bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Technology Adoption and Diffusion: A New Application of the UTAUT Model
Authors: Barrane Fatima Zahra , Karuranga Gahima Egide , Poulin Diane
Published: May 2018

Diffusion of innovation is a key challenge for organizations; it brings social change that alters a system's structure and how it operates. Most of the studies in this area have focused on the information and communication technologies sector (ICT). In this paper, we have sought to understand the acceptance and use of wood-based technology in the non-residential construction sector. For this purpose, we conducted a web survey of 28 engineers in Quebec's construction industry. Upon examining the survey results using the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) theory, we have proposed a conceptual framework specific to the use of wood in non-residential construction and identified the main similarities and differences according to the basic UTAUT model. We have also identified some constraints regarding the use of wood-based technology.
Boundary Spanning, Group Heterogeneity and Engineering Project Performance
Authors: Wilson Donald O. , Ettlie John E.
Published: May 2018

This study examines the concept of intra-organizational links as a way for boundary spanners to bring into the project group the information needed to deal with task uncertainty. Several studies have shown that heterogeneous groups are superior to homogeneous groups when novel or creative solutions need to be developed to deal with tasks characterized by high task uncertainty. For boundary spanners in engineering project groups, it is proposed that cross-departmental technical advice links are another source of the information needed to deal with task uncertainty. An empirical test supports the proposition that for high-performing project groups, boundary-spanning technical advice links may compensate for a lack of internal group heterogeneity and vice versa. This is not the case for low-performing project groups. Implications of these finding are presented, including the direction that the open innovation research stream might take to address the findings of this study.
PERSONALITY, VALUES, OR ATTITUDES? INDIVIDUAL-LEVEL ANTECEDENTS TO CREATIVE DEVIANCE
Authors: TENZER HELENE , YANG PHILIP
Published: May 2018

Creative deviance, i.e., the violation of a managerial order to stop working on a new idea, is an emerging topic in innovation research. Whereas the outcomes of this nonconforming behaviour are inherently ambiguous, its importance for corporations’ innovative capability is undisputed. We complement prior research on the organisational-level determinants of creative deviance by studying its individual-level antecedents. We hypothesise that risk propensity as a personality trait is positively related, whereas allocentrism as a personal value orientation and organisational commitment as a personal attitude are negatively related to creative deviance. Risk propensity is considered the strongest predictor, as it affects creative deviance both directly and indirectly through allocentrism and commitment. Data from 457 employees in a German high-tech corporation support our hypotheses. Our findings contribute to research on innovation management and organisational behaviour while yielding managerial recommendations for leadership and recruitment.
STRATEGIC ORIENTATIONS, THE MEDIATING EFFECT OF ABSORPTIVE CAPACITY AND INNOVATION: A STUDY AMONG MALAYSIAN MANUFACTURING SMEs
Authors: AL MAMUN ABDULLAH , FAZAL SYED ALI , MOHIUDDIN MUHAMMAD , SU ZHAN
Published: May 2018

Strategic orientations (SOs) and absorptive capacity can significantly enhance innovation capacity in manufacturing Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). This study explores the relationship of SOs i.e., Market Orientations (MOs), Entrepreneurial Orientations (EOs) and Customer Orientations (COs) to absorptive capacity on the one hand, and to innovation on the other hand. The study also delves into the issue of how absorptive capacity mediates the effects of SOs on innovation in manufacturing SMEs from emerging countries’ perspective. This study uses a cross-sectional design and quantitative data collected through a structured interview of top managers from 360 manufacturing SMEs. The findings show that MO, EO and CO have positive and significant effects on innovation and that absorptive capacity partially mediates SOs’ effects on innovation.
Controls on sedimentation and vegetation in an Eocene pull-apart basin (Prinz von Hessen, Germany): evidence from palynology
Authors: Moshayedi Maryam , Lenz Olaf K. , Wilde Volker , Hinderer Matthias
Published: May 2018

Tectonically controlled lakes may experience a complex history of deposition and subsidence, which can influence their ecology and environment. To correlate controls on sedimentation with changes in vegetation within a small pull-apart basin at ‘Grube Prinz von Hessen’ (Hessen, Germany) during Paleogene greenhouse conditions, 47 core samples were analysed palynologically. The Lower Eocene succession includes 34 m of clastic sediments overlain by 54 m of massive mudstone, finely laminated bituminous claystone and lignite. A fluvial–lacustrine and a profundal (deep lake) facies association are distinguished. Statistical analysis of the diverse and well-preserved palynoflora reveals five distinct associations. Throughout the sedimentary record there is a strong correlation between major changes in vegetation and lithology, which were controlled mainly by changes in humidity together with tectonic activity, which led to lake basin subsidence and a rise in lake level. Based on the association of pollen and spores, which are typical for the Lower Eocene, it can be shown that the basin is older than previously assumed.

Supplementary material:
A complete list of variables and palynomorphs used for pollen diagrams and statistical analyses, as well as their abundance percentages, is available at
https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.4108016
Co-occurrence patterns of ice-rafted dropstones and brachiopods in the Middle Permian Wandrawandian Siltstone of the southern Sydney Basin (southeastern Australia) and palaeoecological implications
Authors: Yang Bo , Shi G. R. , Lee Sangmin , Luo Mao
Published: May 2018

The ecological significance of ice-rafted dropstones in present-day glacial marine benthic environments has received considerable attention from ecologists, but similar studies based on the geological records of dropstones and associated fossils are rare. In this study, we report statistically significant co-occurrences of ice-rafted dropstones with brachiopod shells in multiple stratigraphic horizons at multiple sites from the Middle Permian Wandrawandian Siltstone of the southern Sydney Basin in southeastern Australia. We analysed the distribution patterns of both dropstones and brachiopod-dominated fossil assemblages by using a quadrat-based sampling method and spatial point pattern analysis. It was revealed that the co-occurrences of ice-rafted dropstones and brachiopod shells are not random; rather, they demonstrate statistically significant and stratigraphically recurring associations that are here interpreted to represent dropstone-associated, brachiopod-dominated palaeoecological communities. In these recurring palaeocommunities, the presence of ice-rafted dropstones is considered to have added habitat complexity and heterogeneity to the benthic environment, especially suited to the settlement of brachiopods. In addition, the sinking of dropstones, from floating ice masses through the water column to the silty seafloor, is interpreted to have enriched the nutrient and oxygen supply to the benthic environment, further aiding the flourishing and maintenance of a diverse and stable marine benthic fauna.

Supplementary material:
Original data collection (Supplementary material 1) and spatial point pattern analysis results of rest quadrats (Supplementary material 2) are available at
https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.4101743
Maiella, an oil massif in the Central Apennines ridge of Italy: exploration, production and innovation in the oil fields of Abruzzo across the nineteenth and twentieth centuries
Authors: Gerali Francesco , Lipparini Lorenzo
Published: May 2018

This article aims to present selected episodes of the scientific and entrepreneurial activities realized in the Majella oil district, Abruzzo, central Italy, between the 1830s and the 1940s. Majella had an important role in the early process of modernization of the Italian oil industry. As we will see, the application of science and technology in the wellsite, a pioneering integrated production model, unexpected environmental constraints and the longevity of the business made Abruzzo into a benchmark. Between 1864 and 1865, the pattern of the secular and unchanged local manufacturing of bitumen, based on human labour and the manual harvesting of the mineral from natural outcrops, was outdone by two new conditions: the study of subsoil and the utilization of mechanical drilling. These early records of paid oil consultancies and the utilization of steam power were followed by the impressive, but short and illusory, peak in production never recorded before. In the following decades, the Majella district was very active and drew the attention of several international operators, in spite of the declining production of crude – compensated for by the yield of bitumen and shales – and the unstoppable rising of the Emilian Apennine ridge in the provinces of Pavia, Piacenza and Parma. From the early 1900s, foreign companies gradually reduced investment in new exploration in Maiella, where the core production was now bitumen and asphalts rather than oil and, by the 1920s, most of the industry was controlled by government authorities and local business. The advent of Fascism in the 1930s saw Maiella become a stronghold of the autarchy's policies; later, the improvised and inefficient national fuel planning of Italy at the start of the Second World War saw Abruzzo's oil and bitumen supplies become a strategic resource. The Maiella district has the longest production history in Italy and today geoscientists are surveying and interpreting the geology of the area with a new perspective.
Interest-Aware Content Discovery in Peer-to-Peer Social Networks
Authors: Guo Yonghong , Liu Lu , Wu Yan , Hardy James
Published: May 2018

With the increasing popularity and rapid development of Online Social Networks (OSNs), OSNs not only bring fundamental changes to information and communication technologies, but also make an extensive and profound impact on all aspects of our social life. Efficient content discovery is a fundamental challenge for large-scale distributed OSNs. However, the similarity between social networks and online social networks leads us to believe that the existing social theories are useful for improving the performance of social content discovery in online social networks. In this article, we propose an interest-aware social-like peer-to-peer (IASLP) model for social content discovery in OSNs by mimicking ten different social theories and strategies. In the IASLP network, network nodes with similar interests can meet, help each other, and co-operate autonomously to identify useful contents. The presented model has been evaluated and simulated in a dynamic environment with an evolving network. The experimental results show that the recall of IASLP is 20% higher than the existing method SESD while the overhead is 10% lower. The IASLP can generate higher flexibility and adaptability and achieve better performance than the existing methods.
Security Requirement and Standards for 4G and 5G Wireless Systems
Authors: Fang Dongfeng , Qian Yi , Hu Rose Qingyang
Published: May 2018

In this article, we give an overview on the security requirements and standards for the fourth generation (4G) long term evolution (LTE) and the fifth generation (5G) wireless systems. Compared with the third generation (3G) universal mobile telecommunication system (UMTS), the LTE system not only improves the network capacity and coverage but also provides better performance of data rate, access latency, energy efficiency (EE), and spectrum efficiency (SE) [1]. With the increasing data usage and the new multimedia applications, LTE technologies have been proposed by the 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP) as the broadband mobile wireless networks with packet switched, IP-based technology solely, fully inter-working with different access technologies, different types of base stations and relay nodes. To support more use cases with unique service requirements, 5G wireless systems are developed. There are eight advanced features for 5G wireless systems, 1-10 Gbps connections to end points in the field, 1 millisecond latency, 1000x bandwidth per unit area, 10-100x number of connected devices, 99.999% availability, 100% coverage, 90% reduction of network energy usage and up to ten years battery life for low power devices [2]. These advanced features make 5G wireless systems capable of supporting many new use cases, new industry applications, a multitude of devices and applications to connect society at large. Due to the introduction of new characteristics, there are many new security requirements in the design of the security architectures of the 4G LTE and 5G wireless systems.
The Philosopher's Corner
Authors: Treiblmaier Horst
Published: May 2018

Paul Feyerabend was presumably one of the most controversial thinkers in scientific epistemology. A self-proclaimed proponent of epistemological anarchism, in his seminal book Against Method he fiercely criticized rationalist thinking, as represented by his friend Imre Lakatos. As a result, he found himself heavily under fire for allegedly propagating ideas related to anarchy, Voodoo, astrology, Dada, and even violence. At times he even admitted that he regretted having written his famous book in the first place.1 He has been labeled the "worst enemy of science" and is generally only briefly mentioned as a marginal note following the discussion of critical rationalism in philosophical textbooks. In this paper I argue that a thorough review of his thoughts and principles might provide interesting insights, discussions, and even research guidelines for the Information Systems(IS) community. Initially, I briefly introduce the philosopher Feyerabend and his key ideas together with some criticism. Next, three central propositions are distilled from his work and four experienced IS researchers express their opinions on these statements. Finally, I provide a short summary and some suggestions regarding epistemology and methodology in the IS field.
Multiple Stellar Populations in Globular Clusters
Authors: Bastian Nate , Lardo Carmela
Published: May 2018

Globular clusters (GCs) exhibit star-to-star variations in specific elements (e.g., He, C, N, O, Na, Al) that bear the hallmark of high-temperature H-burning. These abundance variations can be observed spectroscopically and also photometrically, with the appropriate choice of filters, due to the changing of spectral features within the band pass. This phenomenon is observed in nearly all of the ancient GCs, although, to date, it has not been found in any massive cluster younger than 2 Gyr. Many scenarios have been suggested to explain this phenomenon, with most invoking multiple epochs of star formation within the cluster; however, all have failed to reproduce various key observations, in particular when a global view of the GC population is taken. We review the state of current observations and outline the successes and failures of each of the main proposed models. The traditional idea of using the stellar ejecta from a first generation of stars to form a second generation of stars, while conceptually straightforward, has failed to reproduce an increasing number of observational constraints. We conclude that the puzzle of multiple populations remains unsolved, hence alternative theories are needed.
The Genetics of Primary Microcephaly
Authors: Jayaraman Divya , Bae Byoung-Il , Walsh Christopher A.
Published: May 2018

Primary microcephaly (MCPH, for “microcephaly primary hereditary”) is a disorder of brain development that results in a head circumference more than 3 standard deviations below the mean for age and gender. It has a wide variety of causes, including toxic exposures, in utero infections, and metabolic conditions. While the genetic microcephaly syndromes are relatively rare, studying these syndromes can reveal molecular mechanisms that are critical in the regulation of neural progenitor cells, brain size, and human brain evolution. Many of the causative genes for MCPH encode centrosomal proteins involved in centriole biogenesis. However, other MCPH genes fall under different mechanistic categories, notably DNA replication and repair. Recent gene discoveries and functional studies have implicated novel cellular processes, such as cytokinesis, centromere and kinetochore function, transmembrane or intracellular transport, Wnt signaling, and autophagy, as well as the apical polarity complex. Thus, MCPH genes implicate a wide variety of molecular and cellular mechanisms in the regulation of cerebral cortical size during development.
Dispersion Theory in Electromagnetic Interactions
Authors: Pasquini Barbara , Vanderhaeghen Marc
Published: May 2018

We review various applications of dispersion relations (DRs) to the electromagnetic structure of hadrons. We discuss the way DRs allow one to extract information about hadron structure constants by connecting information from complementary scattering processes. We consider the real and virtual Compton scattering processes off the proton, and summarize recent advances in the DR analysis of experimental data to extract the proton polarizabilities, in comparison with alternative studies based on chiral effective field theories. We discuss a multipole analysis of real Compton scattering data, along with a DR fit of the energy-dependent dynamical polarizabilities. Furthermore, we review new sum rules for the double-virtual Compton scattering process off the proton, which allow for model-independent relations between polarizabilities in real and virtual Compton scattering, and moments of nucleon structure functions. Information on double-virtual Compton scattering is used to predict and constrain the polarizability corrections to muonic hydrogen spectroscopy.
Multiquark States
Authors: Karliner Marek , Rosner Jonathan L. , Skwarnicki Tomasz
Published: May 2018

Why do we see certain types of strongly interacting elementary particles and not others? This question was posed more than 50 years ago in the context of the quark model. M. Gell-Mann and G. Zweig proposed that the known mesons were [Formula: see text] and baryons qqq, with the quarks known at the time, u (up), d (down), and s (strange), having charges of 2/3, −1/3, and −1/3, respectively. Mesons and baryons would then have integral charges. Mesons such as [Formula: see text] and baryons such as [Formula: see text] would also have integral charges. Why weren't they seen? They have now been seen, but only with additional heavy quarks and under conditions that tell us a lot about the strong interactions and how they manifest themselves. This review describes recent progress in our understanding of such exotic mesons and baryons.
Families in Southeast and South Asia
Authors: Yeung Wei-Jun Jean , Desai, Sonalde , Jones Gavin W.
Published: May 2018

Southeast and South Asia are home to one-third of the world's population. Their great economic and cultural diversity makes generalization about family patterns and trends hazardous. We review literature on trends in fertility, marriage, divorce, and living arrangements in the past half century. The explanations for these trends focus on structural and ideological changes related to socioeconomic development; cultural factors including kinship system, religion, and ethnicity; and public policies. While the impact of rapid modernization and related ideational changes are evident, there are also changes—or a lack thereof—that cannot be explained by development and may be attributable to historical and cultural factors that have shaped family norms in the region. The following trends are evident: ( a) fertility is declining and age at marriage is rising, although teenage and arranged marriages remain common in South Asia, ( b) a majority of the elderly continue to live with or are supported by their children, and ( c) divorce and out-of-wedlock childbearing remain relatively rare.
Silence, Power, and Inequality: An Intersectional Approach to Sexual Violence
Authors: Armstrong Elizabeth A. , Gleckman-Krut Miriam , Johnson Lanora
Published: May 2018

Sexual violence reproduces inequalities of gender, race/ethnicity, class, age, sexuality, ability status, citizenship status, and nationality. Yet its study has been relegated to the margins of our discipline, with consequences for knowledge about the reproduction of social inequality. We begin with an overview of key insights about sexual violence elaborated by feminists, critical race scholars, and activists. This research leads us to conceptualize sexual violence as a mechanism of inequality that is made more effective by the silencing of its usage. We trace legal and cultural contestations over the definition of sexual violence in the United States. We consider the challenges of narrating sexual violence and review how the narrow focus on gender by some anti–sexual violence activism fails women of color and other marginalized groups. We conclude by interrogating the sociological silence on sexual violence.
The Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase Activity of Eyes Absent Contributes to Tumor Angiogenesis and Tumor Growth
Authors: Wang Yuhua , Pandey Ram Naresh , Riffle Stephen , Chintala Hemabindu , Wikenheiser-Brokamp Kathryn A. , Hegde Rashmi S.
Published: May 2018

DNA damage repair capacity is required for cells to survive catastrophic DNA damage and proliferate under conditions of intratumoral stress. The ability of the minor histone protein H2AX to serve as a hub for the assembly of a productive DNA damage repair complex is a necessary step in preventing DNA damage–induced cell death. The Eyes Absent (EYA) proteins dephosphorylate the terminal tyrosine residue of H2AX, thus permitting assembly of a productive DNA repair complex. Here, we use genetic and chemical biology approaches to separately query the roles of host vascular endothelial cell and tumor cell EYA in tumor growth. Deletion of Eya3 in host endothelial cells significantly reduced tumor angiogenesis and limited tumor growth in xenografts. Deletion of Eya3 in tumor cells reduced tumor cell proliferation and tumor growth without affecting tumor angiogenesis. A chemical inhibitor of the EYA tyrosine phosphatase activity inhibited both tumor angiogenesis and tumor growth. Simultaneously targeting the tumor vasculature and tumor cells is an attractive therapeutic strategy because it could counter the development of the more aggressive phenotype known to emerge from conventional antiangiogenic agents. Mol Cancer Ther; 17(8); 1659–69. ©2018 AACR.
When Helping Babies Breathe Is Not Enough: Designing a Novel, Mid-Level Neonatal Resuscitation Algorithm for Médecins Sans Frontières Field Teams Working in Low-Resource Hospital Settings
Authors: Umphrey Lisa , Breindahl Morten , Brown Alexandra , Saugstad Ola Didrik , Thio Marta , Trevisanuto Daniele , Roehr Charles Christoph , Blennow Mats
Published: May 2018

Background: Neonatal resuscitation (NR) combines a set of life-saving interventions in order to stabilize compromised newborns at birth or when critically ill. Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF), as an international medical-humanitarian organization working particularly in low-resource settings (LRS), assisted over 250,000 births in obstetric and newborn care aid projects in 2016 and provides thousands of newborn resuscitations annually. The Helping Babies Breathe (HBB) program has been used as formal guidance for basic resuscitation since 2012. However, in some MSF projects with the capacity to provide more advanced NR interventions but a lack of adapted guidance, staff have felt prompted to create their own advanced algorithms, which runs counter to the organization’s aim for standardized protocols in all aspects of its care. Objectives: The aim is to close a significant gap in neonatal care provision in LRS by establishing consensus on a protocol that would guide MSF field teams in their practice of more advanced NR. Methods: An independent committee of international experts was formed and met regularly from June 2016 to agree on the content and design of a new NR algorithm. Results: Consensus was reached on a novel, mid-level NR algorithm in April 2017. The algorithm was accepted for use by MSF Operational Center Paris. Conclusion: This paper contributes to the literature on decision-making in the development of cognitive aids. The authors also highlight how critical gaps in healthcare delivery in LRS can be addressed, even when there is limited evidence to guide the process.
Tetrahydroxystilbene Glucoside Delayed Senile Symptoms in Old Mice via Regulation of the AMPK/SIRT1/PGC-1α Signaling Cascade
Authors: Ning Zhaochen , Li Yihan , Liu Dongyan , Owoicho Orgah John , Zhu Jie , Wang Yan , Zhu Yan
Published: May 2018

Background: Tetrahydroxystilbene glucoside (TSG) is a main bioactive component of Polygonum multiflorum, a traditional Chinese medicine known for certain anti-aging effects. Since TSG has been found to extend lifespan in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, we hypothesized that TSG might produce anti-aging benefits in mammals. Objective: The aim was to evaluate the anti-aging potential of TSG and to explore its relative molecular mechanism. Methods: Mice were maintained on standard diet, high-calorie diet (HC), or high-calorie plus TSG diet. Survival rates and body weight changes were recorded weekly. Rotarod analysis was performed to assess the physical fitness of mice. Bone mineral density was assessed using micro-computed tomography. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was used for the histological examination of heart, liver, and kidney pathology. The mRNA and protein expression of target genes were analyzed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blotting, respectively. Mitotracker deep red staining and high-content analysis were used to quantify cellular mitochondrial mass and function. Results: In this study, we found that TSG improved the physiology of aged mice consuming excess calories and delayed senile symptoms. The anti-aging benefits of TSG were mediated at least in part by the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)/sirtuin 1 (SIRT1)/peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator 1α (PGC-1α) signaling cascade, leading to significant improvement in motor function, bone mineral density, HC-induced organ pathology, and mitochondrial function. Conclusion: Our findings show that TSG could be a potential drug candidate for the treatment of aging- and high-calorie intake-associated disorders.
Copulatory and Postcopulatory Sexual Selection in Primates
Authors: Dixson Alan F.
Published: May 2018

Many aspects of primate reproductive anatomy and physiology have been influenced by copulatory and postcopulatory sexual selection, especially so in taxa where multiple-partner matings by females result in the sperm of rival males competing for access to a given set of ova (sperm competition). However, the female reproductive system also exerts profound effects upon sperm survival, storage and transport, raising the possibility that female traits influence male reproductive success (via cryptic female choice). Current knowledge of sperm competition and cryptic choice in primates and other mammals is reviewed here. The relevance of these comparative studies to our understanding of human reproduction and evolution is discussed.
New Threats from an Old Foe: Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Infections in Neonates
Authors: Dong Ying , Glaser Kirsten , Speer Christian P.
Published: May 2018

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a ubiquitous human inhabitant and one of the important pathogens of neonatal infections. MRSA is associated with significant mortality and morbidity, especially in very immature preterm neonates. Moreover, MRSA may be implicated in adverse long-term neonatal outcomes, posing a substantial disease burden. Recent advances in molecular microbiology have shed light on the evolution of MRSA population structure and virulence factors, which may contribute to MRSA epidemic waves worldwide. Equipped with remarkable genetic flexibility, MRSA has successfully developed resistance to an extensive range of antibiotics including vancomycin, as well as antiseptics. In the face of these new challenges from MRSA, our armamentarium of anti-infective strategies is very limited and largely dependent on prevention measures. Active surveillance cultures followed by decolonization may be a promising approach to control MRSA infections, with its efficacy and safety in the specific population of neonates yet to be addressed by large multicenter studies.
Aflibercept Treatment in Polypoidal Choroidal Vasculopathy: Results of a Prospective Study in a Caucasian Population
Authors: Wolff Benjamin , Vasseur Vivien , Cahuzac Armelle , Coscas Florence , Castelnovo Laurent , Favard Catherine , Michel Guillaume , Français Catherine , Salomon Laurence , Mauget-Faÿsse Martine
Published: May 2018

Introduction: Polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) is a choroidal pathology characterized by frequent occurrences of subretinal hemorrhages and resistance to monotherapies such as ranibizumab or bevacizumab intravitreal injections (IVT). The purpose of this study is to evaluate both the anatomical and functional efficacy of aflibercept IVT as a monotherapy in PCV in a Caucasian population. Methods: We conducted a prospective multicenter study in either treatment-naïve patients with PCV or PVC patients who had not been treated with anti-VEGF within the previous 3 months or with photodynamic therapy (PDT) within the previous 6 months. All patients had been treated with 3 initial monthly loading doses of aflibercept followed by a Q8 regimen for 28 weeks in total. All patients underwent a complete ophthalmic examination including the measurement of best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) before each IVT and after 28 weeks as well as an optical coherent tomography (OCT) of the macula. At baseline and 28 weeks, the polypoidal dilations were analyzed with indocyanine green angiography. Results: Thirty-four eyes of 34 patients were included in this study. All patients were followed for 28 weeks and received 5 aflibercept IVT. The mean baseline BCVA was 55 letters. After 28 weeks, significant +13 letters in BCVA and a regression of exudative signs on OCT in all patients were observed. In 62% of the cases, polyp disappearance was observed on indocyanine green angiography. Discussion: In this study on a Caucasian population, we showed that aflibercept as a monotherapy provided both a significant visual gain and the regression of polypoidal dilations. Aflibercept use in monotherapy may contribute to reduce the hemorrhagic risk and atrophy linked to PDT.
Adrenocortical Carcinoma in Children: A Clinicopathological Analysis of 41 Patients at the Mayo Clinic from 1950 to 2017
Authors: Gupta Nidhi , Rivera Michael , Novotny Paul , Rodriguez Vilmarie , Bancos Irina , Lteif Aida
Published: May 2018

Background/Aims: Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is an aggressive childhood cancer. Limited evidence exists on a definite histopathological criterion to differentiate ACC from adrenocortical adenoma. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinicopathological data of children with ACC, identify prognostic factors, and validate a histopathological criterion to differentiate ACC from adrenocortical adenoma. Methods: This retrospective cohort included 41 children, followed at the Mayo Clinic from 1950 to 2017 (onset of symptoms ≤21 years). Outcomes of interest were: alive with no evidence of disease, alive with evidence of disease, and dead of disease. Results: Median age at onset of symptoms was 15.7 years (n = 41; range, 0.2–21 years). Female:male ratio was 3.6: 1. Mixed symptomatology (> 1 hormone abnormality) was the most common presentation (54%, n = 22). Sixty-six percent of patients (n = 27 out of 41) underwent total adrenalectomy. Metastatic disease was more common in children aged > 12 years (p = 0.002 compared to < 4 years). The most common sites of metastases were the liver and lungs. Overall 2-year and 5-year survival rates were 61% (95% CI 45–77) and 46% (95% CI 30–62), respectively. Metastasis at the time of diagnosis was independently associated with poor prognosis (risk ratio 13.7%; 95% CI 3.9–87.7). Weiss criteria (29%) and modified Weiss criteria (33%) were less accurate in younger patients (< 12 years), compared to the Wieneke index (100%). Conclusion: The presence of metastases was an independent prognostic factor. The Wieneke index was the most accurate in predicting clinical outcomes in younger children.
Association of Fast‐Food and Full‐Service Restaurant Densities With Mortality From Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke, and the Prevalence of Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Mazidi Mohsen , Speakman John R.
Published: May 2018

Background

We explored whether higher densities of fast‐food restaurants (
FFR
s) and full‐service restaurants are associated with mortality from cardiovascular disease (CVD) and stroke and the prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) across the mainland United States.

Methods and Results

In this cross‐sectional study county‐level data for
CVD
and stroke mortality, and prevalence of T2D, were combined with per capita densities of
FFRs
and full‐service restaurants and analyzed using regression. Mortality and diabetes mellitus prevalence were corrected for poverty, ethnicity, education, physical inactivity, and smoking. After adjustment,
FFR
density was positively associated with
CVD
(β=1.104,
R
2
=2.3%), stroke (β=0.841,
R
2
=1.4%), and T2D (β=0.578,
R
2
=0.6%) and full‐service restaurant density was positively associated with
CVD
mortality (β=0.19,
R
2
=0.1%) and negatively related to T2D prevalence (β=−0.25,
R
2
=0.3%). In a multiple regression analysis (
FFR
s and full‐service restaurants together in same model), only the densities of
FFRs
were significant (and positive). If we assume these relationships are causal, an impact analysis suggested that opening 10 new
FFR
s in a county would lead to 1 extra death from
CVD
every 42 years and 1 extra death from stroke every 55 years. Repeated nationally across all counties, that would be an extra 748
CVD
deaths and 567 stroke deaths (and 390 new cases of T2D) over the next 10 years.

Conclusions

These results suggest that an increased density of
FFRs
is associated with increased risk of death from
CVD
and stroke and increased T2D prevalence, but the maximal impact (assuming the correlations reflect causality) of each individual
FFR
is small.

Clinical Trial Registration

URL:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier:
NCT
03243253.
Queer Tango Space: Minority Stress, Sexual Potentiality, and Gender Utopias
Authors: McMains Juliet
Published: May 2018

The queer tango movement is an international alliance of tango practitioners who seek to denaturalize the link between gender and the division of labor in a tango partnership. The queer tango space provides participants, particularly female practioners, with relief from minority stress, access to LGBTQ sexual potentiality, and experiments in gender utopia.
“This Is Father Berrigan Speaking from the Underground”: Daniel Berrigan SJ and the Conception of a Radical Theatre
Authors: Halligan Benjamin
Published: May 2018

The letter “Father Berrigan Speaks to the Actors from Underground” suggests the conception of a radical theatre, intended as a contribution to a cultural front against the US government as it escalated the war in Vietnam. Berrigan’s dramatization of the trial in which he and fellow antiwar activists were arraigned for publicly burning draft cards in 1968, The Trial of the Catonsville Nine, coincided with Berrigan’s efforts to continue his ministry while a fugitive.
Aristotle on Perceptual Discrimination
Authors: Perälä Mika
Published: May 2018

It is commonly assumed that Aristotle defines a sense by reference to its ability to perceive the items that are proper to that sense, and that he explains perceptions of unities of these items, and discriminations between them, by reference to what is called the ‘common sense’. This paper argues in contrast that Aristotle defines a sense by reference, not only to its ability to perceive the proper items, but also to its ability to discriminate between them, and thus aims to show that Aristotle’s theory of sense perception is basically a theory of perceptual discrimination.
Nature and Utopia in Epictetus’ Theory of Oikeiōsis
Authors: Magrin Sara
Published: May 2018

It is widely agreed that there is a gap between the personal and the social ethics of the Stoics due to the difficulty of harmonizing personal and socialoikeiōsis. By reconstructing Epictetus’ theory ofoikeiōsis, this paper aims to show that, in his ethics, there is no such gap, and this for two reasons: first, his account of socialoikeiōsisis not meant to ground his social ethics; second, his theory of personaloikeiōsisis a philosophical construct designed to provide a naturalistic justification to the utopian social project of the cosmopolis rather than to ground his personal ethics.
Connectives and discourse markers in Ancient Greek
Authors: Inglese Guglielmo
Published: May 2018

The Ancient Greek particle atár has been described as a connective device that encodes either an adversative or a progressive relation between sentences. The purpose of this paper is to revise the description of this particle by framing its analysis within a consistent and theoretically up-to-date model of clause linkage and discourse structure. Starting from previous findings on the function of atár in Homer, I undertake a corpus analysis of atár in Euripides and Aristophanes. This analysis reveals differences in usage at different stages of the language that have been previously neglected. Whereas in Homer, atár largely behaves as a connective and encodes a semantic relation of oppositive contrast between sentences, in later texts it rather behaves as a discourse marker and contributes to the management of both thematic continuity and interactional practices. These differences point to a specific diachronic path of grammaticalization that accounts for the changes undergone by atár.
The Relationship between (Protestant) Christianity and the Environment is Ambivalent
Authors: Jochemsen Henk
Published: May 2018

In his contribution to this special issue, Michael Northcott argues that there is a historic association between Protestant cultures and the origins of environmentalism. It seems to me, however, that the connection between Protestantism and environmentalism is more complicated and ambivalent than the positive relation he highlights. In this paper, I will problematize that relation on the basis of various theoretical and empirical contributions in the literature on religion and environmentalism. Different positions in this regard within Protestantism will be identified and related to theological positions and the historic impact of Protestantism on culture. In the final section, the impact of environmental degradation on the (global) poor will be highlighted, which leads to the identification of a tension between an orthodox/evangelical Protestant stance towards the poor and towards the environment.
A taxonomic revision of the genus Thalia Blumenbach, 1798; Weelia Yount, 1954; Brooksia Metcalf, 1918 (Salpida: Salpidae) from East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia
Authors: ISHAK NURUL HUDA BINTI AHMAD , ADAM NUR ‘ALIAH BINTI , KASSIM ZALEHA
Published: May 2018

The marine pelagic tunicates of Family Salpidae Lahille, 1888 presence in the coastal waters of Terengganu was studied for the first time. Samples were collected from April to July 2016 using 200µm Bongo net; hauled vertically from a stationary vessel; and preserved in 5% buffered formaldehyde. A total of 4 species under this family were found, observed and identified: Thalia rhomboides (Quoy and Gaimard 1824); Thalia sibogae (van Soest 1973); Weelia cylindrica (Cuvier 1804) and Brooksia rostrata (Traustedt 1893). All species were identified as new records in Malaysian waters. The description on morphological characteristics and a key to the solitary and aggregate of the recorded species is added. The distribution was analyzed from the 18 sampling stations in theTerengganu waters including Pulau Bidong, Pulau Yu and Pulau Kapas. The collected data was then compiled with previous available global literature on the distribution and occurrence of these four species, consequently updating the biodiversity of Malaysian fauna and its worldwide biogeography distribution.
A new species of Schistura (Teleostei: Nemacheilidae) from the south-western lowlands of Sri Lanka
Authors: SUDASINGHE HIRANYA
Published: May 2018

Schistura scripta, new species, is described from Nakiyadeniya in the south-western lowlands of Sri Lanka. It can be distinguished from all other congeners from Sri Lankan and peninsular India by the combination of the following characters: an incomplete lateral line with 53–76 pores, ending beneath the dorsal-fin base or slightly beyond; 7–13 post-dorsal bars; 7½ branched dorsal-fin rays; absence of an axillary pelvic lobe; and absence of a suborbital flap.
A new species of Tanytarsus van der Wulp, 1874 (Diptera: Chironomidae) and the first Japanese record of Tanytarsus ovatus Johannsen, 1932 with DNA barcodes
Authors: KODAMA ATSUYA , KAWAI KOICHIRO , SAITO HIDETOSHI
Published: May 2018

A new species of the genus Tanytarsus van der Wulp, 1874 was described and illustrated based on an adult male. Tanytarsus trichovalis sp. nov. belongs to the eminulus species group, and is closely related to T. tamaundecimus Sasa, 1980, T. okuboi Sasa, 1986, and T. tonebeceus Sasa & Tanaka, 2000. However, the species is distinguished from these species by the morphology of the hypopygium. We also present the first record of T. ovatus Johannsen, 1932 in Japan. In addition, DNA barcoding of 5 species including T. trichovalis sp. nov., T. ovatus, and other morphologically related species was undertaken. A new key of the eleven Japanese eminulus species group was compiled.
Clarification of research design, research methods, and research methodology
Authors: Abutabenjeh Sawsan , Jaradat Raed
Published: May 2018

Research design is a critical topic that is central to research studies in science, social science, and many other disciplines. After identifying the research topic and formulating questions, selecting the appropriate design is perhaps the most important decision a researcher makes. Currently, there is a plethora of literature presenting multiple approaches to the formulation of research design. Although the existence of multiple approaches is a powerful source in the development of a research design, new public administration (PA) researchers and students may see it as a source of confusion because there is a lack of clarity in the literature about the approaches to research design, research methods, and research methodology in the social sciences. The purpose of this research paper is to lessen the confusion over research design and offer a better understanding of these approaches. The comparison analysis obtained in this research can provide guidance for PA researchers, students and practitioners when considering the research design most appropriate for their study. To achieve the research purpose, a comparison analysis was conducted to study the differences in research design perspectives and approaches. Three dominant works related to research design, by Earl R. Babbie, Elizabethann O’Sullivan et al., and John W. Creswell, were selected as representative of the wide array of approaches in the PA literature. In identifying similarities and differences across the scholars’ approaches, the analysis includes: (a) definitions of and steps in research design, and (b) the perspectives on research methods and research methodology. The analysis showed that research design approaches are convergent and divergent and that it is necessary for PA researchers and students to be knowledgeable about the various research design approaches before selecting a specific design for their research. An example scenario was provided to show the impact of different perspectives on research design in the PA literature.
Validation study on the theory of composites by using three-dimensional printing technology
Authors: Tuo Xiaohang , Yu Yue , Zhao Yabo , Gong Yumei , Guo Jing
Published: May 2018

RoM, as a reinforcement theory of composite materials, has been widely used. With the advent of new materials and molding processes, this theory is constantly being refined and validated. In this paper, four high-tech fibers as continuous reinforcing materials and carbon nanotubes as non-continuous reinforcing materials were evaluated, and two ideal composite samples were designed using three-dimensional printing technology. The reliability of RoM was verified by tensile testing. Also, a fiber tensile fixture was designed. The fiber bundle strength was inversely proportional to the length and the number of roots of fiber. In verifying the RoM, three-dimensional printing was employed, showing the diversity and complexity of the testing samples.
Design du produit et processus de persuasion hiérarchisé : application à trois produits électro-ménagers
Authors: Belboula Imène , Ackermann Claire-Lise , Mathieu Jean-Pierre
Published: May 2018

Résumé

Le design d’un produit peut être appréhendé comme étant un vecteur de communication générant des réponses affectives et cognitives. Cette recherche s’appuie sur les modèles de persuasion publicitaire de MacKenzie et al. (1986). Elle propose que le processus de persuasion induit par le design d’un produit opère selon une voie hiérarchisée directe, par transfert d’affect, et indirecte, à travers les croyances à l’égard du produit. Les résultats indiquent l’existence de la voie directe et de la voie indirecte, aussi bien pour les croyances fonctionnelles que pour les croyances symboliques. Ils mettent en évidence l’effet des choix stylistiques sur les réponses affectives, cognitives et comportementales des consommateurs.
Anticipating psychosis
Authors: Reinholdt Marie
Published: May 2018

This article explores the evolution of a major longitudinal ‘high risk for schizophrenia’ research programme, started over 50 years ago, which has been largely ignored in recent debates over ‘psychosis risk’ and early intervention. Studying mainly the offspring of individuals with schizophrenia, high-risk investigators aimed to identify a range of precursors of schizophrenia in the hope that the findings would eventually facilitate effective primary prevention. Specifically, the article examines the origins and impact of the pioneering Copenhagen High-Risk Project (1962–1989) and thus provides an important contribution to the sparse historical literature on schizophrenia research, including the study of milder conditions and at-risk states in the borderlands of psychosis.
Optimal sample-data control for free-floating space robot with uncertain inertial parameters
Authors: Yang Fan , Zhang Guoliang , Zhang Hexin , Song Haitao
Published: May 2018

In most cases, the tracking accuracy is an elementary requirement when designing the tracking controller of free-floating space robot. However, the resource consumption of the system input is also restricted in orbit, which should be also cared about in designing tracking controller. Thus, in this paper, an optimal sample-data control method for free-floating space robot is proposed by using the discrete state-dependent Riccati equation. And, in order to overcome the effect of uncertain inertial parameters, a two-stage controller designing strategy is adopted in this method, which includes the designs of an optimal reference controller and an optimal compensation controller. In addition, the supremum of the sampling interval is investigated via uniform input-to-state stability theories. Some numerical examples are provided to illustrate the performances of the proposed control method.