bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pore Types and Quantitative Evaluation of Pore Volumes in the Longmaxi Formation Shale of Southeast Chongqing, China
Authors: CHEN Fangwen , LU Shuangfang , DING Xue
Published: February 2018

The common microscale to nanoscale pore types were introduced and divided into organic and inorganic pores to estimate their contributions to porosity in the Lower Silurian Longmaxi Formation shale of southeast Chongqing. Following the material balance principle, the organic porosity values, which changed with formation subsidence and thermal evolution, were calculated using chemical kinetics methods and corrected via the organic porosity correction coefficient, which was obtained from field emission scanning electron microscopy. Grain density values were determined using the contents and true densities of compositions in the shale samples. The total porosity was calculated based on the grain and bulk densities. The inorganic porosity was determined from the difference between the total porosity and organic porosity at the same depth. The results show that inorganic pores mainly contain microfractures, microchannels, clay intergranular pores, intercrystalline pores and intracrystalline pores in the Lower Silurian Longmaxi Formation shale of southeast Chongqing. Organic pores mainly include organopore and fossil pore. The total porosity, organic porosity and inorganic porosity of organic‐rich shale samples can be quantitatively evaluated using this method. The total porosity, organic porosity and inorganic porosity values of the Longmaxi Formation shale samples from the well Py1 in southeast Chongqing lie in 2.75%–6.14%, 0.08%–2.52% and 1.41%–4.92% with average values of 4.34%, 0.95% and 3.39%, respectively. The contributions of the inorganic pores to the total porosity are significantly greater than those of the organic pores.
Longitudinal Associations Between Alcohol‐Related Cognitions and Use in African American and European American Adolescent Girls
Authors: Foster Dawn W. , Ye Feifei , O'Malley Stephanie S. , Chung Tammy , Hipwell Alison E. , Sartor Carolyn E.
Published: February 2018

Background

African American (AA) girls initiate alcohol use later and drink less than European American (EA) girls, potentially reflecting differences in the development of drinking behaviors. This study examined alcohol‐related cognitions: expectancies, attitudes, and intention to drink, as possible sources of variation by race in alcohol use. The aim of this study was to characterize the nature and degree of association between cognitions and use over time and by race in EA and AA girls.

Methods

Data were drawn from the longitudinal Pittsburgh Girls Study (N = 2,450), an urban population‐based sample of girls and their caregivers recruited when girls were between ages 5 and 8, and assessed annually through adolescence. Cross‐lagged panel models were conducted separately by race (56.2% AA, 43.8% EA) to identify patterns of association between alcohol use and cognitions from ages 12 to 17 in 2,173 girls.

Results

Endorsement of cognitions and use was higher overall in EA than AA girls but the magnitude of cross‐lagged path coefficients did not differ significantly by race. In both groups, bidirectional effects emerged between intentions and use, and alcohol use largely predicted cognitions across ages. However, intention to drink was the only alcohol‐related cognition that consistently predicted subsequent use (odds ratios ranged from 1.55 to 2.71).

Conclusions

Although rates of alcohol use and endorsement of cognitions were greater in EA than AA girls, the anticipated racial differences in longitudinal associations between cognitions and use did not emerge, indicating that variation in associations between use and cognitions does not account for the lower prevalence of alcohol use in AA compared with EA girls. Furthermore, our finding that intention to drink is a consistent, robust predictor of subsequent alcohol use suggests the need to investigate potentially modifiable factors that influence intention to drink across racial groups.
Does well‐being impact individuals’ risky decisions and susceptibility to cognitive bias?
Authors: Moulang Carly , Strydom Maria
Published: February 2018

This article explores the relation between individual well‐being, risky decision‐making, susceptibility to cognitive biases and investor beliefs about investing. A survey of one hundred and two individuals revealed that those with higher satisfaction with life are more prone to taking risks. In a loss frame, participants who were most likely to take a gamble had higher levels of psychological, social and overall well‐being. Lower levels of satisfaction with life were found to impact the susceptibility of the reflection effect cognitive bias. In addition to this, well‐being was found to be associated with investment beliefs, particularly those concerning diversification, the need to be alert and active, and the risk/return trade‐off.
Adipokines and inflammation: is it a question of weight?
Authors: Francisco Vera , Pino Jesus , Gonzalez‐Gay Miguel Angel , Mera Antonio , Lago Francisca , Gómez Rodolfo , Mobasheri Ali , Gualillo Oreste
Published: February 2018

Obesity has reached epidemic proportions in the Western society and is increasing in the developing world. It is considered as one of the major contributors to the global burden of disability and chronic diseases, including autoimmune, inflammatory and degenerative diseases. Research conducted on obesity and its complications over the last two decades has transformed the outdated concept of white adipose tissue (WAT) merely serving as an energy depot. WAT is now recognized as an active and inflammatory organ capable of producing a wide variety of factors known as adipokines. These molecules participate through endocrine, paracrine, autocrine or juxtacrine crosstalk mechanisms in a great variety of physiological or pathophysiological processes, regulating food intake, insulin sensitivity, immunity and inflammation. Although initially restricted to metabolic activities (regulation of glucose and lipid metabolism), adipokines currently represent a new family of proteins that can be considered key players in the complex network of soluble mediators involved in the pathophysiology of immune/inflammatory diseases. However, the complexity of the adipokine network in the pathogenesis and progression of inflammatory diseases has posed, since the beginning, the important question of whether it may be possible to target the mechanism(s) by which adipokines contribute to disease selectively without suppressing their physiological functions. Here, we explore in depth the most recent findings concerning the involvement of adipokines in inflammation and immune responses, in particular in rheumatic, inflammatory and degenerative diseases. We also highlight several possible strategies for therapeutic development and propose that adipokines and their signalling pathways may represent innovative therapeutic strategies for inflammatory disorders.
Child Sleep and Socioeconomic Context in the Development of Cognitive Abilities in Early Childhood
Authors: Hoyniak Caroline P. , Bates John E. , Staples Angela D. , Rudasill Kathleen M. , Molfese Dennis L. , Molfese Victoria J.
Published: February 2018

Despite a robust literature examining the association between sleep problems and cognitive abilities in childhood, little is known about this association in toddlerhood, a period of rapid cognitive development. The present study examined the association between various sleep problems, using actigraphy, and performance on a standardized test of cognitive abilities, longitudinally across three ages (30, 36, and 42 months) in a large sample of toddlers (N = 493). Results revealed a between‐subject effect in which the children who had more delayed sleep schedules on average also showed poorer cognitive abilities on average but did not support a within‐subjects effect. Results also showed that delayed sleep explains part of the association between family socioeconomic context and child cognitive abilities.
From authoritarian enclave to deliberative space: governance logics in post‐disaster reconstruction
Authors: Curato Nicole
Published: February 2018

One would be hard‐pressed nowadays to find any practitioners and scholars in the field of post‐disaster reconstruction who would argue against the virtues of community participation. In practice, however, the legacy of community participation has been mixed. This paper pursues this line of inquiry by examining the manifestations of participation in three communities affected by Typhoon Haiyan that struck the Philippines on 8 November 2013. The findings suggest that different governance logics emerge in each of the three case studies: authoritarian; communitarian; and deliberative. These logics promote particular understandings of who should participate in the reconstruction process and the appropriate scope of action for citizens to express discontent, provide feedback, and perform democratic agency. The paper contends that design interventions in participatory procedures, as well as contingencies in wider social contexts, shape the character and legacies of community participation. It concludes by comparing the legacies of these three ‘governance enclaves’ and imagining possibilities for participatory politics in post‐disaster settings.
Networking towards (in)equality: Women entrepreneurs in technology
Authors: Ozkazanc‐Pan Banu , Clark Muntean Susan
Published: February 2018

Deploying a multidimensional framework focusing on individual, organizational and societal factors, we investigate gendering practices through which women entrepreneurs become disadvantaged in the technology sector. Through qualitative fieldwork, we focus on women entrepreneurs' experiences networking to access valuable entrepreneurial resources and examine the role of technology incubators and accelerators in facilitating this access. These organizations have the potential to mitigate gender inequities by adopting gender‐aware practices such as increasing access to networks and resources that might otherwise be unreachable for women technology entrepreneurs. Focusing simultaneously on the complex intersections of networking, organizational practices at incubators and accelerators, and institutionalized gender norms in society, we outline how different gendering practices work separately and in tandem to marginalize women technology entrepreneurs. We observe that these organizations engage in ‘gender neutral’ recruitment practices and promote transactional networking which result in the replication rather than eradication of gender inequality. Moreover, organizational attempts to address ‘gender issues’ as they relate to technology entrepreneurs re‐inscribe rather than disrupt societal gender norms. Our research offers new insights for understanding the interrelated individual, organizational and societal factors contributing to gender inequality in technology entrepreneurship and provokes discussion on the possibilities for social change.
PUBLIC GOOD PROVISION WITH CONSTITUTIONAL CONSTRAINT
Authors: Rong Kang
Published: February 2018

This article studies the public good provision problem, in which the principal faces a constitutional constraint in the sense that in order for a public good provision mechanism to be implemented, it must first be approved by agents under a prespecified voting rule. I find that as long as the voting rule is not the unanimity rule, the principal can propose a mechanism such that first‐best efficiency of provision of the public good is achieved. I also consider various constraints, such as prohibition of discriminatory mechanisms and the existence of vote buying, and discuss optimal voting rules in these situations.
False self‐employment: the case of Ukrainian migrants in London's construction sector
Authors: Vershinina Natalia A. , Rodgers Peter , Ram Monder , Theodorakopoulos Nick , Rodionova Yulia
Published: February 2018

This article, presenting qualitative accounts of Ukrainian business owners, highlights how migrants engage in false self‐employment in the UK. Their experiences problematise notions of legality and binary depictions of migrant workers as ‘victims or villains’, demonstrating that migrants see their illegal status as a transient stage before gaining legal status.
Experimentally increased nest temperature affects body temperature, growth and apparent survival in blue tit nestlings
Authors: Andreasson Fredrik , Nord Andreas , Nilsson Jan-Åke
Published: February 2018

The thermal environment experienced by birds during early postembryonic development may be an important factor shaping growth and survival. However, few studies have directly manipulated nest temperature (Tn) during the nestling phase, and none have measured the consequences of experimental heat stress on nestlings’ body temperature (Tb). It is therefore not known to what extent any fitness consequences of development in a thermally challenging environment arise as a direct, or indirect, effect of heat stress. We, therefore, studied how experimentally increasedTnaffectedTbin 8–12 d old blue titCyanistes caeruleusnestlings, to investigate if increased thermoregulatory demands to maintain normothermicTbinfluenced nestling growth and apparent long‐term survival. Nestlings in heated nest‐boxes had significantly higherTbcompared to unheated nestlings during most of the experimental period. Yet, despite facingTn 50°C (as measured in the bottom of the nest cup below the nestlings), the highest nestlingTbrecorded was 43.8°C with nestlings showing evidence of controlled facultative hyperthermia without any increased nestling mortality in heated nests. However, body mass gain was lower in these nestlings compared to nestlings from control nest‐boxes. Contrary to our prediction, a larger proportion of nestlings from heated nest‐boxes were recaptured during their first winter, or subsequently recruited into the breeding population as first‐ or second‐year breeders. This result should, however, be treated with caution because of low recapture rates. This study highlights the importance of the thermal environment during nestling development, and its role in shaping both growth patterns and possibly also apparent survival.
Placing the Social Exchange Framework in an Ecological Context
Authors: Sabatelli Ronald M. , Lee Hyanghee , Ripoll‐Núñez Karen
Published: February 2018

In this article we extend the ecological–exchange framework as a way of understanding cultural, cohort, and socioeconomic variations in how marriage partnerships are structured and experienced. Based on the integration of ecological and contextual perspectives and social exchange theories, this framework highlights both micro‐ and macro‐level factors that interact to shape the trends and trajectories of marriage relationships over time. We use the ecological–exchange framework to discuss future implications for research using exchange principles and focus on how close relationships are structured and experienced.
Development of consensus on models of care in adults with intestinal failure using a modified Delphi approach
Authors: Carey Sharon , Kalachov Michelle , Jones Lynn , Koh Cherry ,   on behalf of the Intestinal Failure Alliance of Australia
Published: February 2018

Background and Aim

The aims of this study were to establish consensus on service delivery models for management of Type III intestinal failure (IF) and home parenteral nutrition (HPN) within the Australian health‐care system and to identify barriers and enablers in moving towards this ideal model.

Methods

A modified Delphi methodology was utilized to survey experts working in Type III IF HPN. The panel comprised physicians, dietitians, nurses, and pharmacists from 18 of the 20 adult Type III IF HPN centres across Australia. The study consisted of two rounds of email administered questionnaires developed around four key areas of health service delivery: access to services, clinical care, service guidance, and models of care. Open‐ended responses were evaluated via an inductive thematic approach to identify areas of consensus. Experts reviewed the final report to consolidate consensus and validity.

Results

There was >80% consensus that an ideal team should consist of a physician, nurse, dietitian, pharmacist, and access to psychological support. Consensus supported the need for updated guidelines (75%) and a hub and spoke model of care (82%). However, further consultation is required in order to establish consensus around the use of HPN in the palliative oncology setting (69%).

Conclusions

This consensus provides a framework within which health professionals, managers, policy‐makers, and consumer groups can move towards optimal management for Type III IF HPN patients. Advocacy and a review of service delivery across Australia are now required to facilitate the ideal model of care identified.
Silencing the Good: Memory, Forgetting and the Belated Reputation of Giorgio Perlasca
Authors: Cossu Andrea
Published: February 2018

The sociological analysis of the reputation of historical figures has rarely paid attention to temporal delays in the emergence of collective memory. This article focuses on a case of belated reputation as a particular reputational trajectory. I analyse the reputational trajectory of the Italian Giorgio Perlasca, who posed as Spain's representative in Budapest during the German occupation of 1944‐5, and saved thousands of Jews from deportation. Upon his return to Italy, his story was neglected, only to resurface forty years after the events. An analysis of these processes requires the consideration of three factors: the presence of agents who promote a reputation, the configuration of centre‐periphery relations, and the memorability of the figure. The consideration of how these three factors change over time offers an adequate account of processes of commemoration.
The Sensitivity of Reinsurance Demand to Counterparty Risk: Evidence From the U.S. Property–Liability Insurance Industry
Authors: Park Sojung Carol , Xie Xiaoying , Rui Pinghai
Published: February 2018

This article investigates market discipline in the reinsurance market by examining the sensitivity of reinsurance demand to reinsurer counterparty risk for a sample of U.S. property–liability insurance companies. Using the financial strength rating of reinsurers as a proxy for reinsurance counterparty risk, we find evidence of market discipline that reinsurance demand is sensitive to counterparty risk. Specifically, reinsurance demand reacts negatively to reinsurer rating downgrades, with the reduction being the largest when a “weak” reinsurer gets “weaker,” followed by a reinsurer being downgraded below a benchmark rating. The sensitivity is higher for authorized reinsurance than for unauthorized reinsurance. Reinsurance demand sensitivity to counterparty risk is found to be lower for ceding insurers with higher leverage. Ceding insurers with high reinsurer sustainability are less sensitive to noncritical rating downgrades of reinsurers. Additionally, reinsurance demand is found to be less sensitive to reinsurer upgrading than to reinsurer downgrading.
Alternative splicing of OsLG3b controls grain length and yield in japonica rice
Authors: Yu Jianping , Miao Jinli , Zhang Zhanying , Xiong Haiyan , Zhu Xiaoyang , Sun Xingming , Pan Yinghua , Liang Yuntao , Zhang Qiang , Abdul Rehman Rashid Muhammad , Li Jinjie , Zhang Hongliang , Li Zichao
Published: February 2018

Grain size, one of the important components determining grain yield in rice, is controlled by the multiple quantitative trait loci (QTLs). Intensive artificial selection for grain size during domestication is evidenced in modern cultivars compared to their wild relatives. Here, we report the molecular cloning and characterization of OsLG3b, a QTL for grain length in tropical japonica rice that encodes MADS‐box transcription factor 1 (OsMADS1). Six SNPs in the OsLG3b region led to alternative splicing, which were associated with grain length in an association analysis of candidate region. Quantitative PCR analysis indicated that OsLG3b expression was higher during the panicle and seed development stages. Analysis of haplotypes and introgression regions revealed that the long‐grain allele of OsLG3b might have arisen after domestication of tropical japonica and spread to subspecies indica or temperate japonica by natural crossing and artificial selection. OsLG3b is therefore a target of human selection for adaptation to tropical regions during domestication and/or improvement of rice. Phylogenetic analysis and pedigree records showed that OsLG3b had been employed by breeders, but the gene still has much breeding potential for increasing grain length in indica. These findings will not only aid efforts to elucidate the molecular basis of grain development and domestication, but also facilitate the genetic improvement of rice yield.
Against Right Reason
Authors: Steel Robert
Published: February 2018

I argue against ‘right reason’ style accounts of how we should manage our beliefs in the face of higher‐order evidence. I start from the observation that such views seem to have bad practical consequences when we imagine someone acting on them. I then catalogs ways that Williamson, Weatherson, and Lasonen‐Aarnio have tried to block objections based on these consequences; I argue all fail. I then move on to offer my own theoretical picture of a rational ‘should believe,’ and show that, if such a picture is right, it can neatly explain why right reason isn't. I close by arguing that the extent to which anti‐luminosity arguments motivate right reason has been overstated; the positive picture developed here, despite rejecting right reason, is nonetheless consistent with luminosity failures.
Legal Positivism and Deontic Detachment
Authors: Mullins Robert
Published: February 2018

I consider a puzzle that arises when the logical principle known as “deontic detachment” is applied to the law. It is not possible to accept the principle of deontic detachment in a legal setting while also accepting that the so‐called “social facts thesis” applies to all legal propositions. According to the social facts thesis, the existence and content of law is determined by the attitudes or practices of legal officials. Abandoning deontic detachment is not an appropriate solution to the problem—the puzzle can be recreated with other plausible closure principles. The problem can be solved by restricting the social facts thesis to legal rules, rather than applying it to all legal propositions. Properly construed the social facts thesis does not apply to facts about what legally ought to be the case.
Tabularity of individual turbidite beds controlled by flow efficiency and degree of confinement
Authors: Liu Qun , Kneller Ben , Fallgatter Claus , Valdez Buso Victoria , Milana Juan Pablo
Published: February 2018

Submarine lobes have various geometries and stacking patterns, whose differences are likely to be the result of variations in flow efficiency and degree of confinement. This study examines four contrasting units with differing flow efficiency and confinement, to evaluate their effects on bed geometries and stacking patterns. Three of these units occur in the Late Palaeozoic Paganzo Basin, north‐west Argentina: the Las Lajas system is developed in a 0·8 km wide palaeofjord; the Cerro Bola system (of which two different units were studied) was deposited in a larger sub‐basin, at least 20 km wide. The Paine C system of the late Cretaceous Magallanes Basin in Chile is confined by an incision surface 3 km wide. Seventy‐eight individual beds in the four units have been chosen to calculate flow efficiency and degree of confinement. Individual flow efficiency has been estimated semi‐quantitatively using the outcrop cross‐sectional area of the bed (as a proxy for flow volume) and percentage of mud in the beds (as a relative estimate for that in the flows). The degree of confinement experienced by the flows was assessed semi‐quantitatively by dividing the flow efficiency by the maximum preserved basin dimension. It is found that: (i) degree of confinement (efficiency divided by maximum preserved basin dimension) influences individual bed geometry, highly confined flows having a higher tabularity (smaller thinning rate); (ii) in highly confined settings, individual beds stack vertically, whereas in unconfined systems, they stack compensationally; (iii) highly confined or high efficiency flows have higher tabularity (smaller thinning rate), which implies that truly sheet‐like systems are only developed in highly confined and high efficiency systems. The generic model of architecture of submarine lobes and turbidite sheet systems, as a function of flow efficiency and degree of confinement, could be applied widely to sheet‐like systems both at outcrop and in the subsurface.
Different Alternatives of Subjective Well‐Being: A Gender Analysis*
Authors: Lera‐López Fernando , Ollo‐López Andrea , Sánchez‐Santos José Manuel
Published: February 2018

Objectives

The objective of this article is to analyze the different roles played by key factors in individual subjective well‐being (SWB). Making a distinction between females and males, we consider the correlations of different characteristics of a healthy lifestyle, work environment, and social support with happiness in Spain.

Methods

Based on a sample of 10,821 Spanish people, we applied ordered probit models and consider the possibility of common method variance.

Results

The results show that some elements of healthy lifestyles, such as the intensity of physical activity (PA), level of self‐perceived health, and sleeping hours are positively associated with a higher level of happiness, with some differences between genders, particularly in terms of PA. We also detected significant differences between males and females in the potential associations between individual happiness and variables measuring the social support, job satisfaction, and time spent unemployed.

Conclusions

The conclusions emphasize the differences between genders in explaining individual happiness and the relevance of the healthy lifestyles, different circumstances of the labor market, and social support to account for happiness.
Pre‐registration pharmacist tutor training: a pilot study
Authors: Davison Kathryn , Bullen Kathryn , Ling Jonathan
Published: February 2018

Background

The quality and variability of pre‐registration pharmacist training has been questioned in recent years, with many trainees reporting dissatisfaction with their training experiences. A pilot training event aimed at pre‐registration tutors from all sectors of practice was developed by Health Education England North East (HEENE) in 2016 to address some of these issues, with the overall aim of developing and preparing new tutors for the role of the tutor.

Context

Quantitative data were collected via questionnaires given to the participants before and after training. The questions focused on participants’ perceptions of their competence as a tutor across a range of domains, such as assessing trainee progress in the workplace, providing feedback and reflective practice. Interviews were subsequently held with a subset of participants to help understand the key themes and responses.

Innovation

Results were overwhelmingly positive, with participants reporting an increased level of confidence in their role, having made positive changes to their practice as a tutor. The only domain that did not show a positive shift after training was ‘undertaking of reflective practice’. Participants attributed this to the lack of protected time in the workplace to support reflective practice.

The quality and variability of pre‐registration pharmacist training has been questioned in recent years

Implications

Results from this evaluation imply that this tutor training event was felt to be worthwhile, met the needs that it was developed to address and has the potential to have a positive impact on the standardisation of pharmacist pre‐registration tutor training nationally. Areas for improvement centre on external factors relevant to pharmacists’ daily practice, such as being allocated time in (or outside of) the workplace to support personal development.
A map‐algebra‐based method for automatic change detection and spatial data updating across multiple scales
Authors: Yang Min , Ai Tinghua , Yan Xiongfeng , Chen Yuanyuan , Zhang Xiang
Published: February 2018

The availability of geospatial data has increased significantly over recent decades. As a result, the question of how to update spatial data across different scales has become an attractive topic. One promising strategy is to use an updated larger‐scale dataset as a reference for detecting and updating changed objects represented in a to‐be‐updated smaller‐scale dataset. For such an update method, an understanding of the different types of changes that can occur is crucial. Using polygonal building data as an example, this study examines the various possible changes from different perspectives, such as the reasons for their occurrence, the forms in which they manifest, and their effects on output. Then, we apply map algebra theory to establish a cartographic model for updating polygonal building data. Supported by concepts of map algebra, an update procedure involving change detection, filtering, and fusion is implemented through a series of set operations. In addition to traditional polygon overlay functions, the constrained Delaunay triangulation model and knowledge of map generalization procedures are employed to construct set operations. The proposed method has been validated through tests using real‐world data. The experimental results show that our method is effective for updating 1:10k map data using 1:2k map data.
The Economics of a Four-Day School Week: Community and Business Leaders’ Perspectives
Authors: Turner Jon Scott , Finch Kim , Uribe-Zarain Ximena
Published: February 2018

The four-day school week is a concept that has been utilized in rural schools in the United States for decades and the number of schools moving to the four-day school week is growing. In many rural communities, the school district is the largest regional employer which provides a region with permanent, high paying jobs that support the local economy. This study collects data from 71 community and business leaders in three rural school districts that have transitioned to the four-day school week within the last year. Quantitative statistical analysis is used to investigate the perceptions of community and business leaders related to the economic impact upon their businesses and the community and the impact the four-day school week has had upon perception of quality of the school district. Significant differences were identified between community/business leaders that currently have no children in school as compared to community/business leaders with children currently enrolled in four-day school week schools.  Overall, community/business leaders were evenly divided concerning the economic impact on their businesses and the community. Community/business leaders’ perceptions of the impact the four-day school week was also evenly divided concerning the impact on the quality of the school district. Slightly more negative opinions were identified related to the economic impact on the profitability of their personal businesses which may impact considerations by school leaders. Overall, community/business leaders were evenly divided when asked if they would prefer their school district return to the traditional five-day week school calendar.
Futures Quantitative Trading Strategies Based on Market Capital Flows
Authors: Qin QiaoXu , Zhou GengJian , Lin WeiZhou
Published: February 2018

The purpose of this paper is to establish a futures quantitative trading strategy based on the characteristics of capital flows in the futures market and the factors that influence the Futures rate of return. Firstly, PCA and logistic regression are used as the theoretical basis to analyze the characteristics of future futures with high turnover rate and futures yield in the future, and summarize the characteristics of rotation, continuity and similarity of the capital flow in the futures market. Then combining with the characteristics of the flow of futures funds and the idea of taking profit and stop loss, we establish the quantitative trading strategy of futures. Using the partial futures data from 2014-2015 for back testing, the strategy returns better and provides a new investment perspective for the futures market investors.
Perceptions of the History Department Students About the Distance Education Courses
Authors: Öztaş Sezai
Published: February 2018

The aim of this research is to determine the perceptions of the students in the history department who take the courses of Atatürk's Principles and History of Revolution (APHR), Turkish Language (TL) and Basic Information Technologies (BIT) in distance education. In this research, the questionnaires, which were used as data collection tool, were applied to 123 students at Kırklareli University during the spring term of 2016-2017 academic year and who took APHR, TL and BIT courses in distance education. IBM SPSS Statistics 20 has been used to analyze the collected data. Descriptive statistics of the collected data were given in detail. It was found that attitude scores toward teaching APHR, TL and BIT courses with distance education were statistically differed based on “gender” and “existence of internet connectivity which can be used consistently” after performing independent samples t-test and One-Way ANOVA. There was no statistically significant association found between “course type (APHR/TL/BIT)” and “students’ behavior of spending time with other things during these courses” after performing Chi-Square Test of Independence. However, there was found statistically significant association between “course type” and “the students' perceptions about the impact of attending these courses as distance education on achieving learning outcomes”, and between “course type” and “students' perceptions about the convenience of teaching these courses as distance education” after performing Chi-Square Test of Independence (p<0.05).
Effects of fetal hypothyroidism on uterine smooth muscle contraction and structure of offspring rats
Authors: Bagheripuor Fatemeh , Ghanbari Mahboubeh , Piryaei Abbas , Ghasemi Asghar
Published: February 2018

New Findings

What is the central question of this study?

Does fetal hypothyroidism in rats alter uterine contractions and structure in the adult offspring?

What is the main finding and its importance?

Our study indicated that maternal hypothyroidism during pregnancy increased gestational length and decreased litter size. In addition, maternal hypothyroidism caused delayed puberty onset, irregular uterine contractions and histological changes in the uterus in the female offspring. This model might contribute to a better understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in uterine contractions in fetal hypothyroidism, studies which are not possible in humans, and might help to establish therapeutic methods for these disorders observed in uterine contractions.

Thyroid hormones play an essential role in fetal growth. Hypothyroidism impairs reproductive function in both humans and animals. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of fetal hypothyroidism on uterine smooth muscle contraction and structure in the adult offspring. The control group of female Wistar rats consumed tap water, whereas the hypothyroid group received water containing 0.025% of 6‐propyl‐2‐thiouracial throughout gestation from mating until delivery. Isometric contractility and histological changes in uterine tissue were evaluated in the adult female offspring. We tested the effects of carbachol (10−10–10−3 m) and oxytocin (10−13–10−8 m) on uterine smooth muscle contraction in the fetal hypothyroid (FH) and control groups. Compared with control uteri, carbachol induced contractions with lower amplitude in the FH group (area under the curve: 1820.0 ± 250.0 versus 1370.0 ± 125.0 a.u., control versus FH group, respectively, P < 0.001) and frequency (86.4 ± 7.3 versus 37.0 ± 6.1 a.u., P < 0.001). Likewise, after exposure to oxytocin the amplitude (6614.0 ± 492.2 versus 4793.0 ± 735.2 a.u., P < 0.001) and frequency (367.4 ± 32.0 versus 167.0 ± 39.0 a.u., P < 0.001) of uterine contractions in the FH group were significantly lower than in the control group. In addition, the thickness of the endometrium and smooth muscle layer and the cross‐sectional area of the uterus were also significantly lower in the FH group. Gestational length was longer and litter size smaller in FH rats compared with control animals; FH offspring also had delayed puberty. In conclusion, thyroid hormone deficiency during pregnancy increased gestational length and decreased litter size; in the offspring, it delayed puberty onset, reduced uterine rhythmic contractions and resulted in uterine structural changes.
Polymer-matrix nanocomposites bombarded by large Ar clusters and low energy Cs ions: Sputtering and topography development
Authors: Edwards Ryan , Mesfin Henok Mebratie , Pospisilova Eva , Poleunis Claude , Bailly Christian , Delcorte Arnaud
Published: February 2018

In secondary ion mass spectrometry, hybrid materials such as organic matrices loaded with inorganic nanoparticles (NPs) are notoriously difficult to depth profile with any known ion beam, including large Ar clusters, although they display excellent performance with pure organic materials and polymers. To improve their understanding of the detrimental effects of the hybrid material nature on depth profiling, a precise evaluation of the sputtering and roughness induced upon Cs ion and Ar cluster beam bombardment of a series of composite samples was performed. For this purpose, the authors focused on the sputtering of a selection of extruded, hot-pressed polymer-matrix nanocomposite films by large Ar clusters (20 keV Ar1000+–20 eV/at and 10 keV Ar3000+–3.3 eV/at) and low energy (500 eV) Cs+ ions. The selected sample coatings were pure polycarbonate (PC; reference), PC with 5 wt. % graphene nanoplatelets, PC with 5 wt. % Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs), and PC with 10 wt. % graphene oxide decorated with similar MNPs. The original surfaces and crater bottoms obtained after a fixed ion dose were carefully analyzed by stylus profilometry and atomic force microscopy in order to extract crater depth, sputtering yield, and roughness values. The main observation is that the crater roughness strongly increases in all cases when NPs are mixed with the polymer. However, there are specific behaviors depending on the NP inclusion types and the chosen primary beams. The observed effects are tentatively explained on the basis of fundamental studies of atom and cluster-induced sputtering.
Center of Pressure and Perceived Stability in Basketball Shoes With Soft and Hard Midsoles
Authors: Leong Hin Fong , Lam Wing-Kai , Ng Wei Xuan , Kong Pui Wah
Published: February 2018

This study aimed to investigate the effects of varying midsole hardness on center of pressure (COP) and perceived stability during basketball-specific tasks, as well as the correlation between COP and perception measurements. A total of 20 male basketball players performed 45° cutting and layup while wearing basketball shoes with soft and hard midsoles. COP trajectories were obtained from the Pedar insole system. Stability perceptions at the forefoot and rearfoot were assessed using 150-mm visual analogue scales. Results indicated greater COP mediolateral deviations in soft midsole compared with hard midsole during layup (soft: 16.6 [4.7] mm, hard: 15.8 [4.6] mm, P = .03) but not 45° cutting (soft: 15.7 [5.9] mm, hard: 15.8 [5.6] mm, P = .60). While 16 out of 20 participants preferred soft midsole, no significant difference in visual analogue scale ratings was found between shoes for both tested movements. There was no significant correlation between COP and perceived stability during layup or 45° cutting. In conclusion, midsole hardness of basketball shoes did not consistently affect mediolateral stability of the foot during 45° cutting and layup. Subjective perception alone cannot be used to indicate mediolateral deviation of the foot when executing basketball-specific maneuvers.
Runners With Patellofemoral Pain Exhibit Greater Peak Patella Cartilage Stress Compared With Pain-Free Runners
Authors: Liao Tzu-Chieh , Keyak Joyce H. , Powers Christopher M.
Published: February 2018

The primary purpose of this study is to determine whether recreational runners with patellofemoral pain (PFP) exhibit greater peak patella cartilage stress compared with pain-free runners. A secondary purpose was to determine the kinematic and/or kinetic predictors of peak patella cartilage stress during running. A total of 22 female recreational runners (12 with PFP and 10 pain-free controls) participated in this study. Patella cartilage stress profiles were quantified using subject-specific finite element models simulating the maximum knee flexion angle during the stance phase of running. Input parameters to the finite element model included subject-specific patellofemoral joint geometry, quadriceps muscle forces, and lower-extremity kinematics in the frontal and transverse planes. Tibiofemoral joint kinematics and kinetics were quantified to determine the best predictor of stress using stepwise regression analysis. Compared with the pain-free runners, those with PFP exhibited greater peak hydrostatic pressure (PFP vs control: 21.2 [5.6] MPa vs 16.5 [4.6] MPa) and maximum shear stress (PFP vs control: 11.3 [4.6] MPa vs 8.7 [2.3] MPa). Knee external rotation was the best predictor of peak hydrostatic pressure and peak maximum shear stress (38% and 25% of variances, respectively), followed by the knee extensor moment (21% and 25% of variances, respectively). Runners with PFP exhibit greater peak patella cartilage stress during running compared with pain-free individuals. The combination of knee external rotation and a high knee extensor moment best predicted the elevated peak stress during running.
Associations Between Parent-Perceived Neighborhood Safety and Encouragement and Child Outdoor Physical Activity Among Low-Income Children
Authors: Nicksic Nicole E. , Salahuddin Meliha , Butte Nancy F. , Hoelscher Deanna M.
Published: February 2018

Background: A growing body of research has examined the relationship between perceived neighborhood safety and parental encouragement for child physical activity (PA), yet these potential predictors have not been studied together to predict child outdoor PA. The purpose of this study is to examine these predictors and parent- and child-reported child outdoor PA. Methods: The Texas Childhood Obesity Research Demonstration study collected data from fifth-grade students attending 31 elementary schools across Austin and Houston and their parents (N = 748 parent–child dyads). Mixed-effects linear and logistic regressions stratified by gender and adjusted for sociodemographic covariates assessed associations among parental-perceived neighborhood safety, parental encouragement for child’s outdoor PA, and parent- and child-reported child’s outdoor PA. Results: Parental-perceived neighborhood safety was significantly associated with encouraging outdoor PA (P = .01) and child-reported child’s outdoor PA in boys, but not in girls. Significant associations were found between parental encouragement and child-reported outdoor PA for girls (P < .05) and parent-reported outdoor PA (P < .01) for boys and girls. Conclusions: Parent encouragement of PA and neighborhood safety are potential predictors of child outdoor PA and could be targeted in youth PA interventions.
Segregating the Distinct Effects of Sedentary Behavior and Physical Activity on Older Adults’ Cardiovascular Structure and Function: Part 1—Linear Regression Analysis Approach
Authors: Ryan Declan , Wullems Jorgen , Stebbings Georgina , Morse Christopher , Stewart Claire , Onambele-Pearson Gladys
Published: February 2018

Background: Physical behavior [PB, physical activity (PA), and sedentary behavior (SB)] can adjust cardiovascular mortality risk in older adults. The aim of this study was to predict cardiovascular parameters (CVPs) using 21 parameters of PB. Methods: Participants [n = 93, 73.8 (6.23) y] wore a thigh-mounted accelerometer for 7 days. Phenotype of the carotid, brachial, and popliteal arteries was conducted using ultrasound. Results: Sedentary behavior was associated with one of the 19 CVPs. Standing and light-intensity PA was associated with 3 and 1 CVP, respectively. Our prediction model suggested that an hourly increase in light-intensity PA would be negatively associated with popliteal intima-media thickness [0.09 mm (95% confidence interval, 0.15 to 0.03)]. sMVPA [moderate–vigorous PA (MVPA), accumulated in bouts <10 min] was associated with 1 CVP. 10MVPA (MVPA accumulated in bouts ≥10 min) had no associations. W50% had associations with 3 CVP. SB%, alpha, true mean PA bout, daily sum of PA bout time, and total week 10MVPA each were associated with 2 CVP. Conclusions: Patterns of PB are more robust predictors of CVP than PB (hours per day). The prediction that popliteal intima-media thickness would be negatively associated with increased standing and light-intensity PA engagement suggests that older adults could obtain health benefits without MVPA engagement.
Integrated in vivo multiomics analysis identifies p21-activated kinase signaling as a driver of colitis
Authors: Lyons Jesse , Brubaker Douglas K. , Ghazi Phaedra C. , Baldwin Katherine R. , Edwards Amanda , Boukhali Myriam , Strasser Samantha Dale , Suarez-Lopez Lucia , Lin Yi-Jang , Yajnik Vijay , Kissil Joseph L. , Haas Wilhelm , Lauffenburger Douglas A. , Haigis Kevin M.
Published: February 2018

A combination of transcriptomics, proteomics, and phosphoproteomics reveals therapeutic targets in colitis.
New connections: TGF-β in tumors
Authors: Foley John F.
Published: February 2018

Targeting the cytokine TGF-β in the tumor microenvironment enhances antitumor immune responses by infiltrating T cells.
The Clarithromycin Susceptibility Genotype Affects the Treatment Outcome of Patients with Mycobacterium abscessus Lung Disease
Authors: Guo Qi , Chu Haiqing , Ye Meiping , Zhang Zhemin , Li Bing , Yang Shiyi , Ma Wei , Yu Fangyou
Published: February 2018

Mycobacterium abscessus
accounts for a large proportion of lung disease cases caused by rapidly growing mycobacteria. The association between clarithromycin sensitivity and treatment outcome is clear. However,
M. abscessus
culture and antibiotic susceptibility testing are time-consuming. Clarithromycin susceptibility genotyping offers an alternate, rapid approach to predicting the efficacy of clarithromycin-based antibiotic therapy.
M. abscessus
lung disease patients were divided into two groups based upon the clarithromycin susceptibility genotype of the organism isolated. A retrospective analysis was conducted to compare the clinical features, microbiological characteristics, and treatment outcomes of the two groups. Several other potential predictors of the response to treatment were also assessed. Sixty-nine patients were enrolled in the clarithromycin-resistant genotype group, which included 5 infected with
rrl
2058-2059 mutants and 64 infected with
erm
(41)T28-type
M. abscessus
; 31 were in the clarithromycin-sensitive group, i.e., 6 and 25 patients infected with genotypes
erm
(41)C28 and
erm
(41) M type, respectively. The results showed that lung disease patients infected with clarithromycin-sensitive and -resistant
M. abscessus
genotypes differed significantly in clarithromycin-based combination treatment outcomes. Patients infected with the clarithromycin-sensitive genotype exhibited higher initial and final sputum-negative conversion and radiological improvement rates and better therapeutic outcomes. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that genotyping was a reliable and, more importantly, rapid means of predicting the efficacy of clarithromycin-based antibiotic treatment for
M. abscessus
lung disease.