bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Adhesive Through-Reinforcement Improves the Fracture Toughness of a Laminated Birch Wood Composite
Authors: He Wenchang , Evans Philip D.
Published: January 2017

In this paper we test the hypothesis that adhesive through-reinforcement in combination with glass-fibre reinforcement of adhesive bond lines will significantly improve the fracture toughness of a laminated birch wood composite. We test this hypothesis using a model composite consisting of perforated veneer that allowed a polyurethane adhesive to penetrate and reinforce veneers within the composite. Model composite specimens were tested for mode I fracture properties, and scanning electron microscopy was used to examine the microstructure of fracture surfaces. Our results clearly show that through-reinforcement, and also reinforcing adhesive bond lines with glass-fibre, significantly improved fracture toughness of the birch wood composite. Our results also indicate that improvements in fracture toughness depended on the level of reinforcement. Improvements in fracture toughness were related to the ability of the reinforcement to arrest crack development during fracture testing and the fibre bridging effect of glass-fibre in adhesive bond lines. We conclude that through-reinforcement is an effective way of improving the fracture toughness of laminated wood composites, but further research is needed to develop practical ways of creating such reinforcement in composites that more closely resemble commercial products.
Mining Key Skeleton Poses with Latent SVM for Action Recognition
Authors: Li Xiaoqiang , Zhang Yi , Liao Dong
Published: January 2017

Human action recognition based on 3D skeleton has become an active research field in recent years with the recently developed commodity depth sensors. Most published methods analyze an entire 3D depth data, construct mid-level part representations, or use trajectory descriptor of spatial-temporal interest point for recognizing human activities. Unlike previous work, a novel and simple action representation is proposed in this paper which models the action as a sequence of inconsecutive and discriminative skeleton poses, named as key skeleton poses. The pairwise relative positions of skeleton joints are used as feature of the skeleton poses which are mined with the aid of the latent support vector machine (latent SVM). The advantage of our method is resisting against intraclass variation such as noise and large nonlinear temporal deformation of human action. We evaluate the proposed approach on three benchmark action datasets captured by Kinect devices: MSR Action 3D dataset, UTKinect Action dataset, and Florence 3D Action dataset. The detailed experimental results demonstrate that the proposed approach achieves superior performance to the state-of-the-art skeleton-based action recognition methods.
The Prognostic Value of Baseline Lymphocyte, Neutrophil, and Monocyte Counts in Locally Advanced Cervical Carcinoma Treated with Radiation
Authors: Singh Sareena , Himler Justin , Nagel Christa I. , Resnick Kimberly
Published: January 2017

Background. To determine the prognostic significance of pretreatment levels of circulating lymphocyte (CLC), neutrophil (CNC), and monocyte (CMC) counts in patients with locally advanced cervical carcinoma (CC) treated with definitive radiation.Methods. A retrospective, dual-institution review of patients with Stage IB2-IVA CC from 2005 to 2015. Progression-free (PFS) and Overall Survival (OS) were determined for high and low CLC, CNC, and CMC groups. Multivariate analysis was used to confirm prognostic value of baseline leukocyte counts.Results. 181 patients were included. Median follow-up time was 26 (3–89) months. CNC had no effect on PFS or OS. PFS was similar between CMC groups; however, OS was significantly improved for patients with low CMC (62.5 versus 45.3 months,p=0.016). High CLC was associated with improved PFS (48.5 versus 27.8 months,p=0.048) and OS (58.4 versus 34.9 months,p=0.048). On multivariate analysis, high CNC was associated with increased relapse risk (HR 1.12,p=0.006) and low CLC was associated with increased mortality risk (HR 0.67,p=0.027).Conclusion. This study demonstrates that leukocyte values can provide prognostic information in CC. These hypothesis-generating findings warrant further prospective investigations.
RelB Expression Determines the Differential Effects of Ascorbic Acid in Normal and Cancer Cells
Authors: Wei Xiaowei , Xu Yong , Xu Fang Fang , Chaiswing Luksana , Schnell David , Noel Teresa , Wang Chi , Chen Jinfei , St. Clair Daret K. , St. Clair William H.
Published: January 2017

Cancer cells typically experience higher oxidative stress than normal cells, such that elevating pro-oxidant levels can trigger cancer cell death. Although pre-exposure to mild oxidative agents will sensitize cancer cells to radiation, this pre-exposure may also activate the adaptive stress defense system in normal cells. Ascorbic acid is a prototype redox modulator that when infused intravenously appears to kill cancers without injury to normal tissues; however, the mechanisms involved remain elusive. In this study, we show how ascorbic acid kills cancer cells and sensitizes prostate cancer to radiation therapy while also conferring protection upon normal prostate epithelial cells against radiation-induced injury. We found that the NF-κB transcription factor RelB is a pivotal determinant in the differential radiosensitization effects of ascorbic acid in prostate cancer cells and normal prostate epithelial cells. Mechanistically, high reactive oxygen species concentrations suppress RelB in cancer cells. RelB suppression decreases expression of the sirtuin SIRT3 and the powerful antioxidant MnSOD, which in turn increases oxidative and metabolic stresses in prostate cancer cells. In contrast, ascorbic acid enhances RelB expression in normal cells, improving antioxidant and metabolic defenses against radiation injury. In addition to showing how RelB mediates the differential effects of ascorbic acid on cancer and normal tissue radiosensitivities, our work also provides a proof of concept for the existence of redox modulators that can improve the efficacy of radiotherapy while protecting against normal tissue injury in cancer settings. Cancer Res; 77(6); 1345–56. ©2017 AACR.
FLT3 and JAK2 Mutations in Acute Myeloid Leukemia Promote Interchromosomal Homologous Recombination and the Potential for Copy Neutral Loss of Heterozygosity
Authors: Gaymes Terry J. , Mohamedali Azim , Eiliazadeh Anthony L. , Darling David , Mufti Ghulam J.
Published: January 2017

Acquired copy neutral LOH (CN-LOH) is a frequent occurrence in myeloid malignancies and is often associated with resistance to standard therapeutic modalities and poor survival. Here, we show that constitutive signaling driven by mutated FLT3 and JAK2 confers interchromosomal homologous recombination (iHR), a precedent for CN-LOH. Using a targeted recombination assay, we determined significant iHR activity in internal tandem duplication FLT3 (FLT3-ITD) and JAK2V617F-mutated cells. Sister chromatid exchanges, a surrogate measure of iHR, was significantly elevated in primary FLT3-ITD normal karyotype acute myeloid leukemia (NK-AML) compared with wild-type FLT3 NK-AML. HR was harmonized to S phase of the cell cycle to repair broken chromatids and prevent iHR. Increased HR activity in G0 arrested primary FLT3-ITD NK-AML in contrast to wild-type FLT3 NK-AML. Cells expressing mutated FLT3-ITD demonstrated a relative increase in mutation frequency as detected by thymidine kinase (TK) gene mutation assay. Moreover, resistance was associated with CN-LOH at the TK locus. Treatment of FLT3-ITD– and JAK2V617F-mutant cells with the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine diminished reactive oxygen species (ROS), restoring iHR and HR levels. Our findings show that mutated FLT3-ITD and JAK2 augment ROS production and HR, shifting the cellular milieu toward illegitimate recombination events such as iHR and CN-LOH. Therapeutic reduction of ROS may thus prevent leukemic progression and relapse in myeloid malignancies. Cancer Res; 77(7); 1697–708. ©2017 AACR.
A Genome-Wide Loss-of-Function Screen Identifies SLC26A2 as a Novel Mediator of TRAIL Resistance
Authors: Dimberg Lina Y. , Towers Christina G. , Behbakht Kian , Hotz Taylor J. , Kim Jihye , Fosmire Susan , Porter Christopher C. , Tan Aik-Choon , Thorburn Andrew , Ford Heide L.
Published: January 2017

TRAIL is a potent death-inducing ligand that mediates apoptosis through the extrinsic pathway and serves as an important endogenous tumor suppressor mechanism. Because tumor cells are often killed by TRAIL and normal cells are not, drugs that activate the TRAIL pathway have been thought to have potential clinical value. However, to date, most TRAIL-related clinical trials have largely failed due to the tumor cells having intrinsic or acquired resistance to TRAIL-induced apoptosis. Previous studies to identify resistance mechanisms have focused on targeted analysis of the canonical apoptosis pathway and other known regulators of TRAIL receptor signaling. To identify novel mechanisms of TRAIL resistance in an unbiased way, we performed a genome-wide shRNA screen for genes that regulate TRAIL sensitivity in sublines that had been selected for acquired TRAIL resistance. This screen identified previously unknown mediators of TRAIL resistance including angiotensin II receptor 2, Crk-like protein, T-Box Transcription Factor 2, and solute carrier family 26 member 2 (SLC26A2). SLC26A2 downregulates the TRAIL receptors, DR4 and DR5, and this downregulation is associated with resistance to TRAIL. Its expression is high in numerous tumor types compared with normal cells, and in breast cancer, SLC26A2 is associated with a significant decrease in relapse-free survival.

Implication: Our results shed light on novel resistance mechanisms that could affect the efficacy of TRAIL agonist therapies and highlight the possibility of using these proteins as biomarkers to identify TRAIL-resistant tumors, or as potential therapeutic targets in combination with TRAIL. Mol Cancer Res; 15(4); 382–94. ©2017 AACR.
Oncogenic KRAS Targets MUC16/CA125 in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Liang Chen , Qin Yi , Zhang Bo , Ji Shunrong , Shi Si , Xu Wenyan , Liu Jiang , Xiang Jinfeng , Liang Dingkong , Hu Qiangsheng , Ni Quanxing , Xu Jin , Yu Xianjun
Published: January 2017

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a devastating disease with the 5-year survival rate less than 6%. Previous results indicated that serum levels of CA125 (encoded by MUC16) could be used to predict which groups of pancreatic cancer patients may benefit from surgery. However, the underlying mechanism remains elusive. Herein, using the Cancer Genome Atlas and clinicopathologic data obtained from our center, we demonstrate that high CA125 serum levels and expression levels of MUC16 are predictive of poor prognosis. MUC16 is also validated as a downstream target of KRAS, and their expression strongly correlated with each other in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, the KRAS/ERK axis induced upregulation of MUC16 and shedding of CA125 via its effector c-Myc in SW1990 and PANC-1 pancreatic cancer cells. Notably, proto-oncogene c-Myc could bind to the promoter of MUC16 and transcriptionally activate its expression. Taken together, these data establish CA125 as a prognostic marker for pancreatic cancer, and mechanistic studies uncovered the KRAS/c-Myc axis as a driving factor for upregulation of MUC16.

Implications: The current study uncovers the contribution of oncogenic KRAS to serum marker CA125 production through a mechanism that involves the ERK/c-Myc axis. Mol Cancer Res; 15(2); 201–12. ©2016 AACR.
SOFISTICAÇÃO DOS INVESTIDORES, LIBERDADE DE MOVIMENTAÇÃO E RISCO: UM ESTUDO DO MERCADO BRASILEIRO DE FUNDOS DE INVESTIMENTO EM AÇÕES
Authors: Funchal Bruno , Lourenço Diogo , Motoki Fabio Yoshio Suguri
Published: January 2017

No presente artigo investigamos como a sofisticação dos investidores e o nível de liberdade de entrada e saída do fundo se relacionam com os riscos tomados pelos gestores de fundos de investimento em ações no mercado brasileiro. Os resultados mostram que fundos voltados a investidores sofisticados possuem menor risco, indicando possíveis problemas de agência. Por sua vez, fundos fechados possuem risco aumentado, indicando que gestores podem estar aceitando maior risco em troca de maiores retornos no longo prazo. Usamos informações sobre fundos de ações da base Quantum Axis, totalizando 1280 fundos entre os anos de 2008 e 2013. Para mitigar preocupações com a adequação da medida de risco, usamos três medidas de risco distintas amplamente adotadas: VaR (Value at Risk), CVaR (Conditional Value at Risk) e Downside Risk.
Impacts of Meteorological Conditions, Aerosol Radiative Feedbacks, and Emission Reduction Scenarios on the Coastal Haze Episodes in Southeastern China in December 2013
Authors: Zhan Jianqiong , Chang Wenyuan , Li Wei , Wang Yanming , Chen Liqi , Yan Jinpei
Published: January 2017

Fujian Province in southeastern coastal China is a relatively clean region with low emissions, as its high altitude isolates it from the rest of the country. However, the region experienced haze episodes on 3–14 December 2013. The authors performed simulations using the Weather Research and Forecasting Model coupled with chemistry (WRF-Chem) to examine the impacts of meteorological conditions, aerosol radiative feedbacks (ARFs; including aerosol direct and nearly first indirect effect), and internal and external emissions reduction scenarios on particulate matter smaller than 2.5 μm (PM2.5) concentrations. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first time the WRF-Chem model has been used to study air quality in this region. The model reasonably reproduced the meteorological conditions and PM2.5 concentrations. The analysis demonstrated that the highest-PM2.5 event was associated with a cold surge that promoted the impingement of northern pollutants on the region, and PM2.5 concentrations were sensitive to the emissions from the Yangtze River delta (16.6%) and the North China Plain (12.1%). This suggests that efforts toward coastal air quality improvement require regional cooperation to reduce emissions. Noticeably, ARFs were unlikely to increase PM2.5 concentrations in the coastal region, which was in contrast to the case in northern China. ARFs induced strong clean wind anomalies in the coastal region and also lowered the inland planetary boundary layer, which enhanced the blocking of northern pollutants crossing the high terrain in the north of Fujian Province. This indicates that ARFs tend to weaken the haze intensity in the southeastern coastal region.
Spatial Characterization of Flood Magnitudes over the Drainage Network of the Delaware River Basin
Authors: Lu Ping , Smith James A. , Lin Ning
Published: January 2017

A framework to characterize the distribution of flood magnitudes over large river networks is developed using the Delaware River basin in the northeastern United States as a principal study region. Flood magnitudes are characterized by the flood index, which is defined as the ratio of the flood peak for a flood event to the historical 10-yr flood magnitude. Event flood peaks are computed continuously over the drainage network using a distributed hydrologic model, CUENCAS, with high-resolution radar rainfall fields as the principal forcing. The historical 10-yr flood is calculated based on scaling relationships between the 10-yr flood and drainage area. Summary statistics for characterizing the probability distribution and spatial correlation of flood magnitudes over the drainage network are developed based on the flood index. This framework is applied to four flood events in the Delaware River basin that reflect the principal flood-generating mechanisms in the eastern United States: landfalling tropical cyclones (Hurricane Ivan in September 2004 and Hurricane Irene in August 2011), late winter/early spring extratropical systems (April 2005), and warm season convective systems (June 2006). The framework can be utilized to characterize the spatial distribution of floods, most notably for floods caused by landfalling tropical cyclones, which play an important role in controlling the upper tail of flood peak magnitudes over much of the eastern United States.
Spatial Sensitivity Analysis of Simulated Land Surface Patterns in a Catchment Model Using a Set of Innovative Spatial Performance Metrics
Authors: Koch Julian , Mendiguren Gorka , Mariethoz Gregoire , Stisen Simon
Published: January 2017

Distributed hydrological models simulate states and fluxes of water and energy in the terrestrial hydrosphere at each cell. The predicted spatial patterns result from complex nonlinear relationships and feedbacks. Spatial patterns are often neglected during the modeling process, and therefore a spatial sensitivity analysis framework that highlights their importance is proposed. This study features a comprehensive analysis of spatial patterns of actual evapotranspiration (ET) and land surface temperature (LST), with the aim of quantifying the extent to which forcing data and model parameters drive these patterns. This framework is applied on a distributed model [MIKE Système Hydrologique Européen (MIKE SHE)] coupled to a land surface model [Shuttleworth and Wallace–Evapotranspiration (SW-ET)] of a catchment in Denmark. Twenty-two scenarios are defined, each having a simplified representation of a potential driver of spatial variability. A baseline model that incorporates full spatial detail is used to assess sensitivity. High sensitivity can be attested in scenarios where the simulated spatial patterns differ significantly from the baseline. The core novelty of this study is that the analysis is based on a set of innovative spatial performance metrics that enable a reliable spatial pattern comparison. Overall, LST is very sensitive to air temperature and wind speed whereas ET is rather driven by vegetation. Both are sensitive to groundwater coupling and precipitation. The conclusions may be limited to the selected catchment and to the applied modeling system, but the suggested framework is generically relevant for the modeling community. While the applied metrics focus on specific spatial information, they partly exhibit redundant information. Thus, a combination of metrics is the ideal approach to evaluate spatial patterns in models outputs.
Influences of Larger-Scale Vortex Variability on Tornado Pressure Minima in an Outer-Flow Region: Explorations Using a Parametric Tangential Wind Model
Authors: Wood Vincent T. , Tanamachi Robin L. , White Luther W.
Published: January 2017

Previous studies have neglected to distinguish between a central pressure deficit due to a tornado itself and due to a parent mesocyclone in which the tornado is embedded. To obtain improved understanding of the influences of larger-scale vortex variability on smaller-scale tornado pressure deficits, a parametric tangential wind model supplemented with a cyclostrophic speed equation was used to explore the role that the variability plays in influencing radial pressure deficits by deducing radial pressure deficit distributions from radial profiles of hypothetically superpositioned, dual-maxima tangential velocities in the free atmosphere, where a dominant swirling flow was in approximate cyclostrophic balance. The cyclostrophic approximation was partitioned into two separate components, allowing one to scrutinize and determine which of the concentric vortices contributes most significantly to the tornado pressure minima. The model parametrically constructed a smaller-scale, stronger vortex (rapidly swirling flow) that was centered within a larger-scale, weaker vortex (slowly swirling flow) to represent a tornado centered within a supercell, low-level, parent mesocyclone above a tornado boundary layer. The radial pressure deficit fluctuations were varied by changing one of five key velocity-controlling parameters assigned to one vortex to represent a variety of vortex strengths. Based on eight experiments, the larger-scale, weaker (smaller scale, stronger) vortex contributed less (more) to the total pressure deficit than the smaller-scale, stronger (larger scale, weaker) vortex. The stronger vortex centered within the larger-scale, weaker vortex has a larger central pressure minimum than it does in the absence of the larger-scale vortex.
Role of the Convection Scheme in Modeling Initiation and Intensification of Tropical Depressions over the North Atlantic
Authors: Duvel J.-P. , Camargo S. J. , Sobel A. H.
Published: January 2017

The authors analyze how modifications of the convective scheme modify the initiation of tropical depression vortices (TDVs) and their intensification into stronger warm-cored tropical cyclone–like vortices (TCs) in global climate model (GCM) simulations. The model’s original convection scheme has entrainment and cloud-base mass flux closures based on moisture convergence. Two modifications are considered: one in which entrainment is dependent on relative humidity and another in which the closure is based on the convective available potential energy (CAPE).

Compared to reanalysis, TDVs are more numerous and intense in all three simulations, probably as a result of excessive parameterized deep convection at the expense of convection detraining at midlevel. The relative humidity–dependent entrainment rate increases both TDV initiation and intensification relative to the control. This is because this entrainment rate is reduced in the moist center of the TDVs, giving more intense convective precipitation, and also because it generates a moister environment that may favor the development of early stage TDVs. The CAPE closure inhibits the parameterized convection in strong TDVs, thus limiting their development despite a slight increase in the resolved convection. However, the maximum intensity reached by TC-like TDVs is similar in the three simulations, showing the statistical character of these tendencies.

The simulated TCs develop from TDVs with different dynamical origins than those observed. For instance, too many TDVs and TCs initiate near or over southern West Africa in the GCM, collocated with the maximum in easterly wave activity, whose characteristics are also dependent on the convection scheme considered.
Why Should Women Get Less? Evidence on the Gender Pay Gap from Multifactorial Survey Experiments
Authors: Auspurg Katrin , Hinz Thomas , Sauer Carsten
Published: January 2017

Gender pay gaps likely persist in Western societies because both men and women consider somewhat lower earnings for female employees than for otherwise similar male employees to be fair. Two different theoretical approaches explain “legitimate” wage gaps: same-gender referent theory and reward expectations theory. The first approach states that women compare their lower earnings primarily with that of other underpaid women; the second approach argues that both men and women value gender as a status variable that yields lower expectations about how much each gender should be paid for otherwise equal work. This article is the first to analyze hypotheses contrasting the two theories using an experimental factorial survey design. In 2009, approximately 1,600 German residents rated more than 26,000 descriptions of fictitious employees. The labor market characteristics of each employee and the amount of information given about them were experimentally varied across all descriptions. The results primarily support reward expectations theory. Both men and women produced gender pay gaps in their fairness ratings (with the mean ratio of just female-to-male wages being .92). Respondents framed the just pay ratios by the gender inequalities they experienced in their own occupations, and some evidence of gender-specific evaluation standards emerged.
Metformin Prevents the Progression of Dysplastic Mucosa of the Head and Neck to Carcinoma in Nondiabetic Patients
Authors: Lerner Michael Zvi , Mor Niv , Paek Hyung , Blitzer Andrew , Strome Marshall
Published: January 2017

Objective:

Metformin is an oral anti-hyperglycemic agent used to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). In vitro and animal models have shown that metformin can prevent the progression of oral lesions to carcinoma; however, there is conflicting data in the clinical literature regarding risk reduction for malignancy in head and neck cancer (HNC).

Study Design:

Case series.

Methods:

We present 3 cases in which adjuvant metformin therapy was used to treat recurrent and multifocal dysplastic lesions in previously treated nondiabetic HNC patients.

Results:

Patients included 1 with a history of oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and 2 with a history of laryngeal SCC. Follow-up time ranged between 3 and 33 months. All 3 patients showed complete or partial regression of the remaining mucosal lesions and did not require any additional surgeries.

Conclusion:

We present 3 cases of nondiabetic HNC patients with field cancerization who showed a good response to adjuvant therapy with metformin. The nondiabetic population is not affected by confounding factors such as increased risk of malignancy and decreased overall survival that is itself associated with abnormal glucose metabolism and is therefore an excellent cohort in which to study the use of adjuvant metformin therapy in HNC patients.
Trial Vocal Fold Injection Predicts Thyroplasty Outcomes in Nonparalytic Glottic Incompetence
Authors: Dumberger Lukas D. , Overton Lewis , Buckmire Robert A. , Shah Rupali N.
Published: January 2017

Objectives:

Trial vocal fold injection (TVFI) may be used prior to permanent medialization when voice outcome is uncertain. We aimed to determine whether voice outcomes of TVFI are predictive of, or correlate with outcomes after type I Gore-Tex medialization thyroplasty (GMT) in patients with nonparalytic glottic incompetence (GI).

Methods:

Thirty-five patients with nonparalytic GI who underwent TVFI followed by GMT were retrospectively reviewed. Change in voice-related quality of life (VRQOL) after TVFI was compared to change in VRQOL 3 to 9 months after GMT. Similar comparisons were made for change in glottal function index (GFI) and change in grade, roughness, breathiness, asthenia, and strain (GRBAS). Sample correlation coefficients were calculated.

Results:

Change in VRQOL after TVFI showed good correlation with change in VRQOL after GMT, r = 0.55. Change in GFI after TVFI showed strong correlation with change in GFI after GMT, r = 0.74. Change in GRBAS after TVFI showed excellent correlation with change in GRBAS after GMT, r = 0.90.

Conclusion:

The TVFI is a useful tool in nonparalytic GI when outcomes from glottic closure procedures are not clear. Voice outcome measures after TVFI strongly correlate with outcomes from GMT. These data may be used to more confidently counsel patients regarding their predicted outcomes of permanent medialization.
Sample Preparation for Repeated Measurements on a Single Liquid Droplet Using Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy
Authors: Lazic Violeta , Fantoni Roberta , Palucci Antonio , Ciaffi Massimiliano
Published: January 2017

We studied changes in laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) signal intensity with the thickness of a liquid layer placed on a solid substrate, where an easily evaporating methanol sample was used. For a certain optimal liquid film thickness we obtained a manifold increase of the LIBS signal from methanol. Progressive liquid film thinning leads to a reduction and a successive disappearance of laser-induced splashes; the latter condition drastically reduces the sample consumption and allows measurements to be repeated many times on a single liquid droplet. In following, we developed two methods for actively controlled deformation, i.e., thinning of a liquid droplet (volume ∼10 µl) prior to its sampling by LIBS. Control of the droplet’s height was achieved on a Si–SiO2 wafer substrate by electro-wetting in the case of water solutions or by target rotation in the case of viscous liquids. The chosen substrate also has the advantages of low cost, easy manipulation, and very high purity, thus minimizing interference with analytes. Through the droplet deformation, in a single-pulse excitation at moderate laser energy (70 mJ), we clearly detected Fe and Mn in peanut oil, which represent trace elements in edible oils (∼ 1 part per billion), according to results published in the literature.
Mercury Amalgam Diffusion in Human Teeth Probed Using Femtosecond LIBS
Authors: Bello Liciane Toledo , da Ana Patricia Aparecida , Santos Dário , Krug Francisco José , Zezell Denise Maria , Vieira Nilson Dias , Samad Ricardo Elgul
Published: January 2017

In this work the diffusion of mercury and other elements from amalgam tooth restorations through the surrounding dental tissue (dentin) was evaluated using femtosecond laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (fs-LIBS). To achieve this, seven deciduous and eight permanent extracted human molar teeth with occlusal amalgam restorations were half-sectioned and analyzed using pulses from a femtosecond laser. The measurements were performed from the amalgam restoration along the amalgam/dentin interface to the apical direction. It was possible to observe the presence of metallic elements (silver, mercury, copper and tin) emission lines, as well as dental constituent ones, providing fingerprints of each material and comparable data for checking the consistence of the results. It was also shown that the elements penetration depth values in each tooth are usually similar and consistent, for both deciduous and permanent teeth, indicating that all the metals diffuse into the dentin by the same mechanism. We propose that this diffusion mechanism is mainly through liquid dragging inside the dentin tubules. The mercury diffused further in permanent teeth than in deciduous teeth, probably due to the longer diffusion times due to the age of the restorations. It was possible to conclude that the proposed femtosecond-LIBS system can detect the presence of metals in the dental tissue, among the tooth constituent elements, and map the distribution of endogenous and exogenous chemical elements, with a spatial resolution that can be brought under 100 µm.
High-dimensional Bayesian Variable Selection Methods: A Comparison Study
Authors: Shi Guiling , Lim Chae Young , Maiti Tapabrata
Published: January 2017

Bayesian analysis can reach the aim of model selection based on shrinkage priors. Here, we explain three methods that have been demonstrated giving reasonable performance when working on high-dimensional model selection problems. Also, we compare these methods using simulation and give real data application. In addition, we extend the method based on Dirichlet–Laplace (DL) prior from normal means problem to linear regression model, and show the minimax contraction rate still holds under mild conditions.
Generation of New Families of Discrete Distributions
Authors: Rattihalli R.N. , Bhati Deepesh
Published: January 2017

New families of discrete distributions are obtained by inverting non-negative integer-valued discrete distributions. Two methods, namely P-inverting and Q-inverting are proposed. The “ P-inverse” is generated from a non-increasing probability mass function (PMF), while “ Q-inverse” results in a non-increasing PMF. Some relations between the original and the generated distributions are established. Models are shown to give good fits for some well-known datasets.
Functional electrical stimulation therapy for severe hemiplegia: Randomized control trial revisited
Authors: Marquez-Chin Cesar , Bagher Shaghayegh , Zivanovic Vera , Popovic Milos R.
Published: January 2017

Background.

Stroke is the leading cause of long-term disability. Stroke survivors seldom improve their upper-limb function when their deficit is severe, despite recently developed therapies.

Purpose.

This study aims to assess the efficacy of functional electrical stimulation therapy in improving voluntary reaching and grasping after severe hemiplegia.

Method.

A post hoc analysis of a previously completed randomized control trial ( clinicaltrials.gov , No. NCT00221078) was carried out involving 21 participants with severe upper-limb hemiplegia (i.e., Fugl-Meyer Assessment–Upper Extremity [FMA-UE] ≤ 15) resulting from stroke.

Findings.

Functional Independence Measure Self-Care subscores increased 22.8 (±6.7) points in the intervention group and 9 (±6.5) in the control group, following 40 hr of equal-intensity therapy. FMA-UE score changes were 27.2 (±13.5) and 5.3 (±11.0) for the intervention and control groups, respectively.

Implications.

The results may represent the largest upper-limb function improvements in any stroke population to date, especially in those with severe upper-limb deficit.
The Impact of Ethnic Minorities on China’s Foreign Policy
Authors: Clarke Michael
Published: January 2017

This article argues, through a case study of the evolving impact of the Xinjiang and Uyghur issue, that the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) ethnic minorities have been a significant factor in Beijing’s foreign relations throughout its history. Since the end of the Cold War in particular, China’s approach to the Xinjiang and Uyghur issue has played an important role in undergirding domestic stability and shaping its relations with Central Asia. More broadly, the case of Xinjiang and the Uyghur suggests that the nature and scale of the challenge posed by any one ethnic minority in the context of the PRC’s foreign policy has largely been a function of the interplay of five major factors: the historical relationship between the ethnic group and the Chinese state; the geographic concentration of an ethnic minority; the degree of acculturation to the dominant Han society; external great power support; and mobilised diasporas.
HEART: Prophylaxis in Rheumatic and Nonrheumatic Mitral Insufficiency
Authors: Blackman Norman S. , Kuskin Lawrence
Published: January 2017

Clinical, epidemologic, and experimental findings suggest that acquired mitral insufficiency should not invariably be attributed to rheumatic fever. In this series of childhood cases, more than 50 per cent of the instances of “pure” mitral insufficiency did not have an acceptable past history of rheumatic fever in terms of the Jones Criteria for the diagnosis of rheumatic fever. The authors therefore recommend that daily antibacterial prophylaxis should be limited to those children with valvular heart disease who have had at least one of the major manifestations of the Jones Criteria. But all cases of acquired valvular heart disease should remain under continued clinical observation, and be given antibacterial therapy to prevent bacterial endocarditis of the damaged valves whenever indicated.
The Ethic of Community and Incorporating Undocumented Immigrant Concerns Into Ethical School Leadership
Authors: Crawford Emily R.
Published: January 2017

Purpose: If Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) takes place in a community near school property, maintaining a school environment conducive to learning can be difficult. This article examines (a) how a school leader and personnel perceived the impact that ICE activity in their community had on students and families and (b) whether school personnel incorporated community concerns in their response, and if they exhibited an “ethic of community.” Research Methods/Approach: Data come from an embedded case study of 14 educators in a school that experienced ICE activity close to school grounds in 2008. Findings: The principal and other school personnel tried to minimize the impact that uncertainty over ICE’s presence in the neighborhood could have on the school environment, and took steps to limit the short-term and long-term effects on the community. Personnel demonstrated that prioritizing relationships, dialogue, and collaboration with undocumented community members was central to their decision-making process. Implications for Research and Practice: School leaders and practitioners may not know their legal and/or ethical responsibilities toward undocumented students—or anticipate contexts related to the legal status of students’ family members. This article highlights the need for schools and school districts to create policies and resources to protect undocumented students’ educational rights and ensure that personnel receive training on those policies. Research can expand understanding of how personnel respond to the sensitive personal and legal contexts involving undocumented families.
Student Evaluation of Teacher Effectiveness: A Case Study
Authors: Clifford Carbno W.
Published: January 2017

Although student evaluations of instruction have been widely used in decisions that affect the welfare of faculty members for over a decade, questions about the dependability of such data are still apropos. This paper analyzes the generalizability of student evaluations of college instruction and applies generalizability theory data collected in an all too common design. The results suggest that the naive use of student evaluations as a measure of teacher effectiveness may lead to decisions that are based on data that are not very dependable.
On the Differences Between Conger's and Velicer's Definitions of Suppressor
Authors: Tzelgov Joseph , Henik Avishai
Published: January 2017

In previous studies, Velicer (1978) defined suppression situation in terms of the relations between part correlation and zero order validity. Conger (1974) defined suppressor in terms of regression weights. The present work clarifies the difference between the two approaches. We suggest that Velicer's suppressor circumscribes only a subset of the suppression situations as defined by Conger.
The Validity of Written Simulation Exercises for Assessing Clinical Skills in Legal Education
Authors: Alderman Donald L. , Evans Franklin R. , Wilder Gita
Published: January 2017

Four different groups of respondents completed a set of simulation exercises intended to reflect lawyering skills involved in client interviews. The written simulation exercises began with a brief description of a practical situation and required a series of interdependent steps be taken toward resolution of a specific problem in client interviewing. The four response groups were: (a) undergraduate prelaw students; (b) law students without any direct client experience; (c) law students completing programs of clinical legal education; and (d) law professors and attorneys. Scores on the simulation exercises showed successive, significant increases across response groups and seemed independent of academic preparation and ability. These results suggest both the appropriateness of simulation exercises as measures of clinical skills in legal education and the effectiveness of clinical programs in promoting the development of such skills within law schools.
Predicting Student Grade Point Average at a Community College from Scholastic Aptitude Tests and from Measures Representing Three Constructs in Vroom's Expectancy Theory Model of Motivation
Authors: Malloch Douglas C. , Michael William B.
Published: January 2017

For a sample of 71 full-time students attending a large community college in the San Francisco Bay area, the objective of this investigation was to examine the degree of relationship between GPA earned during one academic quarter and: (a) an ability measure defined as scores on the composite of four academic tests in the ACT Assessment (American College Testing Program, 1959–1980) or scores on the College Board Scholastic Aptitude Test (Educational Testing Service, 1948–1980) that had been converted to scores on the academic composite of the ACT Assessment; (b) standing on an expectancy measure defined as a student's anticipated GPA; (c) scores on each of six measures representing a valence construct that indicates the relative desirability of long-range student goals; (d) scores on each of six measures portraying an instrumentality construct reflecting the facilitative effect of college grades (a short-term goal) as perceived by students in realizing long-term goals (such as vocational success or enduring friendships); and (e) an unweighted linear combination of a scholastic aptitude test score and placement on a contrived motivational construct constituting a multiplicative function of the expectancy, valence and instrumentality constructs consistent with Vroom's (1964, 1965) conceptualization. Ability and expectancy measures were found to be useful in predicting academic performance of community college students. The valence and instrumentality constructs contributed little, if any, validity to prediction of academic performance.
A Procedure for Predicting Underachievement in Mathematics Among Female College Students
Authors: Pines Sylvia F.
Published: January 2017

This study was designed to identify those females who are predicted to fall substantially below their male counterparts in mathematical participation and performance (female potential underachievers) and who are most in need of intervention procedures early in their college career. The subjects were 457 college graduates. A battery of high school variables was used to predict the students' college experience as measured by two separate variables: (a) the number of college mathematics courses (participation) and (b) the mathematics grade point average with each course weighted by its difficulty (performance). If the levels of mathematical performance of females and males with the same high school background were equal, one would expect the difference in their predicted performance to be close to zero. However, significant differences between the sexes were observed in their regression equations of prediction. Therefore, the differences between the male and female equations of prediction can be considered the vehicles for identifying female potential underachieves. Should colleges institute intervention procedures, this study provides an objective measure of their success.
Measures of Anomie and Locus-of-Control for Adolescents: Evidence of Factorial Validity
Authors: Henley Walters Lynda , Klein Alice E.
Published: January 2017

Because of the lack of clarity of anomie and locus-of-control that has resulted from use of the same terminology in discussion of the two constructs, items from the Crumbaugh Purpose-in-Life Test (anomie) and the Nowicki-Strickland Locus-of-Control Scale for Children were submitted together for factor analyses. The first sample included 349 adolescents; the cross-validation sample contained 404 adolescents from the same population. Similar factor structures were found in both samples when principal axes were rotated to varimax solutions and to oblique solutions. No item from one instrument loaded above .30 on any factor characterized by items from the other instrument. It was concluded that the instruments measure different constructs and are factorially valid when considered together.
A Validity Investigation of the Achievement Anxiety Test
Authors: Plake Barbara S. , Smith Elizabeth P. , Damsteegt Don C.
Published: January 2017

Since 1960 educational researchers have been using the Achievement Anxiety Test (AAT), which presumably measures independent aspects of achievement anxiety: facilitating and debilitating components. In several earlier investigations, developers have reported construct and predictive validity of the subscales from their use of anxiety measures and performance criteria. However, the hypothesized independence of the subscales and underlying factor structure of the test have been overlooked. Because the two subscales have been used to provide a difference score, the status of the interrelationship between the subscales is of concern. This study was concerned with the concurrent validity of the AAT and with its factor structure to provide empirical evidence about the quality of AAT.
Factorial Validity of a Referral Preference Rating Scale
Authors: Brazil Nettye , Pollock John H.
Published: January 2017

The validity of the Referral Preference Rating Scale (RPRS) was studied for a sample of 294 high school teachers. The teachers responded to a 50 item four-level Liker-type rating scale. A principal axis factor analysis with a varimax rotation disclosed four behavior categories of concern to teachers. The categories of behavior which interfered with classroom teaching were related to physical aggression, interruptions of class attendance, lack of readiness to become involved in a task, and inappropriate verbal behavior. It is concluded that the Referral Preference Rating Scale identified the main concerns of classroom teachers at the secondary level and clustered these concerns in terms of the most disruptive classroom behaviors.
Validity of the Disguised Structured Instrument for the Assessment of Attitudes Toward the Poor
Authors: Gross Carol J. , Laurence Passmore J.
Published: January 2017

The purpose of this study was to investigate the validity of the Disguised Structured Instrument for the Assessment of Attitudes Toward the Poor (AATP) developed by J. A. Peterson. The study investigated the relationships between selected personal or demographic variables (sex, age, father's socioeconomic status, marital status, choice of major field, and prior work experience) and attitudes toward the poor. AATP scores of a sample of 116 summer session college students were correlated with the selected variables. Data were analyzed by a series of correlations, a linear multiple regression, and a discriminant analysis. No statistically significant relationships were found between scores on the AATP and the designated variables. It was concluded that the validity of the AATP has yet to be established. Thus, the AATP should not be considered a validated research instrument.
Measuring Drug-Related Attitudes
Authors: Levitov Justin E. , Thompson Bruce , Miederhoff Patrick A.
Published: January 2017

There are relatively few instruments that measure attitudes toward both drug users and drug usage, including abuse of prescription drugs. This study was concerned with the measurement charcteristics of an instrument which can be employed for this purpose. Subjects were 347 teachers and college students. Analysis included calculation of factor reliability, in variance, and validity coefficients. The results suggest that the attitude items can be employed to evaluate impacts which represent an important aspect of most drug education programs.
Convergent Validity of the Erwin Identity Scale
Authors: Dary Erwin T. , Schmidt Marlin R.
Published: January 2017

Evidence is presented partially supporting the convergent validity of the Erwin Identity Scale from use of two samples of high school students. Two EIS subscales, Confidence and Sexual Identity, were moderately correlated with Simmons's Identity Achievement Scale and Rotter's Internal-External Scale. No relationship was found between the third EIS subscale, Conceptions About Body and Appearance, and either Simmons's or Rotter's scales.

The development of identity has been recognized as an important aspect of human development for years (Bourne, 1980; James, 1890). What was strictly a psychological concept has now become common conversation in the American culture, manifest by phrases such as “seeking an identity” or “identity crisis.” Although Erikson (1950, 1968) has been given the distinction for advancing the psychological theory of identity, he has also been given credit for contributing to confusion of the concept (Thayer, 1963). Because of this confusion, several interpretations of Erikson's work have been proposed. The conceptualizations of Marcia and Chickering have been two of the most widely discussed (Bourne, 1980; Parker, 1978).
Stability in the Factor Structure of the Modernity Scale: Implications for Factorial Validity
Authors: Leak Gary , Watson Vickie M.
Published: January 2017

The factorial in variance of the Modernity Scale was investigated by using two samples of students (over two years) from a public university in the Pacific Northwest and two samples of students (over two semesters) from a small, church-affiliated university in the Midwest. Factor analysis consistently yielded a four factor solution, with the first factor demonstrating stability across the two church samples and across universities. However, the remaining factors failed to produce any evidence of factor stability. The lack of stability in three of four factors identified in various analyses casts doubt on the factorial validity of the entire scale.