bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
LncRNA SNHG16 Functions as an Oncogene by Sponging MiR-4518 and Up-Regulating PRMT5 Expression in Glioma
Authors: Lu Ye-Fen , Cai Xue-Li , Li Zheng-Zheng , Lv Jing , Xiang Yi-an , Chen Jian-Jun , Chen Wei-Jing , Sun Wei-Yan , Liu Xiu-Mei , Chen Jian-Bo
Published: March 2018

Background/Aims: Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have recently emerged as novel and potentially promising therapeutic targets in various cancers. However, the expression pattern and biological function of lncRNAs in glioma remain largely elusive. In the present study, we investigated the functional role of an lncRNA, small nucleolar RNA host gene 16 (SNHG16), in glioma. Methods: The expression levels of SNHG16 and miR-4518 were measured using qRT-PCR. The relationship between the levels of SNHG16 and clinicopathologic features were statically analyzed. The levels of proteins were detected using western blot. Bioinformatics analysis and luciferase reporter assays were applied to the analysis of the relationship between SNHG16, miR-4518 and PRMT5. Cell viability and apoptosis were measured using MTT and apoptosis ELISA assay, respectively. Results: SNHG16 was highly expressed in glioma tissues and cell lines, which was related to poorer clinicopathologic features and shorter survival time. Knockdown of SNHG16 inhibits the viability and induces apoptosis of glioma cells. Further investigation revealed that SNHG16 could up-regulate the expression of miR-4518 targeted gene PRMT5 via acting as an endogenous sponge of miR-4518. Moreover, SNHG16 also affects the expression of Bcl-2 family proteins and the activation of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Conclusion: Our study revealed a novel SNHG16-miR-4518-PRMT5 pathway regulatory axis in glioma pathogenesis. SNHG16 could be used as a potential therapeutic target in the treatment of glioma.
Libras na formação médica: possibilidade de quebra da barreira comunicativa e melhora na relação médico-paciente surdo
Authors: Dias Andrezza Resende , Coutinho Cinthya Rodrigues , Gaspar Deborah Rocha , Moeller Leticia , Mamede Marcelo
Published: March 2018

INTRODUÇÃO: Mudanças curriculares para a graduação em Medicina incluem o desenvolvimento de habilidades de comunicação na graduação do aluno. O conhecimento da Língua Brasileira de Sinais (Libras) pelo médico visa romper barreiras comunicativas com os pacientes surdos e é um bom método para se obter escuta qualificada e excelência do cuidado em saúde. OBJETIVO: Avaliar o contingente de médicos recém-formados pela Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG) que domina a Libras. MÉTODOS: Entrevista aplicada aos alunos do 12° período do curso de Medicina da UFMG, utilizando um questionário online na plataforma Google Forms. RESULTADOS: Foram entrevistados 102 alunos. Nenhum deles tinha domínio sobre a língua e apenas 7% possuíam alguma habilidade. Desses, o que os motivaram a aprender Libras foi a proximidade com deficientes auditivos, o interesse em romper a barreira comunicativa entre profissionais de saúde e surdos ou a curiosidade. O meio utilizado para aprender Libras foi variado. Um quarto dos alunos não sabia da existência da disciplina optativa “Fundamentos de Libras” disponibilizada pela UFMG e, dentre os que sabiam, apenas três fizeram a disciplina. Para atender um deficiente auditivo, mais da metade dos alunos disseram que escreveria, desenharia e/ou faria mímicas, e 8 deles não saberiam o que fazer. Dentre os que possuem alguma habilidade na Libras, todos utilizariam a língua mesmo que de maneira limitada. Quase 80% dos entrevistados acreditam que é importante para a formação médica saber se comunicar com surdos por meio da Libras. CONCLUSÃO: Existe uma barreira comunicativa entre os estudantes de medicina recém-formados da UFMG e os surdos que utilizam a Libras. Tal estudo mostra, portanto, a noção da grandiosidade desse impasse, indicando a necessidade de iniciativas que preconizem pesquisas que possam divulgar as situações problemas e, posteriormente, tentar resolvê-las.
Frequência de aleitamento materno exclusivo e razões para liberação de fórmula láctea em alojamento conjunto de uma maternidade de nível terciário
Authors: Bianchini Fabiola Roberta Marim , Calil Valdenise Martins Laurindo Tuma , Tardelli Laura Matucci , Dias Rebeca Lopes , Francisco Rossana Pulcineli Vieira , De Carvalho Werther Brunow , Krebs Vera Lúcia Jornada
Published: March 2018

Introdução: O leite materno é fonte incomparável de nutrientes nos primeiros seis meses de vida e, após este período, recomenda-se que seja complementado com outros alimentos até dois anos ou mais. Publicações recentes evidenciam um aumento da prevalência de aleitamento materno (AM) exclusivo nos binômios assistidos em serviços onde se pratica o atendimento humanizado, como o sistema de alojamento conjunto (AC). Objetivo: Descrever a prevalência de AM e as razões consideradas para liberação de fórmula láctea para recém-nascidos de termo (FLT) no alojamento conjunto de uma instituição hospitalar pública de nível terciário. Casuística e métodos: Foi realizado um estudo retrospectivo descritivo em recém-nascidos encaminhados ao AC do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade São Paulo, instituição de nível terciário de atendimento, no período de junho a dezembro de 2016. Os dados foram obtidos através de revisão de prontuários e do protocolo instituído para coleta de dados. A internação no AC e as justificativas para liberação de FLT seguiram as respectivas normas institucionais. Resultados: No período estudado foram internados 555 recém-nascidos. A frequência de AM exclusivo foi de 70,8%; a FLT foi liberada, portanto, em 29,2% dos recém-nascidos. A principal razão para a indicação de FLT foi a hipoglicemia, correspondendo a 54,4% do total de FLT prescrito. As patologias maternas ocuparam o segundo lugar entre as justificativas mais frequentes, sendo citadas em 18,5% dos casos. Conclusão: As principais causas para prescrição de FLT foram hipoglicemia e patologias maternas. Estas expressam as características da população estudada, composta por filhos de mães com doenças graves que potencialmente impedem a amamentação ou favorecem condições clínicas hipoglicemiantes. O sistema de AC e a notificação sistemática da justificativa para a liberação de FLT contribuíram para garantir que a mesma ocorresse  apenas quando necessária, favorecendo a manutenção do AM .
Hemodynamic and Echocardiographic Comparison of the Lotus and CoreValve Transcatheter Aortic Valves in Patients With High and Extreme Surgical Risk
Authors: Asch Federico M. , Vannan Mani A. , Singh Siddharth , Khandheria Bijoy , Little Stephen H. , Allocco Dominic J. , Meredith Ian T. , Feldman Ted E. , Reardon Michael J. , Weissman Neil J.
Published: March 2018

Background:

Comparative echocardiographic data on transcatheter aortic valve replacement systems from randomized trials are limited. The REPRISE III trial (Repositionable Percutaneous Replacement of Stenotic Aortic Valve through Implantation of Lotus Valve System – Randomized Clinical Evaluation) is a multicenter, randomized comparison of a mechanically expanded (Lotus) versus self-expanding (CoreValve) transcatheter aortic valve replacement device. This analysis rigorously assesses Doppler-derived valve hemodynamics and the impact on outcomes at 1 year in patients with extreme/high surgical risk treated with Lotus and CoreValve from REPRISE III.

Methods:

REPRISE III includes patients with extreme- and high-risk aortic stenosis. Patients were enrolled at 55 centers. All transthoracic echocardiograms with Doppler were obtained following a standard protocol up to 12 months postimplant and analyzed by a core laboratory. Valve size, mean gradient, aortic valve area, and Doppler velocity index and their impact on clinical outcomes are reported. Additional parameters including paravalvular leak were evaluated using a multiparametric approach.

Results:

A total of 912 patients were randomly assigned (2:1 ratio; 607 Lotus:305 CoreValve). Median age was 84 years, 51% of the patients were women, and the Society of Thoracic Surgeons score was 6.8±4.1. CoreValve demonstrated lower gradients and larger aortic valve area and Doppler velocity index than Lotus at discharge; the difference decreased in subsequent follow-up up to a year (all
P
<0.01). Lotus had lower rates of paravalvular leak that persisted over time (
P
<0.05). Similar outcomes were seen when comparing each valve type by size group (small, medium, large). The hemodynamic differences between valves did not translate into worse clinical outcomes. All-cause mortality was not different between the 2 groups in any of the 3 valve sizes. When comparing patients with normal valve gradients (<20 mm Hg, n=780) with those with abnormal gradients (>20 mm Hg, n=48) in the entire patient population, all-cause mortality was not different. This was also not significant when evaluating each valve type separately. Similarly, there were no differences for aortic valve area >1.1 cm
2
or <1.1 cm
2
and for Doppler velocity index >0.35 or <0.35 (all
P
=not significant).

Conclusions:

Lotus had significantly greater freedom from moderate or severe paravalvular leak and smaller valve area and higher gradients than CoreValve. The hemodynamic differences were not associated with any clinical differences in the composite end point of mortality, disabling stroke, and moderate paravalvular leak or with quality of life at 1 year of follow-up.

Clinical Trial Registration:

URL:
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT02202434.
On the morphology and phylogeny of Robustodorus Andrássy, 2007 and two ‘Aphelenchoides’ species (Nematoda: Aphelenchoidinae)
Authors: Kanzaki Natsumi , Shokoohi Ebrahim , Fourie Hendrika , Swart Antoinette , Muller Loureine , Giblin-Davis Robin M.
Published: March 2018

In a survey of nematode damage in groundnut (Arachis hypogaea) (Fabaceae) production areas in the Vaalharts Irrigation Scheme in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa, a nematode was recovered and initially believed to be a member of the genusRobustodorus,i.e., the species has a characteristic robust stylet with very well-developed teardrop-shaped (garlic bulb-like) basal swellings. The specimens were recovered in large numbers from damaged hulls and kernels of field-collected groundnuts and, after thorough morphological and molecular studies, were subsequently identified asAphelenchoides arachidis. Molecular analysis based on near-full-length small subunit (SSU), internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and D2-D3 expansion segments of the large subunit (LSU) rRNA genes supported the monophyly ofA. arachidis,A. subtenuisandR. megadoruswithin the subfamily Aphelenchoidinae. Based on the typological characters observed in the present study compared with descriptions in the literature, these three species are considered as congeneric,i.e., they share very well-developed basal swellings of the stylet. Accordingly, these twoAphelenchoidesspecies are transferred toRobustodorusasR. arachidisn. comb. andR. subtenuisn. comb. In addition, the male tail characters ofRobustodorusandAphelenchoidesare discussed.
Procedural Developments at the International Criminal Court (2016)
Authors: Le Floch Guillaume , Lemey Marie , Paiola Lucie
Published: March 2018

The current column covers selected procedural developments at the International Criminal Court (“icc”) from 2016. During the reporting period, the Court faced a heavy workload, and, as in recent years, it has delivered numerous decisions, taking such opportunities to clarify certain aspects of proceedings before the Court.
Novelties in Iranian Cousinia sect. Cynaroideae (Asteraceae, Cardueae): new taxa and taxonomic notes
Authors: RASTEGAR AZAD , ATTAR FARIDEH , MIRTADZADINI MANSOUR
Published: March 2018

Three new species, namely Cousinia boyerahmadica, C. deluensis and C. masulehensis (Asteraceae-Cardueae), are described and illustrated from Iran. The diagnostic characters of these new taxa are compared with their relatives. Their ecology, phytochoria and phenology are presented. Cousinia macrolepis is reported as new to Iran. Cousinia beckeri, which was excluded from C. sect. Cynaroideae on the basis of a wrong citation, is returned to the section. Cousinia subinflata, which was also excluded from the section as an intersectional hybrid, is rehabilitated as a distinct species. The distribution map and conservation status of these taxa according to the IUCN categories are also provided.
A new species of Pleurothallis (Orchidaceae, Pleurothallidinae) from northwestern Ecuador with affinities to both subgenera Ancipitia and Scopula
Authors: WILSON MARK , JIMÉNEZ MARCO M. , JOST LOU , KAY ANDREAS , FRANK GRAHAM , BAQUERO R. LUIS E.
Published: March 2018

A new species, Pleurothallis ecomingae, from near Chical, Carchi Province, Ecuador, is described and illustrated. This species is unique in that it has characteristics typical of both subgenera Scopula and Ancipitia. The plant has narrowly lanceolate leaves with a near-apical fascicle of single-flowered peduncles, previously only seen in Scopula. And, it has flowers with a minute, pubescent, tri-lobed lip in which the basal lobes are modified into ‘horns’, and an apical orifice in the central lobe, a feature previously only seen in Ancipitia. This intermediate morphology supports the previous suggestion that, at least based on morphology, the two subgenera should be combined.
Centaurea francoi, a replacement name for Centaurea crocata (Asteraceae), an endemic species from continental Portugal
Authors: FIGUEIREDO ESTRELA , SMITH GIDEON F.
Published: March 2018

Centaurea crocata Franco (1984: 474, 572) is the name currently used for a species of Asteraceae that is endemic to a small area in the southwest of Portugal, extending from Monchique (Algarve) to Cercal (Baixo Alentejo). The plant was first collected by Friedrich Welwitsch in 1847, in Monchique, during his residence (1847–1848) in the province of Algarve (Trimen 1873: 3). The following year he collected it again but further north, in Baixo Alentejo. Welwitsch regarded it as a new species and informally named it ‘Centaurea crocea’, as is apparent from the name written on his specimens of this species that are held in LISU (Garcia Jacas & Susanna 1991). However, he never published this name. Later authors working on the flora of Portugal, such as Sampaio (1909: 60, 1947: 597) and Coutinho (1913: 657, 1939: 776) misidentified Welwitsch’s and other collectors’ material as C. prolongoi Boissier ex Candolle (1838: 303, originally published as ‘prolongi’, corrected to ‘prolongoi’ as it commemorates the Spanish botanist Pablo Prolongo y Garcia). It was only much later that Franco (1984), in the second volume of his Flora of Portugal, concurred with Welwitsch’s view that the material belonged to a separate species and described it as C. crocata, using an epithet similar to that of Welwitsch’s unpublished name. Both epithets ‘crocata’ and ‘crocea’ originate from Latin and mean saffron-coloured. Saffron is a product of a species of the genus Crocus Linnaeus (1753: 36), a name with the same origin.
Key to Adults of North American Genera of the Subfamily Cecidomyiinae (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae)
Authors: GAGNÉ RAYMOND J.
Published: March 2018

Keys to the subfamilies of Cecidomyiidae and to the 150 genera of Cecidomyiinae known to occur in North America are presented. Information is given within the key for each of the genera on distribution, number of species and habits. Patterns of general distribution for the subfamily are discussed. A glossary to anatomical terms is included.
A new species of Orybina Snellen, 1895 from India (Lepidoptera, Pyralidae, Pyralinae)
Authors: SINGH NAVNEET , RANJAN RAHUL
Published: March 2018

The genus Orybina Snellen, 1895, a member of tribe Pyralini of the subfamily Pyralinae and family Pyralidae, was established as the objective replacement name for Oryba Walker, 1863. The original genus Oryba was established for its type species Oryba flaviplaga Walker, 1863 (by monotypy) from North Hindostan [North India]. Recently, the genus is reviewed by Qi et al. (2017) with inclusion of eight species and one subspecies in the World: Orybina kobesi Roesler, 1984, Orybina plangonalis (Walker, 1859), Orybina regalis (Leech, 1889), Orybina bellatulla Qi & Li, 2017, Orybina puerensis Qi & Li, 2017, Orybina hoenei Caradja, 1935, Orybina flaviplaga (Walker, 1863), Orybina imperatrix Caradja, 1925 and Orybina flaviplaga kiangsualis Caradja, 1925. The genus can be diagnosed by the rosteriform labial palpi, forewings reddish-brown or saffron, with a yellow spot (except in Orybina bellatulla). In the male genitalia uncus is triangular or tongue-shaped, and valvae are enlarged apically. In the female genitalia, the anterior apophyses and posterior apophyses are short, the ductus bursae usually coiled anteriorly, and the ovate corpus bursae is without signum (Qi et al. 2017).
Catalogue of ptyctimous mites (Acari, Oribatida) of the world
Authors: NIEDBAŁA WOJCIECH , LIU DONG
Published: March 2018

As important representatives of Oribatida (Acari), ptyctimous mites comprise more than 1400 described species in 40 genera and subgenera, with nearly cosmopolitan distribution except for the Arctic and Antarctic Regions. They are capable of folding the aspidosoma under the opisthosoma to protect their appendages, and are primarily soil and litter inhabitants, feeding on fungi and decaying plant remains with various levels of specificity. Our purpose was to provide a detailed catalogue of all known ptyctimous mite species in the world with information of distribution, taxonomic issues and some remarks. Data of known juvenile  instars of ptyctimous mites which were not included in Norton & Ermilov (2014) were added. We hope that our catalogue with bibliography will be helpful in taxonomic and ecological studies.        The catalogue presents taxonomic information and geographic distribution of 1431 known species of the world belonging to 42 genera and eight families (not including data of genus and species inquirenda, nomina nuda and species without author name). Among them, 261 species are listed as synonyms, 43 species inquirenda, nine homonyms, 17 new synonyms, one new subgenus Mahuntritia subgenus nov. and three new names are included in the catalogue.
Convective Transition Statistics over Tropical Oceans for Climate Model Diagnostics: Observational Baseline
Authors: Kuo Yi-Hung , Schiro Kathleen A. , Neelin J. David
Published: March 2018

Convective transition statistics, which describe the relation between column-integrated water vapor (CWV) and precipitation, are compiled over tropical oceans using satellite and ARM site measurements to quantify the temperature and resolution dependence of the precipitation–CWV relation at fast time scales relevant to convection. At these time scales, and for precipitation especially, uncertainties associated with observational systems must be addressed by examining features with a variety of instrumentation and identifying robust behaviors versus instrument sensitivity at high rain rates. Here the sharp pickup in precipitation as CWV exceeds a certain critical threshold is found to be insensitive to spatial resolution, with convective onset occurring at higher CWV but at lower column relative humidity as bulk tropospheric temperature increases. Mean tropospheric temperature profiles conditioned on precipitation show vertically coherent structure across a wide range of temperature, reaffirming the use of a bulk temperature measure in defining the convective transition statistics. The joint probability distribution of CWV and precipitation develops a peak probability at low precipitation for CWV above critical, with rapidly decreasing probability of high precipitation below and near critical, and exhibits systematic changes under spatial averaging. The precipitation pickup with CWV is reasonably insensitive to time averaging up to several hours but is smoothed at daily time scales. This work demonstrates that CWV relative to critical serves as an effective predictor of precipitation with only minor geographic variations in the tropics, quantifies precipitation-related statistics subject to different spatial–temporal resolution, and provides a baseline for model comparison to apply these statistics as observational constraints on precipitation processes.
Model Assessment of Observed Precipitation Trends over Land Regions: Detectable Human Influences and Possible Low Bias in Model Trends
Authors: Knutson Thomas R. , Zeng Fanrong
Published: March 2018

Precipitation trends for 1901–2010, 1951–2010, and 1981–2010 over relatively well-observed global land regions are assessed for detectable anthropogenic influences and for consistency with historical simulations from phase 5 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP5). The CMIP5 historical all-forcing runs are broadly consistent with the observed trend pattern (1901–2010), but with an apparent low trend bias tendency in the simulations. Despite this bias, observed and modeled trends are statistically consistent over 59% of the analyzed area. Over 20% (9%) of the analyzed area, increased (decreased) precipitation is partly attributable to anthropogenic forcing. These inferred human-induced changes include increases over regions of the north-central United States, southern Canada, Europe, and southern South America and decreases over parts of the Mediterranean region and northern tropical Africa. Trends for the shorter periods (1951–2010 and 1981–2010) do not indicate a prominent low trend bias in the models, as found for the 1901–2010 trends. An atmosphere-only model, forced with observed sea surface temperatures and other climate forcing agents, also underpredicts the observed precipitation increase in the Northern Hemisphere extratropics since 1901. The CMIP5 all-forcing ensemble’s low bias in simulated trends since 1901 is a tentative finding that, if borne out in further studies, suggests that precipitation projections using these regions and models could overestimate future drought risk and underestimate future flooding risk, assuming all other factors equal.
Concurrent Changes to Hadley Circulation and the Meridional Distribution of Tropical Cyclones
Authors: Studholme Joshua , Gulev Sergey
Published: March 2018

Poleward trends in seasonal-mean latitudes of tropical cyclones (TCs) have been identified in direct observations from 1980 to the present. Paleoclimate reconstructions also indicate poleward–equatorward migrations over centennial–millennial time scales. Hadley circulation (HC) is often both implicitly and explicitly invoked to provide dynamical linkages to these shifts, although no direct analysis of concurrent changes in the recent period has been presented. Here, the observational TC record (1981–2016) and ERA-Interim, JRA-55, and MERRA-2 are studied to examine potential relationships between the two. A zonally asymmetric HC is defined by employing Helmholtz theory for vector decomposition, and this permits the derivation of novel HC diagnostics local to TC basins.

Coherent variations in both long-term linear trends and detrended interannual variability are found. TC genesis and lifetime maximum intensity latitudes share trend sign and magnitude with shifts in local HC extent, with rates being approximately 0.25° ± 0.1° lat decade−1. Both these life cycle stages in hemispheric means and all Pacific TC basins, as well as poleward-extreme North Atlantic lysis latitudes, shared approximately 35% of their interannual variability with HC extent. Local HC intensity is linked only to eastern North Pacific TC latitudes, where strong local overturning corresponds to equatorward TC shifts. Examination of potential dynamical linkages implicates La Niña–like sea surface temperature gradients to poleward HC termini. This corresponds to increased tropical and reduced subtropical vertical wind shear everywhere except in the North Atlantic and western North Pacific, where the opposite is true. These results quantify a long-hypothesized link between TCs and the large-scale oceanic–atmospheric state.
Cold-Season Tornadoes: Climatological and Meteorological Insights
Authors: Childs Samuel J. , Schumacher Russ S. , Allen John T.
Published: March 2018

Tornadoes that occur during the cold season, defined here as November–February (NDJF), pose many societal risks, yet less attention has been given to their climatological trends and variability than their warm-season counterparts, and their meteorological environments have been studied relatively recently. This study aims to advance the current state of knowledge of cold-season tornadoes through analysis of these components. A climatology of all (E)F1–(E)F5 NDJF tornadoes from 1953 to 2015 across a domain of 25°–42.5°N, 75°–100°W was developed. An increasing trend in cold-season tornado occurrence was found across much of the southeastern United States, with a bull’s-eye in western Tennessee, while a decreasing trend was found across eastern Oklahoma. Spectral analysis reveals a cyclic pattern of enhanced NDJF counts every 3–7 years, coincident with the period of ENSO. La Niña episodes favor enhanced NDJF counts, but a stronger relationship was found with the Arctic Oscillation (AO). From a meteorological standpoint, the most-tornadic and least-tornadic NDJF seasons were compared using NCEP–NCAR reanalysis data of various severe weather and tornado parameters. The most-tornadic cold seasons are characterized by warm and moist conditions across the Southeast, with an anomalous mean trough across the western United States. In addition, analysis of the convective mode reveals that NDJF tornadoes are common in both discrete and linear storm modes, yet those associated with discrete supercells are more deadly. Taken together, the perspectives presented here provide a deeper understanding of NDJF tornadoes and their societal impacts, an understanding that serves to increase public awareness and reduce human casualty.
The Seasons They Are a Changin’
Authors: Haberman Cory P. , Sorg Evan T. , Ratcliffe Jerry H.
Published: March 2018

Purpose:

To examine a component of crime pattern theory by exploring whether the spatial predictors of crime vary across seasons.

Methods:

The relationships among potentially criminogenic places and illicit markets and seasonal census block robbery counts in Philadelphia, PA, were explored using simultaneously estimated negative binomial regression models. The equality of predictors’ effects on street robbery across seasons was subsequently tested using Wald’s tests.

Results:

While many facilities and illicit markets were positively associated with street robbery, there were few seasonal differences in their effects. Only the effect of high schools during the fall was greater than during the winter and summer as hypothesized.

Conclusions:

The results suggest areas with facilities and illicit markets that are used consistently across the year experience the highest street robbery levels regardless of the season.
Guns and Butter: Child Mortality and the Mediators of Militarization
Authors: Carlton-Ford Steve , Durante Katherine A. , Evans T. David , Graham Ciera
Published: March 2018

Which types of militarization affect child mortality? Which type appears to lower it; which appears to push it higher? This article focuses on social militarization (i.e., troops as a proportion of workforce-aged population) and praetorian militarization (i.e., the military’s control or strong influence over the government), investigating their impact on child mortality using pooled time series analysis covering 142 countries from 1996 through 2008. We find that social and praetorian militarization have opposite effects even after controlling for potentially confounding influences. Access to basic public health infrastructures and education mediates between each type of militarization and child mortality.
Independence in Administrative Adjudications: When and Why Agency Judges Are Subject to Deference and Influence
Authors: Chand Daniel E. , Schreckhise William Dean
Published: March 2018

Are administrative adjudicators subject to external influence and pressures? We present the results from a nationwide survey of agency adjudicators, focusing on immigration judges (IJs) and administrative law judges (ALJs) in the Social Security Administration (SSA). ALJs follow decisional procedures spelled out in the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) and are given substantial legal protections from agency pressures. IJs do not follow APA procedures, nor do they receive its protections. We find IJs give significantly greater deference to the positions of the public, their agency, Congress, and the president, and report more favorable attitudes toward interest groups in adjudications.
Current State of History of Psychology Teaching and Education in Argentina
Authors: Fierro Catriel , Ostrovsky Ana Elisa , Di Doménico María Cristina
Published: March 2018

This study is an empirical analysis of the field’s current state in Argentinian universities. Bibliometric parameters were used to retrieve the total listed texts ( N = 797) of eight undergraduate history courses’ syllabi from Argentina’s most populated public university psychology programs. Then, professors in charge of the selected courses ( N = 7) were interviewed regarding the structure, procedure, and instructional strategies of their courses. Results showed predominance of works produced by Argentinian scholars and secondary sources. Syllabi showed limited incorporation of primary sources, recent research papers, and certain psychological schools. The pervasive presence of infrastructural constraints and lecture-based instruction are seen as limitations that should be collectively debated and addressed by courses’ faculty.
Psychology or Psychological Science?
Authors: Collisson Brian , Rusbasan David
Published: March 2018

The question of renaming graduate psychology programs to psychological science is a timely and contentious issue. To better understand why some programs, but not others, are changing names, we surveyed chairpersons (Study 1) and faculty (Study 2) within graduate psychology and psychological science programs. Within psychology programs, a name change was often perceived as unnecessary, nonrepresentative, or intimidating to science-averse students. Within psychological science programs, a name change was often perceived as better conveying the science of psychology to others, a scientific/research focus, or interdisciplinary partnerships. Differences of opinion may be due to psychological science, as compared to psychology, faculty’s greater concern about conveying psychological science to others, clarifying their program’s focus, and partnering with other sciences.
New exploration strategy in igneous petroliferous basins – Enlightenment from simulation experiments
Authors: Meng Qingqiang , Jing Jiajun , Li Jingzhou , Zhu Dongya , Zou Ande , Zheng Lunju , Jin Zhijun
Published: March 2018

There are two kinds of relationships between magmatism and the generation of hydrocarbons from source rocks in petroliferous basins, namely: (1) simultaneous magmatism and hydrocarbon generation, and (2) magmatism that occurs after hydrocarbon generation. Although the influence of magmatism on hydrocarbon source rocks has been extensively studied, there has not been a systematic comparison between these two relationships and their influences on hydrocarbon generation. Here, we present an overview of the influence of magmatism on hydrocarbon generation based on the results of simulation experiments. These experiments indicate that the two relationships outlined above have different influences on the generation of hydrocarbons. Magmatism that occurred after hydrocarbon generation contributed deeply sourced hydrogen gas that improved liquid hydrocarbon productivity between the mature and overmature stages of maturation, increasing liquid hydrocarbon productivity to as much as 451.59% in the case of simulation temperatures of up to 450°C during modelling where no hydrogen gas was added. This relationship also increased the gaseous hydrocarbon generation ratio at temperatures up to 450°C, owing to the cracking of initially generated liquid hydrocarbons and the cracking of kerogen. Our simulation experiments suggest that gaseous hydrocarbons dominate total hydrocarbon generation ratios for overmature source rocks, resulting in a change in petroleum accumulation processes. This in turn suggests that different exploration strategies are warranted for the different relationships outlined above. For example, simultaneous magmatism and hydrocarbon generation in an area means that exploration should focus on targets likely to host large oilfields, whereas in areas with magmatism that post-dates hydrocarbon generation the exploration should focus on both oil and gas fields. In addition, exploration strategies in igneous petroliferous basins should focus on identifying high-quality reservoirs as well as determining the relationship between magmatism and initial hydrocarbon generation.
Alternative Governance and Corporate Financial Fraud in Transition Economies: Evidence From China
Authors: Yiu Daphne W. , Wan William P. , Xu Yuehua
Published: March 2018

How corporate governance mechanisms function in transition economies is a key topic for corporate governance researchers and policy makers. We propose that alternative governance mechanisms are in place to mitigate corporate fraudulent behaviors in the fluid state of transition economies where the establishment and enforcement of corporate governance legislation are presently insufficient. Drawing on the twin set of institutional logics—the institutional embeddedness logic and the institutional substitution logic—we posit that three salient types of prevailing alternative governance mechanisms (relational, administrative, and foreign governance) play important roles in transition economies because they are complementary to the institutional conditions at the time of the transition process. Conducting a bivariate probit analysis of a matched sample of corporate financial fraud cases in China, we find that strategic alliances, business group affiliation, nontradable state shares, local government ownership, use of foreign auditors, and foreign listing can deter corporate financial fraud, while foreign listing is also effective in detecting fraud. We also find that the deterrence effects of strategic alliances and business group affiliation become weaker as law development improves, while foreign listing and legal governance are completely substitutive. Our study provides a contextualized view of corporate governance that connects its effectiveness with institutionalization and the institutional state of a country. Our study also enriches our understanding of some unfamiliar forms of governance mechanisms that are in place and complementary to a country’s institutional conditions.
Suboptimal Vitamin B Intakes of Zambian Preschool Children: Evaluation of 24-Hour Dietary Recalls
Authors: Titcomb Tyler J. , Schmaelzle Samantha T. , Nuss Emily T. , Gregory Jesse F. , Tanumihardjo Sherry A.
Published: March 2018

Background:

Hidden hunger affects individuals who chronically consume an inadequate intake of at least 1 micronutrient and is associated with low dietary diversity. Little data are available on dietary intake or status assessment of B vitamins among preschool children in Zambia.

Objectives:

The aim of this study was to assess 24-hour dietary recall records obtained from Zambian children aged 3 to 7 years for B vitamin intake in relation to adequacy and change over time in the same community.

Methods:

Twenty-four-hour dietary recalls were collected from 2 studies that were 2 years apart in the same district of Zambia. Data were retrospectively analyzed for B vitamin intake, that is, biotin, vitamin B12, folate, niacin, pantothenic acid, vitamin B6, riboflavin, and thiamin. The estimated average requirement (EAR) cut point method was used to assess inadequacy prevalence for EARs established by the Institute of Medicine in the United States.

Results:

For all B vitamins, mean values were below the EARs established for children 4 to 8 years old. Relative to the EAR, children had the highest intakes of vitamin B6 with inadequacies of 77.9% and 60.1% in 2010 and 2012, respectively. The highest prevalence of inadequate intake was associated with folate, where ≥95% of the children had intakes below the EAR in both studies.

Conclusions:

All median vitamin B intakes were inadequate among these young children in rural Zambia. Future researchers and policy makers may need to consider B vitamin status in resource-poor areas of the country.
Cross-linking multilayers of poly-l-lysine and hyaluronic acid: Effect on mesenchymal stem cell behavior
Authors: Niepel Marcus S , Almouhanna Fadi , Ekambaram Bhavya K , Menzel Matthias , Heilmann Andreas , Groth Thomas
Published: March 2018

Background:

Cells possess a specialized machinery through which they can sense physical as well as chemical alterations in their surrounding microenvironment that affect their cellular behavior.

Aim:

In this study, we aim to establish a polyelectrolyte multilayer system of 24 layers of poly-l-lysine and hyaluronic acid to control stem cell response after chemical cross-linking.

Methods and results:

The multilayer build-up process is monitored using different methods, which show that the studied polyelectrolyte multilayer system grows exponentially following the islands and islets theory. Successful chemical cross-linking is monitored by an increased zeta potential toward negative magnitude and an extraordinary growth in thickness. Human adipose–derived stem cells are used here and a relationship between cross-linking degree and cell spreading is shown as cells seeded on higher cross-linked polyelectrolyte multilayer show enhanced spreading. Furthermore, cells that fail to establish focal adhesions on native and low cross-linked polyelectrolyte multilayer films do not proliferate to a high extent in comparison to cells seeded on highly cross-linked polyelectrolyte multilayer, which also show an increased metabolic activity. Moreover, this study shows the relation between cross-linking degree and human adipose–derived stem cell lineage commitment. Histological staining reveals that highly cross-linked polyelectrolyte multilayers support osteogenic differentiation, whereas less cross-linked and native polyelectrolyte multilayers support adipogenic differentiation in the absence of any specific inducers.

Conclusion:

Owing to the precise control of polyelectrolyte multilayer properties such as potential, wettability, and viscoelasticity, the system presented here offers great potential for guided stem cell differentiation in regenerative medicine, especially in combination with materials exhibiting a defined surface topography.
A high-quality mentalization-based group therapy session
Authors: Karterud Sigmund
Published: March 2018

A previous study of a MBT group displayed that the therapists failed to establish the group as a training ground for mentalizing. In this study we present a detailed and long transcript of a sequence in a successful MBT group. The therapists’ interventions were rated according to the mentalization-based group therapy adherence and quality scale, performed by the Norwegian MBT Quality Laboratory. The therapists displayed a high adherence to the MBT-G manual and the patients became collectively engaged in exploring and reflecting upon crucial borderline dynamics. The interventions that seemed most important for unfolding of the sequence are carefully spelled out. They have a metacognitive flavour, but are elsewise simple and straight forward. There seems to be nothing essentially new in this MBT-G approach, if one asks for specific ingredients. However, the therapeutic stance is consequently geared towards exploration of mental states, guided by a certain theory. One might say that it represents a more modern mixture of ingredients that are well known in different research and group therapy camps.
Do Multiple Forms of Social Capital Mediate the Relationship Between Parental Violence and Children’s Maladaptive Behaviors?
Authors: Kim Sangwon , Lee Yanghee
Published: March 2018

Many things can harm children’s well-being. Among them, exposure to parental violence makes children vulnerable and often leads to aggression and/or depression. However, not all children who have suffered parental violence show aggressive behavior or depressive mood. Social capital, defined as resources accruing from interpersonal relationships, was proposed to significantly mediate the relationships among adverse experiences and their negative impacts. In previous studies, social capital accrued from parents played a positive role for children in violent situations, but children exposed to parental violence need alternative sources of social capital. This study targeted fourth-grade Korean children and aimed to identify and test the role of various forms of social capital to help children overcome negative consequences from parental violence. Siblings, friends, teachers, neighbors, and online acquaintances were sources of social capital, and the results showed that social capital from siblings, teachers, neighbors, or online acquaintances mediated in the relationships between parental violence and aggressive behavior. In addition, social capital from siblings and online acquaintances mediated in the relationships between parental violence and depressive mood. The findings have implications in terms of intervention. It is suggested that multiple forms of social capital from children’s immediate environments are helpful in their adaptation from exposure to parental violence, and thus, relationship-based interventions are recommended.
Justice, Morality, and International Relations: A Critical–Theoretical Reading
Authors: Choudhary Abhishek
Published: March 2018

The article argues in favor of the concept of justice as a foundational norm of global politics. It looks at the puzzle that why order is preferred over justice. The disregard toward justice is seen as a tool of convenience for fulfilling hegemonic aspirations and avoiding any normative commitment. The order versus justice debate has been in the discipline for long, where different theoretical tradition has offered differing preferences. The article takes a critical–theoretical viewpoint and argues for a more active involvement with the notion of justice to have a humane understanding of international politics. It challenges the cosmopolitan idea of global justice as being a mere reflection of hegemony. The theories of justice rooted in liberalism end up providing another set of meta-narrative. The prescription, thus, is against the creation of a world government. Instead, it argues for installing an ethical and emancipatory dimension to the project.
Future Care Planning by Older Grandparents Raising Adolescent Grandchildren
Authors: Peterson Tina L.
Published: March 2018

Mason’s framework for permanency planning was used to explore thoughts on future care planning among older grandparents raising adolescent grandchildren. In-depth, qualitative interviews were conducted with a diverse sample of 15 participants recruited from three states. The majority of grandparent caregivers were married grandmothers with some college education. Grandparent caregivers reported experiencing worry and fear. Major themes were (a) a preference for adult sons and daughters as future caregivers, (b) limited future care conversations with adolescent grandchildren, (c) sharing information due to personal health crises and special needs of grandchildren, (d) mixed willingness or commitment responses from potential caregivers, and (e) limited formal legal caregiving arrangements. Older grandparent caregivers can benefit from social workers assisting with complex thoughts and issues linked to future care planning. Implications are discussed for social work practice and research.
Up Close and Personal on Social Media: When Do Politicians’ Personal Disclosures Enhance Vote Intention?
Authors: Lee Eun-Ju , Oh Soo Youn , Lee Jihye , Kim Hyun Suk
Published: March 2018

Two experiments investigated how politicians’ personal disclosures on social media might affect individuals’ vote intention. In Study 1 ( n = 240), a male politician’s Facebook posts centering on his private life (vs. impersonal posts highlighting public activities) enhanced U.S. participants’ intention to vote for him, mostly by heightening likability. By contrast, a female politician’s personal Facebook posts lowered perceived competence, and thereby, vote intention among those who considered Facebook ill-suited for relational purposes. Using Twitter, Study 2 ( n = 258) mostly replicated the findings among South Korean participants, confirming bounded benefits of publicizing politicians’ private persona via social media.
Radical right parties and European economic integration: Evidence from the seventh European Parliament
Authors: Cavallaro Matteo , Flacher David , Zanetti Massimo Angelo
Published: March 2018

This article explores the differences in radical right parties' voting behaviour on economic matters at the European Parliament. As the literature highlights the heterogeneity of these parties in relation to their economic programmes, we test whether divergences survive the elections and translate into dissimilar voting patterns. Using voting records from the seventh term of the European Parliament, we show that radical right parties do not act as a consolidated party family. We then analyse the differences between radical right parties by the means of different statistical methods (NOMINATE, Ward's clustering criterion, and additive trees) and find that these are described along two dimensions: the degree of opposition to the European Union and the classical left–right economic cleavage. We provide a classification of these parties compromising four groups: pro-welfare conditional, pro-market conditional, and rejecting. Our results indicate that radical right parties do not act as a party family at the European Parliament. This remains true regardless of the salience of the policy issues in their agendas. The article also derives streams for future research on the heterogeneity of radical right parties.
Capturing the legislative priorities of transnational Europarties and the European Commission: A pledge approach
Authors: Kostadinova Petia , Giurcanu Magda
Published: March 2018

This article presents a new dataset of pledges made by Europarties during the 2004 and 2009 European Parliament elections, as well as pre-legislative priorities of the European Commission following these elections. The data cover two legislative cycles in the period 2004–2013. The article discusses the rationale behind the development of this dataset, the coding, and the measurement of the variables, and it highlights the applicability of these data.
Are physical activity levels of health care professionals consistent with activity guidelines? A prospective cohort study in New Zealand
Authors: Chan Lydia , McNaughton Harry , Weatherall Mark
Published: March 2018

Objective

We aimed to estimate the level of physical activity undertaken by health care professionals and the proportion that achieved a daily target of 10,000 steps.

Design

This was a prospective cohort study.

Setting

Participants were recruited in Wellington Regional Hospital, a tertiary hospital in New Zealand.

Participants

Neurology, Cardiology, and Endocrinology staff were invited to participate.

Main outcome measures

Pedometer-measured step counts were recorded over seven days and the proportion that achieved a daily target of 10,000 steps was calculated.

Results

We included 50 staff in the study. The mean daily step count was 10,620 (standard deviation = 3141) with a median daily step count of 10,606 (interquartile range = 7791–12,469). Sixty-five per cent of the staff achieved 10,000 steps per day.

Conclusion

This cohort was more active compared to other pedometer-based studies in health care professionals. The daily target of 10,000 steps per day was achieved at a higher proportion than reported in international studies and the general New Zealand.