bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of throat area and inlet area of intake port on mixture formation of gasoline direct injection engines
Authors: Zheng Zhaolei , Liu Hanyu , Tian Xuefeng
Published: April 2018

To study the effects of intake port structure parameters (inlet area and throat area) of a gasoline direct injection engine on mixture formation, a steady-flow test and transient simulation with four kinds of intake ports (named Cases 1–4) were simulated using AVL FIRE; a four-valve, four-cylinder gasoline direct injection engine with Case 1 was also operated under wide-open-throat conditions with a speed of 5500 r/min as the test basis. According to the simulation results, the flow coefficient increased with an increase in throat and decrease in inlet areas; however, a reverse change of them can improve the tumble ratio. In addition, the tumble ratio in a cylinder can be increased by reducing the throat and inlet areas. However, the concentration is not notable at high-speed wide-open-throat conditions. A larger tumble ratio and stronger turbulent kinetic energy intensity of in-cylinder flow are beneficial to form a homogeneous mixture, which ensures a better distribution of air–fuel mixture at ignition time. Moreover, larger inlet area and smaller throat area ensure less NO emissions.
Quantifying effects of cyclic stretch on cell–collagen substrate adhesiveness of vascular endothelial cells
Authors: Omidvar Ramin , Tafazzoli-Shadpour Mohammad , Mahmoodi-Nobar Farbod , Azadi Shohreh , Khani Mohammad-Mehdi
Published: April 2018

Vascular endothelium is continuously subjected to mechanical stimulation in the form of shear forces due to blood flow as well as tensile forces as a consequence of blood pressure. Such stimuli influence endothelial behavior and regulate cell–tissue interaction for an optimized functionality. This study aimed to quantify influence of cyclic stretch on the adhesive property and stiffness of endothelial cells. The 10% cyclic stretch with frequency of 1 Hz was applied to a layer of endothelial cells cultured on a polydimethylsiloxane substrate. Cell–substrate adhesion of endothelial cells was examined by the novel approach of atomic force microscope–based single-cell force spectroscopy and cell stiffness was measured by atomic force microscopy. Furthermore, the adhesive molecular bonds were evaluated using modified Hertz contact theory. Our results show that overall adhesion of endothelial cells with substrate decreased after cyclic stretch while they became stiffer. Based on the experimental results and theoretical modeling, the decrease in the number of molecular bonds after cyclic stretch was quantified. In conclusion, in vitro cyclic stretch caused alterations in both adhesive capacity and elastic modulus of endothelial cells through mechanotransductive pathways as two major determinants of the function of these cells within the cardiovascular system.
Memory and its offspring: Realism and the “specious present”
Authors: McMullen Terence
Published: April 2018

Without memory we could not recall events, nor could we imagine, image, or expect things. Representationist accounts of memory claim that to remember is to access stored representations of past events. This is logically impossible: there are no such things as mental representations. Memory is the direct apprehension of past events. Some assert that this claim involves the temporal absurdity of supposing that the past can be known directly in the present. There is no such absurdity: cognition and its objects have temporal duration as well as spatial location. Situations perceived and remembered are extended temporally as well as spatially. William James drew attention to the specious present, the belief that we live in a temporally unextended now. A solid ontological account of the metaphysics of time and space is provided uniquely in the empiricist metaphysics of John Anderson’s realism.
Making High Committed Workplaces by Strong Organizational Values
Authors: Krajcsák Zoltán
Published: April 2018

Organizational values determine the behaviour and norms expected in the organization. The more similar the attitude, the way of thinking and the value system among organizational members the stronger the culture is. The characteristics of personality can be well modelled with the concept of self-evaluation. The purpose of this article is to create a theoretical framework that reveals the relationships between self-evaluation dimensions, organizational values and employees’ commitment dimensions. Based on the results, affective commitment is supported by a high level of self-esteem and self-efficacy through the organizational values such as collaboration, trust, affiliation, achievement, autonomy, competition and growth. In contrast, professional commitment is supported by a high level of locus of control and emotional stability, through the organizational values such as routinization, attention to details, formalization, support, communication and consistency. The conclusions of the theoretical model can be used to determine effective motivational strategies for groups and organizations with strong cultures, as the results show that motivational tools used at group level can be successful as well, depending on the self-evaluation profiles.
The Outsourcing of Ethical Thinking
Authors: Nordenhaug Erik , Simmons Jack
Published: April 2018

The teaching of professional rules, procedures and standards, as well as the existence of ethics committees and legal advisers to achieve desired behaviours for a given profession, produces an unforeseen by-product of altering the way individuals relate to ethics. The institutionalization of a moral voice, a kind of artificial conscience for the legally defined ‘artificial person’, tends to do the ethical thinking for the individual who thinks being moral means methodically following the professionally approved rules. Professionalism and the type of methodological reason it requires are becoming a substitute for internal moral reasoning and personal responsibility, despite the belief that we are becoming more morally responsibly through professional behaviour.
The differentially expressed circular ribonucleic acids of primary hepatic carcinoma following liver transplantation as new diagnostic biomarkers for primary hepatic carcinoma
Authors: Sui Weiguo , Gan Qing , Liu Fuhua , Chen Huaizhou , Liu Junfu , Dai Yong
Published: April 2018

Recent studies have shown that circular ribonucleic acids have differential expression in some diseases. This study compared the expression levels of five circular ribonucleic acids between patients of primary hepatic carcinoma following liver transplantation and healthy individuals for searching a new diagnostic biomarker about primary hepatic carcinoma. We chose differentially expressed targeted circular ribonucleic acids according to fold change ≥2.0 or ≤–2.0 between circular ribonucleic acids microarray of perioperative liver transplantation and normal controls. Then we used the Arraystar home-made micro-ribonucleic acid target prediction software based on TargetScan and miRanda to predict circular ribonucleic acid/micro-ribonucleic acid interactions. And we assess the expression levels of hsa_circ_100571, hsa_circ_400031, hsa_circ_102032, hsa_circ_103096, and hsa_circ_102347 in the peripheral blood of normal controls and liver transplantation patients before transplantation and on the first, third, and seventh days after transplantation by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. We chose five circular ribonucleic acids, two of which have been correlated with micro-ribonucleic acid–related carcinoma recurrence after liver transplantation, hepatocellular carcinoma and analyzed their expression with 2–△△Ct method. The expression level of hsa_circ_100571 and hsa_circ_400031 on day 1 after liver transplantation was higher than pre-transplantation (p < 0.01), and these levels showed a declining trend on post-transplantation. The expression level of hsa_circ_102032 and hsa_circ_103096 on day 1 after liver transplantation was lower than pre-transplantation (p < 0.01) and decreased on post-transplantation. There were the significantly different expressions between the post-transplantation day 7 and normal control (p < 0.01). The expression level of hsa_circ_102347 on day 1 after liver transplantation was lower than pre-transplantation (p < 0.01). This expression showed a declining trend on post-transplantation, and the postoperative day 7 level was similar to normal control (p > 0.05). Five types of circular ribonucleic acid–related micro-ribonucleic acids had varying degrees of upregulation and downregulation between perioperative transplantation of primary hepatic carcinoma patients and normal controls; the hsa_circ_102347 is most likely to have association with primary hepatic carcinoma.
Salivary Cortisol Rhythms in Children With Cleft Lip and/or Palate
Authors: Sundell Anna Lena , Marcusson Agneta , Törnhage Carl-Johan
Published: April 2018

Objective:

Knowledge about the stress response in children with cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) is sparse and the association between the stress response and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is unknown. Consequently, investigations on the influence of CL/P on the stress response alone and its association with HRQoL are of importance. The purpose was to determine whether salivary cortisol concentration in children with CL/P differs from that in children without clefts (controls) and whether there are any differences in salivary cortisol concentrations between ages, gender, and type of cleft. Furthermore, the final aim was to determine the correlation between salivary cortisol concentration and HRQoL.

Design:

The study used a cross-sectional case-control design.

Participants:

Ninety-one 5- and 10-year-old children with CL/P and 180 age-matched controls.

Main Outcome Measures:

Salivary samples were collected on 2 mornings and 1 evening for each child. Samples were analyzed using a commercial competitive radioimmunoassay and HRQoL was assessed using the KIDSCREEN-52.

Results:

Salivary cortisol concentrations were similar in children with CL/P and controls. There was no difference in salivary cortisol concentrations between children with different types of cleft. There was no correlation between cortisol concentration and HRQoL.

Conclusion:

Five- and 10-year-old children with corrected CL/P seemed not to be more stressed than controls, and there were no correlation to HRQoL. The HRQoL levels - were comparable to that of a European norm population.
“Put It in Your Shoe It Will Make You Limp”: British Men’s Online Responses to a Male Pill
Authors: Wilson Amanda D.
Published: April 2018

This article analyzes online interactions between British men and other online readers’ comments in response to two news articles focused on a male contraceptive pill. The aim of the study was to explore how British men’s online accounts construct a male pill as a potential contraceptive option for family planning. The two online articles reported the scientific innovations, as well as the production and marketing, of a nonhormonal, plant-based pill for men. Discourse analysis was used to analyze the online comments, from which two discourses emerged: (a) “Men as responsible health consumers” and (b) “‘Killing sperm’ and other side effects on semen.” When provided with the opportunity to take future responsibility for family planning, male readers were found to be unlikely to use a contraceptive pill. The men expressed the need for new options of contraception but, overall, felt a male pill was not the solution.
Relationships Between Glycemic Control and Cardiovascular Fitness
Authors: Moxley Elizabeth W. , Smith Donald , Quinn Lauretta , Park Chang
Published: April 2018

Introduction:

Diabetes is a serious health problem affecting approximately 29.1 million individuals in the United States. Another 86 million have prediabetes. The development and implementation of lifestyle modifications such as physical activity for these persons are among the most effective methods for prevention and treatment.

Objective:

The aim of this study was to examine relationships between glycemic control (HbA1c) and cardiovascular fitness (peak maximal oxygen uptake [VO2 peak] and ventilatory threshold [VT]) in overweight/obese subjects with and without type 2 diabetes (T2DM). In addition, the influences of body mass index (BMI) and insulin sensitivity (homeostasis model assessment [HOMA %S]) on the relationship between glycemic control and cardiovascular fitness were explored.

Method:

Data were abstracted from a completed study that included 51 overweight or obese subjects with T2DM ( n = 18), impaired glucose tolerance ( n = 8), or normal glucose tolerance ( n = 25). Relationships between glycemic control (HbA1c) and cardiovascular fitness (VO2 peak and VT) were determined using correlational analysis and multiple linear regression analyses.

Results:

A statistically significant relationship was observed between HbA1c and cardiovascular fitness. However, BMI and HOMA %S did not influence the relationship between glycemic control and cardiovascular fitness.

Discussion:

HbA1c contributes to VO2 peak and VT in obese and overweight subjects across glucose tolerance categories. Significant results were achieved despite the fact that there was a limited range of HbA1c based on the study inclusion criteria. This finding suggests that even a mild decrease in glycemic control can negatively influence cardiovascular fitness.
Linguistic attitudes toward Shipibo in Cantagallo: Reshaping indigenous language and identity in an urban setting
Authors: Sánchez Liliana , Mayer Elisabeth , Camacho José , Alzza Carolina Rodriguez
Published: April 2018

Aims and objectives:

This study aims to explore language attitudes among speakers of Shipibo, an Amazonian indigenous language from the Panoan family, in the community of Cantagallo in the city of Lima, an urban, Spanish-dominant environment. The study is motivated by the paucity of studies on language attitudes in urban indigenous communities. The Cantagallo Shipibo community was settled in the early 2000s and temporarily relocated in 2017.

Methodology:

Interviews were conducted based on questionnaires with two groups of participants in 2002 and 2017, 60 in total, focusing on their attitudes toward Shipibo and Spanish. Some of the participants answered the questionnaires both times, others answered only once. Responses were analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively. Open-ended responses were classified into similar categories and tallied.

Findings:

Participants showed positive attitudes toward Shipibo-Konibo in 2002 and 2017, and strong identification with it, but language shift toward Spanish is now taking place, especially among the second generation. This development has triggered perceived changes in the performance aspects of linguistic identity. Furthermore, while in 2002 attitudes toward Spanish were mostly positive, in 2017 some negative attitudes toward the majority language emerged along with the perception of discrimination against the Shipibo-Konibo.

Originality:

The study’s originality rests on tracing the evolution of this community’s perspectives on language use from shortly after its arrival in Cantagallo, Lima, to its final relocation. Furthermore, few other studies have engaged this Shipibo community in Lima regarding language attitudes.

Significance:

The project highlights the importance of different factors in the successful language maintenance in this context. Specifically, although speakers still have positive attitudes toward Shipibo, they also see increasing advantages to speaking Spanish, a clear case of utility-maximization.

Limitations:

Although the study provides important insights, its methodology (a questionnaire/interview) gives a partial view of the language attitudes and maintenance in this community.
HRM development in post-colonial societies
Authors: Ayentimi Desmond Tutu , Burgess John , Brown Kerry
Published: April 2018

This article is based on a literature review that integrates history, institutions and culture to address the following research questions. First, how did human resource management (HRM) progress during post-colonial Ghana? Second, what factors are likely to undermine the advancement of HRM practices in Ghana? Finally, what are the implications for HRM practice and theory? This article identified several factors originating from the economic and socio-cultural system as driving forces underpinning the advancement of HRM practices in Ghana. Key issues are (i) Ghanaian cultural beliefs and assumptions; (ii) respect for social status, power and authority; (iii) the involvement of religious institutions in business activities; (iv) the dominance of small and medium scale enterprises in the local economy (informal sector); (v) education, skills development and training mismatch; and (vi) lack of HRM professionalization and regulatory body. This article argues the assimilation of history, institutions and culture connects comparative HRM practices and post-colonial studies to establish a detailed understanding of persistent colonial institutional inheritance (legacies) of HRM practices as against HRM practices that signify the effects of Ghanaian contextual distinctiveness. We conclude that the best practice is building a synergy of foreign HRM practices alien to Ghana and the culture-sensitive Ghanaian version that produces the best-fit HRM practices for Ghana.
Transmitter beamforming and weighted image fusion–based multiple signal classification algorithm for corrosion monitoring
Authors: Bao Qiao , Yuan Shenfang , Guo Fangyu , Qiu Lei
Published: April 2018

With the increase in aging aircrafts, corrosion monitoring has attracted much attention in the structural health monitoring area. Multiple signal classification has been gradually applied to structural health monitoring area as a new promising method because of its ability of directional scanning and the potential to monitor multiple signal sources. However, applying multiple signal classification algorithm to monitor real damage still faces some challenges. First, the scattered Lamb waves obtained using a single actuator is relatively weak, making the signal-to-noise ratio of the scattered signals low and resulting in the low precision of multiple signal classification–based monitoring. Second, linear sensor array–based structural health monitoring methods have the problem of blind area at the angles close to 0° and 180°. To meet these challenges and target at providing monitoring ability of both the position and severity of the damage, a novel transmitter beamforming and weighted image fusion–based multiple signal classification algorithm is proposed using a dual array that consists of two linear sensor arrays to enhance the amplitude of scattered Lamb waves from corrosion, improve its signal-to-noise ratio and eliminate the blind area. The corrosion severity can be evaluated by analyzing the largest eigenvalue of signal covariance matrix developed using the multiple signal classification algorithm. The proposed transmitter beamforming and weighted image fusion–based multiple signal classification algorithm is verified on aluminum plates with real corrosion damages at five stages. Experimental results show that the proposed method can realize corrosion monitoring with a good precision even at the blind monitoring area.
Increasing Vaccination: Putting Psychological Science Into Action
Authors: Brewer Noel T. , Chapman Gretchen B. , Rothman Alexander J. , Leask Julie , Kempe Allison
Published: April 2018

Vaccination is one of the great achievements of the 20th century, yet persistent public-health problems include inadequate, delayed, and unstable vaccination uptake. Psychology offers three general propositions for understanding and intervening to increase uptake where vaccines are available and affordable. The first proposition is that thoughts and feelings can motivate getting vaccinated. Hundreds of studies have shown that risk beliefs and anticipated regret about infectious disease correlate reliably with getting vaccinated; low confidence in vaccine effectiveness and concern about safety correlate reliably with not getting vaccinated. We were surprised to find that few randomized trials have successfully changed what people think and feel about vaccines, and those few that succeeded were minimally effective in increasing uptake. The second proposition is that social processes can motivate getting vaccinated. Substantial research has shown that social norms are associated with vaccination, but few interventions examined whether normative messages increase vaccination uptake. Many experimental studies have relied on hypothetical scenarios to demonstrate that altruism and free riding (i.e., taking advantage of the protection provided by others) can affect intended behavior, but few randomized trials have tested strategies to change social processes to increase vaccination uptake. The third proposition is that interventions can facilitate vaccination directly by leveraging, but not trying to change, what people think and feel. These interventions are by far the most plentiful and effective in the literature. To increase vaccine uptake, these interventions build on existing favorable intentions by facilitating action (through reminders, prompts, and primes) and reducing barriers (through logistics and healthy defaults); these interventions also shape behavior (through incentives, sanctions, and requirements). Although identification of principles for changing thoughts and feelings to motivate vaccination is a work in progress, psychological principles can now inform the design of systems and policies to directly facilitate action.
Anger, Profanity, and Hatred
Authors: Buck-Coleman Audra
Published: April 2018

Protest posters as a flexible, class-free mechanism of expression.
Deception, Development, and Democracy
Authors: Rugh Jacob S.
Published: April 2018

Jacob Rugh on Christopher Mele’s Race and the Politics of Deception.
Puerto Rico’s Politics of Exclusion
Authors: Gonzalez-Sobrino Bianca
Published: April 2018

Bianca Gonzales-Sobrino on post-Maria restructuring, from electricity to conceptions of citizenship.
The Art of Trans Politics
Authors: David Emmanuel
Published: April 2018

Emmanuel David on contemporary artist Cassils’s embodied struggle and trans politics.
Ethnonationalism and the Rise of Donald Trump
Authors: Manza Jeff , Crowley Ned
Published: April 2018

Trump’s political breakthrough fits a larger American pattern, from Andrew Jackson to the present, recalling red scares, racial wars, and fears of foreign subversion and terrorism.
Emasculation, Conservatism, and the 2016 Election
Authors: Cassino Dan
Published: April 2018

If men can respond to a threat to their masculinity by refusing to do the dishes, doing push-ups, or going to a more fundamentalist church, why not respond by espousing certain political views or favoring certain candidates?
Young Women of Color and Shifting Sexual Identities
Authors: Bridges Tristan , Moore Mignon R.
Published: April 2018

Tristan Bridges and Mignon R. Moore on race, gender, and sexual identity.
Do Black Lives Increasingly Matter?
Authors: Beer Christopher Todd
Published: April 2018

Christopher Todd Beer on trends in police killings of unarmed citizens.
Hemidiaphragmatic paralysis: A case report
Authors: Rohman Lebur , Sutanto Jazlina , Michla Yusuf
Published: April 2018

Hemidiaphragmatic paralysis is initially recognised as postoperative respiratory distress. The subsequent sequential management of the patient following arthroscopic shoulder surgery under interscalene block is described. Ultrasound-guided technique is considered to be the safest for interscalene block. Reducing the volume of anaesthetic used reduces its spread to the phrenic nerve and thus reduces the incidence of hemidiaphragmatic paralysis. Furthermore, a reduction in anaesthetic volume has equivalent analgesic efficacy.
Factors that affect scrub practitioner non-technical skills: A literature review
Authors: McClelland Guy
Published: April 2018

Non-technical skills are the cognitive and interpersonal behaviours that compliment clinical competence in surgery. Effective use of non-technical skills is essential for scrub practice, because they facilitate anticipation of the surgeon’s requirements and promote appropriate communication behaviours. This literature review analyses the factors that may influence a scrub practitioner’s use of non-technical skills during surgery. Recommendations are made that are intended to improve their use by reducing behavioural variations during surgery.
Extravasation injury leading to acute compartment syndrome in a child: The vital role of pulse oximetry in early detection and management
Authors: Rodger Daniel , Hammerschlag Jacinda
Published: April 2018

Acute compartment syndrome as a result of an extravasation injury is rare. The perioperative environment presents a unique risk that may contribute to more serious patient outcomes. Using a case study approach we report that the placement of a pulse oximeter on the cannulated limb can provide the first sign of vascular compromise.
Sternoclavicular joint
Authors: Dhawan Rohit , Singh Rohit Amol , Tins Bernhard , Hay Stuart M.
Published: April 2018

The sternoclavicular joint is a saddle shaped, synovial joint and is the only skeletal articulation between the axial skeleton and the upper limb. Here, a reviewis provided of the anatomy, biomechanics, traumatic and atraumatic conditions, and management options for the various conditions described.
Pitted keratolysis: a case report and review of current literature
Authors: Law Rona Wai Yin , So Eric , Chu Anson Ka Cheung , Logan Daniel B
Published: April 2018

The article offers a brief history of pitted keratolysis (PK), research regarding PK etiology, evaluation of PK, and current treatment modalities. The main objective of this article focuses on the current literature on PK, its presentation and symptomatology, prevalence, and available therapeutic options. We present a case report and review on PK of a patient treated with an over the counter antiperspirant, topical erythromycin, oral erythromycin, and proper education on hygiene, with complete resolution and without recurrence after a follow up of greater than 12 months.
Cross-Cultural Aspects: Exploring Motor Competence Among 7- to 8-Year-Old Children From Greece, Italy, and Norway
Authors: Haga Monika , Tortella Patrizia , Asonitou Katerina , Charitou Sophia , Koutsouki Dimitra , Fumagalli Guido , Sigmundsson Hermundur
Published: April 2018

Motor development is affected by maturation and growth but also influenced by the specific environmental and cultural context. Therefore, cross-cultural research can provide information about how different cultural contexts, lifestyles, and physical activity contexts can influence the process of developing motor competence. The purpose of this study was to evaluate aspects of motor competence among children from different cultural backgrounds. The sample of 463 children from 6 to 8 years consisting of 132 Greek children (52.3 % boys), 126 Italian children (53.9 % boys), and 205 Norwegian children (52.7) completed the Test of Motor Competence (TMC) including two fine motor tasks—Placing Bricks and Building Bricks—and two gross motor tasks—Heel to Toe Walking and Walking/Running in Slopes. The results indicate that the Norwegian children performed better in all tests; the differences were statistically significant in all four tasks compared with Italian children and in two tasks compared with the Greek children (Building Bricks and Heel to Toe Walking). Greek children performed significantly better than the Italians in two tasks: Placing Bricks and Heel to Toe Walking. Italian children were significantly faster than the Greek ones in one task: Walking/Running in Slopes. The differences in terms of levels of basic fine and gross motor skills between children from the different countries may be a consequence of both different physical activity contexts and cultural policies, attitudes, and habits toward movement.
National Narrative and Regional Subtext: Understanding the Rise of BJP in Assam
Authors: Tripathi Vikas , Das Tamasa , Goswami Sandhya
Published: April 2018

The unprecedented mandate in favour of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the 2016 Assembly elections in Assam necessitates a careful understanding of the growth and consolidation of the party in the state. The BJP’s rise in the state can be understood in the backdrop of a favourable social base which has perceivably shifted from the Congress in recent years. Many factors have been responsible for this shift identifiable through a withering Congress dominance and political stagnancy of the AGP. An understanding of the political shift in Assam with the concomitant rise of the BJP is incomplete without a look into the party movement dialectics marking BJP politics. A blatantly vocal Hindutva rhetoric has been cast aside opting instead for a regionalized portraiture of Hinduism in the state. In this, localized sects and symbols have been inducted into the BJP’s campaign which infused a strong sense of regional identification among the mass of electorate.
Adivasis and the State Politics in Jharkhand
Authors: Kumar Sujit
Published: April 2018

This article attempts to analyse the political behaviour of the adivasi groups in Jharkhand as rooted in the interplay of their interactions with different religions, exposure to non-agricultural economic activities and diverse nature of association with the state. The questions considered for inquiry are: Is the political terrain in Jharkhand moving towards ‘detribalization’ of governance? And, what are the factors influencing the voting behaviour of the adivasis? The article argues that the ambivalences occupying the interstices of the intra-community political behaviour are crucial in deciphering the adivasi politics. Ostensibly, the political choices of the adivasi community are largely framed in accordance with their everyday interaction with the local state as well as remote experiences of the latter as evident in cases of resource grab. The article is based upon the close observation of events concerning adivasis, analysis of assembly election data as well as news in local and national newspapers.
Music and Speech Perception in Children Using Sung Speech
Authors: Nie Yingjiu , Galvin John J. , Morikawa Michael , André Victoria , Wheeler Harley , Fu Qian-Jie
Published: April 2018

This study examined music and speech perception in normal-hearing children with some or no musical training. Thirty children (mean age = 11.3 years), 15 with and 15 without formal music training participated in the study. Music perception was measured using a melodic contour identification (MCI) task; stimuli were a piano sample or sung speech with a fixed timbre (same word for each note) or a mixed timbre (different words for each note). Speech perception was measured in quiet and in steady noise using a matrix-styled sentence recognition task; stimuli were naturally intonated speech or sung speech with a fixed pitch (same note for each word) or a mixed pitch (different notes for each word). Significant musician advantages were observed for MCI and speech in noise but not for speech in quiet. MCI performance was significantly poorer with the mixed timbre stimuli. Speech performance in noise was significantly poorer with the fixed or mixed pitch stimuli than with spoken speech. Across all subjects, age at testing and MCI performance were significantly correlated with speech performance in noise. MCI and speech performance in quiet was significantly poorer for children than for adults from a related study using the same stimuli and tasks; speech performance in noise was significantly poorer for young than for older children. Long-term music training appeared to benefit melodic pitch perception and speech understanding in noise in these pediatric listeners.
Numbers, Narratives, and Nation: Mainstream News Coverage of U.S. Latino Population Growth, 1990–2010
Authors: Díaz McConnell Eileen
Published: April 2018

Ideologies that support racial domination and White supremacy remain foundational in U.S. society, even as the nation becomes increasingly diverse and progressively focused on quantitative measurement. This study explores how a prominent mainstream news outlet represents the growth of the nation’s second largest population, Latinos, within this changing demographic and numeric environment. Drawing from two frameworks, the Latino Threat Narrative and Color-Blind Racism, quantitative and qualitative analyses are conducted with 174 Los Angeles Times ( LAT) articles about 2000 and 2010 census results. Reporters for the LAT, located in the single most important U.S. location for Latinos, frame Latinos and their population dynamics in line with the overtly racist narrative of Latino threat and the covertly racist ideology of color-blind racism. Moreover, the analyses reveal that quantitative logics circulating in the present evaluative climate further the view that Latinos pose cultural-demographic threats to the nation. Quantification also enhances color-blind frames and rhetorical strategies justifying present-day racial stratification and the subordinate locations of non-White groups. This suggests how White supremacy retains its power as the populations and metrics of evaluation change. Finally, given recent research linking demographic trends and media representations with attitudes, policy positions, and political partisanship, these representations have implications for the well-being of Latinos, other populations, and the nation.
Creating Reflexive Health Promotion Practitioners: Our Process of Integrating Reflexivity in the Development of a Health Promotion Course
Authors: Wigginton Britta , Fjeldsoe Brianna , Mutch Allyson , Lawler Sheleigh
Published: April 2018

In response to accreditation of our Master of Public Health program, integration of Indigenous public health competencies, and implementation of the health promotion practitioner accreditation in Australia, we designed a core Master of Public Health promotion course. In this article, we begin by describing the three sets of competencies that informed our course development. Despite consensus that reflexivity is central to effective health promotion practice, there was limited reference to reflexive practice within established competencies. However, given our broader alignment with Freire’s philosophy of “conscientization,” we came to realize that reflexivity was central to our pedagogical framework. In what follows, we describe the conceptualization of reflexivity that guided course development and how reflexivity was integrated into the lecture and assessment content. We highlight how reflection, as part of the assessment, was applied as a means of engaging students in their journey through understanding the inextricably social, political, economic, and cultural nature of health and health promotion practice.
Is verbal reference impaired in autism spectrum disorder? A systematic review
Authors: Malkin Louise , Abbot-Smith Kirsten , Williams David
Published: April 2018

Background and aims

Pragmatic language is a key difficulty in autism spectrum disorder. One such pragmatic skill is verbal reference, which allows the current entity of shared interest between speakers to be identified and thus enables fluid conversation. The aim of this review was to determine the extent to which studies have found that verbal reference is impaired in autism spectrum disorder. We organise the review in terms of the methodology used and the modality (production versus comprehension) in which proficiency with verbal reference was assessed. Evidence for the potential cognitive underpinnings of these skills is also reviewed.

Main contribution and methods

To our knowledge, this is the first systematic review of verbal reference in autism spectrum disorder. PsychINFO and Web of Science were systematically screened using the combination of search terms outlined in this paper. Twenty-four studies met our inclusion criteria. Twenty-two of these examined production, whereby the methodology ranged from elicited conversation through to elicited narrative, the ‘director’ task and other referential communication paradigms. Three studies examined reference interpretation. (One study investigated both production and appropriacy judgement). Four studies examined the relationship between appropriate usage of verbal reference and formal language (lexico-syntactic ability). Two studies investigated whether reference production related to Theory of Mind or Executive Functioning.

Conclusion and implications

Across a range of elicited production tasks, the predominant finding was that children and adults with autism spectrum disorder demonstrate a deficit in the production of appropriate verbal reference in comparison not only to typically developing groups, but also to groups with Developmental Language Disorder or Down syndrome. In contrast, the studies of reference interpretation which compared performance to typical control groups all found no between-group differences in this regard. To understand this cross-modality discrepancy, we need studies with the same sample of individuals, whereby the task requirements for comprehension and production are as closely matched as possible. The field also requires the development of experimental manipulations which allow us to pinpoint precisely if and how each comprehension and/or production task requires mentalising and/or various components of executive functioning. Only through such detailed and controlled experimental work would it be possible to determine the precise location of impairments in verbal reference in autism spectrum disorder. A better understanding of this would contribute to the development of interventions.
Education and fiscal decentralization. The case of municipal education in Chile
Authors: Letelier S Leonardo , Ormeño C Hector
Published: April 2018

Chile implemented a radical reform in favor of decentralization at the beginning of the 1980s, with municipalities taking over the administration of public school education. The government that came to power in 2014 is committed to revert this reform, removing public schools from municipal control. Using panel data gathered between 2005 and 2013, this study shows that municipalities with greater autonomy performed better when administrating schools. Two major conclusions may be drawn. First, selective decentralization in favor of more autonomous municipalities is a better public policy approach relative to an all across the board solution. Second, since this autonomy is very unevenly distributed across municipal governments, a renewed and more effective fiscal equalization system should be established in Chile.
How Nutrients Orchestrate Lysosome Positioning
Authors: Raiborg Camilla
Published: April 2018

As part of a starvation response, lysosomes cluster perinuclearly. This facilitates fusion between lysosomes and autophagosomes and ensures activation of catabolic processes. When nutrients are abundant, lysosomes rather translocate to the cell periphery where they contribute to anabolic signaling. The mechanisms underlying nutrient-dependent lysosome positioning have been enigmatic. Now, several recent reports shed light on these mechanisms, and we are beginning to understand how the nutritional status can control and coordinate lysosome translocation pathways. Interestingly, several of the mechanisms that control lysosome positioning depend on membrane contact sites.
In Close Proximity: The Lipid Droplet Proteome and Crosstalk With the Endoplasmic Reticulum
Authors: Bersuker Kirill , Olzmann James A.
Published: April 2018

Lipid droplets (LDs) are conserved, endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-derived organelles that act as a dynamic cellular repository for neutral lipids. Numerous studies have examined the composition of LD proteomes by using mass spectrometry to identify proteins present in biochemically isolated buoyant fractions that are enriched in LDs. Although many bona fide LD proteins were identified, high levels of non-LD proteins that contaminate buoyant fractions complicate the detection of true LD proteins. To overcome this problem, we recently developed a proximity-labeling proteomic method to define high-confidence LD proteomes. Moreover, employing this approach, we discovered that ER-associated degradation impacts the composition of LD proteomes by targeting select LD proteins for clearance by the 26S proteasome as they transit between the ER and LDs. These findings implicate the ER as a site of LD protein degradation and underscore the high degree of crosstalk between ER and LDs.
The Continuing Evolution of a Science for Students With Behavioral Disorders: Who, What, When, Where, and How
Authors: Scott Terrance M. , Burt Jonathan L.
Published: April 2018

Teachers report that students with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD) present challenges that are among the greatest they face on a daily basis. Research, however, clearly shows that teachers routinely receive little or no training in how to effectively work with students with challenging behaviors. This is particularly frustrating when considering the advances that have been made in the effective treatment of misbehavior. This article summarizes the evolution of a science for students with EBD in the context of the following questions: (a) Who is the subject of the science? (b) What intervention strategies yield the best results? (c) When should practitioners intervene? (d) Where is the least restrictive environment for students with EBD? and (e) How can schools best manage and implement the various components of successful interventions? A discussion of predictions and concerns for the future is provided to end the article.
Suppression of miR-26a attenuates physiological disturbances arising from exposure of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) to ammonia
Authors: Zhao Yan , Zhou Haotian , Ayisi Christian Larbi , Wang Yan , Wang Jun , Chen Xiaowu , Zhao Jinling
Published: April 2018

MicroRNAs may affect stress responses because they act as rapid responders at the post-translation level. In this study, we found that miR-26a is abundantly expressed in brain and gill tissues of tilapia. Expression of miR-26a in the brains decreased significantly with increasing ammonia concentrations using stem-loop qPCR. To analyze the function of miRNA in vivo, miR-26a was stably knocked down with an antagomir in tilapia. Following ammonia challenge, miR-26a antagomir treatment significantly suppressed blood ammonia / [Cl−] / [K+] concentration and the reactive oxygen species production, while markedly enhanced glutamine accumulation and antioxidant enzyme activity in the brain of tilapia, indicating that miR-26a may be involved in the remission of physiological disturbances upon ammonia stress. We strongly conclude that there is a direct link between miR-26a and the responses to ammonia in tilapia. Furthermore, bioinformatics analysis and luciferase assays demonstrated that miR-26a regulates HSP70 (heat shock protein 70) and GS (glutamine synthetase) expression by targeting their 3’-UTR and that the suppression of miR-26a could increase the intracellular level of HSP70 and GS in vivo.
Japanese macaque phonatory physiology
Authors: Herbst Christian T. , Koda Hiroki , Kunieda Takumi , Suzuki Juri , Garcia Maxime , Fitch W. Tecumseh , Nishimura Takeshi
Published: April 2018

While the call repertoire and its communicative function is relatively well explored in Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata), little empirical data is available on the physics and the physiology of this species' vocal production mechanism. Here, a 6 year old female Japanese macaque was trained to phonate under an operant conditioning paradigm. The resulting “coo” calls, and spontaneously uttered “growl” and “chirp” calls, were recorded with sound pressure level (SPL) calibrated microphones and electroglottography (EGG), a non-invasive method for assessing the dynamics of phonation. A total of 448 calls were recorded, complemented by ex vivo recordings on an excised Japanese macaque larynx. In this novel multidimensional investigative paradigm, in vivo and ex vivo data were matched via comparable EGG waveforms. Subsequent analysis suggests that the vocal range (range of fundamental frequency and SPL) was comparable to that of a 7-10 year old human, with the exception of low-intensity chirps, whose production may be facilitated by the species' vocal membranes. In coo calls, redundant control of fundamental frequency in relation to SPL was also comparable to humans. EGG data revealed that growls, coos, and chirps were produced by distinct laryngeal vibratory mechanisms. EGG further suggested changes in the degree of vocal fold adduction in vivo, resulting in spectral variation within the emitted coo calls, ranging from “breathy” (including aerodynamic noise components) to “non-breathy”. This is again analogous to humans, corroborating the notion that phonation in humans and non-human primates is based on universal physical and physiological principles.
Contribution of active atrial contraction to cardiac output in anesthetized American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis)
Authors: Joyce William , Crossley Janna , Elsey Ruth M. , Wang Tobias , Crossley Dane A.
Published: April 2018

Ventricular filling may occur directly from the venous circulation during early diastole or via atrial contraction in late diastole. The contribution of atrial contraction to ventricular filling is typically small in mammals (10-40%), but has been suggested to predominate in reptiles. We investigated the importance of atrial contraction in filling of the ventricle in American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) by bypassing both atria (with the use of ligatures to prevent atrial filling) and measuring the resultant effects on cardiac output in anesthetized animals. Atrial ligation had no significant effects on total systemic blood flow before or after adrenaline injection. Unexpectedly, pulmonary flow was increased following atrial ligation prior to adrenaline, but was unaffected after it. These findings suggest that the atria are non-essential (i.e. redundant) for ventricular filling in alligators, at least under anesthesia, but may serve as important volume reservoirs.
Comunicação assertiva e o relacionamento nas empresas
Authors: Gelis Filho Antonio , Blikstein Izidoro
Published: April 2018

Todos sabem o quanto é difícil controlar as emoções diante dos problemas organizacionais no dia-a-dia. Fugir de algumas armadilhas e desenvolver uma comunicação eficaz pode ser o caminho para estabelecer relações mais colaborativas no ambiente de trabalho.
De perto e de dentro: um novo olhar sobre a cidade
Authors: Magnani José Guilherme Cantor
Published: April 2018

Saber de um fato não é o mesmo que vivenciá-lo. Para além dos problemas, a diversidade das metrópoles pode oferecer experiências inovadoras e diferentes perspectivas sobre a sua realidade.
Memória urbana e esquecimentos paulistanos
Authors: Jayo Martin
Published: April 2018

Depois de passar 200 anos sonhando com o próprio futuro, as grandes cidades recentemente acordaram para a valorização de seu passado. São Paulo também acordou, embora ainda esteja com o raciocínio lento e vista turva.
Cidades inteligentes
Authors: Lemos André
Published: April 2018

De que forma as novas tecnologias − como a computação em nuvem, o Big Data e a Internet das Coisas − podem ajudar a melhorar a condição de vida nos espaços urbanos?
Da administração ao teatro experimental: uma trajetória Satyriana [entrevistado por Aline Lilian dos Santos e Martin Jayo]
Authors: García Vázquez Rodolfo
Published: April 2018

O diretor teatral Rodolfo García Vázquez se formou em Administração de Empresas na FGV-EAESP no início da década de 1980.  Em 1989, foi um dos fundadores de Os Satyros, um dos principais grupos brasileiros de teatro experimental, e hoje é um dos artistas mais atuantes no cenário cultural do país. Em entrevista à GV-executivo, ele contou detalhes da sua trajetória profissional, revelando os caminhos que o levaram das carteiras da EAESP à vida teatral. Também falou sobre o crescimento do mercado cultural no Brasil e o papel da arte na requalificação de áreas urbanas.