this complication.
A “Business Researcher” View on Opportunities for Psychology in Entrepreneurship Research
Authors: Davidsson Per
Published: May 2016

In this short essay I offer some “business researcher” advice on how to leverage a strong background in psychology when attempting to contribute to the maturing field of “entrepreneurship research”. Psychologists can benefit from within‐discipline research, e.g. on emergence, small groups, fit, and expertise as well as method strengths in, e.g. experimentation, operationalisation of constructs, and multi‐level modelling. However, achieving full leverage of these strengths requires a clear conceptualisation of “entrepreneurship” as well as insights into the challenges posed by the nature of this class of phenomena.
A Bayesian Credible Subgroups Approach to Identifying Patient Subgroups with Positive Treatment Effects
Authors: Schnell Patrick M. , Tang Qi , Offen Walter W. , Carlin Bradley P.
Published: May 2016

Many new experimental treatments benefit only a subset of the population. Identifying the baseline covariate profiles of patients who benefit from such a treatment, rather than determining whether or not the treatment has a population-level effect, can substantially lessen the risk in undertaking a clinical trial and expose fewer patients to treatments that do not benefit them. The standard analyses for identifying patient subgroups that benefit from an experimental treatment either do not account for multiplicity, or focus on testing for the presence of treatment–covariate interactions rather than the resulting individualized treatment effects. We propose a Bayesian credible subgroups method to identify two bounding subgroups for the benefiting subgroup: one for which it is likely that all members simultaneously have a treatment effect exceeding a specified threshold, and another for which it is likely that no members do. We examine frequentist properties of the credible subgroups method via simulations and illustrate the approach using data from an Alzheimer's disease treatment trial. We conclude with a discussion of the advantages and limitations of this approach to identifying patients for whom the treatment is beneficial.
Women's Knowledge of Ovulation, the Menstrual Cycle, and Its Associated Reproductive Changes
Authors: Ayoola Adejoke B. , Zandee Gail L. , Adams Yenupini J.
Published: May 2016

Background

The purpose of this study was to examine women's knowledge of female reproduction—anatomy, hormones and their functions, ovulation, the menstrual cycle and its associated reproductive changes, conception, and signs of pregnancy.

Methods

A survey was completed by 125 women of childbearing age as part of a larger “Women's Health Promotion Program.” Descriptive statistics, mainly univariate and bivariate analyses were conducted using STATA 13.

Results

The women in the study were ages 18–51 years, 52.0 percent were Hispanic, 36.0 percent African American, and 12.0 percent White. The majority, 70.4 percent, had a household income of less than $20,000, 58.4 percent were not married, 83.2 percent were not trying to get pregnant at the time, and 37.6 percent had sexual intercourse that may have put them at risk for pregnancy in the past month. Less than one‐third knew about the reproductive hormones. Over 80.0 percent knew their reproductive anatomy, 68.8 percent were not keeping any log to track their menstrual flow, 53.6 percent did not know when their next menstruation would be, and 49.6 percent did not know the average number of days for a regular menstrual cycle. Many did not know what ovulation is (47.2%), the ovulation timing (67.2%), the number of eggs released from an ovary each month (79.2%), and how long an egg or sperm could live in a woman's body (62.4%).

Conclusions

Reproductive knowledge should be assessed during preconception visits and women should be taught comprehensive reproductive education—not just selected topics—to be adequately equipped to make informed reproductive decisions.
Innovations in Practice: a pilot study of interpersonal psychotherapy for depressed adolescents and their parents
Authors: Gunlicks‐Stoessel Meredith , Mufson Laura
Published: May 2016

Background

Problems in adolescents’ relationships with their parents are a significant risk factor for the development and maintenance of depression. The purpose of this pilot study was to examine the feasibility and acceptability of an adaptation of interpersonal psychotherapy for depressed adolescents (IPT‐A) who were also experiencing problems in their relationships with parents. The adaptation includes greater and more structured parent involvement in the treatment (IPT‐AP).

Method

Fifteen adolescents (age 12–17) who were diagnosed with depression and were also experiencing conflictual or emotionally disengaged relationships with their parents (based on adolescent or parent report on the Conflict Behavior Questionnaire) participated in a 16 week randomized clinical trial of individually delivered IPT‐A versus IPT‐AP. Data regarding the feasibility and acceptability of IPT‐AP were collected. Assessments of depression and family functioning were completed at baseline and weeks 4, 8, 12, and 16 by evaluators blind to treatment condition.

Results

IPT‐AP was feasible to implement, and adolescents and parents reported high treatment satisfaction. Adolescents demonstrated significant improvements in depressive symptoms, general functioning, and family functioning. IPT‐AP was more efficacious than individual IPT‐A in improving adolescents’ perceptions of father–adolescent relations and mothers’ perceptions of mother–adolescent relations.

Conclusions

Interpersonal psychotherapy for depressed adolescents and their parents was feasible to implement and acceptable to families, indicating that a full‐scale randomized controlled trial to evaluate its efficacy is warranted.