bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Can Republican African Americans Win African American Votes? A Field Experiment
Authors: Niven David
Published: April 2017

In the face of its 2012 defeat and looming demographic trends that did not bode well for the party’s future presidential candidates, the Republican National Committee officially declared its intention to recruit more African American candidates for office. But will fielding more African American candidates likely attract more African American votes for Republicans? Here, I employ a field experiment using real candidates and real votes cast in two down-ballot races featuring African American Republican candidates. Among voters who received mailings highlighting both race and party, African American voters responded primarily to party, in the process largely rejecting these two candidates. By contrast, African American voters responded more favorably when they learned the race, but not the party, of these candidates. The results here suggest something of a self-affirming political preference order in which African Americans felt affirmed by voting for a fellow African American, but only when they did not see that candidate as conflicting with a more central aspect of their political identity.
Gender-empathic Constructions, Empathy, and Support for Compromise in Intractable Conflict
Authors: David Yossi , Rosler Nimrod , Maoz Ifat
Published: April 2017

The goal of the present study was to investigate how empathy and gender-empathic constructions affect the levels of support for political compromise in an intractable conflict. Gender-empathic constructions relate to perceptions that individuals hold about self or others as having feminine-empathic gender traits. We hypothesized that empathy will be positively associated with support for compromise, but that perceiving one’s own group as feminine empathic will be negatively associated with such attitudes, with empathy being a significant mediator. Data were collected through a public opinion survey conducted with a representative sample of Israeli-Jewish adults ( N = 511). The findings supported our hypotheses, thus indicating that perceiving one’s own group as having feminine-empathic traits and empathy toward opponents made significant contributions to explaining Jewish-Israeli willingness to compromise with Palestinians. The implications of our findings for understanding the role of gender-empathic constructions and of empathy in conflict resolution are discussed.
Reverse Transfer: Exploring the Effects of Foreign Language Rhetorical Patterns on L1 Writing Performance of Iranian EFL Learners
Authors: Babaii Esmat , Ramazani Kambiz
Published: April 2017

The relationship between language learners’ L1 and L2 writing productions has attracted the attention of researchers since Kaplan (1966). Along this research line, the present study aimed to explore the reverse transfer of rhetorical patterns from English (L2) to Persian (L1) in the argumentative essays of EFL students in Iran. Sixty MA university students (30 English-majors and 30 non-English-majors) participated in the study. Adopting the scheme developed by Kubota (1998a, 1998b), the study focused on the organization of the essays. The main findings of the study are (a) the non-significant difference between L1 and L2 essays of the same student in both English and non-English majors (b) the positive and significant correlation between the qualities of L1 and L2 essays in both English and non-English majors, (c) and the probable transfer of English-specific organization patterns from L2 to L1 especially among English majors.
E-Feedback as a Scaffolding Teaching Strategy in the Online Language Classroom
Authors: Alharbi Wael
Published: April 2017

Feedback plays an important role in the student learning process as it gives the learners greater insight into what they have actually done to arrive at an outcome. The importance of providing learners with feedback during the learning process comes from the fact that it highlights the difference between the intended outcome and the actual outcome, as well as the learners’ strengths and areas for improvement, thus providing a drive for change. However, providing learners with effective feedback is challenging in online settings where the physical absence of the instructor and the restrictive nature of most available online learning platforms can create a barrier to giving the appropriate feedback to the learners. In this article, I propose a freely available online technology that can be of great help to educators who teach online courses. I first review literature on the aspects that affect the quality of feedback and then demonstrate how providing e-feedback through screencast technology can positively enhance the effectiveness of feedback provided electronically in online settings. I will shed light on an empirical study conducted by the researcher in which he provided e-feedback in the form of screencasts in an online English as a Foreign Language (EFL) course with undergraduate students ( n = 87) at a British University and measured the impact of each type of feedback on the learning process and learning outcomes. Toward the end of the article, I put forth my recommendations for the best use of e-feedback technologies in any online educational setting in general, and in a language classroom in particular.
Toward a fuller view: The effect of globalized theology on an understanding of health and healing
Authors: William O’Neill Daniel
Published: April 2017

With the globalization of the church, a missional theology has emerged which addresses the universal quest for health and wholeness in various contexts of suffering and affliction. The spread of Christianity, particularly as it is occurring in the global South, has led to a fuller view of God, human health, and the church’s role in health and healing. The splendor of the nations which are brought into the repository of this kingdom includes the sanctified healing practices of the nations. Exploring perspectives from Latin America, Africa, and Asia, a physician-theologian proposes how we can see that as each culture and tradition interacts, not only is there mutual learning and correction of limited views, but a more comprehensive understanding of the God who heals and a more effective call of his people to actively participate in that healing for the nations.
Anxious tribalism and the loss of the metanarrative seen in Daniel Everett’s mission amongst the Pirahã
Authors: Worsley Howard John
Published: April 2017

This article works with the notion of “tribal anxiety” as being a concern over the maintenance of an overarching story and a pressure that causes new identity to emerge. It considers the loss of metanarrative in both the message of the Christian gospel and in its vehicle of universal grammar. The impact of this loss is considered by considering Daniel Everett’s encounter with the Pirahã. Anxious tribalism seen in the challenged Christian constructs of Everett is discussed in relation to the larger tribe (the missional perspectives of Everett). The apparent lack of anxious tribalism is discussed in terms of the unchallenged constructs of the smaller tribe (the Pirahã). The linguistic and theological issues arising for missiology are discussed.
A theology of diversity with special reference to translation issues in Central Asia
Authors: Williams Joseph S.
Published: April 2017

Cross-cultural ministry to Muslims raises questions about communication and the legitimacy of presenting biblical truth in different forms. This paper seeks to address some of those questions through a survey of the biblical storyline by focusing on the development of diverse cultures, languages, and communities in Scripture. After establishing an endorsement of cultural diversity in the Scriptures, the article moves to applying those principles to the task of translation in light of one prevailing theory of communication, namely Relevance Theory (RT). Translation practices offer both risks and opportunities to the church and established theology. The article argues that in engaging other cultures and language, cross-cultural workers should take a posture of risk and experimentation. They should bias their efforts towards the receptor cultures’ understanding even when the existing church may fear a loss of valued theological principles. This applies to the initial questions raised in the article by endorsing creative ways of presenting biblical truth, including ways that co-opt other religious structures.
An indoor environment evaluation by gender and age using an advanced personalized ventilation system
Authors: Kalmár Ferenc
Published: April 2017

In a closed space, appropriate thermal comfort and proper indoor air quality are extremely important in order to obtain the optimal work performance and to avoid health problems of the occupants. Using advanced personalized ventilation systems, different comfort needs can be locally satisfied even in case of warm environments. Thermal sensation and the subjective evaluation of indoor air quality of young and elderly people, men and women respectively, were studied in warm environment using advanced personalized ventilation system combined with total volume ventilation system. Using an advanced personalized ventilation system, 20 m3 h−1 air flow was alternately introduced by three air terminal devices built-in the desk and placed on a horizontal plane at the head level of the sitting subject. Thermal sensation was significantly cooler in case of young women in comparison with the other groups. Odor intensity was evaluated to be significantly lower in case of elderly women in comparison with the other groups. Evaluation of air freshness is in correlation with the general thermal sensation. Variation of the direction of the air velocity vector has a cooling side-effect, which, in warm environments, might be useful in order to improve the thermal comfort sensation.

Practical application: From the basic factors that influence the thermal comfort sensation, air velocity is the one and only parameter that must be treated as a vector. The air flow velocity has an important effect on the convective heat quantity released by the human body, but the changes in the air velocity direction have a cooling side-effect. This cooling side-effect should be exploited properly in warm environments by advanced personalized ventilation systems to improve the thermal comfort sensation of the occupants without supplementary energy use.
Mapping cities by transit riders’ trajectories: The case of Brisbane, Australia
Authors: Zhou Jiangping , Corcoran Jonathan , Borsellino Rosabella
Published: April 2017

Emerging non-traditional data (NTD) such as transit agencies' smartcard data and Google's General Transit Feed Specifications (GTFS) have made it easier to unveil the way in which public transit remains relevant, reveal how it facilitates daily mobility, and highlight the way in which different locales across a metropolitan area are connected by public transit. Based on a 24-h period of smartcard data for Brisbane (4 March 2014) allied with GTFS data, we retrieved 205,560 distinct transit riders' trip trajectories by direction (AM/inbound vs. PM/outbound) in Brisbane, Australia. It visualises the trajectories using a waterpark metaphor, in that, like water, people flow downhill.
Evaluation of gelatin-hyaluronic acid composite hydrogels for accelerating wound healing
Authors: Wu Song , Deng Liang , Hsia Hanson , Xu Kai , He Yu , Huang Qiangru , Peng Yi , Zhou Zhihua , Peng Cheng
Published: April 2017

Excellent wound dressings maintain a warm and moist environment, thus accelerating wound healing. In this study, we cross-linked gelatin and hyaluronic acid with ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide hydrochloride in different ratios (gelatin/hyaluronic acid = 8:2, gelatin/hyaluronic acid = 5:5, gelatin/hyaluronic acid = 2:8), and explored the effects and mechanisms of gelatinhyaluronic acid hydrogels on wound healing. This was done by examining dressing properties, such as fluid uptake ability, water vapor transmission rate, and the rate of water evaporation. We further verified biological function by using in vitro and in vivo wound models. The hydrogels display appropriate fluid uptake ability and good water vapor transmission rate and rate of water evaporation all of which can provide an adequate moisture environment for wound healing. Cell cytotoxicity and proliferation tests show that the hydrogels have no cytotoxicity, furthermore, gelatin/hyaluronic acid = 8:2 hydrogels have the potential to promote cell proliferation. Animal wound models demonstrate that the hydrogels can effectively promote wound healing in vivo, in particular, the gelatin/hyaluronic acid = 8:2 group which promoted the most rapid healing. Accordingly, gelatin-hyaluronic acid dressings, especially the gelatin/hyaluronic acid = 8:2 hydrogels, have a promising outlook for clinical applications in wound healing.
Elevated Risky Sexual Behaviors Among Sexual Minority Girls: Indirect Risk Pathways Through Peer Victimization and Heavy Drinking
Authors: Dermody Sarah S. , Friedman Mark , Chisolm Deena J. , Burton Chad M. , Marshal Michael P.
Published: April 2017

Sexual minority girls (SMGs), compared with heterosexual females, are more likely to report negative sexual outcomes including earlier age of sexual intercourse debut, more lifetime and recent sexual partners, pregnancy involvement, and sex while intoxicated. Data describing the mechanisms related to these health disparities are limited. The purpose of this study was therefore to longitudinally assess the roles of sexual minority–related peer victimization and heavy episodic drinking (HED) as mediators of the relation between sexual minority status and sexual outcomes. The girls examined in this study were recruited into a longitudinal study of adolescent health from two large, urban adolescent medicine clinics affiliated with academic medical centers. The final sample for this analysis included 79 SMGs and a comparison group of 127 heterosexual girls aged between 14 and 19 years. Mediation models were run in the structural equation modeling framework. Our results provided evidence to support a serial multiple mediation pathway. SMGs were more likely to report sexual minority–related victimization, and sexual minority–related victimization predicted increased HED, which was subsequently found to prospectively predict increased sexual risk behaviors. Taken together, these novel findings indicate that both sexual minority–related victimization and HED may play important roles in explaining disparities in risky sexual behavior among SMGs.
Understanding and Measuring Endowment in Public Charities
Authors: Calabrese Thad D. , Ely Todd L.
Published: April 2017

This note delineates different motivations for holding endowment by nonprofits, analyzes the definitions and measurement of endowment in the literature, and details newly available data on endowment contained in the Form 990 since 2008. More than 43% of organizations report owning an endowment, and the overwhelming majority of endowment funds are held by higher education nonprofits. One third of endowment funds are unrestricted and 41% are permanently restricted, with heterogeneity across subsectors. Endowed nonprofits exceed average payout rates each year of 5%. Annual endowment payouts average 4.1% of total organizational expenses, which measures the sector’s dependence on endowment revenue for operations. We evaluate past endowment measurement approaches using actual endowment data and find wide variation in validity. Although still imperfect, the new endowment data allow researchers to better understand a key distinguishing financial feature of the nonprofit sector.
Does Brand Personality and Perceived Product Quality Play a Major Role in Mobile Phone Consumers’ Switching Behaviour?
Authors: Nikhashemi S. R. , Valaei Naser , Tarofder Arun Kumar
Published: April 2017

This study’s main objective is to explore the antecedents of consumer switching behaviour in the context of mobile industry. At the same time, this study gives a closer focus on the roles that brand personality (BP) and perceived product quality play in customer satisfaction (CS), consumer brand identification and switching behaviour. Using a self-structured questionnaire, 381 usable responses were recorded for data analysis. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA), confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modelling were employed to analyze the data. The EFA outcome reveals that excitement, competence and sophistication are the most significant qualities predicting BP in the mobile industry’s context. The result demonstrates that BP, indirectly through consumer brand identification and customer satisfaction, has a negative effect on consumer’s switching behaviour intention. Perceived product quality has a direct and indirect relationship with switching behaviour intention. Finally, it is revealed that BP has high impact on perceived product quality’s evaluation as well.
Association study between genetic variations inAxin2gene and lung cancer risk in North Indian population: A multiple interaction analysis
Authors: Bahl Charu , Sharma Siddharth , Singh Navneet , Behera Digamber
Published: April 2017

Wnt pathway has been implicated in the process of human carcinogenesis. Axis inhibition protein2 ( Axin2), a major scaffold protein is an antagonist of Wnt pathway and is potent to act as a tumor suppressor gene in various human cancers. Therefore, the seven polymorphic sites of Axin2 gene were analyzed, in relation to lung cancer susceptibility in North Indians. A total of 608 subjects were genotyped using PCR-RFLP technique for each polymorphic site including 303 cases and 305 controls. Further association analysis was carried out using logistic regression approach to obtain adjusted odds ratio and statistical significance. MDR and CART analysis were applied to evaluate high order interactions between the SNP’s. Three out of seven studied polymorphic sites showed a strong protective effect in subjects having mutant genotype for Axin2 148 C >T and heterozygous genotype for 1365 G > A and 1712 + 19 G > T towards lung cancer risk. The other important finding was the significant association of Axin2 148 C >T in SQCC patients having variant (TT) genotype. Axin2 1712 + 19 G >T showed a decreased risk for all the histological subtypes in patients with heterozygous (GT) genotype. MDR analysis predicted a best interaction model ( Axin2 148, Axin2 2062 and Axin2 1712 +19) with maximum CVC (10/10) and minimum prediction error (0.38) along with significant permutation p-value. CART analysis gave a wide spectrum of interactive combinations which exhibited a major contribution in modulating lung cancer susceptibility. Axin2 148 and Axin2 1712 + 19 were found to play a major role in modulating lung cancer risk.
Predictive role of serum and urinary cytokines in invasion and recurrence of bladder cancer
Authors: Kumari Nitu , Agrawal Usha , Mishra Ashwani Kumar , Kumar Anup , Vasudeva Pawan , Mohanty Nayan Kumar , Saxena Sunita
Published: April 2017

Urothelial cancer patients are prone to recurrence, and there is no marker to predict which cases become refractory to the immunotherapy given to these patients. Tumour behaviour is decided by the dynamics between the pro- and anti-tumorigenic cytokines. In this study, 27 cytokines were estimated in serum and urine of 72 urothelial cancer patients and 42 healthy volunteer controls. Serum cytokines IL-1RA, IL-4 and RANTES were in significantly higher concentration in serum of patients compared to controls, while IL-2 was significantly less in concentration. Patients were found to have significantly high concentrations of 12 urinary cytokines (IL-2, IL-4, IL-8, IL-10, GM-CSF, IFN-γ, IP-10, MIP-1a, PDGF, MIP-1b, RANTES and VEGF) in comparison to healthy controls. Serum VEGF and urinary IL-1ra, IL-4, IL-10, GM-CSF, IP-10, MIP-1a and MIP-1b concentrations were found significantly higher in concentration in high-grade tumours compared to low-grade tumours. There was no difference in either the serum or urinary cytokines between non-invasive and muscle-invasive cases. Serum IL-1ra, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α and VEGF and urinary IL-1ra, IL-4, IL-8, IL-10, GM-CSF, IP-10, MIP-1a, PDGF, MIP-1b and VEGF were found to be significantly higher in recurrent patients compared to non-recurrent patients. Of these, high concentrations of urinary IL-1RA, IL-4, IL-10, IP-10, PDGF and VEGF and serum IL-1ra, IL-6, IL-10, VEGF and TNF-α were associated with poor recurrence-free survival. Poor recurrence-free survival was also seen with increasing number of cytokines showing high concentrations. The study shows that the estimation of a combination of these cytokines in minimally or non-invasive samples may act as a prognostic indicator.
Methylation of the UNC5C gene and its protein expression in colorectal cancer
Authors: Wu Jie , Wang Guangchuan , He Baojun , Chen Xuejun , An Yuzhi
Published: April 2017

UNC5C is a member of the UNC5H family of transmembrane receptors and functions as a dependence receptor. The expression of UNC5C is lost or markedly reduced in a large proportion of cancers at the messenger RNA level. However, there is little information available regarding the protein expression of UNC5C, the relationship between UNC5C protein expression and UNC5C methylation, and the correlation between patient clinical features and UNC5C protein expression in colorectal cancer. In this study, the methylation and protein expression of UNC5C were examined in 36 adenomatous polyps, 73 colorectal cancers, and 28 corresponding normal mucosa, and the correlation between the methylation, as well as protein expression status, and the clinicopathologic features was evaluated. Furthermore, the relationship between the methylation and protein expression of UNC5C, and correlation between UNC5C protein expression and overall survival were analyzed. The results showed that aberrant methylation of UNC5C was observed in colorectal cancers (78%) and adenomatous polyps (64%). The methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction results were confirmed by bisulfite sequencing of UNC5C promoter region. UNC5C methylation was significantly higher in early tumor, node, metastasis stage (I + II) of colorectal cancers. Compared with the corresponding normal tissues, protein expression of UNC5C was significantly lower in colorectal cancers (42%) and adenomatous polyps (81%). Protein expression of UNC5C was significantly higher in early tumor, node, metastasis stage (I + II) of colorectal cancers compared with advanced tumor, node, metastasis stage. Furthermore, patients with UNC5C-negative expression had a poorer prognosis than those with UNC5C-positive expression through Kaplan–Meier survival analysis ( p = 0.038), univariate ( p = 0.044) and multivariate analysis ( p = 0.045). According to Spearman rank correlation analysis, UNC5C methylation and protein expression were negatively correlated ( r = −0.461, p < 0.001). Together, these results suggest that UNC5C methylation may be an earlier event in the development of colorectal cancer, which was negatively correlated with protein expression. UNC5C may have a critical role in the pathogenesis of colorectal cancers and be a valuable prognostic factor of colorectal cancers patients. UNC5C may be identified as an attractive therapeutic target for the treatment of colorectal cancers in the further studies.
MiR-138: A promising therapeutic target for cancer
Authors: Sha Huan-Huan , Wang Dan-Dan , Chen Dan , Liu Si-Wen , Wang Zhen , Yan Da-Li , Dong Shu-Chen , Feng Ji-Feng
Published: April 2017

MicroRNAs are small noncoding RNAs which regulate gene expressions at post-transcriptional level by binding to the 3′-untranslated region of target messenger RNAs. Growing evidences highlight their pivotal roles in various biological processes of human cancers. Among them, miR-138, generating from two primary transcripts, pri-miR-138-1 and pri-miR-138-2, expresses aberrantly in different cancers and is extensively studied in cancer network. Importantly, studies have shown that miR-138 acts as a tumor suppressor by targeting many target genes, which are related to proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, and migration. Additionally, some researches also discover that miR-138 can sensitize tumors to chemotherapies. In this review, we summarize the expression of miR-138 on regulatory mechanisms and tumor biological processes, which will establish molecular basis on the usage of miR-138 in clinical applications in the future.
The impact of the duration of lawful residence on the rights of European Union citizens and their third-country family members
Authors: Hamenstädt Kathrin
Published: April 2017

This contribution examines the role of the duration of lawful residence and the assessment of the facts of the individual case for the determination of the rights of (European) Union citizens and their family members by the Court of Justice of the European Union. While the Court initially embraced an approach which aimed at furthering and strengthening the rights of Union citizens, a conceptual shift has become visible over the last couple of years which seems to aim at limiting Union citizen’s rights. This article seeks to shed light on the underlying rationale of the Court’s judgments regarding Union citizens and their third-country family members by focusing on the application of the criterion of an individual assessment and the criterion of the duration of lawful residence respectively. To that end, it examines the Court’s case law in four selected areas of European Union law: the protection against expulsion, the right of permanent residence, access to non-contributory cash benefits, and the right of residence of third-country family members of Union citizens upon return to the latter’s Member State of nationality after having exercised free movement rights. It is submitted that the Court’s application and interpretation of these criteria in the areas under scrutiny seems to be driven primarily by the aim to limit citizens’ rights and not by the attainment of legal certainty which has been brought forward by the Court.
Exploring the Subculture of Ideologically Motivated Cyber-Attackers
Authors: Holt Thomas J. , Freilich Joshua D. , Chermak Steven M.
Published: April 2017

Research on physical, that is, violent, terror attacks and extremism has increased dramatically over the last decade. The growth of the Internet and computer technology has also led to concern over the use of cyberattacks by ideologically motivated offenders to cause harm and further their political and social agendas. There is, however, a lack of empirical research on cyber-attackers limiting our knowledge of the factors that affect their behavior. This study addresses this empirical gap through a qualitative analysis of 10 interviews conducted with ideologically motivated Turkish computer hackers. The findings demonstrated that Turkish hackers motivated by an ideological agenda reflected the larger values of the hacker subculture, though the targets for their attacks were shaped directly by religious or political beliefs. We conclude by discussing in depth our findings and implications for counterterror and cybersecurity policy and practice.
Is the Power of Brand-Focused Activism Rising? The Case of Tropical Deforestation
Authors: Dauvergne Peter
Published: April 2017

Four trends would seem to be empowering environmentalists who target corporations with global brands: the increasing reach of social media, growing numbers of campaigns, the corporate turn toward “sustainability” to create brand value and manage supply chains, and the spread of eco-consumerism. Campaigns since 2007 to demand that brands stop buying palm oil linked to tropical deforestation confirm the rising influence over corporate policies and market demand. Many activists are portraying the outcomes as “victories” toward saving rainforests. Yet, three factors are limiting the value for improving on-the-ground management: industry influence over, and governance limits of, palm oil certification; ongoing sales of uncertified palm oil as demand shifts to nonbrand buyers; and illegalities and weak regulatory enforcement in producer countries, notably Indonesia and Malaysia. Theoretically, this analysis demonstrates the importance, when evaluating activist campaigns, of distinguishing between the influence on corporate policies and markets and the effectiveness for environmental outcomes.
Structural interrogation using phase space topology of the wind-induced responses
Authors: George Riya C , Mishra Sudib K
Published: April 2017

The applicability of the phase space interrogation (PSI) methodology for structural health monitoring (SHM) is limited on account of the fact that the structure needs to be excited by a low dimensional chaotic signal. The present study demonstrates that the phase space interrogation can still be applied to structures subjected to ambient/moderate wind excitations. Key to this extension is the relative low dimensionality of the wind-induced structural responses, amenable to phase space embedding by virtue of Takens’ embedding theorem. The so-formed pseudo-attractor is shown to sufficiently reflect the changes in system dynamics induced by structural damage(s). A widely employed damage feature, namely, the changes in phase space topology (CPST) is subsequently employed to the reconstructed attractor to link it with the presence, severity, as well as localization of damage(s). The CPST is established as a legitimate damage-sensitive feature by studying its variability with alternative damage scenarios in a multistoried frame building subjected to wind excitations. The performance of the methodology is demonstrated under different degrees of noise contamination in the measured responses as well as varying intensity of wind speed. The statistical robustness of the procedure is also assessed. The numerical findings are supported by the evidence from a limited number of experimental investigations carried out on a model building with inflicted damage scenarios. The wind loadings for the tests are simulated using a wind tunnel testing facility. Finally, a simple analysis is presented that establish the viability of the phase space analysis analytically.
Have individual medical savings accounts accumulated meaningful balances after 10 years of enrolment? Empirical evidence from China
Authors: Yu Hao , Chen Jiaying
Published: April 2017

Objectives

To examine whether medical savings accounts in China have achieved the intended goal of promoting individual savings for medical care.

Method

Longitudinal data were obtained from one of the first Chinese cities that implemented medical savings accounts. The sample includes 246,681 enrolees with participation of at least 10 years by the end of 2010. We conducted descriptive analyses of medical savings account balances and a series of multivariate logistic analyses of risk factors for having low medical savings account accumulation.

Results

Medical savings account accumulation was low, with 41% of the enrolees having a balance below the average cost per outpatient visit, and the proportion increased to 54% and 58% when the deductible for inpatient care at secondary and tertiary hospitals was used as the threshold, respectively. Factors associated with having low medical savings account accumulation include female, old age, below high school education, retired and having a lower salary.

Conclusion

Medical savings accounts have not achieved the intended goal of encouraging personal savings for medical care. Given the low medical savings account accumulation, China’s decision-makers need to adjust policies, especially during the current healthcare reform.
Hosting the others’ child? Relational work and embodied responsibility in altruistic surrogate motherhood
Authors: Toledano Sarah Jane , Zeiler Kristin
Published: April 2017

Studies on surrogate motherhood have mostly explored paid arrangements through the lens of a contract model, as clinical work or as a maternal identity-building project. Turning to the under-examined case of unpaid, so-called altruistic surrogate motherhood and based on an analysis of interviews with women who had been unpaid surrogate mothers in a full gestational surrogacy with a friend or relative in Canada, the United States or Australia, this article explores altruistic surrogate motherhood as relational work. It argues that this form of surrogate motherhood within close interpersonal relations can be conceptualised through the relational work involved in hosting a child for the intended parents. The article explores how relational work in this context implies an embodied, asymmetrical and far-reaching sense of responsibility that surrogate mothers describe as characteristic of their surrogacy experience. In this way, the article sheds light on feminist concerns about surrogacy as an embodied and objectifying work of women while at the same time illuminating how surrogate mothers respond to the intended parents in light of their pre-surrogacy relationship, how meanings are negotiated by them and how relationships are managed during the pregnancy.
The social control of young women’s clothing and bodies: A perspective of differences on racialization and sexualization
Authors: Honkatukia Päivi , Keskinen Suvi
Published: April 2017

Public discourses and culturalist research often present patriarchal social control as the key element of minority youth’s family relations. They focus on conflicts related to young women’s sexual reputation when discussing Muslims and nonwestern minorities. Social control is often connected to honor-related violence and applied to assumptions of how young women are oppressed by their family members. In this article, we problematize such a connection and approach social control as a broad phenomenon that shapes social life and is exercised by several actors. The article elaborates a perspective of differences on social control, building on feminist theories of intersectionality, and distinguishing between different dimensions of social control (formal/informal, public/private). This theoretical framework is then applied to the empirical analysis of different elements of social control related to young women’s clothing and bodies. It is argued that the framework enables examination of the multifaceted dynamics of gendered, racialized, and age-related social control without falling into the trap of culturalist knowledge production.
Research on the shock resistance optimal design of small-sized submerged vehicle subjected to non-contact underwater explosion
Authors: Zhang Wenzheng , Jiang Weikang
Published: April 2017

How to improve the strength of submerged structures for undertaking the underwater explosion loading is an important problem confronted by the designers of surface ships and submarines. In this article, an optimal design of a small-sized submerged vehicle with internal components has been carried out to enhance the shock resistance. The dynamic responses and deformation mode of the vehicle subjected to underwater shock wave are first analyzed to determine the weak parts. The incident wave induced by underwater explosion is equivalently replaced by half-sine shock wave, as the calculation of fluid–structure interaction in the optimization process is very complicated. Based on the constraint condition of invariant weight, an optimization procedure is established by means of the finite element code in ANSYS and optimization method in Isight. Numerical simulation is carried out to validate the effectiveness of the optimal procedure. Compared with the original one, the maximum von Mises stress of the submerged vehicle decreased from 426 to 359 MPa, approximately reducing by 15.73%. The optimal result can be used to redesign the submerged vehicle with internal components suffered from underwater shock loading to enhance the anti-shock capability.
A Double Nellix and Chimney Covered Stents: Challenging Treatment of Pararenal Aortic Aneurysm
Authors: Stella Nazzareno , Ficarelli Roberta , Dito Raffaele , Brancadoro Domitilla , Rossi Michele , Taurino Maurizio
Published: April 2017

A 77-year-old male patient presented with a symptomatic, 66-mm pararenal aortic aneurysm. The patient was classified as unsuitable for open surgery due to significant comorbidities. Fenestrated or branched endografts were contraindicated due to the poor iliac access (6 mm diameter). A double Nellix with chimney endovascular aneurysm sealing (ChEVAS) technique was selected to exclude the pararenal aortic aneurysm and to preserve renal arteries and the superior mesenteric artery. Technical preplanning considered the ideal proximal landing zone to be close to the origin of the almost occluded celiac trunk and the distal common iliac arteries as the ideal distal landing zone. The total length of the aorta to cover was estimated as >180 mm, requiring 2 aortic EVAS systems, bilaterally overlapped. Technical success was achieved, and the patient was discharged on postoperative day 8 in good general condition. Successful aneurysm exclusion and target vessel patency without endoleak or stent-graft kinking or migration were confirmed at angio-computed tomography at 6 months.
A Petri net model for railway bridge maintenance
Authors: Le Bryant , Andrews John , Fecarotti Claudia
Published: April 2017

This article describes the application of the Petri net modelling approach to managing the maintenance process of railway bridges. The Petri net model accounts for the degradation, inspection and repair processes of individual bridge elements in investigating the effectiveness of alternative maintenance strategies. The times governing the degradation and repair processes considered are stochastic and defined by the appropriate Weibull distribution. The model offers a capability for modelling the bridge asset which overcomes the limitations in the currently used modelling techniques reported in the literature. The bridge model also provides a means of predicting the future asset condition as a result of adopting different maintenance strategies. The solution of the Petri net model is performed using a Monte Carlo simulation routine. The application of the model to a typical metal railway bridge is also presented in the article.
What’s Ethics Got to Do With It? Pedagogical Support for Ethical Student Learning in a Principal Preparation Program
Authors: Mullen Carol A.
Published: April 2017

The article’s purposes are to review research on leadership education in ethics and examine a pedagogic intervention designed to raise consciousness about ethical leadership and learning within graduate school. A yearlong study—carried out in a principal preparation program that is a full member of the University Council for Educational Administration—is the basis of the development and impact of an ethics unit. Understandings of ethics regarding leadership preparation standards and social justice orientations for preservice cohorts are analyzed. Qualitative methods used are a targeted literature review and a document analysis of assignments. Directions for research, pedagogy, and practice end this discussion.
Anti-myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibodies: Magnetic resonance imaging findings in a case series and a literature review
Authors: Michaela Cellina , Vincenza Fetoni , Matteo Ciocca , Marta Pirovano , Giancarlo Oliva
Published: April 2017

Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein is a protein exclusively expressed on the surface of oligodendrocytes and myelin in the central nervous system. Antibodies against myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein were initially detected in children with demyelinating syndromes, and more recently reported in a broad spectrum of central nervous system demyelinating diseases in adults, including neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders and bilateral optic neuritis. Patients with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated demyelination appear to have unique clinical and radiological features. To the best of our knowledge a series of Italian patients with optic neuritis and positivity to myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibodies has not yet been reported and the paper on myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibodies are more focused on clinical features, diagnosis and outcome than on the radiological appearance, so we want to retrospectively report magnetic resonance imaging features of a group of eight patients, who came to our Ophthalmologic Emergency Department for optic neuritis and were found seropositive for myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibodies, comparing our data with the findings described in the literature.
Improving Care for Patients With or at Risk for Chronic Kidney Disease Using Electronic Medical Record Interventions: A Pragmatic Cluster-Randomized Trial Protocol
Authors: Nash Danielle M. , Ivers Noah M. , Young Jacqueline , Jaakkimainen R. Liisa , Garg Amit X. , Tu Karen
Published: April 2017

Background:

Many patients with or at risk for chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the primary care setting are not receiving recommended care.

Objective:

The objective of this study is to determine whether a multifaceted, low-cost intervention compared with usual care improves the care of patients with or at risk for CKD in the primary care setting.

Design:

A pragmatic cluster-randomized trial, with an embedded qualitative process evaluation, will be conducted.

Setting:

The study population comes from the Electronic Medical Record Administrative data Linked Database®, which includes clinical data for more than 140 000 rostered adults cared for by 194 family physicians in 34 clinics across Ontario, Canada. The 34 primary care clinics will be randomized to the intervention or control group.

Intervention:

The intervention group will receive resources from the “CKD toolkit” to help improve care including practice audit and feedback, printed educational materials for physicians and patients, electronic decision support and reminders, and implementation support.

Measurements:

Patients with or at risk for CKD within participating clinics will be identified using laboratory data in the electronic medical records. Outcomes will be assessed after dissemination of the CKD tools and after 2 rounds of feedback on performance on quality indicators have been sent to the physicians using information from the electronic medical records. The primary outcome is the proportion of patients aged 50 to 80 years with nondialysis-dependent CKD who are on a statin. Secondary outcomes include process of care measures such as screening tests, CKD recognition, monitoring tests, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker prescriptions, blood pressure targets met, and nephrologist referral. Hierarchical analytic modeling will be performed to account for clustering. Semistructured interviews will be conducted with a random purposeful sample of physicians in the intervention group to understand why the intervention achieved the observed effects.

Conclusions:

If our intervention improves care, then the CKD toolkit can be adapted and scaled for use in other primary care clinics which use electronic medical records.

Trial Registration:

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02274298
Waveform inversion for attenuation estimation in anisotropic media
Authors: Bai Tong , Tsvankin Ilya , Wu Xinming
Published: April 2017

Robust estimation of attenuation coefficients remains a challenging problem, especially for heterogeneous anisotropic media. Here, we apply waveform inversion (WI) to perform attenuation analysis in heterogeneous VTI (transversely isotropic with a vertical symmetry axis) media. A time-domain finite-difference algorithm based on the standard linear solid model simulates nearly constant quality-factor values in a specified frequency band. We employ the adjoint-state method to derive the gradients of the objective function based on the Born approximation. Four parameters describing the attenuation coefficients of P- and SV-waves are updated simultaneously with a quasi-Newton optimization algorithm. To remove the time shifts between the modeled and observed data caused by velocity errors, we apply a local similarity technique. The inversion still requires a sufficiently accurate velocity model to minimize the trade-off between the contributions of velocity and attenuation to amplitudes. The inversion algorithm is tested on homogeneous background models with a Gaussian anomaly in one of the attenuation parameters and on a realistic heterogeneous VTI medium.
Impact of Diabetes, Insulin, and Metformin Use on the Outcome of Patients With Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2–Positive Primary Breast Cancer: Analysis From the ALTTO Phase III Randomized Trial
Authors: Sonnenblick Amir , Agbor-Tarh Dominique , Bradbury Ian , Di Cosimo Serena , Azim Hatem A. , Fumagalli Debora , Sarp Severine , Wolff Antonio C. , Andersson Michael , Kroep Judith , Cufer Tanja , Simon Sergio D. , Salman Pamela , Toi Masakazu , Harris Lyndsay , Gralow Julie , Keane Maccon , Moreno-Aspitia Alvaro , Piccart-Gebhart Martine , de Azambuja Evandro
Published: April 2017

Purpose

Previous studies have suggested an association between metformin use and improved outcome in patients with diabetes and breast cancer. In the current study, we aimed to explore this association in human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2 ) –positive primary breast cancer in the context of a large, phase III adjuvant trial.

Patients and Methods

The ALTTO trial randomly assigned patients with HER2-positive breast cancer to receive 1 year of either trastuzumab alone, lapatinib alone, their sequence, or their combination. In this substudy, we evaluated whether patients with diabetes at study entry—with or without metformin treatment—were associated with different disease-free survival (DFS), distant disease-free survival (DDFS), and overall survival (OS) compared with patients without diabetes.

Results

A total of 8,381 patients were included in the current analysis: 7,935 patients (94.7%) had no history of diabetes at diagnosis, 186 patients (2.2%) had diabetes with no metformin treatment, and 260 patients (3.1%) were diabetic and had been treated with metformin. Median follow-up was 4.5 years (0.16 to 6.31 years), at which 1,205 (14.38%), 929 (11.08%), and 528 (6.3%) patients experienced DFS, DDFS, and OS events, respectively. Patients with diabetes who had not been treated with metformin experienced worse DFS (multivariable hazard ratio [HR], 1.40; 95% CI, 1.01 to 1.94; P = .043), DDFS (multivariable HR, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.10 to 2.22; P = .013), and OS (multivariable HR, 1.87; 95% CI, 1.23 to 2.85; P = .004). This effect was limited to hormone receptor–positive patients. Whereas insulin treatment was associated with a detrimental effect, metformin had a salutary effect in patients with diabetes who had HER2-positive and hormone receptor–positive breast cancer.

Conclusion

Metformin may improve the worse prognosis that is associated with diabetes and insulin treatment, mainly in patients with primary HER2-positive and hormone receptor–positive breast cancer.