bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Parenting stress as a mediator of parents' negative mood state and behavior problems in children with newly diagnosed cancer
Authors: van der Geest Ivana M. , van den Heuvel‐Eibrink Marry M. , Passchier Jan , van den Hoed‐Heerschop Corry , Pieters Rob , Darlington Anne‐Sophie E.
Published: January 2014

Objective

The aim was to investigate the influence of parents' negative mood state and parenting stress on behavior in children with newly diagnosed cancer.

Methods

A total of 123 parents (n = 58 fathers, n = 65 mothers) of 67 children with newly diagnosed cancer completed three questionnaires separately at the same time measuring parents' negative mood state, parenting stress, and child behavior problems.

Results

Parents' negative mood state was weakly correlated to more child behavior problems (r = 0.31, p < 0.01), and higher levels of parenting stress were strongly correlated to more child behavior problems (r = 0.61, p < 0.01). Mediation analyses indicated that the relationship between parents' negative mood state and child behavior problems (c = 0.29, p = 0.02 (fathers); c = 0.25, p = 0.04 (mothers)) became non‐significant after mediating for parenting stress (c′ = 0.003, p = 0.98 (fathers); c′ = 0.10, p = 0.42 (mothers)). The indirect effect of parents' negative mood state and child behavior problems was only significant for fathers (95% CI [0.12; 0.51]), indicating that parenting stress mediates the effect between fathers' negative mood state and child behavior problems.

Conclusions

This is the first study to demonstrate the mediational role of parenting stress in fathers of a child with newly diagnosed cancer. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Exploring the contribution of psychosocial factors to fatigue in patients with advanced incurable cancer
Authors: Peters Marlies E. W. J. , Goedendorp Martine M. , Verhagen Stans A. H. H. V. M. , van der Graaf Winette T. A. , Bleijenberg Gijs
Published: January 2014

Objective

Fatigue is the most frequently occurring and distressing symptom in patients with advanced cancer, caused by multiple factors. Neither a specific histological diagnosis of malignancy nor the type of anticancer treatment seem to be strongly related to fatigue, which support the idea that other factors may play a role. This study investigated to what extent the model of fatigue‐perpetuating factors that is known for cancer survivors was applicable for patients with advanced cancer.

Methods

Patients on active treatment for various incurable cancers were asked to complete the Checklist Individual Strength, subscale fatigue severity and physical activity, the Acceptance scale of the Illness Cognition Questionnaire, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the Fatigue Catastrophizing Scale, the Symptom Checklist subscale sleep, and the van Sonderen Social Support List‐Discrepancies.

Results

The questionnaires were filled in by 137 patients. Inappropriate coping, fear of progression, fatigue catastrophizing, discrepancies in social support, depressive mood, self reported physical activity, and sleeping problems were all related to fatigue severity in univariate analyses, of which the latter two were significant in a multivariate linear regression analysis.

Conclusion

This study tested fatigue‐perpetuating factors known to be of relevance in cancer survivors, for their relation with fatigue severity in palliative patients. We demonstrated that these factors were also relevant for patients on palliative treatment. On the basis of our results, we suggest clinicians confronted with palliative patients with serious fatigue to address sleeping problems and promote physical activity. In case of persistent fatigue, personalized cognitive behavioral therapy can be considered. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Fibronectin is a serum biomarker for Duchenne muscular dystrophy
Authors: Cynthia Martin F. , Hiller Monika , Spitali Pietro , Oonk Stijn , Dalebout Hans , Palmblad Magnus , Chaouch Amina , Guglieri Michela , Straub Volker , Lochmüller Hanns , Niks Erik H. , Verschuuren Jan J. G. M. , Aartsma‐Rus Annemieke , Deelder André M. , van der Burgt Yuri E. M. , 't Hoen Peter A. C.
Published: January 2014

Purpose

To identify and validate serum biomarkers for the progression of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) using a MS‐based bottom‐up pipeline.

Experimental design

We used a bottom‐up proteomics approach, including a protein concentration equalization step, different proteolytic digestions, and MS detection schemes, to identify candidate biomarkers in serum samples from control subjects and DMD patients. Fibronectin was chosen for follow‐up based on the differences in peptide spectral counts and sequence coverage observed between the DMD and control groups. Subsequently, fibronectin levels were determined with ELISA in 68 DMD patients, 38 milder Becker muscular dystrophy patients, 33 patients with other neuromuscular disorders, and 15 age‐matched adult and child controls.

Results

There was a significant increase in fibronectin levels in DMD patients compared to age‐matched controls. Fibronectin levels in patients with Becker muscular dystrophy, Bethlem myopathy, or myasthenia gravis were comparable to control levels. Progressive elevation in fibronectin levels was observed in longitudinal samples from 22 DMD patients followed up for a period of 6 months up to 4 years.

Conclusion and clinical relevance

This study suggests that serum fibronectin levels may constitute a promising biomarker to monitor disease progression in DMD patients.
Luminance and current distribution of hybrid circular GaN‐based resonant‐cavity light‐emitting diodes with lateral current injection on the n‐ and p‐side
Authors: Passow Thorsten , Kunzer Michael , Börner Paul , Pletschen Wilfried , Köhler Klaus , Wagner Joachim
Published: January 2014

Resonant‐cavity light‐emitting diodes emitting at around 400 nm based on an undoped bottom AlInN/GaN distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) and a top dielectric SiO2/ZrO2 DBR with circular emitting apertures of diameters ranging from 5 to 200 µm are demonstrated. The current distribution is investigated by luminance distribution imaging and three‐dimensional device simulations for different current densities. The current distribution exhibits a maximum in the aperture centre or is homogeneous up to an aperture diameter of 50 µm independent of the current density. A minimum occurs in the aperture centre for larger diameters increasing with increasing diameter and current density. The current distribution improves with larger n‐GaN thickness and higher contact resistance between the transparent In2O3:Sn (ITO) electrode and the p‐GaN contact layer. (© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Structural analysis of N‐polar AlN layers grown on Si (111) substrates by high resolution X‐ray diffraction
Authors: Pandikunta Mahesh , Ledyaev Oleg , Kuryatkov Vladimir , Nikishin Sergey A.
Published: January 2014

Crack‐free high quality N‐polar AlN epitaxial layers were grown on Si (111) substrates by plasma‐assisted molecular beam epitaxy in the temperature range of 780–880 °C. The streaky 1×3 reflection high energy electron diffraction pattern was observed at room temperature for all AlN samples indicating N‐polarity of epilayers. The polarity of samples was also confirmed by KOH etching studies. Structural properties of as‐grown samples were carried out by high resolution X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy. The Williamson‐Hall plots of the rocking curves widths were employed in order to study the mosaicity, dislocation density, and level of stress as a function of growth temperature. The 250 nm thick AlN sample grown at 830 °C yields the best crystalline quality, smooth surface morphology, and smallest root mean square roughness. (© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Yield analysis of large‐area high‐power single‐chip GaN‐based light‐emitting diodes with network design
Authors: Wang Wei , Cai Yong , Zhang Yibin , Huang Hongjuan , Huang Wei , Li Haiou , Zhang Baoshun
Published: January 2014

In this Letter, a GaN‐based high‐power (HP) single‐chip (SC) large‐area LED with parallel and series network structure is fabricated. The optical characteristics of the HP‐SC LED is investigated. Driven at 600 mA, the optical output power of the HP‐SC LED chip is measured to be 9.7 W, corresponding to an EQE of 26.4%, which is 19.6% lower than that of the standard small LED cell due to both the lateral light‐extraction efficiency degradation and the self‐heating effect. A statistical analysis was carried out to investigate the yield of the fabricated HP‐SC LEDs, the experimental results agree with the theoretical calculations very well, validating the feasibility of this design on the production yield for the large‐area LEDs.

magnified image

(© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Fennel and Raspberry Leaf as Possible Inhibitors of Acetaminophen Oxidation
Authors: Langhammer Astrid Jordet , Nilsen Odd Georg
Published: January 2014

In addition to CYP2E1, several CYP isoenzymes, notably CYP1A2, 2D6, and 3A4, are suggested to contribute in acetaminophen oxidation and formation of the hepatotoxic metabolite N‐acetyl‐p‐benzoquinone imine (NAPQI). Thein vitroCYP2E1 inhibitory potentials of fennel and raspberry leaf, herbs previously found to inhibit CYP1A2, 2D6, and 3A4 activitiesin vitro, were investigated. Extracts from commercially available herbal products were incubated with recombinant cDNA‐expressed human CYP2E1. A validated LC/MS/MS methodology was applied for determination of 6‐hydroxychlorzoxazone formation with disulfiram used as a positive inhibitory control. CYP2E1 IC50inhibition constants were found to be 23 ± 4 and 27 ± 5 µg/ml for fennel and raspberry leaf, respectively, constants significantly lower than those presented in the literature for other herbal extracts. Together with previous findings, the presentedin vitrodata for CYP2E1 inhibition suggest that fennel and raspberry leaf have a significant potential of inhibiting all the major metabolic pathways for acetaminophen oxidation and NAPQI formation. Both herbs should be further investigated for theirin vivoability of inhibiting acetaminophen oxidation and NAPQI formation. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Fabrication of Nanoarchitectures Templated by Virus‐Based Nanoparticles: Strategies and Applications
Authors: Li Feng , Wang Qiangbin
Published: January 2014

Biomolecular nanostructures in nature are drawing increasing interests in the field of materials sciences. As a typical group of them, virus‐based nanoparticles (VNPs), which are nanocages or nanorods assembled from capsid proteins of viruses, have been widely exploited as templates to guide the fabrication of complex nanoarchitectures (NAs), because of their appropriate sizes (ca. 20–200 nm), homogeneity, addressable functionalization, facile modification via chemical and genetic routes, and convenient preparation. Foreign materials can be positioned in the inner cavity or on the outer surface of VNPs, through either direct synthesis or assembling preformed nanomaterials. Simultaneous use of the inner and outer space of VNPs facilitates integration of multiple functionalities in a single NA. This review briefly summarizes the strategies for fabrication of NAs templated by VNPs and wide applications of these NAs in fields of catalysis, energy, biomedicine, and nanophotonics, etc.
Ameliorative effect of polyphenols from Padina boergesenii against ferric nitrilotriacetate induced renal oxidative damage: With inhibition of oxidative hemolysis and in vitro free radicals
Authors: Rajamani Karthikeyan , Renju V. C. , Sethupathy S. , Thirugnanasambandan Somasundaram S.
Published: January 2014

The aim of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant activities of diethyl ether (DEE) and methanol (M) extracts from brown alga Padina boergesenii using in vitro and in vivo antioxidant assay, which may help to relate the antioxidant properties with the possible outline of its ameliorative effect. M extract showed higher radical scavenging activity through ferric reducing antioxidant power 139.11 µmol tannic acid equivalent/g; DPPH 71.32 ± 0.56%; deoxyribose radical 88.31 ± 0.47%, and total antioxidant activity 0.47 ± 0.02 mg ascorbic acid equivalents/g. Oxidative red blood cell (RBC) hemolysis inhibition rate was significantly higher in M extract (150 mg/kg body weight) in reference to total phenolic content (r = 0.935). Rats administered with DEE and M extracts (150 mg/kg body weight) for seven days before the administration of ferric nitrilotriacetate (9 mg of Fe/mg/kg bodyweight). Rats pretreated with extracts significantly changed the level of renal microsomal lipid peroxidation, glutathione, and antioxidant enzymes in post‐mitochondrial supernatant (P < 0.05). Ameliorative effect of extracts against renal oxidative damage was evident in rat kidney through changes in necrotic and epithelial cells. HPTLC technique has identified the presence of rutin with reference to retardation factor (Rf) in both the extracts. These findings support the source of polyphenols (rutin) from P. boergesenii had potent antioxidant activity; further work on isolation of bioactive compounds can be channeled to develop as a natural antioxidant. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 30: 865–876, 2015.
Effects of tetrabrombisphenol A on DNA integrity, oxidative stress, and sterlet (Acipenser ruthenus) spermatozoa quality variables
Authors: Linhartova Pavla , Gazo Ievgeniia , Shaliutina‐Kolesova Anna , Hulak Martin , Kaspar Vojtech
Published: January 2014

The sperm of sterlet (Acispenser ruthenus) was used to investigate the effect of the xenobiotic tetrabrombisphenol A (TBBPA) on sperm quality variables (ATP content, spermatozoa motility, and velocity), DNA integrity, and oxidative stress indices. Sperm was diluted to obtain a spermatozoa density of 5 × 108 cells/mL and exposed for 2 h to final concentrations of TBBPA (0.5, 1.75, 2.5, 5, and 10 μg/L). The oxidative stress indices, including lipid peroxidation, carbonyl derivatives of proteins, and antioxidant activity were significantly higher with increased concentrations of TBBPA. There was significantly less intracellular ATP in sperm samples at TBBPA concentrations of 2.5 μg/L and above. Spermatozoa velocity and percent motile sperm were significantly lower at each sampling time post‐activation compared to controls. DNA damage expressed as percent DNA in Tail and Olive Tail moment was significantly higher with exposures ≥2.5 μg/L TBBPA. The results demonstrated that TBBPA and other xenobiotics can induce reactive oxygen species stress in fish spermatozoa, which could impair the sperm quality, DNA integrity, ATP content, and the antioxidant defense system. This study confirmed that fish spermatozoa can be used in in vitro assays for monitoring residual pollution in aquatic environments. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 30: 735–745, 2015.
Fluoride‐induced apoptosis and expressions of caspase proteins in the kidney of carp (Cyprinus carpio)
Authors: Chen Jianjie , Cao Jinling , Wang Jundong , Jia Ruhui , Xue Wenjuan , Xie Lingtian
Published: January 2014

The study was conducted to investigate oxidative stress, apoptosis, and protein expressions of caspase‐3, 8, and 9 in kidney of the carp juveniles exposed to 0, 40, 80, 120, and 160 mg L−1 of fluoride (in the form of NaF) for 90 days. The results showed that dose‐ and time‐dependent decrease of SOD and GSH and dose‐ and time‐dependent increase of MDA were observed in the carp juveniles, which suggested that fluoride induced oxidative damage accompanied with morphological changes and significant apoptosis in fish exposed to fluoride, especially in the higher doses. Fluoride exposure also significantly elevated the protein expressions of caspase‐3, 8, and 9. In conclusion, these results indicate that chronic exposure to fluoride causes oxidative stress, damages the kidney structure, and results in renal apoptosis by caspase‐dependent pathway. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 30: 769–781, 2015.
B

s
→ K
(*)ℓ$ \overline{\nu} $, angular analysis, S-wave contributions and |V

ub
|
Authors: Meißner Ulf-G. , Wang Wei
Published: January 2014

Abstract

We analyse the
$ \overline{B}_s^0\to {K^{+}}{l^{-}}\overline{\nu} $
and
$ \overline{B}_s^0\to {K^{*+ }}\left( {\to K\pi } \right){\ell^{-}}\overline{\nu} $
decays that are valuable for extracting the CKM matrix element |V
ub|. We calculate the differential and integrated partial widths in units of |V
ub|2 based on various calculations of hadronic form factors and in particular the latest Lattice QCD calculation of the B
s → K

*
form factors. For the decay
$ \overline{B}_s^0\to K\pi \ell \overline{\nu} $
, we formulate the general angular distributions with the inclusion of the various partial-wave Kπ contributions. Using the results for the Kπ scalar form factor calculated from unitarized chiral perturbation theory, we explore the S-wave effects on angular distribution variables and demonstrate that they may not be negligible, considering the high precision expected in future measurements. We also briefly discuss the impact of the S-wave ππ contributions in the
$ {B^{-}}\to {\pi^{+}}{\pi^{-}}\ell \overline{v} $
decay and provide estimates for the mode
$ {B^{-}}\to {K^{+}}{K^{-}}\ell \overline{\nu} $
. The studies of these channels in future can not only be used to determine |V
ub|, but may also provide valuable information on the Kπ and ππ phase shifts.
Augmented reality in medical education?
Authors: Kamphuis Carolien , Barsom Esther , Schijven Marlies , Christoph Noor
Published: January 2014

Learning in the medical domain is to a large extent workplace learning and involves mastery of complex skills that require performance up to professional standards in the work environment. Since training in this real-life context is not always possible for reasons of safety, costs, or didactics, alternative ways are needed to achieve clinical excellence. Educational technology and more specifically augmented reality (AR) has the potential to offer a highly realistic situated learning experience supportive of complex medical learning and transfer. AR is a technology that adds virtual content to the physical real world, thereby augmenting the perception of reality. Three examples of dedicated AR learning environments for the medical domain are described. Five types of research questions are identified that may guide empirical research into the effects of these learning environments. Up to now, empirical research mainly appears to focus on the development, usability and initial implementation of AR for learning. Limited review results reflect the motivational value of AR, its potential for training psychomotor skills and the capacity to visualize the invisible, possibly leading to enhanced conceptual understanding of complex causality.
Special Issue on Complex Systems: Editor's Forward
Authors: D'Alessandro Steven , Winzar Hume
Published: January 2014

The study of complex systems through agent based modelling present opportunities for marketing researchers to develop time and space explanations of interactions that occur in the marketplace and determine emergent phenomena, such as the adoption of new technology or successful business networks. The use of simulations and the ideas of complex systems though may appear baffling to many and the acceptance of simulations, especially agent based models has a long way to go given concerns about the validity and realism of many models. In this special issue we aim to present a number of papers which show a wide range of applications of agent based models to study business environments and consumer behaviour. There are also theoretical and methodological papers dealing with this new research paradigm. The validation of simulation models both by competing programs and with real world data is discussed in this special issue.
Genes and evolution of two‐domain toxins from lynx spider venom
Authors: Sachkova Maria Y. , Slavokhotova Anna A. , Grishin Eugene V. , Vassilevski Alexander A.
Published: January 2014

Spiderines are comparatively long polypeptide toxins (∼110 residues) from lynx spiders (genus Oxyopes). They are built of an N‐terminal linear cationic domain (∼40 residues) and a C‐terminal knottin domain (∼60 residues). The linear domain empowers spiderines with strong cytolytic activity. In the present work we report 16 novel spiderine sequences from Oxyopes takobius and Oxyopes lineatus classified into two subfamilies. Strikingly, negative selection acts on both linear and knottin domains. Genes encoding Oxyopes two‐domain toxins were sequenced and found to be intronless. We further discuss a possible scenario of lynx spider modular toxin evolution.
Rhyolite–granite association in the Central Taimyr zone: evidence of accretionary-collisional events in the Neoproterozoic
Authors: Proskurnin V.F. , Vernikovsky V.A. , Metelkin D.V. , Petrushkov B.S. , Vernikovskaya A.E. , Gavrish A.V. , Bagaeva A.A. , Matushkin N.Yu. , Vinogradova N.P. , Larionov A.N.
Published: January 2014

The Central Taimyr accretionary belt includes two granite-metamorphic terranes: Faddey and Mamont-Shrenk, which include the oldest igneous formations of the Taimyr folded area in the Arctic framing of the Siberian craton—granitoids and granite-gneisses with U–Pb zircon ages of 900–830 Ma. The [FeO*/(FeO* + MgO)]-enriched granitoids of these terranes are products of highly fractionated I-type magmas. This paper presents results of new petrographic, geochemical, geochronological, and paleomagnetic investigations of acid rocks from a volcanic-plutonic association (in the region of the Leningradskaya River) in the Faddey terrane in the northeastern Taimyr area. These rocks formed during the final stage of continent–island arc accretion and collision that occurred at approximately 870–820 Ma. We established that the studied rocks belong to a long granitoid belt extending from Mamont-Shrenk to Faddey terrane, where all the igneous bodies are deformed and oriented uniformly. The paleomagnetic pole we calculated differs significantly from the apparent polar-wander path interval of corresponding age for Siberia. The 33.8°±5.4° angular distance between the poles indicates that the formation of this volcanic-plutonic association took place at a significant distance from the Taimyr margin of the Siberian paleocontinent.
Opening the Black Box of Social Capital Formation
Authors: VALDIVIESO PATRICIO , VILLENA-ROLDÁN BENJAMÍN
Published: January 2014

This paper introduces a rational choice model for multiple kinds of participation to empirically investigate several theoretical determinants of social capital (SC) formation. The framework is rich enough to investigate the importance of individual variables, social/peer effects, endogenous trust, political-institutional, and inequality factors as sources of participation. We show that the aforementioned contextual factors explain SC formation for Chile, but their relative importance varies for each kind of participation. Our second application compares individual-level determinants of SC formation among the largest democracies in the Americas. Gender, age, education, and race show heterogeneous effects across countries. Overall, negative interpersonal trust shocks generate participation increments, and possibly motivate engagement in trustworthy networks. Idiosyncratic factors behind participation and trust are positively correlated, suggesting a common SC stem that manifests in multiple ways. Hence, our empirical approach to SC formation uncovers factors hidden by assumptions in some previous literature.
Expression of 14-3-3 sigma, cyclin-dependent kinases 2 and 4, p16, and Epstein–Barr nuclear antigen 1 in nasopharyngeal carcinoma
Authors: Huang H-H , Chen C-H , Huang S-C , Yang C-H , Hwang C-F
Published: January 2014

Objective:

The protein 14-3-3 sigma plays a role in cell cycle arrest by sequestering cyclin-dependent kinase 1 cyclin B1 complexes, as well as cyclin-dependent kinases 2 and 4, hence its definition as a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor. However, the nature of the interaction between these biological markers in nasopharyngeal carcinoma is unknown. This study aimed to investigate whether altered expression of these markers contributes to nasopharyngeal carcinogenesis.

Methods:

The study population consisted of 30 nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients and 10 patients without nasopharyngeal carcinoma. The nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell lines TW02, TW04 and Hone-1 were also assessed. We analysed levels of messenger RNA and protein for the p16 gene and the 14-3-3 sigma, Epstein–Barr nuclear antigen 1, and cyclin-dependent kinase 2 and 4 proteins, in nasopharyngeal carcinoma tissue specimens and cell lines and in normal nasopharyngeal tissue.

Results:

Protein and messenger RNA levels for cyclin-dependent kinase 2 and Epstein–Barr nuclear antigen 1 were significantly higher in nasopharyngeal carcinoma compared with normal tissue, while levels of cyclin-dependent kinase 4 generally were not; results for 14-3-3 sigma varied. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients had diminished p16 gene expression, compared with normal tissue.

Conclusion:

Levels of cyclin-dependent kinase 2 and Epstein–Barr nuclear antigen 1 were significantly higher in nasopharyngeal carcinoma than in normal tissue, while p16 gene expression was diminished. These three proteins may contribute to nasopharyngeal carcinogenesis.
First bite syndrome: our experience of laser tympanic plexus ablation
Authors: Amin N , Pelser A , Weighill J
Published: January 2014

Introduction:

First bite syndrome is a condition characterised by severe facial pain brought on by the first bite of each meal. This can severely affect the patient's ability to eat.

Methods:

We present a 70-year-old woman for whom we performed a laser ablation of the left ear tympanic plexus, as treatment of first bite syndrome. A permeatal approach was used to raise a tympanomeatal flap. The tympanic plexus was identified on the promontory and a 4 mm2 area of the plexus was ablated using CO2 laser. The flap was repositioned and a dressing was placed with topical antibiotics.

Results:

At two-month follow up, there was full resolution of the patient's symptoms.

Discussion:

First bite syndrome carries a high morbidity; treatment options are variable, and often unsuccessful. We describe the first documented case of laser tympanic plexus ablation, with a very effective initial response. This procedure represents a useful therapeutic option for first bite syndrome.
The presumption of consciousness
Authors: Evans Jonathan St. B. T.
Published: January 2014

Throughout this article the authors presume – without justification – that decision making must be a conscious process unless proved otherwise, and they place an unreasonably strict burden of proof on anyone wishing to claim a role for unconscious processing. In addition, I show that their arguments do not, as implied here, impact upon contemporary dual-process theories of reasoning and decision making.
Dismissing subliminal perception because of its famous problems is classic “baby with the bathwater”
Authors: Finkbeiner Matthew , Coltheart Max
Published: January 2014

Newell & Shanks (N&S) appeal to well-known problems in establishing subliminality to argue that there is little convincing evidence that subliminally presented stimuli can affect decision making. We discuss how recent studies have successfully addressed these well-known problems and, in turn, have revealed clear evidence that subliminally presented stimuli can affect decision making.
Context, as well as inputs, shape decisions, but are people aware of it?
Authors: Helzer Erik G. , Dunning David
Published: January 2014

Even if people are experts at understanding how various input cues landed them at a particular decision (something the authors refer to as cue utilization), they may still fail to appreciate how context influences the weight given to those input variables. We review evidence suggesting that people are unaware of contextual influences on their decisions.
Restrictive and dynamic conceptions of the unconscious: Perspectives from moral and developmental psychology
Authors: Ingram Gordon P. D. , Prochownik Karolina
Published: January 2014

Newell & Shanks' (N&S's) conceptualization of the unconscious is overly restrictive, compared to standard social psychological accounts. The dichotomy between distal and proximal cues is a weak point in their argument and does not circumvent the existence of unconscious influences on decision making. Evidence from moral and developmental psychology indicates that decision making results from a dynamic mixture of conscious and unconscious processes.
Better tests of consciousness are needed, but skepticism about unconscious processes is unwarranted
Authors: Ogilvie Ryan , Carruthers Peter
Published: January 2014

What people report is, at times, the best evidence we have for what they experience. Newell & Shanks (N&S) do a service for debates regarding the role of unconscious influences on decision making by offering some sound methodological recommendations. We doubt, however, that those recommendations go far enough. For even if people have knowledge of the factors that influence their decisions, it does not follow that such knowledge is conscious, and plays a causal role, at the time the decision is made. Moreover, N&S fail to demonstrate that unconscious thought plays no role at all in decision making. Indeed, such a claim is quite implausible. In making these points we comment on their discussion of the literature on expertise acquisition and the Iowa Gambling Task.
Even “unconscious thought” is influenced by attentional mechanisms
Authors: Srinivasan Narayanan , Mukherjee Sumitava
Published: January 2014

In this commentary, we focus on the role of attentional mechanisms in unconscious thought. We argue that even distracted or unconscious thought is capacity limited and differences in scope of attention influence processing during unconscious thought. Attention also would influence processes at different stages in the proposed lens model. We conclude that there is a clear need to understand the role of attention to better understand conscious or unconscious thought.
The primacy of conscious decision making
Authors: Shanks David R. , Newell Ben R.
Published: January 2014

The target article sought to question the common belief that our decisions are often biased by unconscious influences. While many commentators offer additional support for this perspective, others question our theoretical assumptions, empirical evaluations, and methodological criteria. We rebut in particular the starting assumption that all decision making is unconscious, and that the onus should be on researchers to prove conscious influences. Further evidence is evaluated in relation to the core topics we reviewed (multiple-cue judgment, deliberation without attention, and decisions under uncertainty), as well as priming effects. We reiterate a key conclusion from the target article, namely, that it now seems to be generally accepted that awareness should be operationally defined as reportable knowledge, and that such knowledge can only be evaluated by careful and thorough probing. We call for future research to pay heed to the different ways in which awareness can intervene in decision making (as identified in our lens model analysis) and to employ suitable methodology in the assessment of awareness, including the requirements that awareness assessment must be reliable, relevant, immediate, and sensitive.
The role of maternal input in the development ofwh-question comprehension in autism and typical development
Authors: GOODWIN ANTHONY , FEIN DEBORAH , NAIGLES LETITIA
Published: January 2014

Social deficits have been implicated in the language delays and deficits of children with autism (ASD); thus, the extent to which these children use language input in social contexts similarly to typically developing (TD) children is unknown. The current study investigated how caregiver input influenced the development ofwh-question comprehension in TD children and language-matched preschoolers with ASD. Children were visited at four-month intervals over 1.5 years; mother–child play sessions at visits 1–2 were coded for maternalwh-question use. At visits 3–5 children watched videos in the Intermodal Preferential Looking paradigm, to assess their comprehension of subject and objectwh-questions. Mothers' use ofwh-questions with verbs and complexwh-questions positively predictedwh-question comprehension in the TD group; in contrast, mothers' use ofwh-questions with ‘be’ as the main verb negatively predictedwh-question comprehension in the ASD group. Thus, TD children and children with ASD appear to use their linguistic input differently.
The acquisition of SV order in unaccusatives: manipulating the definiteness of the NP argument
Authors: VERNICE MIRTA , GUASTI MARIA TERESA
Published: January 2014

In two sentence repetition experiments, we investigated whether four- and five-year-olds master distinct representations for intransitive verb classes by testing two syntactic analyses of unaccusatives (Burzio, 1986; Belletti, 1988). Under the assumption that, with unaccusatives, the partitive case of the postverbal argument is realized only on indefinites (Belletti, 1988), we tested whether children used indefiniteness as a feature to assign the partitive case to the verb's argument. In the sentences, we manipulated whether the subject preceded or followed the (unaccusative or unergative) verb and whether the subject was expressed by means of a definite or indefinite NP. With unaccusatives, children tended to place the subject in the postverbal position when the subject NP was indefinite, whereas, when the sentence presented a definite postverbal subject, children preferred to place the definite subject in the preverbal position. Definiteness exerted an effect only with unaccusatives, suggesting that children treated unergatives and unaccusatives differently.
On the construction of the regular hendecagon by marked ruler and compass
Authors: BENJAMIN ELLIOT , SNYDER C.
Published: January 2014

We prove that the regular hendecagon (11-gon) is constructible by marked ruler and compass.
Rietveld texture analysis from synchrotron diffraction images. I. Calibration and basic analysis
Authors: Lutterotti Luca , Vasin Roman , Wenk Hans-Rudolf
Published: January 2014

Synchrotron X-ray diffraction images are increasingly used to characterize not only structural and microstructural features of polycrystalline materials, but also crystal preferred orientation distributions. Diffraction data can be analyzed quantitatively and efficiently with the Rietveld method and here the detailed procedure is reported from the experiment to the calibration of the two-dimensional detector and full analysis of the sample. In particular, we emphasize the advantage of doing the calibration inside the Rietveld least-squares fitting instead of a preliminary graphical calibration. Then the procedure is described to quantify crystal preferred orientations with the Rietveld method implemented in software “Materials Analysis Using Diffraction”. The process is illustrated for a US “nickel” coin, a 75 at.% copper 25 at.% nickel alloy with face-centered cubic structure and a strong cube texture.
Hovering between Resistance and Compliance, or Time to Take a Break from International Law?
Authors: HOLTMAAT RIKKI
Published: January 2014

Some books present such a wide variety of perspectives and so many interesting themes and topics in a particular area of law that it is rather difficult to write a comprehensive but at the same time concise review article about them. Consequently, such books run the risk of remaining unobserved or unattended, however valuable may be their contribution to the development of that area of law. Something like that threatened to happen to the volume of papers that was edited by Sari Kouvo and Zoe Pearson and published in 2011. Writing the book review remained for rather a long time on my to-do list, because reading it had incited me to reconsider my own answers to some foundational questions about feminism, about law, and about the ‘and’ that seems so firmly situated between these two concepts. In fact, feminism and law have been at the core of my professional activities since I finished law school in 1983, so for some thirty years for me these two things were closely connected. I thought that I knew very well what I was doing and why! Reading this book – and having agreed to review it – made these questions manifest and urgent to answer. The book, in short, invokes much (self-critical) thinking about the why and how of any engagement with feminism and (international) law, which is a first reason to recommend it to anyone who stands open for such an endeavour. After a brief description of its structure and content, I will discuss just a few of the many thought-provoking materials in this volume and some of my preliminary reactions to them.
Quantile mechanics II: changes of variables in Monte Carlo methods and GPU-optimised normal quantiles
Authors: SHAW WILLIAM T. , LUU THOMAS , BRICKMAN NICK
Published: January 2014

With financial modelling requiring a better understanding of model risk, it is helpful to be able to vary assumptions about underlying probability distributions in an efficient manner, preferably without the noise induced by resampling distributions managed by Monte Carlo methods. This paper presents differential equations and solution methods for the functions of the form Q(x) = F−1(G(x)), where F and G are cumulative distribution functions. Such functions allow the direct recycling of Monte Carlo samples from one distribution into samples from another. The method may be developed analytically for certain special cases, and illuminate the idea that it is a more precise form of the traditional Cornish–Fisher expansion. In this manner the model risk of distributional risk may be assessed free of the Monte Carlo noise associated with resampling. The method may also be regarded as providing both analytical and numerical bases for doing more precise Cornish–Fisher transformations. Examples are given of equations for converting normal samples to Student t, and converting exponential to normal. In the case of the normal distribution, the change of variables employed allows the sampling to take place to good accuracy based on a single rational approximation over a very wide range of sample space. The avoidance of branching statements is of use in optimal graphics processing unit (GPU) computations as it avoids the effect of branch divergence. We give a branch-free normal quantile that offers performance improvements in a GPU environment while retaining the best precision characteristics of well-known methods. We also offer models with low probability branch divergence. Comparisons of new and existing forms are made on Nvidia GeForce GTX Titan and Tesla C2050 GPUs. We argue that in both single- and double-precisions, the change-of-variables approach offers the most GPU-optimal Gaussian quantile yet, working faster than the Cuda 5.5 built-in function.
ON MENELAUS'SPHERICSIII.5 IN ARABIC MATHEMATICS, I: IBN ʿIRĀQ
Authors: Rashed Roshdi , Papadopoulos Athanase
Published: January 2014

This is the first paper in a series in which we provide critical editions of four texts written between the eleventh and the thirteenth century concerning Proposition III.5 of Menelaus'Spherics. The first paper contains introductory material on the work of Ibn ʿIrāq on spherical geometry and a critical edition of his two texts on the rectification of Proposition III.5, together with translations and historical and mathematical commentaries. The second paper contains critical editions of the texts by Naṣīr al-Dīn al-Ṭūsī and Ibn Abī Jarrāda on the same subject, again with translations and historical and mathematical commentaries.
IBN BĀJJA ONTAṢAWWURANDTAṢDĪQ: SCIENCE AND PSYCHOLOGY
Authors: Forcada Miquel
Published: January 2014

As is well known,taṣawwurandtaṣdīq,conceptualization and assent, are essential notions in the epistemology of Arabo-Islamic philosophy. Conceptualization amounts to the definition of an object of knowledge, and assent to the recognition,viasome kind of reasoning, that this definition is true. One of the authors who dealt with both topics in greatest depth was al-Fārābī, whoseoeuvreexerted a profound influence on Ibn Bājja. This article analyzes the materials ontaṣawwurandtaṣdīqfound in Ibn Bājja's notes regarding al-Fārābī's writings on logic and scientific method, namely the glosses toKitāb al-Burhān. The analysis shows, on the one hand, that he understood perfectly the importance of both terms in al-Fārābī's construal of Aristotle's scientific method; and on the other, that he used them to deal with human thought processes. Indeed, conceptualization and assent were essential notions for Ibn Bājja, and underlie some of his best-known works.
Party, leader or candidate? dissecting the right-wing populist vote in Finland
Authors: Kestilä-Kekkonen Elina , Söderlund Peter
Published: January 2014

What populist right parties offer (the supply side) should be examined in relation to the preferences of the populist right electorate (the demand side). This article examines how the supply and demand in the electoral market are met by assessing the relative importance of party, party leader, and district-level candidate for the right-wing populist vote. The study is set in an electoral system, which uses preferential voting for candidates in multi-member districts, namely Finland, where all three objects of vote choice may matter. We analyse post-election survey data for the 2011 parliamentary election in which the right-wing populist True Finns party gained almost one fifth of the national vote. The results show that being guided by the characteristics of the party leader is a much stronger predictor the of the True Finns vote than being affected by party or district-level candidate characteristics.
Erfassung der gesundheitsbezogenen Lebensqualität von kleinwüchsigen Kindern und Jugendlichen
Authors: Rohenkohl Anja Christine , Bullinger Monika , Dörr Helmuth-Günther , Jakisch Bele , Noeker Meinolf , Partsch Carl-Joachim , Stahnke Nikolaus , Willig Rolf Peter , Wüsthof Achim , Quitmann Julia
Published: January 2014

Der Zugewinn an Körpergröße ist für die Lebensqualität vieler heranwachsender Menschen von Bedeutung–eine geringe Körpergröße kann die Lebensqualität der Betroffenen beeinträchtigen. Weil krankheitsspezifische Instrumente zur Erfassung der Lebensqualität kleinwüchsiger Kinder und Jugendlicher bisher fehlen, wurde der international entwickelte QoLISSY Fragebogen in einer deutschen Stichprobe psychometrisch überprüft. Der QoLISSY Fragebogen wurde von 69 Kindern und Jugendlichen (8 bis 18 Jahre) mit diagnostiziertem Idiopatischen Kleinwuchs (ISS) oder Wachstumshormonmangel (GHD) ausgefüllt. Es wurden interne Konsistenzen und Test-Retest Reliabilitäten berechnet. Die konvergente Validität wurde über Korrelationen mit dem generischen KIDSCREEN 52 Fragebogen geprüft. Zudem wurden Gruppenunterschiede entsprechend klinischer und soziodemografischer Daten geprüft. Die Reliabilitäten der QoLISSY Skalen und des Gesamtwertes fielen zufriedenstellend aus, mit Cronbachs α von .77 bis .94 und akzeptablen Test-Retest Reliabilitäten (r) von .53 bis .87. Korrelationen mit inhaltlich ähnlichen Konzepten des KIDSCREEN 52 wiesen auf konvergente Validität hin. Mit dem QoLISSY Fragebogen können die subjektiven Auswirkungen des Kleinwuchses auf die gesundheitsbezogene Lebensqualität der jungen Betroffenen abgebildet werden. Das Instrument ist klinisch für ein präventives Belastungs-Screening, als Outcome-Kriterium in der Therapieforschung und als psychosozialer Indikator in epidemiologischen Studien einsetzbar.
Benefits of, and Barriers to, Moderate Physical Activity Across Stages of Change in Older German Family Caregivers
Authors: Budnick Andrea , Kotb Katja Amin , Dräger Dagmar , Blüher Stefan
Published: January 2014

The objective of this cross-sectional study was to examine the benefits of, and barriers to, moderate physical activity across stages of change in a sample of 103 caregivers in Germany, aged 50 years and older (Mage = 63.95 years, SD = 9.39, age range 50 – 83 years, 82.5 % female). The exploratory factor analysis yielded a two-factor structure encompassing perceived benefits and barriers. While both perceived benefits and barriers were significantly related to stages of change with regard to levels of activity, perceived benefits showed a stronger positive relationship. Thus, interventions that promote moderate physical activity in older family caregivers should consider strategies that maximize the perceived advantages of activity rather than refuting the disadvantages.
Succession of cable bacteria and electric currents in marine sediment
Authors: Schauer Regina , Risgaard-Petersen Nils , Kjeldsen Kasper U , Tataru Bjerg Jesper J , B Jørgensen Bo , Schramm Andreas , Nielsen Lars Peter
Published: January 2014

Filamentous Desulfobulbaceae have been reported to conduct electrons over centimetre-long distances, thereby coupling oxygen reduction at the surface of marine sediment to sulphide oxidation in sub-surface layers. To understand how these ‘cable bacteria’ establish and sustain electric conductivity, we followed a population for 53 days after exposing sulphidic sediment with initially no detectable filaments to oxygen. After 10 days, cable bacteria and electric currents were established throughout the top 15 mm of the sediment, and after 21 days the filament density peaked with a total length of 2 km cm−2. Cells elongated and divided at all depths with doubling times over the first 10 days of <20 h. Active, oriented movement must have occurred to explain the separation of O2 and H2S by 15 mm. Filament diameters varied from 0.4–1.7 μm, with a general increase over time and depth, and yet they shared 16S rRNA sequence identity of >98%. Comparison of the increase in biovolume and electric current density suggested high cellular growth efficiency. While the vertical expansion of filaments continued over time and reached 30 mm, the electric current density and biomass declined after 13 and 21 days, respectively. This might reflect a breakdown of short filaments as their solid sulphide sources became depleted in the top layers of the anoxic zone. In conclusion, cable bacteria combine rapid and efficient growth with oriented movement to establish and exploit the spatially separated half-reactions of sulphide oxidation and oxygen consumption.
Assembly of Nanoions via Electrostatic Interactions: Ion-Like Behavior of Charged Noble Metal Nanoclusters
Authors: Yao Qiaofeng , Luo Zhentao , Yuan Xun , Yu Yue , Zhang Chao , Xie Jianping , Lee Jim Yang
Published: January 2014

The assembly of ultrasmall metal nanoclusters (NCs) is of interest to both basic and applied research as it facilitates the determination of cluster structures and the customization of cluster physicochemical properties. Here we present a facile and general approach to assemble noble metal NCs by selectively inducing electrostatic interactions between negatively-charged metal NCs and divalent cations. The charged metal NCs, which have well-defined sizes, charges and structures; and behave similarly to multivalent anions, can be considered as nanoions. These nanoions exhibit step-like assembly behavior when interacting with the counter cations – assembly only occurs when the solubility product (Ksp) between the carboxylate ions on the NC surface and the divalent cations is exceeded. The assembly here is distinctively different from the random aggregation of colloidal particles by counter ions. The nanoions would assemble into fractal-like monodisperse spherical particles with a high order of regularity that mimic the assembly of ionic crystals.