bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Lupus nephritis is associated with more corticosteroid-associated organ damage but less corticosteroid non-associated organ damage
Authors: Joo Y B , Won S , Choi C-B , Bae S-C
Published: September 2016

Objective

The objective of this study was to investigate the association of lupus nephritis on organ damage and mortality in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Methods

A total of 1112 patients with SLE were investigated. Lupus nephritis was defined as a proteinuria based on the 1997 American College of Rheumatology criteria. Damage was assessed using the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/American College of Rheumatology Damage Index. The associations of lupus nephritis with overall, non-renal, corticosteroid-associated, and non-associated damage were analyzed using logistic regression. The age-adjusted and sex-adjusted standardized mortality ratio was evaluated in patients with and without lupus nephritis.

Results

The prevalence of lupus nephritis in patients with SLE was 46.3%. Patients with lupus nephritis had a higher percentage of overall cumulative damage than patients without lupus nephritis (51.5% vs. 35.7%, p < 0.001). The odds ratio was 1.40 after adjusting for age at SLE diagnosis, sex, disease duration, anti-malarial agents, immunosuppressive agents and cumulative corticosteroid dose. Among non-renal damage, the odds of corticosteroid-associated damage were higher (2.06, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.43–2.96) whereas the odds of non-associated damage were lower (0.50, 95% CI 0.35–0.75) in patients with lupus nephritis. The standardized mortality ratios of patients with and without lupus nephritis were 5.17 (95% CI 3.49–7.38) and 2.32 (95% CI 1.47–3.48), respectively.

Conclusion

In patients with SLE, the presence of lupus nephritis is associated with increased corticosteroid-associated damage but less corticosteroid non-associated damage. Also, mortality is significantly higher in patients with lupus nephritis than in those without lupus nephritis.
War on Piracy: The conflation of Somali piracy with terrorism in discourse, tactic, and law
Authors: Singh Currun , Bedi Arjun Singh
Published: September 2016

This article argues that since 2005, the global security discourse has confused maritime piracy off the Horn of Africa with terrorism. US and European policymakers and financiers have tapped a vulnerable public imaginary to exaggerate Somali pirates as ‘maritime terrorists’ linked to Al-Shabaab and Al-Qaeda, driving the militarization and legal obfuscation of counter-piracy operations. And while Somali piracy has all but disappeared since 2013, international naval coalitions remain deployed in the Indian Ocean, which is still declared a war risk area. The discursive conflation of piracy and terrorism has thereby launched a tactical War on Piracy that mirrors the War on Terror. While pirates were active, this approach pushed them to become more daring and dangerous in response. Drawing on interviews with piracy stakeholders in Kenya, the article concludes that the tactical extension from counter-terrorism to counter-piracy is unresponsive to the origins, motives, and realities of Somali pirates. The article proposes a shift from military to developmental responses to countering and preventing piracy, with an emphasis on respecting local institutions of law enforcement and governance in Somalia.
Occupational Differences in the Awareness and Perception of Health Insurance of Workers Employed in Urban Informal Sector of Punjab
Authors: Kansra Pooja , Gill Harinder Singh
Published: September 2016

Health insurance could play a vital role to improve the health status in a country. But penetration of health insurance is very low in India. Therefore, present study endeavours to examine the awareness of health insurance, sources of awareness and determinants of awareness among workers employed in urban informal sector of Punjab. For the analysis three group of informal sector workers (construction workers, vendors and shopkeepers) have been identified from the three urban districts of Punjab, namely, Amritsar, Jalandhar and Ludhiana. The analysis was made with the help of descriptive statistics and multivariate probit regression. The analysis shows a significant difference in the awareness of health insurance across the occupational groups. The multivariate probit regression shows that age, education, religion, type of family, occupation, income, BPL card, experience of outpatient care, inpatient care and awareness of the insurance were the significant determinants of awareness of health insurance. In order to increase the penetration of health insurance the government, policy makers and the marketers of health insurance should make people aware about the potential benefits of health insurance policies. It is recommended to understand the awareness and perceptions of the people towards health and develop a package that is accessible, available, affordable and acceptable among informal sector of the society.
Stocks as Hedge against Inflation in Pakistan: Evidence from ARDL Approach
Authors: Shahbaz Muhammad , Islam Faridul , Rehman Ijaz Ur
Published: September 2016

This article implements autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) bounds testing approach to cointegration to explore whether or not stocks are good hedge against inflation in case of a transition economy like Pakistan, using annual data for the period 1971–2008. Ng–Perron (2001) unit root test is applied to determine the stationarity of the series. The results suggest that stocks act as good hedge against inflation both in the long and short runs. The findings should help formulate appropriate policy to encourage investment in financial markets and thereby promote economic growth.
The effects of vacancy defect on the fracture behaviors of zigzag graphene nanoribbons
Authors: Zhang Ji , Ragab Tarek , Basaran Cemal
Published: September 2016

Zigzag graphene nanoribbons with and without single vacancy defect are strained under uniaxial tension using molecular dynamics simulations. In order to understand the influence of vacancy defect on the damage mechanics, the graphene nanoribbons are categorized into six groups based on their width, ranging from 2.5 nm to 15 nm. In each group, the length of GRNGNR also varied from 2.5 nm to 15 nm. The comparison of the stress–strain relationship and the fracture behavior of pristine and defective graphene nanoribbon demonstrate that single vacancy defect has little influence on the elastic modulus and the ultimate strength of graphene nanoribbons. However, size effect does have an influence on the ultimate failure stress of the graphene nanoribbon.
Communication Technology and Reports on Political Violence
Authors: Croicu Mihai , Kreutz Joakim
Published: September 2016

The spread of Internet and mobile phone access around the world has implications for both the processes of contentious politics and subsequent reporting of protest, terrorism, and war. In this paper, we explore whether political violent events that occur close to modern communication networks are systematically better reported than others. Our analysis approximates information availability by the level of detail provided about the date of each political violent event in Africa from 2008 to 2010 and finds that although access to communication technology improves reporting, the size of the effect is very small. Additional investigation finds that the effect can be attributed to the ability of journalists to access more diverse primary sources in remote areas due to increased local access to modern communication technology.
Distal Metatarsal Osteotomy for Moderate to Severe Hallux Valgus
Authors: Cassinelli Spenser J. , Herman Renee , Harris Thomas G.
Published: September 2016

Hallux valgus is the most common disorder of the hallux and often results in pain, functional disability, and impaired gait patterns. The goals of surgical management are to correct the deformity while improving patients’ pain and function. Traditional treatment of moderate to severe hallux valgus deformities consist of proximal osteotomy and/or arthrodesis given their powerful corrective ability. Despite their corrective power, proximal osteotomies are more technically demanding, have a higher rate of complications, and require a more restricted post-operative recovery. We present an alternative technique for the treatment of moderate to severe hallux valgus. With this operation, a single distal medial incision is utilized to create a chevron osteotomy and lateral release. This procedure can achieve and maintain the desired correction and outcome without the need for a protracted recovery period.

Level of Evidence: Level V, expert opinion.
“True Believer,” “Legal Advocate,” or “Committed Expert”: Parliamentary Media Advising and Practitioner Conceptions of Partisanship
Authors: Fisher Caroline
Published: September 2016

The parliamentary media adviser is commonly portrayed as a partisan “spin-doctor,” with little distinction made between the inherent partisan nature of the role and the personal partisanship of the practitioner. Semistructured qualitative interviews with 21 journalists who became parliamentary media advisers highlight the difference between the two and offer practitioner perceptions of the advantages and disadvantages of partisanship in that role. At one extreme is the “true believer”; at the other is the “legal advocate,” with the “committed expert” in between. In doing so, this article challenges the simple, dominant conception of the partisan “spin-doctor.”
The effect of different gas permeability of packaging on physicochemical and microbiological parameters of pork loin storage under high O2 modified atmosphere packaging conditions
Authors: Marcinkowska-Lesiak Monika , Poławska Ewa , Wierzbicka Agnieszka
Published: September 2016

The aim of this study was to determine the influence of different packaging materials on meat quality during cold storage. Therefore pork loins (m. longissimus thoracis et lumborum) obtained from crossbred pigs (Polish Landrance x Duroc, n = 6) were stored at 2 ℃ in modified atmosphere packs (80% O2, 20% CO2) in four types of trays, which differ in gas permeability. Physicochemical (headspace gas composition, pH, colour, drip loss, cooking loss, shear force, the basic composition and fatty acid profile) and microbiological ( Salmonella spp., Escherichia coli, Enterobacteriaceae, total aerobic plates count, total psychrotrophic bacteria count, the number of lactic acid bacteria, Pseudomonas spp., the general amount of yeast and mold) parameters were monitored for up to 12 days. At the end of the storage period no differences in most physicochemical properties of pork loin due to type of packaging were found, however trays with high gas permeability had the greatest impact on total aerobic plates count and Pseudomonas spp. growth.
Introduction to Time Series Analysis for Organizational Research
Authors: Jebb Andrew T. , Tay Louis
Published: September 2016

Organizational science has increasingly recognized the need for integrating time into its theories. In parallel, innovations in longitudinal designs and analyses have allowed these theories to be tested. To promote these important advances, the current article introduces time series analysis for organizational research, a set of techniques that has proved essential in many disciplines for understanding dynamic change over time. We begin by describing the various characteristics and components of time series data. Second, we explicate how time series decomposition methods can be used to identify and partition these time series components. Third, we discuss periodogram and spectral analysis for analyzing cycles. Fourth, we discuss the issue of autocorrelation and how different structures of dependency can be identified using graphics and then modeled as autoregressive moving-average (ARMA) processes. Finally, we conclude by describing more time series patterns, the issue of data aggregation, and more sophisticated techniques that were not able to be given proper coverage. Illustrative examples based on topics relevant to organizational research are provided throughout, and a software tutorial in R for these analyses accompanies each section.
The Video Production of Space
Authors: Mengis Jeanne , Nicolini Davide , Gorli Mara
Published: September 2016

This article examines how video recording practices excert an influence on the ways in which an organizational phenomenon—in our case organizational space—becomes available for analysis and understanding. Building on a performative and praxeological approach, we argue that the practical and material ways of conducting video-based research have a performative effect on the object of inquiry and do not simply record it. Focusing in particular on configurations of camera angle and movement—forming what we call the Panoramic View, the American-Objective View, the Roving Point-of-View, and the Infra-Subjective View—we find that these apparatuses privilege different spatial understandings both by orienting our gaze toward different analytical elements and qualifying these elements in different ways. Our findings advance the methodological reflections on video-based research by emphasizing that while video has a number of general affordances, the research practices with which we use it matter and have an impact both on the analytical process and the researcher’s findings.
Fretting fatigue life investigation of AL7075-T6 alloy coated by multilayer thin solid films of TiCr/TiN/CrN and Ti/Cr/TiN/Cr/CrN/TiCrN
Authors: Zalnezhad E , Faraji G
Published: September 2016

Due to the increasing requirements in the aerospace and automotive industries, engine and structural parts must also have an increasing life. This leads to an improvement in the fretting fatigue strength of aluminum alloys over 107 cycles, and sometimes even more. Fretting is a surface degradation process as a result of chemical and mechanical attack between two contacting surfaces by small amplitude oscillatory movement, which is closely related to fatigue, wear, and corrosion. The surface treatments and coatings are expected as a suitable strategy for fretting damage. In this research work, two types of thin solid films TiCr/TiN/CrN (three layers) and Ti/Cr/TiN/Cr/CrN/TiCrN (six layers) were coated onto Al7075-T6 alloy using the physical vapor deposition magnetron sputter technique to enhance the fretting fatigue lives. The result shows that the fretting fatigue lives of three layers deposited substrates were improved at high and low cyclic fatigue of 101% and 34%, respectively. Fretting fatigue lives of the six layers deposited specimens were developed at high and low bending stresses (high and low cyclic fatigue) of 121% and 55%, respectively.
Revenue management analysis with competitive sets
Authors: Webb Timothy , Schwartz Zvi
Published: September 2016

Growing concerns about the integrity of the revenue per available room index—the lodging industry de facto performance measure—stem from previously published empirical evidence concerning the competitive set’s venerability and from management’s financial incentives to outperform the hotel’s competitive set. This study demonstrates the potential of the decision to include or exclude a hotel in, or from, competitive set averages to bias its performance index. The analysis shows that the bias potential is nonlinear and asymmetric in relation to the subject hotel’s revenues, and uses this revealed asymmetry to prove that when future relative performance levels are uncertain, exclusion tactics is preferred. Finally, the study demonstrates how the relative nature of the performance indicator, coupled with management potential opportunistic inclusion/exclusion competitive set tactics, are detrimental to the perceived desirability of co-opetition strategies.
Characteristics of adult smokers presenting to a mind–body medicine clinic
Authors: Luberto Christina M , Chad-Friedman Emma , Dossett Michelle L , Perez Giselle K , Park Elyse R
Published: September 2016

Mind–body interventions can improve vulnerabilities that underlie smoking behavior. The characteristics of smokers who use mind–body medicine have not been explored, preventing the development of targeted interventions. Patients ( N = 593) presenting to a mind–body medicine clinic completed self-report measures. Patients were 67 percent never smokers, 27 percent former smokers, and 6 percent current smokers. Current smokers were younger; more likely to be single, unemployed, or on disability; and report greater depression symptoms, greater pain, and lower social support ( ps < .05).Current smokers who use mind–body medicine have unique psychosocial needs that should be targeted in mind–body smoking cessation interventions.
How many lightbulbs does it take to change the financial system? Economic ideas and financial regulation, 1846–2007
Authors: Lee Michael
Published: September 2016

Ideas may impact economic policy change, but their specific effects are difficult to untangle. Material factors may influence both ideational change and policy change. In order to study these complex interrelationships, this article looks at the impact of both ideational change (the rise and fall and rise of free-market economics) and material factors (competitive pressure, crises, and domestic politics) on financial regulatory change and on one another in the United Kingdom and United States since 1846. Using a vector error correction model, I find that elite ideas influenced regulation in Britain, but not the United States. Material factors exhibited more explanatory power in both cases, although institutional differences between Britain and the United States made some shocks more or less important in either country. Material factors also influenced ideational change in both cases.
Interactions of fungi with titanium dioxide from paint coating
Authors: Beech Iwona , Otlewska Anna , Skóra Justyna , Gutarowska Beata , Gaylarde Christine
Published: September 2016

Field emission scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis of white-painted gypsum panels incubated for 11 months with either a consortium comprising several fungal species or their monocultures demonstrated that spores of Penicillium minioluteum concentrated titanium, a common white paint ingredient. The paint coating was severely degraded and the exposed underlying gypsum seen was to be contaminated with fungal spores. Ulocladium atrum, while growing well on consortium-inoculated panels over 12 weeks, failed to remain the principal colonizer after 11 months and did not concentrate minerals on its spores nor show visible degradation of the coating. When inoculated in pure culture, U. atrum failed to thrive on the panels, its concentration, measured as ergosterol, falling after 21 days. U. atrum, previously reported to be the major surviving fungus after the 12-week incubation based on the British Standard test BS3900 for fungal growth on paint, has discolouring but not degrading effects and probably grows on the paint coating at the expense of organic matter, including that originating from other fungal species. Ulocladium consortiale, a strain that grew on stored uninoculated panels, caused paint coating degradation visible under field emission scanning electron microscopy and detected as reduction in titanium in the underlying paint coating; however, it did not concentrate any particular elements on its spores.
Mechanical design of buckled beams for low-stiffness elastic suspensions: Theory and application
Authors: Scirè Mammano Giovanni , Dragoni Eugenio
Published: September 2016

Axially compressed buckled beams have been used for several decades as elastic suspensions characterized by high static stiffness and low dynamic stiffness. The most comprehensive mathematical modelling of buckled beams is based on the elastica theory, a rational framework that seeks the equilibrium configuration for arbitrarily large deflections and rotations. The use of the elastica model is straightforward for analysis purposes but is rather awkward for design tasks because it requires handling of elliptic functions. This paper presents approximate equations developed from the elastica solution to facilitate the structural synthesis of buckled-beam suspensions starting from high-level engineering specifications. The step-by-step design procedure is illustrated by means of a case study and the theoretical predictions are validated against test data and finite element results.
‘Plus de figures!’ On Saussure’s use of images
Authors: Christensen Hans Dam
Published: September 2016

In this article, the spotlight is directed towards one of the supposed modern sinners contributing to the maintenance of the hierarchy between word and image, the Swiss linguist Ferdinand de Saussure (1857–1913) and in particular his chief work Cours de linguistique générale, published in 1916. Saussure was not explicit about the relation between word and image, but his work became a cornerstone in the development of modern linguistics and semiotics as well as later in the breakthrough of structuralism in the late 1950s and early 1960s. This article shows that Saussure was not as hostile to images that posterity seems to deduce from the more or less internalized ‘verbocentrism’ of large parts of semiotics and structuralism. Moreover, and most important, the article makes a contribution to a multifaceted understanding of signifying processes. First, the article presents the origin of Cours de linguistique générale; almost simultaneously, another issue is introduced, namely the number of images in this work, which goes far beyond the few well-known illustrations. Secondly, these images are heuristically classified and, due to the origin of the book (primarily based on students’ notes), the ownership and presence of these images are debated. Last, Saussure’s semiotics is touched upon in light of the use of images in Cours de linguistique générale. The theoretical conclusions point to the fact that the making of knowledge is not embedded in language (or linguistics), but emerges in a play between several types of significations. In fact, as in everyday life and Saussure’s lectures, communication is complex and the notion of abstracted sign systems (‘language’, etc.) from everyday communication is perhaps too reductive, as Saussure himself demonstrated by using images in his theory on linguistics as well as in his lectures.
Implementation and performance measurement of a V2X communication system for vehicle and pedestrian safety
Authors: Liu Zishan , Liu Zhenyu , Meng Zhen , Yang Xinyang , Pu Lin , Zhang Lin
Published: September 2016

The dedicated short-range communication/wireless access for vehicular environment together with the fourth generation-long-term evolution technologies has been widely accepted as the most promising approaches to enhance the transportation safety. As pedestrians are still protected based on the traditional honking approach, the communication-based safety alert is questionable in the practical usage. In this article, a dedicated short-range communication/long-term evolution/WiFi-based vehicular system is developed to support the vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-pedestrian communication for the safety of vehicles and pedestrians. The implementation of the heterogeneous vehicle-to-vehicle/vehicle-to-pedestrian communication module is based on an IEEE 802.11a compliant communication module, integrated with the long-term evolution module and WiFi wireless interface. A collision estimation and safety alert module on smartphone is further designed and implemented to protect pedestrians. Various performance evaluation experiments are carried out under different scenarios via an uncontrolled approach, including the university campus, typical urban streets, and suburban districts. The packet delivery rate and end-to-end latency in each scenario are recorded and analyzed based on non-line-of-sight/line of sight cases. Experiment results reveal that IEEE 802.11p based vehicle-to-vehicle communication is unstable in the non-line-of-sight conditions, while the cellular-based performs better in the transmission reliability but has larger latency than IEEE 802.11p. The WiFi based vehicle-to-pedestrian communication is efficient when the transmission distance is less than 150 m.
Malignant features of a benign waiting list
Authors: Ally Munira , Lee Tiffany , Ecclestone Hazel , Teo Luke , Kavia Rajesh
Published: September 2016

Objective:

Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) operations are frequently deferred. Consequently, patients awaiting TURP have multiple urology-related admissions for problems such as urinary retention. This audit aims to determine the effect of TURP deferments on the frequency and duration of urology-related admissions, as well as the financial implication in our institution over a three-month period.

Patients and methods:

A retrospective, electronic database review of patients who received a TURP at Northwick Park Hospital, between 1 January 2014–31 March 2014, was carried out. The following data were extracted: (a) date the patient was listed for TURP; (b) date patient underwent TURP; (c) number of deferments between a patient being listed for surgery and receiving their operation; (d) reason(s) for deferment; and (e) number, duration and indication of urology-related inpatient admissions whilst awaiting TURP. Using this data, we calculated the cost of urology-related admissions whilst awaiting surgery.

Results:

In total, 44 patients underwent a TURP operation. Of these, 21 patients had their TURP deferred. There were 23 urology-related admissions whilst patients awaited a TURP. Fifteen of these admissions were attributed to eight patients with deferments to surgery. They spent a total of 45 days/30 nights in hospital. The remaining eight urology-related admissions were accounted for by six patients with no deferments to surgery. They spent 12 days/3 nights in hospital. We approximate a daily cost of £250 for an NHS bed. This equates to a total cost of £11,250 (£1406 per patient) for the eight patients who had TURPs deferred versus £3000 (£500 per patient) for those six patients without deferments.

Conclusion:

Patients who have their TURP operations deferred have an increased frequency and duration of urology-related admissions, associated with an additional cost of at least £900 per patient.
A mathematical model to predict the loss of length in patients undergoing plication corporoplasty for Peyronie’s disease
Authors: Parnham Arie S , Parnham Stewart M , Pearce Ian
Published: September 2016

Introduction:

Peyronie’s disease affects three to nine out of 100 men and can have significant emotional and sexual effects on patients and their partners. Treatment options vary but once the disease becomes quiescent they are predominantly surgical. The type of surgery adopted is dependent on the degree of angulation although no single procedure is without its disadvantages. Plication corporoplasty is one approach but patients experience and often complain of loss of penile length. We set out to devise a mathematical model that would allow us to predict the loss of length based on erect penile dimensions.

Methods:

By considering the bend in the erect penis as an arc, utilising the degree of curvature and the penile circumference at maximum angulation, we have been able to derive a simple equation using parameters that are easily obtained in the clinic.

Results:

Where L=length lost, C=circumference at point of curvature, Y=angle of curvature as measured by a goniometer: L = CY/180. We have then been able to create a quick reference table based on the average penile circumference (12–13 cm±5 cm).

Conclusion:

This formula provides a more scientific and accurate means to predict potential loss of penile length in patients undergoing plication corporoplasty. Although we recognise that applying a rigid mathematical model to a biological non-uniform pathology creates inaccuracies this is somewhat better than ‘by sight’ estimates, and will allow more informed counselling and consent for patients. As far as we are aware this is the first attempt to create a mathematical model to aid counselling for plication corporoplasty.
Psychopathic Inclination Among Incarcerated Youth of Hazara Division Pakistan
Authors: Dil Sher , Kazmi Farhana
Published: September 2016

Present study aimed at evaluating the psychopathic inclination among youth and finding the gender differences in psychopathy. An indigenously developed Psychopathy scale ( Urdu) has been used in this study. Alpha reliability of the scale was .90. The study was conducted on 100 males (50 criminals and 50 non-criminals) and 100 females (26 criminals and 74 non-criminals) using a convenient sampling technique from three districts of Hazara division: Haripur, Abbottabad, and Mansehra. Results confirmed that there is significant difference in psychopathic inclination of males and females; criminals differed significantly from the non-criminals. The study also paves way for further investigation in the field in Pakistan.
I Persevered with My Geography
Authors: Bell David
Published: September 2016

This personal reflection traces some of the interconnections between Stuart Hall's work and the “new” cultural geography. The author, in the context of his own intellectual biography and indebted to Hall and to those geographers whose work has been influenced by him, is interested in “routes” rather than “roots” and in the traffic between cultural studies and “critical” human geography. Drawing on a selection of Hall's work and a number of published interviews, the essay reflects on several moments of traffic and interchange. The discussion is partial and personal, rather than systematic, and tracks back and forth across a particular period when cultural studies exerted a significant influence on the discipline of geography, perhaps most notably in the United Kingdom. Beginning and ending in the current conjuncture, and taking in various stopping-off points along the way, the essay reflects on the legacy of this traffic in ideas.
Other People's Shit (and Pee!)
Authors: Kafer Alison
Published: September 2016

This essay explores the politics of “hovering” in public restrooms, or the practice of refusing to sit on public toilets. How do such practices reveal a fundamental disregard for others? Drawing on transgender and disability studies, I trace the effects of such practices and their connection to concepts of “safety,” “comfort,” “cleanliness,” and “sameness.” How might we instead imagine restrooms as sites of collective belonging?
Regional Redistribution through the US Mortgage Market
Authors: Hurst Erik , Keys Benjamin J. , Seru Amit , Vavra Joseph
Published: September 2016

Regional shocks are an important feature of the US economy. Households' ability to self-insure against these shocks depends on how they affect local interest rates. In the United States, most borrowing occurs through the mortgage market and is influenced by the presence of government-sponsored enterprises (GSE). We establish that despite large regional variation in predictable default risk, GSE mortgage rates for otherwise identical loans do not vary spatially. In contrast, the private market does set interest rates which vary with local risk. We use a spatial model of collateralized borrowing to show that the national interest rate policy substantially affects welfare by redistributing resources across regions. (JEL E32, E43, G21, G28, L32, R11, R31)
Απόψεις παιδιών Ρομά πρωτοσχολικής ηλικίας και των μητέρων τους για τη σχολική εμπειρία και τη σημασία της εκπαίδευσης: Η περίπτωση του οικισμού Αγία Σοφία Θεσσαλονίκης
Authors: Αλεξοπούλου Ειρήνη , Πεντέρη Ευθυμία
Published: September 2016

Το παρόν άρθρο πραγματεύεται τη διερεύνηση των απόψεων παιδιών Ρομά πρώτης σχολικής ηλικίας που διαμένουν στον οικισμό της Αγίας Σοφίας στο Δήμο Δέλτα Θεσσαλονίκης και των αντιλήψεων των μητέρων τους σχετικά με την εκπαίδευση. Συμμετείχαν 10 μητέρες και τα παιδιά τους, 7-8 ετών, καθώς είναι η ηλικία που συνήθως έρχονται σε πρώτη επαφή με την επίσημη εκπαίδευση. Οι πρώτες αυτές εμπειρίες είναι καθοριστικές για τη μετέπειτα σχολική πορεία των παιδιών, ιδιαίτερα των μικρών Ρομά, και τη σχέση που αναπτύσσουν τα ίδια και οι γονείς τους με το σχολείο. Πραγματοποιήθηκαν συνεντεύξεις στα σπίτια των οικογενειών με τη χρήση πρωτοκόλλου ημι-δομημένης συνέντευξης που αναπτύχθηκε στη βάση των στόχων της έρευνας και της σχετικής βιβλιογραφίας. Εφαρμόστηκε ποιοτική και ποσοτική ανάλυση περιεχομένου. Αναδείχθηκαν οι βραχυπρόθεσμες προσδοκίες μητέρων και παιδιών από το σχολείο, οι κυριότεροι φόβοι και οι δυσκολίες κατά τη φοίτηση, οι λόγοι για τη σχολική αποτυχία και αποχή, αλλά και οι θετικές εμπειρίες σε συνδυασμό με τις προσδοκίες για το μέλλον. Τέλος, διατυπώνονται προτάσεις για τη βελτίωση της σχολικής εμπειρίας. 
Contemporary views on inflammatory pain mechanisms: TRPing over innate and microglial pathways
Authors: Guan Zhonghui , Hellman Judith , Schumacher Mark
Published: September 2016

Tissue injury, whether by trauma, surgical intervention, metabolic dysfunction, ischemia, or infection, evokes a complex cellular response (inflammation) that is associated with painful hyperalgesic states. Although in the acute stages it is necessary for protective reflexes and wound healing, inflammation may persist well beyond the need for tissue repair or survival. Prolonged inflammation may well represent the greatest challenge mammalian organisms face, as it can lead to chronic painful conditions, organ dysfunction, morbidity, and death. The complexity of the inflammatory response reflects not only the inciting event (infection, trauma, surgery, cancer, or autoimmune) but also the involvement of heterogeneous cell types including neuronal (primary afferents, sensory ganglion, and spinal cord), non-neuronal (endothelial, keratinocytes, epithelial, and fibroblasts), and immune cells. In this commentary, we will examine 1.) the expression and regulation of two members of the transient receptor potential family in primary afferent nociceptors and their activation/regulation by products of inflammation, 2.) the role of innate immune pathways that drive inflammation, and 3.) the central nervous system’s response to injury with a focus on the activation of spinal microglia driving painful hyperalgesic states.
Current status and future prospects for enabling chemistry technology in the drug discovery process
Authors: Djuric Stevan W. , Hutchins Charles W. , Talaty Nari N.
Published: September 2016

This review covers recent advances in the implementation of enabling chemistry technologies into the drug discovery process. Areas covered include parallel synthesis chemistry, high-throughput experimentation, automated synthesis and purification methods, flow chemistry methodology including photochemistry, electrochemistry, and the handling of “dangerous” reagents. Also featured are advances in the “computer-assisted drug design” area and the expanding application of novel mass spectrometry-based techniques to a wide range of drug discovery activities.
Nikolay Michaylovich Karamzin in the History of the Russian Culture
Authors: Обернихина  , Obyernikhina Galina
Published: September 2016

The program of elective course “Nikolay Michaylovich Karamzin in the history of Russian Culture” is recommended for the general educational

institutions and system of vocational secondary education. The program is aimed to help Russian language and literature teachers, history teachers of

general educational institutional and lecturer of vocational secondary education to bring students home to social heritage of N.M. Karamzin.
Fostering Public Good Contributions with Symbolic Awards: A Large-Scale Natural Field Experiment at Wikipedia
Authors: Gallus Jana
Published: September 2016

This natural field experiment tests the effects of purely symbolic awards on volunteer retention in a public goods context. The experiment is conducted at Wikipedia, which faces declining editor retention rates, particularly among newcomers. Randomization assures that award receipt is orthogonal to previous performance. The analysis reveals that awards have a sizeable effect on newcomer retention, which persists over the four quarters following the initial intervention. This is noteworthy for indicating that awards for volunteers can be effective even if they have no impact on the volunteers’ future career opportunities. The awards are purely symbolic, and the status increment they produce is limited to the recipients’ pseudonymous online identities in a community they have just recently joined. The results can be explained by enhanced self-identification with the community, but they are also in line with recent findings on the role of status and reputation, recognition, and evaluation potential in online communities.

Data, as supplemental material, are available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2016.2540 .

This paper was accepted by John List, behavioral economics.
Robust Optimization of Credit Portfolios
Authors: Bo Lijun , Capponi Agostino
Published: September 2016

We introduce a dynamic credit portfolio framework where optimal investment strategies are robust against misspecifications of the reference credit model. The risk-averse investor models his fear of credit risk misspecification by considering a set of plausible alternatives whose expected log likelihood ratios are penalized. We provide an explicit characterization of the optimal robust bond investment strategy, in terms of default state dependent value functions associated with the max-min robust optimization criterion. The value functions can be obtained as the solutions of a recursive system of Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman (HJB) equations. We show that each HJB equation is equivalent to a suitably truncated equation admitting a unique bounded regular solution. The truncation technique relies on estimates for the solution of the master HJB equation that we establish.
Constructing New Weighted ℓ1-Algorithms for the Sparsest Points of Polyhedral Sets
Authors: Zhao Yun-Bin , Luo Zhi-Quan
Published: September 2016

The ℓ0-minimization problem that seeks the sparsest point of a polyhedral set is a long-standing, challenging problem in the fields of signal and image processing, numerical linear algebra, and mathematical optimization. The weighted ℓ1-method is one of the most plausible methods for solving this problem. In this paper we develop a new weighted ℓ1-method through the strict complementarity theory of linear programs. More specifically, we show that locating the sparsest point of a polyhedral set can be achieved by seeking the densest possible slack variable of the dual problem of weighted ℓ1-minimization. As a result, ℓ0-minimization can be transformed, in theory, to ℓ0-maximization in dual space through some weight. This theoretical result provides a basis and an incentive to develop a new weighted ℓ1-algorithm, which is remarkably distinct from existing sparsity-seeking methods. The weight used in our algorithm is computed via a certain convex optimization instead of being determined locally at an iterate. The guaranteed performance of this algorithm is shown under some conditions, and the numerical performance of the algorithm has been demonstrated by empirical simulations.
A Strongly Polynomial Algorithm for Generalized Flow Maximization
Authors: Végh László A.
Published: September 2016

A strongly polynomial algorithm is given for the generalized flow maximization problem. It uses a new variant of the scaling technique called continuous scaling. The main measure of progress is that within a strongly polynomial number of steps, an arc can be identified that must be tight in every dual optimal solution and thus can be contracted. As a consequence of the result, we also obtain a strongly polynomial algorithm for the linear feasibility problem with at most two nonzero entries per column in the constraint matrix.
Increasing the usability of climate science in political decision-making
Authors: Newsom Emily R. , Fassbender Andrea J. , Maloney Ashley E. , Bushinsky Seth M.
Published: September 2016

As climate-science graduate students at the University of Washington, we had the opportunity to engage in a political process focused on implementing legislation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Washington State. Our insights gained from this rare, first-hand, experience may be particularly relevant to other climate scientists. We argue that inflexible research goals within the United States climate-science community limit the relevance of the knowledge our community creates. The mismatch between climate-science research and the information needs of policy makers, while widely acknowledged in certain domains, has yet to be fully appreciated within many earth science disciplines. Broadening the climate-science training of graduate students to include education on the uses of climate information outside of academic settings would both inform and motivate new research directions, and engender validation of non-traditional research within disciplinary cultures.
Outcomes following femoral lengthening
Authors: Laubscher M. , Mitchell C. , Timms A. , Goodier D. , Calder P.
Published: September 2016

Aims

Patients undergoing femoral lengthening by external fixation tolerate treatment less well when compared to tibial lengthening. Lengthening of the femur with an intramedullary device may have advantages.

Patients and Methods

We reviewed all cases of simple femoral lengthening performed at our unit from 2009 to 2014. Cases of nonunions, concurrent deformities, congenital limb deficiencies and lengthening with an unstable hip were excluded, leaving 33 cases (in 22 patients; 11 patients had bilateral procedures) for review. Healing index, implant tolerance and complications were compared.

Results

In 20 cases (15 patients) the Precice lengthening nail was used and in 13 cases (seven patients) the LRS external fixator system. The desired length was achieved in all cases in the Precice group and in 12 of 13 cases in the LRS group. The mean healing index was 31.3 days/cm in the Precice and 47.1 days/cm in the LRS group (p < 0.001). This was associated with an earlier ability to bear full weight without aids in the Precice group. There were more complications with LRS lengthening, including pin site infections and regenerate deformity. Implant tolerance and the patients’ perception of the cosmetic result were better with the Precice treatment.

Conclusion

Femoral lengthening with the Precice femoral nail achieved excellent functional results with fewer complications and greater patient satisfaction when compared with the LRS system in our patients. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2016;98-B:1382–8.
A pre-operative predictive score for the outcome of eccentric rotational acetabular osteotomy in the treatment of acetabular dysplasia and early osteoarthritis of the hip in adults
Authors: Amano T. , Hasegawa Y. , Seki T. , Takegami Y. , Murotani K. , Ishiguro N.
Published: September 2016

Aims

The influence of identifiable pre-operative factors on the outcome of eccentric rotational acetabular osteotomy (ERAO) is unknown. We aimed to determine the factors that might influence the outcome, in order to develop a scoring system for predicting the prognosis for patients undergoing this procedure.

Patients and Methods

We reviewed 700 consecutive ERAOs in 54 men and 646 women with symptomatic acetabular dysplasia or early onset osteoarthritis (OA) of the hip, which were undertaken between September 1989 and March 2013. The patients’ pre-operative background, clinical and radiological findings were examined retrospectively. Multivariate Cox regression analysis was performed using the time from the day of surgery to a conversion to total hip arthroplasty (THA) as an endpoint. A risk score was calculated to predict the prognosis for conversion to THA, and its predictive capacity was investigated.

Results

The congruity of the hip, age, the pre-operative minimum width of the joint space and range of abduction were identified as factors predicting conversion to THA. For three groups of patients (scoring 0 to 5, 6 to 7, and 8 to 9 points), the Kaplan-Meier event-free rates of survival at 15 years post-operatively for conversion to THA were 99.6%, 85.2% and 67.3%, respectively.

Conclusion

These four pre-operative factors are easily measured and predict the prognosis for patients following ERAO. They may be used for decision making when offering surgical treatment to patients with acetabular dysplasia and early onset osteoarthritis. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2016;98-B:1326–32.
The diagnostic thresholds for synovial fluid analysis in late periprosthetic infection of the hip depend on the duration of symptoms
Authors: Choi H-R. , Agrawal K. , Bedair H.
Published: September 2016

Aims

We hypothesised that the synovial white blood cell (WBC) count in patients with a late periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) of the hip would depend on the duration of a patient’s symptoms, and that the optimal diagnostic threshold would also depend on this period of time.

Patients and Methods

The synovial WBC count and percentage of polymorphonuclear cells (%PMN), and the serum CRP and ESR levels obtained > six weeks after primary THA were compared between 50 infected and 88 non-infected THAs, and in patients with symptoms for more than or less than two weeks. Diagnostic thresholds for the synovial WBC count were calculated using area under the curve calculation.

Results

The synovial WBC count was significantly higher in patients with symptoms for ≤ two weeks compared with those with symptoms for > two weeks (p = 0.03). The optimal threshold for diagnosing PJI for the synovial WBC count was 5750 cells/µL (sensitivity 94; specificity 100; PPV 100%; NPV 89%; AUC 99%) and 1556 cells/µL (sensitivity 91; specificity 94; PPV 87% and NPV 97%; AUC 95%), respectively. The thresholds for the cut-offs based on duration of symptoms improved the diagnostic performance of this test.

Conclusion

This study shows that the diagnostic thresholds for synovial fluid analysis in late periprosthetic infection following THA may depend on duration of symptoms. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2016;98-B:1355–9.
Radiological Decision Aid to determine suitability for medial unicompartmental knee arthroplasty
Authors: Hamilton T. W. , Pandit H. G. , Lombardi A. V. , Adams J. B. , Oosthuizen C. R. , Clavé A. , Dodd C. A. F. , Berend K. R. , Murray D. W.
Published: September 2016

Aims

An evidence-based radiographic Decision Aid for meniscal-bearing unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) has been developed and this study investigates its performance at an independent centre.

Patients and Methods

Pre-operative radiographs, including stress views, from a consecutive cohort of 550 knees undergoing arthroplasty (UKA or total knee arthroplasty; TKA) by a single-surgeon were assessed. Suitability for UKA was determined using the Decision Aid, with the assessor blinded to treatment received, and compared with actual treatment received, which was determined by an experienced UKA surgeon based on history, examination, radiographic assessment including stress radiographs, and intra-operative assessment in line with the recommended indications as described in the literature.

Results

The sensitivity and specificity of the Decision Aid was 92% and 88%, respectively. Excluding knees where a clear pre-operative plan was made to perform TKA, i.e. patient request, the sensitivity was 93% and specificity 96%. The false-positive rate was low (2.4%) with all affected patients readily identifiable during joint inspection at surgery. In patients meeting Decision Aid criteria and receiving UKA, the five-year survival was 99% (95% confidence intervals (CI) 97 to 100). The false negatives (3.5%), who received UKA but did not meet the criteria, had significantly worse functional outcomes (flexion p < 0.001, American Knee Society Score - Functional p < 0.001, University of California Los Angeles score p = 0.04), and lower implant survival of 93.1% (95% CI 77.6 to 100).

Conclusion

The radiographic Decision Aid safely and reliably identifies appropriate patients for meniscal-bearing UKA and achieves good results in this population. The widespread use of the Decision Aid should improve the results of UKA. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2016;98-B(10 Suppl B):3–10.