bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Refinery: Visual Exploration of Large, Heterogeneous Networks through Associative Browsing
Authors: Kairam S. , Riche N. H. , Drucker S. , Fernandez R. , Heer J.
Published: July 2015

Browsing is a fundamental aspect of exploratory information‐seeking. Associative browsing represents a common and intuitive set of exploratory strategies in which users step iteratively from familiar to novel bits of information. In this paper, we examine associative browsing as a strategy for bottom‐up exploration of large, heterogeneous networks. We present Refinery, an interactive visualization system informed by guidelines for associative browsing drawn from literature on exploratory information‐seeking. These guidelines motivate Refinery's query model, which allows users to simply and expressively construct queries using heterogeneous sets of nodes. This system computes degree‐of‐interest scores for associated content using a fast, random‐walk algorithm. Refinery visualizes query nodes within a subgraph of results, providing explanatory context, facilitating serendipitous discovery, and stimulating continued exploration. A study of 12 academic researchers using Refinery to browse publication data demonstrates how the system enables discovery of valuable new content, even within existing areas of expertise.
Detangler: Visual Analytics for Multiplex Networks
Authors: Renoust B. , Melançon G. , Munzner T.
Published: July 2015

A multiplex network has links of different types, allowing it to express many overlapping types of relationships. A core task in network analysis is to evaluate and understand group cohesion; that is, to explain why groups of elements belong together based on the underlying structure of the network. We present Detangler, a system that supports visual analysis of group cohesion in multiplex networks through dual linked views. These views feature new data abstractions derived from the original multiplex network: the substrate network and the catalyst network. We contribute two novel techniques that allow the user to analyze the complex structure of the multiplex network without the extreme visual clutter that would result from simply showing it directly. The harmonized layout visual encoding technique provides spatial stability between the substrate and catalyst views. The pivot brushing interaction technique supports linked highlighting between the views based on computations in the underlying multiplex network to leapfrog between subsets of catalysts and substrates. We present results from the motivating application domain of annotated news documents with a usage scenario and preliminary expert feedback. A second usage scenario presents group cohesion analysis of the social network of the early American independence movement.
Mosaic Drawings and Cartograms
Authors: Cano R. G. , Buchin K. , Castermans T. , Pieterse A. , Sonke W. , Speckmann B.
Published: July 2015

Cartograms visualize quantitative data about a set of regions such as countries or states. There are several different types of cartograms and – for some – algorithms to automatically construct them exist. We focus on mosaic cartograms: cartograms that use multiples of simple tiles – usually squares or hexagons – to represent regions. Mosaic cartograms communicate well data that consist of, or can be cast into, small integer units (for example, electorial college votes). In addition, they allow users to accurately compare regions and can often maintain a (schematized) version of the input regions’ shapes. We propose the first fully automated method to construct mosaic cartograms. To do so, we first introduce mosaic drawings of triangulated planar graphs. We then show how to modify mosaic drawings into mosaic cartograms with low cartographic error while maintaining correct adjacencies between regions. We validate our approach experimentally and compare to other cartogram methods.
EMPLOYER‐PROVIDED HEALTH INSURANCE AND JOB MOBILITY: DID THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT REDUCE JOB LOCK?
Authors: Bailey James , Chorniy Anna
Published: July 2015

Many have argued that concerns over health insurance reduce labor market mobility in the United States, causing a “job lock” effect. We take advantage of the novel natural experiment created by the Affordable Care Act's dependent coverage mandate to estimate the magnitude of the job lock effect for young adults. Using the 2008–2013 Current Population Survey and a difference‐in‐difference research design, we find that the expansion of dependent coverage did not increase job mobility, suggesting that job lock is not a major concern for young adults. (JEL J62, I13, I18)
Density‐dependent home‐range size revealed by spatially explicit capture–recapture
Authors: Efford M. G. , Dawson D. K. , Jhala Y. V. , Qureshi Q.
Published: July 2015

The size of animal home ranges often varies inversely with population density among populations of a species. This fact has implications for population monitoring using spatially explicit capture–recapture (SECR) models, in which both the scale of home‐range movements σ and population densityDusually appear as parameters, and both may vary among populations. It will often be appropriate to model a structural relationship between population‐specific values of these parameters, rather than to assume independence. We suggest re‐parameterizing the SECR model usingkp= σp√Dp, wherekprelates to the degree of overlap between home ranges and the subscriptpdistinguishes populations. We observe thatkpis often nearly constant for populations spanning a range of densities. This justifies fitting a model in which the separatekpare replaced by the single parameterkand σpis a density‐dependent derived parameter. Continuous density‐dependent spatial variation in σ may also be modelled, using a scaled non‐Euclidean distance between detectors and the locations of animals. We illustrate these methods with data from automatic photography of tigersPanthera tigrisacross India, in which the variation is among populations, from mist‐netting of ovenbirdsSeiurus aurocapillain Maryland, USA, in which the variation is within a single population over time, and from live‐trapping of brushtail possumsTrichosurus vulpeculain New Zealand, modelling spatial variation within one population.

Possible applications and limitations of the methods are discussed. A model in whichkpis constant, while density varies, provides a parsimonious null model for SECR. The parameterkof the null model is a concise summary of the empirical relationship between home‐range size and density that is useful in comparative studies. We expect deviations from this model, particularly the dependence ofkpon covariates, to be biologically interesting.
Knowledge, attitudes and practices surrounding occupational blood‐borne pathogen exposure amongst students in two Chinese dental schools
Authors: Wu L. , Yin Y.‐L. , Song J.‐L. , Chen Y. , Wu Y.‐F. , Zhao L.
Published: July 2015

Objective

To investigate the knowledge, attitudes and practices surrounding occupational blood‐borne pathogen exposure amongst dental students at two Chinese dental schools, as well as important factors that are associated with their career choice and attitudes towards infected patients.

Subject and Methods

The study was conducted using a student self‐administered questionnaire from March to June 2013 at two Chinese dental schools. Chi‐square tests and multivariable logistic regression were used to compare the categorical variables and identify the variables related to attitudes.

Results

One hundred and seventy‐one students answered the questionnaire (response rate 83%). Most participants had incomplete knowledge about occupational exposure and participants' compliance with the infection control programme during routine clinical work was low. Fifty‐six participants (34%) experienced at least one occupational exposure, but only one reported the incident. Percutaneous injuries and mucous membrane exposures were the main causes for exposure. Protection of the eyes and post‐exposure management were inadequate. According to most participants, they had received insufficient education. Their concerns about the risk of infectious professional exposure would influence their career choice and approach to patients. Only 14% and 26% of the participants were willing to treat human immunodeficiency virus‐ and hepatitis B virus‐infected patients, respectively.

Conclusions

More effective education on prevention and management is required for dental students to reduce the harm caused by occupational exposure. It is important to ensure dental students' knowledge and understanding before allowing them to enter clinical training.
A Paleoarchean coastal hydrothermal field inhabited by diverse microbial communities: the Strelley Pool Formation, Pilbara Craton, Western Australia
Authors: Sugitani K. , Mimura K. , Takeuchi M. , Yamaguchi T. , Suzuki K. , Senda R. , Asahara Y. , Wallis S. , Van Kranendonk M. J.
Published: July 2015

The 3.4‐Ga Strelley Pool Formation (SPF) at the informally named ‘Waterfall Locality’ in the Goldsworthy greenstone belt of the Pilbara Craton, Western Australia, provides deeper insights into ancient, shallow subaqueous to possibly subaerial ecosystems. Outcrops at this locality contain a thin (<3 m) unit of carbonaceous and non‐carbonaceous cherts and silicified sandstones that were deposited in a shallow‐water coastal environment, with hydrothermal activities, consistent with the previous studies. Carbonaceous, sulfide‐rich massive black cherts with coniform structures up to 3 cm high are characterized by diverse rare earth elements (REE) signatures including enrichment of light [light rare earth elements (LREE)] or middle rare earth elements and by enrichment of heavy metals represented by Zn. The massive black cherts were likely deposited by mixing of hydrothermal and non‐hydrothermal fluids. Coniform structures in the cherts are characterized by diffuse laminae composed of sulfide particles, suggesting that unlike stromatolites, they were formed dominantly through physico‐chemical processes related to hydrothermal activity. The cherts yield microfossils identical to previously described carbonaceous films, small and large spheres, and lenticular microfossils. In addition, new morphological types such as clusters composed of large carbonaceous spheroids (20–40 μm across each) with fluffy or foam‐like envelope are identified. Finely laminated carbonaceous cherts are devoid of heavy metals and characterized by the enrichment of LREE. This chert locally contains conical to domal structures characterized by truncation of laminae and trapping of detrital grains and is interpreted as siliceous stromatolite formed by very early or contemporaneous silicification of biomats with the contribution of silica‐rich hydrothermal fluids. Biological affinities of described microfossils and microbes constructing siliceous stromatolites are under investigation. However, this study emphasizes how diverse the microbial community in Paleoarchean coastal hydrothermal environment was. We propose the diversity is at least partially due to the availability of various energy sources in this depositional environment including reducing chemicals and sunlight.
Projecting future expansion of invasive species: comparing and improving methodologies for species distribution modeling
Authors: Mainali Kumar P. , Warren Dan L. , Dhileepan Kunjithapatham , McConnachie Andrew , Strathie Lorraine , Hassan Gul , Karki Debendra , Shrestha Bharat B. , Parmesan Camille
Published: July 2015

Modeling the distributions of species, especially of invasive species in non‐native ranges, involves multiple challenges. Here, we developed some novel approaches to species distribution modeling aimed at reducing the influences of such challenges and improving the realism of projections. We estimated species–environment relationships for Parthenium hysterophorus L. (Asteraceae) with four modeling methods run with multiple scenarios of (i) sources of occurrences and geographically isolated background ranges for absences, (ii) approaches to drawing background (absence) points, and (iii) alternate sets of predictor variables. We further tested various quantitative metrics of model evaluation against biological insight. Model projections were very sensitive to the choice of training dataset. Model accuracy was much improved using a global dataset for model training, rather than restricting data input to the species’ native range. AUC score was a poor metric for model evaluation and, if used alone, was not a useful criterion for assessing model performance. Projections away from the sampled space (i.e., into areas of potential future invasion) were very different depending on the modeling methods used, raising questions about the reliability of ensemble projections. Generalized linear models gave very unrealistic projections far away from the training region. Models that efficiently fit the dominant pattern, but exclude highly local patterns in the dataset and capture interactions as they appear in data (e.g., boosted regression trees), improved generalization of the models. Biological knowledge of the species and its distribution was important in refining choices about the best set of projections. A post hoc test conducted on a new Parthenium dataset from Nepal validated excellent predictive performance of our ‘best’ model. We showed that vast stretches of currently uninvaded geographic areas on multiple continents harbor highly suitable habitats for parthenium. However, discrepancies between model predictions and parthenium invasion in Australia indicate successful management for this globally significant weed.
The life (and death) of CD4+CD28null T cells in inflammatory diseases
Authors: Dumitriu Ingrid E.
Published: July 2015

Inflammation contributes to the development and perpetuation of several disorders and T lymphocytes orchestrate the inflammatory immune response. Although the role of T cells in inflammation is widely recognized, specific therapies that tackle inflammatory networks in disease are yet to be developed. CD4+CD28null T cells are a unique subset of helper T lymphocytes that recently shot back into the limelight as potential catalysts of inflammation in several inflammatory disorders such as autoimmunity, atherosclerosis and chronic viral infections. In contrast to conventional helper T cells, CD4+CD28null T cells have an inbuilt ability to release inflammatory cytokines and cytotoxic molecules that can damage tissues and amplify inflammatory pathways. It comes as no surprise that patients who have high numbers of these cells have more severe disease and poor prognosis. In this review, I provide an overview on the latest advances in the biology of CD4+CD28null T cells. Understanding the complex functions and dynamics of CD4+CD28null T cells may open new avenues for therapeutic intervention to prevent progression of inflammatory diseases.
Planar, Polysilazane‐Derived Porous Ceramic Supports for Membrane and Catalysis Applications
Authors: Konegger Thomas , Williams Lee F. , Bordia Rajendra K.
Published: July 2015

Porous, silicon carbonitride‐based ceramic support structures for potential membrane and catalysis applications were generated from a preceramic polysilazane precursor in combination with spherical, ultrahigh‐molecular weight polyethylene microparticles through a sacrificial filler approach. A screening evaluation was used for the determination of the impact of both porogen content and porogen size on pore structure, strength, and permeability characteristics of planar specimens. By optimizing both the composition as well as cross‐linking parameters, maximum characteristic biaxial flexural strengths of 65 MPa and porosities of 42% were achieved. The evolution of an interconnected, open‐pore network during thermal porogen removal and conversion of the preceramic polymer led to air permeabilities in the order of 10−14 m². The materials were further exposed to long‐term heat treatments to demonstrate the stability of properties after 100 h at 800°C in oxidizing, inert, and reducing environments. The determined performance, in combination with the versatile preparation method, illustrates the feasibility of this processing approach for the generation of porous ceramic support structures for applications at elevated temperatures in a variety of fields, including membrane and catalysis science.
The Cause of All Paraguayans? Defining and Defending Hydroelectric Sovereignty
Authors: Folch Christine
Published: July 2015

Aunque el Paraguay produce y exporta más energía hidroeléctrica per cápita que cualquier otro país de la región, estos recursos están colocados en sus fronteras con Argentina y Brasil, complicando asuntos nacionales con complejidades transnacionales. Sectores populares en el Paraguay denotan a las represas binacionales Itaipú (con Brasil) y Yacyretá (con Argentina) como la depredación imperialista. En la última década, la nación paraguaya se convirtió en el poseedor de una ‘‘soberanía hidroeléctrica,’’ que siempre está amenazada. Expertos en energía de la izquierda han conceptualizado la soberanía hidroeléctrica como la relación entre ‘‘nación’’ y ‘‘territorio" mediada por el "estado,’’ a través de las luchas populares para recuperar el control de los recursos hidráulicos del Paraguay. Formando parte de una ética de la energía renovable, la soberanía hidroeléctrica resulta en un nuevo tipo de territorialidad. A través de la creación discursiva y cívica de la soberanía en una campaña electoral para ‘‘recuperar la soberanía hidroeléctrica,’’ muestro cómo la ‘‘naturaleza’’ y ‘‘nación’’ han sido cambiados por estructuras político‐económicas y simbólicas que emanan de la hidroelectricidad.
Greening the Petrochemical State: Between Energy Sovereignty and Sumak Kawsay in Coastal Ecuador
Authors: Fitz‐Henry Erin
Published: July 2015

A fines de 2007, Hugo Chávez se reunió con Rafael Correa en la costa occidental de Ecuador para iniciar oficialmente la construcción de lo que se prevé sea uno de los mayores complejos petroquímicos en Sur América: La Refinería del Pacifico (RDP). Para los partidarios, la refinería garantiza al Ecuador soberanía energética, mientras que para los opositores es una violación fundamental de los principios ambientales básicos establecidos en la constitución ecuatoriana de 2008. Basados en seis meses de trabajo de campo etnográfico con representantes de la RDP y activistas en la provincia de Manabi, el presente ensayo explora las formas conflictivas del discurso respaldado por el estado en cuanto a "soberanía energética" y "sumak kawsay" que han sido re‐planteados en el actual proyecto de desarrollo de mayor envergadura a nivel nacional. Específicamente, llamo a la atención los esfuerzos de la refinería para auto representarse de "forma autóctona" ante la provincia de Manabí que nos permite entender mejor como los cambios a gran escala en ideologías políticas han sido traducidos en giros idiomáticos locales y fantasias.
Large‐Scale Aquaculture and Coastal Resource‐Dependent Communities: Tradition in Transition on Chiloe Island, Chile
Authors: Pitchon Ana
Published: July 2015

Este artículo examina el impacto sociocultural de la acuicultura comercial en una comunidad que depende de la explotación de recursos costeros en baja escala en la isla de Chiloé, Chile. Muchos de los habitantes de la isla participan en la recolección de organismos marinos a baja escala con fines comerciales, de recreación y subsistencia. La introducción de acuicultura comercial en la región está amenazando el acceso a estos recursos y al mismo tiempo promoviendo un cambio social‐económico hacia un modo de vida más balanceado e igualitario. El grado de dependencia cultural y de subsistencia de estos recursos debe ser reconocido cuando los reglamentos de acuacultura sean desarrollados para así garantizar sustentabilidad social y ecológica. En el presente artículo, examino un caso en el que la salmonicultura, una industria dominante y reciente, ha suplantado a la recolección de recursos marinos en baja escala a pesar de los niveles múltiples de dependencia continua.
Salivary Oxytocin and Vasopressin Levels in Police Officers With and Without Post‐Traumatic Stress Disorder
Authors: Frijling J. L. , van Zuiden M. , Nawijn L. , Koch S. B. J. , Neumann I. D. , Veltman D. J. , Olff M.
Published: July 2015

Post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is characterised by symptoms associated with maladaptive fear and stress responses, as well as with social detachment. The neuropeptides oxytocin (OT) and arginine vasopressin (AVP) have been associated with both regulating fear and neuroendocrine stress responsiveness and social behaviour. However, there is only limited evidence for dysregulated peripheral OT and AVP levels in PTSD patients. The present study aimed to investigate basal salivary OT and AVP levels in trauma‐exposed male and female police officers with and without PTSD. Saliva samples were collected during rest and OT and AVP levels were determined using a radioimmunoassay. Men and women were analysed separately, having adjusted for differences in trauma history, and for hormonal contraception use in women. The results showed that male PTSD patients had lower basal salivary OT levels, and did not differ in AVP levels compared to male trauma‐exposed healthy controls after adjusting for childhood emotional abuse. There were no significant differences in basal salivary OT and AVP levels in women. Our findings indicate potential dysfunctioning of the OT system in male PTSD patients. Future studies are needed to replicate these findings and to further unravel the relationship between the OT and AVP systems, sex, trauma history and PTSD.
Measuring the impact of a 3D simulation experience on nursing students' cultural empathy using a modified version of the Kiersma‐Chen Empathy Scale
Authors: Everson Naleya , Levett‐Jones Tracy , Lapkin Samuel , Pitt Victoria , van der Riet Pamela , Rossiter Rachel , Jones Donovan , Gilligan Conor , Courtney‐Pratt Helen
Published: July 2015

Aims and objectives

To determine the effect of immersive 3D cultural simulation on nursing students' empathy towards culturally and linguistically diverse patients.

Background

Accelerated globalisation has seen a significant increase in cultural diversity in most regions of the world over the past forty years. Clinical encounters that do not acknowledge cultural factors contribute to adverse patient outcomes and health care inequities for culturally and linguistically diverse people. Cultural empathy is an antecedent to cultural competence. Thus, appropriate educational strategies are needed to enhance nursing students' cultural empathy and the capacity to deliver culturally competent care.

Design

A one‐group pretest, post‐test design was used for this study. The simulation exposed students to an unfolding scene in a hospital ward of a developing county.

Methods

A convenience sample of second‐year undergraduate nursing students (n = 460) from a semi‐metropolitan university in Australia were recruited for the study. Characteristics of the sample were summarised using descriptive statistics. T‐tests were performed to analyse the differences between pre‐ and post simulation empathy scores using an eight item modified version of the Kiersma‐Chen Empathy Scale.

Results

Students' empathy towards culturally and linguistically diverse patients significantly improved after exposure to the 3D simulation experience. The mean scores for the Perspective Taking and Valuing Affective Empathy subscales also increased significantly postsimulation.

Conclusions

The immersive 3D simulation had a positive impact on nursing students' empathy levels in regards to culturally and linguistically diverse groups. Research with other cohorts and in other contexts is required to further explore the impact of this educational approach.

Relevance to clinical practice

Immersive cultural simulation experiences offer opportunities to enhance the cultural empathy of nursing students. This may in turn have a positive impact on their cultural competence and consequently the quality of care they provide to culturally and linguistically diverse patients.
The Role of Unconditional Parental Regard in Autonomy‐Supportive Parenting
Authors: Roth Guy , Kanat‐Maymon Yaniv , Assor Avi
Published: July 2015

Two studies explored the role of parents’ unconditional positive regard (UCPR) as perceived by adolescents and young adults in promoting the effectiveness of specific parenting practices that may support offspring's academic autonomous motivation. Study 1 tested the hypothesis that UCPR predicts rationale‐giving and choice‐provision practices and, at the same time, moderates their relations with adolescents’ autonomous motivation. Study 2 replicated the association between UCPR and the parental practices, and further explored the role of parents’ authenticity as an antecedent of UCPR and parental autonomy support. Study 1 included 125 adolescents and Study 2 considered 128 college‐students and their mothers. The offspring reported on their perceptions of their mothers and on their autonomous motivation, and the mothers reported on their sense of authenticity. Both studies found consistent associations between UCPR and parenting practices that may support autonomous motivation. Moreover, Study 1 demonstrated that the rationale giving and choice provision were more strongly related to adolescents’ autonomous motivation when adolescents perceived mothers as high on UCPR. Finally, Study 2 demonstrated that mothers’ authenticity predicted UCPR, which in turn was related to autonomy‐supportive parenting. Findings support the assumption that parents’ autonomy‐supportive practices are more effective when accompanied by UCPR.
Tactile Sensitivity and Capability of Soft‐Solid Texture Discrimination
Authors: Aktar Tugba , Chen Jianshe , Ettelaie Rammile , Holmes Melvin
Published: July 2015

The sensation and perception of food texture is regulated by tactile‐dominated mechanisms and therefore, it is believed that one's capability in discriminating food textural properties could be related to one's tactile sensitivity. However, evidence to support this hypothesis is currently not available. This work aims to test this hypothesis by examining tactile sensitivity of individuals' (touch detection threshold and two‐point discrimination threshold) and texture discrimination capability. A range of soft‐solid food samples with controlled firmness and elastic moduli were designed for textural discrimination tests. A total of 32 healthy subjects threshold of touch detection was found to be 0.028 g for the fingertip and 0.013 g for the tongue. Similarly, the mean threshold of two‐point discrimination was 1.42 mm and 0.62 mm for the fingertip and tongue, respectively. Threshold for firmness discrimination (compressing until yielding) of the gel samples was 13.3% for the fingertip and 11.1% for the tongue. However, the elasticity discrimination threshold (by gentle pressing) of the population was found to be much smaller at 2.3% and 1.2% for the fingertip and the tongue respectively. Results show that tongue is slightly more sensitive than the fingertip in discriminating food texture (P < 0.05). An expected correlation between individual's capability of texture discrimination and their tactile sensitivity was not observed.

Practical Applications

Texture discrimination capability is a significant factor for food texture preference and appreciation. In order to understand texture perception, it is essential to identify the relevant factors and define characteristics that govern the processes involved. Having a meaningful and reliable texture discrimination indicator is critically important for the food industry in the development and optimization of new food products, and in particular for specific food design for individuals' with special needs, e.g., elderly, dysphagic patients, etc. With this study, we illustrate the differential threshold for soft‐solid texture (firmness and elasticity) and also investigate the capabilities of tactile sensation (touch detection and two‐point discrimination) and evaluate potential correlations. The results and correlations may provide information about texture sensitivity and also might provide useful information to R&D researchers. Methodologies could also be applied in general food sensory studies and also investigating relationships between sensory psychology and sensory physiology.
N400 Event‐Related Potential and Standardized Measures of Reading in Late Elementary School Children: Correlated or Independent?
Authors: Coch Donna , Benoit Clarisse
Published: July 2015

We investigated whether and how standardized behavioral measures of reading and electrophysiological measures of reading were related in 72 typically developing, late elementary school children. Behavioral measures included standardized tests of spelling, phonological processing, vocabulary, comprehension, naming speed, and memory. Electrophysiological measures were composed of the amplitude of the N400 component of the event‐related potential waveform elicited by real words, pseudowords, nonpronounceable letter strings, and strings of letter‐like symbols (false fonts). The only significant brain–behavior correlations were between standard scores on the vocabulary test and N400 mean amplitude to real words (r = −.272) and pseudowords (r = −.235). We conclude that, while these specific sets of standardized behavioral and electrophysiological measures both provide an index of reading, for the most part they are independent and draw upon different underlying processing resources.
Educational Neuromyths Among Teachers in Latin America
Authors: Gleichgerrcht Ezequiel , Lira Luttges Benjamin , Salvarezza Florencia , Campos Anna Lucia
Published: July 2015

Neuroscientific knowledge has undeniably gained interest among educators worldwide. However, not all “brain facts” believed by teachers are supported by science. This study sought to evaluate the belief in these so‐called neuromyths among 3,451 Latin American teachers. We found that, consistent with prior research among teachers in other geographic areas, teachers in Latin America hold major misconceptions about neuroscience, especially as it relates to factual information about its structure and functioning. Differences across South American nations were observed with moderate and slight effect sizes for general knowledge of the brain and neuromyths, respectively. Teachers working in higher education had slightly superior performance. Teachers at all levels who reported knowing more about the brain, however, were more likely to believe invalid assertions known as neuromyths. These results shed light on trends in the field of education, hoping to encourage the development of strategies aimed at correcting the use of science as it relates to education. The implications regarding teaching practice, policy, and teacher training are discussed.
Metagenome skimming for phylogenetic community ecology: a new era in biodiversity research
Authors: Papadopoulou Anna , Taberlet Pierre , Zinger Lucie
Published: July 2015

It is now well recognized that considering species evolutionary history is crucial for understanding the processes driving community assembly (Cavender‐Bares et al. ). Considerable efforts have been made to integrate phylogenetics and community ecology into a single theoretical framework. Yet, assessing phylogenetic structure at the community scale remains a great challenge, in particular for poorly known organisms. While DNA metabarcoding is increasingly used for assessing taxonomic composition of complex communities from environmental samples, biases and limitations of this technique can preclude the retrieval of information on phylogenetic community structure. In this issue of Molecular Ecology, Andújar et al. (2015) demonstrate that shotgun sequencing of bulk samples of soil beetles and subsequent reconstruction of mitochondrial genomes can provide a solid phylogenetic framework to estimate species diversity and gain insights into the mechanisms underlying the spatial turnover of soil mesofaunal assemblages. This work highlights the enormous potential of ‘metagenome skimming’ not only for improving the current standards of DNA‐based biodiversity assessment but also for opening up the application of phylogenetic community ecology to hyperdiverse and poorly known biota, which was heretofore inconceivable.
G‐protein coupled receptor‐mediated nutrient sensing and developmental control in Aspergillus nidulans
Authors: Brown Neil Andrew , dos Reis Thaila Fernanda , Ries Laure Nicolas Annick , Caldana Camila , Mah Jae‐Hyung , Yu Jae‐Hyuk , Macdonald Jeffrey M. , Goldman Gustavo Henrique
Published: July 2015

Nutrient sensing and utilisation are fundamental for all life forms. As heterotrophs, fungi have evolved a diverse range of mechanisms for sensing and taking up various nutrients. Despite its importance, only a limited number of nutrient receptors and their corresponding ligands have been identified in fungi. G‐protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) are the largest family of transmembrane receptors. The Aspergillus nidulans genome encodes 16 putative GPCRs, but only a few have been functionally characterised. Our previous study showed the increased expression of an uncharacterised putative GPCR, gprH, during carbon starvation. GprH appears conserved throughout numerous filamentous fungi. Here, we reveal that GprH is a putative receptor involved in glucose and tryptophan sensing. The absence of GprH results in a reduction in cAMP levels and PKA activity upon adding glucose or tryptophan to starved cells. GprH is pre‐formed in conidia and is increasingly active during carbon starvation, where it plays a role in glucose uptake and the recovery of hyphal growth. GprH also represses sexual development under conditions favouring sexual fruiting and during carbon starvation in submerged cultures. In summary, the GprH nutrient‐sensing system functions upstream of the cAMP‐PKA pathway, influences primary metabolism and hyphal growth, while represses sexual development in A. nidulans.
Local habitat use by botos (Amazon river dolphins, Inia geoffrensis) using passive acoustic methods
Authors: Yamamoto Yukiko , Akamatsu Tomonari , da Silva Vera M. F. , Kohshima Shiro
Published: July 2015

We monitored the underwater behavior of botos (Inia geoffrensis) using stereo acoustic data loggers to observe their local habitat use and its diel changes at the Mamirauá Sustainable Development Reserve, Brazil. A‐tags were set at five sites in three different habitat types: Lake (low current), Channel (middle current), and Junction (junction of two channels). The presence index during nighttime was significantly greater than during daytime in the Lake and Junction. Underwater movement was estimated from the changing pattern (trajectory) of the relative angle of the sound source from A‐tags. A staying‐type trajectory was dominant in the Lake, although the prevalence of moving‐type trajectory increased at night. More than 80% of detected trajectories were the staying type in the Junction, while moving‐type trajectories dominated in the Channel. The frequency of click trains was greatest in the Lake, followed by the Junction and Channels. The average interpulse interval, which reflects the mean target distance of echolocation, was shortest in the Lake, followed by the Junction and Channel. These results suggest that the botos used the Lake as their primary habitat for active behaviors like foraging, especially at night, and the Junction as their primary habitat for relatively inactive behaviors at night.
A Literary Perspective on Schenker's Jewishness
Authors: REITER ANDREA
Published: July 2015

Heinrich Schenker was a keen observer of and participant in the cultural life of his time. In his diary he diligently recorded his impressions about a wide variety of cultural events, and recent scholarship has recognised the impact of his cultural environment on his theoretical work. This essay explores Schenker's views about his Jewishness as they become apparent in his response to several literary texts. Following an examination of his comments on Jews and Jewishness, I discuss three entries on literary works with a Jewish subject: Karl Kraus's poem ‘Gebet an die Sonne von Gibeon’, John Galsworthy's playLoyaltiesand Sholem Asch's story ‘Der reiche Herr Salomon’. Schenker's ‘literary criticism’ exemplifies three principal Jewish concerns in his thinking: the biblical foundation of Judaism, the relationship between Jews and the people among whom they live and the Jew as an exemplary human being. Critiquing these texts allowed Schenker to highlight the characteristics of the Jews as a people and as individuals, Jewish monotheism, the Jews’ predisposition to studying and thinking and their philanthropic attitude. Most important, the Jews who appear in these texts reinforced his own positioning as a Jew and a professional in a non‐Jewish environment.
Intensive care unit patients' experience of being conscious during endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation
Authors: Holm Anna , Dreyer Pia
Published: July 2015

Background

There is a change in paradigm in intensive care units with trends towards lighter sedation. Light or no sedation protocols are, however, a radical change for clinical practice and can cause challenges for the patients. Undergoing mechanical ventilation when conscious can be a distressing experience for the patients. Receiving a tracheostomy increases patient comfort, but some patients still undergo prolonged endotracheal intubation during mechanical ventilation. The experience of being conscious during endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation in the intensive care unit has not previously been described.

Aims

The aim of the study was to explore adult intensive care unit patients' experience of being conscious during endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation.

Design

Data collection was performed through semi‐structured interviews and four patients were enrolled. Data were collected at two multidisciplinary intensive care units in Denmark.

Method

Data were analysed using Ricoeur's theory of interpretation, using the method described by Dreyer and Pedersen. The scientific tradition was phenomenological‐hermeneutic.

Result

During the analysis, three themes emerged: (1) The tube in the throat. (2) To be conscious but feeling doped. (3) When passing of time is dragging on.

Conclusion

The findings shed a light over the experience of being conscious during endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation in the intensive care unit. A no‐sedation protocol may cause problems for the patients both of a physical and an existential character, but despite this, patients seem positive towards being conscious.

Relevance to clinical practice

The study suggests that clinical nursing practice may have to be further developed to accommodate the patients' needs, e.g. communicating and participating as well as optimizing nursing interventions towards thirst, pain and tube management. Furthermore, the intensive care unit setting may need revision, providing space for the patient and sensory meaningful inputs in the technologically intense environment.
Excessive daytime sleepiness is related to subjective memory impairment in late life: a cross‐sectional community‐based study
Authors: Okamura Tsuyoshi , Ura Chiaki , Miyamae Fumiko , Sugiyama Mika , Niikawa Hirotoshi , Ito Kae , Awata Shuichi
Published: July 2015

Aim

The aim of this study was to determine whether daytime sleepiness is related to subjective memory impairment among community‐dwelling elderly people, after adjustment for psychosocial variables.

Methods

Questionnaires were mailed to all 5199 elderly residents living in one area of Tokyo. The questionnaires collected information about sociodemographic variables, subjective memory impairment, and excessive daytime sleepiness, which was measured by the Japanese version of the Epworth Sleepiness Scale. Information was also collected on sleep hygiene, health‐related variables, and psychosocial variables, including perceived social support, social withdrawal, and work status.

Results

Of the 4783 questionnaires that were returned (92.0%), 4185 participants were included in the analysis (valid response rate: 80.5%), after the exclusion of questionnaires with missing data. The average score on the Japanese version of the Epworth Sleepiness Scale was 5.0 ± 3.9 for men and 4.5 ± 3.7 for women. The frequency of excessive daytime sleepiness was 8.3% for men, 5.8% for women, and 7.0% in total. Stepwise multivariate logistic regression revealed the odds ratio of excessive daytime sleepiness as a predictor of subjective memory impairment was 6.06 (95% confidence interval; 3.06–12.03).

Conclusions

Elderly people who complain of daytime sleepiness are potential candidates for interventions related to dementia care after careful consideration of other possible causes of sleepiness.
Influence of Staining Method on the Values of Avian Sperm Head Morphometric Variables
Authors: Villaverde‐Morcillo S , Esteso MC , Castaño C , Toledano Díaz A , López‐Sebastián A , Campo JL , Santiago‐Moreno J
Published: July 2015

Contents

Computer‐assisted systems for the assessment of sperm morphometry (ASMA systems) have been used successfully with several mammalian species. Unfortunately, they have so far been of little use for assessing bird semen, a consequence of the filiform shape of avian spermatozoa. This study compares two staining techniques (Hemacolor® and aniline blue staining) for the morphometric analysis of rooster and red‐legged partridge spermatozoa as part of a computer‐assisted light microscopy method. For both species, Hemacolor® staining provided a significantly higher percentage of measurable cells (93.7 ± 11.7% in roosters and 71.9 ± 15.3% in red‐legged partridges). Hemacolor® also showed greater repeatability (lower coefficients of variation) for length and area in roosters' sperm and for width in the case of red‐legged partridge's sperm. In the roosters, the Hemacolor® technique returned significantly (p < 0.05) larger sperm head width and area values than did the aniline blue technique, while the latter resulted in greater sperm head length values (p < 0.05). In the red‐legged partridge, no differences were seen in the results for sperm head width and area provided by the two techniques, but aniline blue staining was associated with longer length measurements. In conclusion, the morphometric values recorded differed depending on the staining method and species. However, the Hemacolor® technique might be deemed the more appropriate for computerized sperm assessment systems as it provides larger percentages of measureable cells and shows greater repeatability.
Institutions and Cultural Heterogeneity as Determinants of National Income: A Random‐coefficients Stochastic Frontier Model
Authors: del Pilar Baquero Forero Maria , Ida Takanori , Kuroda Toshifumi
Published: July 2015

Previous research on total factor productivity (TFP) shows that cross‐country differences in income cannot be fully explained by stocks of capital (K), labor (L) and human capital (E). In addition, the omission of major production inputs or the use of proxies to estimate unobservable inputs leads to biased estimation results. This study addresses the above issues by employing a novel econometric approach and provides empirical evidence that a fixed production input, and therefore a country's income, is positively correlated with the existence of British‐style institutions and negatively correlated with cultural heterogeneity and Spanish‐style institutions. Our methodology is twofold. First, using data for 62 countries from 1980 to 2004, we regressed a random‐coefficients stochastic production frontier that allows estimating a fixed unobservable production input without using proxies. Second, the estimated fixed production input is shown to be related to colonial institutions and cultural heterogeneity by means of ordinary least squares and feasible generalized least squares regressions.
Promoting Trade Liberalization: Theoretical Analysis of Foreign Aid as Prize
Authors: Nanivazo Malokele , Lahiri Sajal
Published: July 2015

We investigate whether foreign aid can be used to induce trade policy reforms. We develop a two‐period political economic model where promise of aid in period 2 depends on chosen tariff in period 1. We consider three scenarios depending on whether the donor is passive/active and whether the two governments move simultaneously or sequentially. We find a sufficient condition for unconditional aid to increase the level of optimal tariff, and the possibility of unconditional aid increasing optimal tariff decreases when the donor is active rather than passive.
Convergence in a Dynamic Heckscher–Ohlin Model with Land
Authors: Guillo Maria Dolores , Perez‐Sebastian Fidel
Published: July 2015

Convergence among nations that share the same preferences and technologies is a key result of the closed‐economy neoclassical growth framework that has received substantial support in the data. However, Heckscher–Ohlin versions of the two‐sector neoclassical growth model predict that nations that differ in their capital–labor ratios may not converge to the same steady state, even if they are identical in all other aspects. This is a puzzling result that warns us about potential dangers of international trade. In this paper we show that when land, an input in fixed supply, is introduced into the model, international trade in goods no longer limits the capacity of poor nations to catch up with the advanced world.
Exchange Rate Policy inChina after the Financial Crisis: Evidence from Time‐varying Exchange Rate Basket
Authors: Fidrmuc Jarko , Siddiqui Martin
Published: July 2015

We analyze the period of a managed floating exchange rate policy inChina betweenJune 2010 andNovember 2014. We estimate a time‐varying structure of a hypothetical currency basket using the Kalman filter. We show that the exchange rate policy continues to focus on theUSdollar. However, its weight has been gradually declining, while this decline has moderated in 2014. The euro played some role before summer 2011, but became negligible after the outbreak of theEuropean sovereign debt crisis. Finally, the Thai baht has positive implicit weights.
Exchange Rate Exposure of Chinese Firms at the Industry and Firm Level
Authors: Tang Bo
Published: July 2015

This study investigates the exchange rate exposure of Chinese firms at the industry and firm level based on the conventional capital asset pricing model (CAPM) framework. At the industry level, the dynamic conditional correlation MGARCH (DCC MGARCH) estimates demonstrate that the market model and three‐factor model are appropriate for exposure measurements, and industry returns are more likely to be exposed to unanticipated changes in the real exchange rate and the trade‐weighted effective exchange rate, particularly for manufacturing industries. At the firm level, although the seemingly unrelated regression (SUR) estimates vary across markets, it is apparent that there is a relationship between firm size and exposure effects, which also show that lagged exchange rate changes have significant exposure effects on firm returns. This study finally suggests that non‐financial firms should set up special commissions to hedge currency risks of their future cash flows.