bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Climate Change, Arctic Aesthetics, and Indigenous Agency in the Age of the Anthropocene
Authors: Herrmann Victoria
Published: February 2016

As the world enters into a new century, Arctic countries, indigenous groups, non-state actors, and even non-Arctic nations such as China and India are intensifying their political and economic investments in the circumpolar region. The potential of an ice-free pole in the near future promises unprecedented opportunities of energy resources, trade routes, and mineral extraction. Nonetheless, few political leaders have or will ever travel to the far north. In a place so geographically remote from those who are taking interest, images and supportive textual discourse have become a medium for legitimising actions and statements. Each selective compositional or contextual element determines the realm of visibility and invisibility, enacting a particularly politicised disposition from its audience. The purpose of this work is to demonstrate how images of indigenous communities in the Arctic function as currency in debates of climate change, human rights, and native agency. First, the piece explores the human rights implications of a changing climate for native Arctic communities. This article then explores the implications of narratives of traditional knowledge being drawn onto abstract grids of historic victimisation through their engagement with international law, institutions, and human rights campaigns. Through this, the article shows that these images and aesthetic codes have constructed and conditioned changing perceptions of human rights and responsibility in a melting Arctic. The analysis considers the role visual narratives generally play in human rights within the climate change discourse and their implications for law reform and strategies for achieving climate justice.
The IMO Mandatory International Code of Safety for Ships: Charting a Sustainable Course for Shipping in the Polar Regions?
Authors: Leary David
Published: February 2016

Many Asian states such as China are increasingly engaged in maritime activities in the polar regions. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has developed a mandatory international code of safety for certain types of ships operating in polar waters (the Polar Code) which applies to the vessels of Asian and non-Asian states alike. The Polar Code covers a wide range of issues including ship design and construction, equipment, operation, crew training, search and rescue and environmental protection relating to ships operating in the polar regions. This article examines the Polar Code, which will be implemented via amendments to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) and the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL). It considers the extent to which the Polar Code lays the foundations for a sustainable future for shipping in the polar regions.
CCAMLR Conservation Measures: How the Chairman’s Statement Works
Authors: Miller Denzil G.M.
Published: February 2016

The ‘Final Act of the Conference on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources’ included a statement made on 19 May 1980 by its Chairman. The ‘Chairman’s Statement’ addressed the CAMLR Convention’s application in waters adjacent to the Kerguelen and Crozet Islands over which France exercises jurisdiction by virtue of its sovereignty over the islands. The Statement included explicit reference to waters adjacent to other islands within the CCAMLR Area, where the existence of State sovereignty is recognised by all the Convention Contracting Parties. In 2007 the CCAMLR Performance Review noted the increasing frequency with which some Commission Members were invoking the Chairman’s Statement. In particular, the Review Panel expressed the view that a point has been reached where any Conservation Measure adopted by CCAMLR invariably attracts a formal reservation on the perception that a conservation measure affects the maritime jurisdictions of certain Members, particularly those exercising national sovereignty over sub-Antarctic islands in the CCAMLR Indian Ocean sector. This paper examines the background to, and practices associated with, applying CCAMLR Conservation Measure reservations under the Chairman’s Statement.
Conceptions and (Mis)conceptions of Science in International Treaties; the ICJ Whaling Case in Context
Authors: Gogarty Brendan
Published: February 2016

The recent judgment in the International Court of Justice case Whaling in the Antarctic (Australia v. Japan: New Zealand intervening) determined that Japanese ‘special permit’ whaling in the Southern Ocean was not ‘for the purposes of scientific research’. This is the only exemption permitted under the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling’s current moratorium on commercial whaling. The Court made its determination by characterising the Japanese research program as a scientific program, but failing to define what scientific research actually was or was not. This paper presents the background to the decision, and challenges the reasoning of the Court and its standard of review test. It concludes that the Court failed to take the opportunity to offer a clear determination to states on their legal–scientific obligations within international law.
The Antarctic Treaty System: Future Mining Faces Many Mathematical Challenges
Authors: Press AJ Tony
Published: February 2016

This short paper examines how the Antarctic Treaty and its Protocol on Environmental Protection deal with mineral resource activities and the steps that would be required to lift the current ban on mining in the Antarctic.
New lectotypifications and new synonyms in Festuca (Poaceae, Pooideae, Loliinae) from the Central Andes
Authors: OSPINA JUAN C.
Published: February 2016

New lectotypifications and new synonyms are provided as a result of a systematic study of the genus Festuca from the Central Andes. In the Andes mountains of Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile, several species of Festuca are dominant components of the grasslands and high Andean steppes. Festuca circinata and F. dissitiflora occur in this area and were described based on morphological characters. Some authors have considered F. circinata as a valid species while others have treated it as a synonym of F. dissitiflora, together with F. dissitiflora var. loricata , F. dissitiflora var. villipalea, and F. erecta var. aristulata. In this study, a review of the taxonomy and nomenclature of F. castilloniana, F. circinata, and F. potosiana was performed, and their morphological and anatomical characters were compared with F. dissitiflora. Based on morphoanatomical and epidermal characters, this study contributes to the delimitation of F. circinata and F. dissitiflora. Nomenclatural notes and new anatomical and epidermal descriptions are included for these species. Differential characters between F. circinata and F. dissitiflora are discussed and F. circinata is restored as a valid species for Argentina. Festuca castilloniana and F. potosiana are synonymised under F. dissitiflora. Festuca dissitiflora var. loricata, F. dissitiflora var. villipalea, and F. erecta var. aristulata are excluded from the synonymy of F. dissitiflora and it is suggested that these names should be subordinate under F. fiebrigii. Festuca stuckertii is proposed as a new synonym of F. uninodis. Lectotypes are designated for the names F. argentinensis, F. dissitiflora, F. nemoralis and F. parodii, and second-step lectotypes are designated for the names F. circinata and F. ampliflora.
Quantitative Assessment of Human Wind Speed Overestimation
Authors: Miller Paul W. , Black Alan W. , Williams Castle A. , Knox John A.
Published: February 2016

Human wind reports are a vital supplement to the relatively sparse network of automated weather stations in the United States, especially for localized convective winds. In this study, human wind estimates recorded in Storm Data between 1996 and 2013 were compared with instrumentally observed wind speeds from the Global Historical Climatology Network (GHCN). Nonconvective wind events in areas of flat terrain within the continental United States served as the basis for this analysis because of the relative spatial homogeneity of wind fields in these meteorological and geographic settings. The distribution of 6801 GHCN-measured gust factors (GF), defined here as the ratio of the daily maximum gust to the daily average wind, provided the reference upon which human gust reports were judged. GFs were also calculated for each human estimate by dividing the estimated gust by the GHCN average wind speed on that day. Human-reported GFs were disproportionately located in the upper tail of the observed GF distribution, suggesting that humans demonstrate a tendency to report statistically improbable wind gusts. As a general rule of thumb, humans overestimated nonconvective wind GFs by approximately one-third.
Trimming of sequence reads alters RNA-Seq gene expression estimates
Authors: Williams Claire R. , Baccarella Alyssa , Parrish Jay Z. , Kim Charles C.
Published: February 2016

Background

High-throughput RNA-Sequencing (RNA-Seq) has become the preferred technique for studying gene expression differences between biological samples and for discovering novel isoforms, though the techniques to analyze the resulting data are still immature. One pre-processing step that is widely but heterogeneously applied is trimming, in which low quality bases, identified by the probability that they are called incorrectly, are removed. However, the impact of trimming on subsequent alignment to a genome could influence downstream analyses including gene expression estimation; we hypothesized that this might occur in an inconsistent manner across different genes, resulting in differential bias.

Results

To assess the effects of trimming on gene expression, we generated RNA-Seq data sets from four samples of larval Drosophila melanogaster sensory neurons, and used three trimming algorithms—SolexaQA, Trimmomatic, and ConDeTri—to perform quality-based trimming across a wide range of stringencies. After aligning the reads to the D. melanogaster genome with TopHat2, we used Cuffdiff2 to compare the original, untrimmed gene expression estimates to those following trimming. With the most aggressive trimming parameters, over ten percent of genes had significant changes in their estimated expression levels. This trend was seen with two additional RNA-Seq data sets and with alternative differential expression analysis pipelines. We found that the majority of the expression changes could be mitigated by imposing a minimum length filter following trimming, suggesting that the differential gene expression was primarily being driven by spurious mapping of short reads. Slight differences with the untrimmed data set remained after length filtering, which were associated with genes with low exon numbers and high GC content. Finally, an analysis of paired RNA-seq/microarray data sets suggests that no or modest trimming results in the most biologically accurate gene expression estimates.

Conclusions

We find that aggressive quality-based trimming has a large impact on the apparent makeup of RNA-Seq-based gene expression estimates, and that short reads can have a particularly strong impact. We conclude that implementation of trimming in RNA-Seq analysis workflows warrants caution, and if used, should be used in conjunction with a minimum read length filter to minimize the introduction of unpredictable changes in expression estimates.
MAIN SUPPORTING DIRECTIONS OF RUSSIAN AGRIBUSINESS IN THE WTO TERMS
Authors: Кириллова  , Kirillova Olga , Мухаметгалиев  , Mukhametgaliev Farit , Файзрахманов  , Fayzrakhmanov Dzhaudat , Ситдикова  , Sitdikova Landysh
Published: February 2016

The existing threats and risks in connection with Russia’s WTO accession necessitated the development of tools, aimed to protect troubled industries of agriculture and to ensure the development of a competitive agricultural sector of Russia. Therefore, an improvement of the system and mechanisms of state regulation of agriculture development of the Russian regions and the country as a whole becomes highly urgent.
PRODUCTIVITY OF POTATO OF DIFFERENT RIPENING DEPENDING ON NUTRITION AREA AND USE OF CALCULATED DOSES OF FERTILIZERS IN THE KAMA REGION OF THE REPUBLIC OF TATARSTAN
Authors: Гареев  , Gareev Ilgiz
Published: February 2016

The effect of planting density and different nutrition backgrounds on the productivity of potato of early ripening varieties Vineta and middle ripening Kurazh in the field experiment on the gray forest soil of the Kama region of the Republic of Tatarstan. During the research we established a high efficiency of making the calculated doses of fertilizers to harvest of 30 and 40 tons per hectare at planting density of 66.50 thousand units per hectare.
DYNAMICS OF NUTRITION ELEMENTS, DEPENDING ON THE CALCULATED DOSES OF MINERAL FERTILIZERS
Authors: Самаркин  , Samarkin Aleksey , Шашкаров  , Shashkarov Leonid
Published: February 2016

The paper deals with the influence of mineral fertilizers on the level of security of potato plants with essential nutrients in every phase of potato plants development by determining the content of nutrient elements in the soil and above-ground parts of the plant at the plant vegetation on a leached chernozem of the Chuvash Republic.
THE IMPACT OF LUCERNE’S NEW BREEDS ON THE STRUCTURE OF ARABLE LAYER OF HEAVY-GREY FOREST SOILS DEPENDING ON MINERAL NUTRITION LEVEL
Authors: Шарипова  , Sharipova Gulsiya , Тагиров  , Tagirov Marsel , Шайтанов  , Shaytanov Oleg
Published: February 2016

The article presents data on the effect of three-year usage of herbage of six varieties of alfalfa, which are well adapted to the conditions of the Republic of Tatarstan, to the structure of gray forest heavy-loamy soils. The studies, carried out in 2007-2010, on different mineral nutrition backgrounds, showed that the studied alfalfa varieties differ greatly in intensity of root mass increase and responsiveness to the application of mineral fertilizers, respectively, their habitat-forming properties also differ.
Certain Tendencies of the Constitutional-Legal Regulation of Party Formation in the Russian Federation
Authors: Alimov Emil
Published: February 2016

This article is devoted to the study of certain tendencies of the political parties constitutional regulation in the Russian Federation. With the aid of analysis of the political parties functioning legislation, the legal positions of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation and the European Court of Human Rights the author demonstrates the dynamics of the Russian legislation in the field of the party building, as well as the different approaches used in these courts in the interpretation of some restrictive regulation in context of the topic. It is noted that political parties are an important segment of modern democracy and they play an important part not only in the electoral process, but also in the deputy-voter mutual relationship; also political parties can affect certain public authorities. Accordingly showing up general rules of the legislation development in this area and their comparative legal analysis would not only clearly define the real situation of the political parties in Russia and reveal the existing problems, but also indicate a vector for the further development of the constitutional regulations in this field.
Optimization of Financial Control Tools: Information Systems
Authors: Bozhyenok Syergyey
Published: February 2016

The article is devoted to the legal bases of formation and use of information systems for financial control. The urgency and the need to implement the automation of administrative processes, enabling significantly improves rapid response to changes in a large array of control objects is pointed out. As the advantages of this method of financial control facilitation of collection and compilation of information, reducing the time required for the analysis of information, increasing the efficiency of control over elimination of violations of financial discipline, transparency of information on the performance of financial control are indicated. The basic requirements, procedures and operational features of the state information systems are concidered. Particular attention is paid to the analysis of individual information systems used by the bodies of state financial control in view of the tax administration, and monitoring and analyzing the results of the implementation of government programs and public service delivery, budget execution, procurement of goods, works and services for state (municipal) needs, etc.
Immunities of State Officials and the Responsibility for the International Crimes: International and National Law
Authors: Glotova Svetlana
Published: February 2016

The immunities of high-rank officials regarding to the responsibility of serious crimes of international community concern are analysed in the present paper. Relevance of the topic is maintained in its consideration of the International Law Commission. Principle of the irrelevance of official capacity (Art. 7 IMT, Principle III of the Nuremberg principles, art. 27 Rome Statute of ICC) is universally recognized and has the character of jus cogens. We critically examine the state practice (Pinochet case, Georgia case). The international documents, Criminal Code of the Russian Federation and doctrine are analyzed. By virtue of the constitutional priority of universally recognized principles and norms of International law (Art. 15.4 Constitution), the provisions of the Criminal Code must be fixed in accordance with the Nuremberg principles. This concerns especially principle of irrelevance of official capacity. In case of conflict, the principle of interpretation in accordance with international law should be applied.
The Multilateral International Treaties Regulating the Legal Regime of the Arctic
Authors: Avkhadeev Vladislav
Published: February 2016

The modern international legal regime of the Arctic is regulated by multilateral international treaties at all levels of legal regulation: universal, regional and subregional. Universal international treaties regulate the legal status of various objects environment, define the legal status of maritime areas or regulate certain types of human activity, including in relation to the Arctic region. Regional multilateral treaties are concluded between the Arctic states on specific issues of environmental protection and emergency rescue activities. Subregional treaties concluded between states of the Western Arctic for the coordination and optimization of intergovernmental cooperation in the Barents (Euro-Arctic) region. In addition, each of the levels of international legal regulation of the regime of the Arctic has certain drawbacks. Universal international treaties that apply to the Arctic sea areas do not always take into account their specific features. Regional international treaties don´t cover complete circle of relations developing between the Arctic states in the course of their cooperation. Subregional treaties apply only to the Western Arctic, and do not regulate the activities of States in the Eastern Arctic and Central Arctic (North Pole region).
Standards of Fair Justice: Problems of Form and Content
Authors: Pryesnyakov Mikhail
Published: February 2016

The article discusses how the national legislation in the majority of democratic states and the universally recognized international instruments provide the right to a fair trial. The right to a fair trial guaranteed by the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, and a number of other international instruments, and the “right to judicial protection of constitutional rights and freedoms” in the interpretation of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation are compared. The author states that a fair judicial procedure is not always clearly entail a fair judgment. The problems of abuse of the right to judicial protection are discussed. It is concluded that the failure to protect an illusory or contrived rights can be an adequate means of countering the use of the right to judicial protection which is not in accordance with its intended purpose.
Reducing psychological distress in patients undergoing chemotherapy
Authors: Milanti Ariesta , Metsälä Eija , Hannula Leena
Published: February 2016

Psychological distress is a common problem among patients with cancer, yet it mostly goes unreported and untreated. This study examined the association of a psycho-educational intervention with the psychological distress levels of breast cancer and cervical cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. The design of the study was quasi-experimental, pretest-posttest design with a comparison group. One hundred patients at a cancer hospital in Jakarta, Indonesia, completed Distress Thermometer screening before and after chemotherapy. Fifty patients in the intervention group were given a psycho-educational video with positive reappraisal, education and relaxation contents, while receiving chemotherapy. Patients who received the psycho-educational intervention had significantly lower distress levels compared with those in the control group. Routine distress screening, followed by distress management and outcome assessment, is needed to improve the wellbeing of cancer patients.
Multitasking Abilities in Adolescents With 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome: Results From an Experimental Ecological Paradigm
Authors: Schneider Maude , Eliez Stephan , Birr Julie , Menghetti Sarah , Debbané Martin , Van der Linden Martial
Published: February 2016

The 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11.2DS) is associated with cognitive and functional impairments and increased risk for schizophrenia. We characterized multitasking abilities of adolescents with 22q11.2DS using an experimental naturalistic setting and examined whether multitasking impairments were associated with real-world functioning and negative symptoms. Thirty-nine adolescents (19 with 22q11.2DS and 20 controls) underwent the Multitasking Evaluation for Adolescents. Real-world functioning and clinical symptoms were assessed in participants with 22q11.2DS. Adolescents with 22q11.2DS performed poorly in the multitasking evaluation. Our data also suggest that multitasking abilities are related to adaptive functioning in the practical domain and negative symptoms. This study shows that adolescents with 22q11.2DS are characterized by multitasking impairments, which may be relevant for several aspects of the clinical phenotype.
Catheter-based intraluminal optical coherence tomography of the normal human upper urinary tract in vivo: proof of concept and comparison with an ex-vivo porcine model
Authors: L. Mueller-Lisse Ulrike , Bader Markus , Englram Elisabeth , Stief Christian , F. Reiser Maximilian
Published: February 2016

Objective: Single-slice, cross-sectional, intraluminal optical-coherence-tomography (OCT) is a new destruction-free optical imaging method that could be applied clinically to examine the upper urinary tract from within. In-vivo access to the human upper urinary tract (UUT) was attempted. Similar performance statistics as in ex-vivo porcine UUT were expected for delineation of different wall layers by in-vivo OCT of human UUTs.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Institutional ethics committee approved OCT in a volunteer sample of 15 patients suspected of having UUT pathology (urolithiasis, strictures, urothelial carcinoma (UC)). Commercially available, catheter-mounted 400-μm-OCT-probes (lateral resolution, < 20 µm) were introduced through a rigid cystoscope and urinary catheter or a rigid ureteroscope. Delineations of different UUT wall layers were recorded for quadrants of OCT images. Continuity-corrected-chi-square-statistics were considered to be significant for P < 0.05.
RESULTS: OCT was technically successful in all patients. Among quadrants of OCT images of normal UUT in vivo (n = 532) and ex vivo (n = 248), respectively, two observers in consensus found that any tissue layers delineated in 454 (85%) and 223 (90%, P = 0.089), urothelium-lamina propria in 362 (68%) and 193 (78%, P = 0.006), lamina propria-muscle layer in 445 (84%) and 200 (81%, P = 0.352), different muscle layers in 191 (36%) and 207 (84%, P < 0.001), and different urothelial cell layers in 17 (3%) and 172 (69%, P < 0.001). Histopathology-confirmed non-invasive superficial UC showed intraluminal, papillary urothelial protrusions with undistorted lamina propria in three patients.
CONCLUSIONS: In-vivo OCT is technically feasible in the human UUT and may demonstrate urothelium, lamina propria, and muscle layer, and recognize non-invasive UC.
Question du feedback en didactique des langues étrangères : quelques réflexions théoriques
Authors: Półtorak Ewa
Published: February 2016

The article aims to take the issue of feedback into the context of teaching/learning foreign languages. In the first place, the source concept of feedback will be presented. Then, the feedback phenomenon will be defined in the context of teaching foreign languages. It will allow to discuss its significance and specific roles that it may play for individual participants in the process of teaching/learning foreign languages. In conclusion, based on criteria important from the educational point of view, examples of classifications of feedback, which may be accompanied byboth real and virtual foreign language classroom, will be presented.
Jogos didáticos para o ensino de Astronomia no Ensino Fundamental
Authors: Miranda Jean Carlos , Gonzaga Glaucia Ribeiro , Costa Rosa Cristina , Freitas Caroline Coutinho Carneiro , Côrtes Kíscila Cordeiro
Published: February 2016

A Astronomia, apesar de presente em salas de aulas, por vezes, se apresenta como uma série de conteúdos de difícil entendimento. A Olimpíada Brasileira de Astronomia e Astronáutica (OBA), evento realizado desde 1998, foi criada como um importante recurso pedagógico, um instrumento de divulgação que objetiva estimular o interesse dos jovens sobre o tema, atuar como importante auxiliar na aprendizagem, de forma a contribuir para a melhoria do rendimento escolar. O presente trabalho apresenta três jogos didáticos desenvolvidos e aplicados em uma escola pública do Noroeste do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, com vistas à preparação de alunos do Ensino Fundamental para participação na OBA. Os jogos foram confeccionados com materiais de baixo custo e fácil aquisição. Para avaliação da usabilidade dos jogos, a compreensão e a clareza das regras, foi aplicado um questionário composto por oito questões fechadas e uma questão aberta. A análise dos questionários, bem como os resultados obtidos na OBA, indica que os jogos desenvolvidos cumpriram seus objetivos, contribuindo para que o processo de ensino-aprendizagem ocorra de forma divertida, didática e prazerosa. O trabalho desenvolvido com estas ferramentas didáticas para o estudo de Astronomia produziu um espaço privilegiado de construção e popularização do conhecimento científico com um olhar crítico e construtivo, que, por muitas vezes, é ignorada no trabalho escolar cotidiano.
Different levels of water deficit induces changes in growth pattern but not in chlorophyll fluorescence and water relations of Hancornia speciosa Gomes seedlings
Authors: Da Silva Elizamar Ciríaco , Prado Tiago Buarque , De Alcântara Rebeca Nogueira , Da Silva Junior Carlos Dias , Nogueira Luis Carlos
Published: February 2016

The tree Hancornia speciosa Gomes is commonly known in Brazil as “mangabeira”, the fruit of which has high nutritional value. The knowledge about its physiology is still scarce, mainly during the initial phase of development. Thus, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of different water deficit levels on growth pattern, chlorophyll fluorescence and water relations in H.speciosa seedlings. A A factorial experimental design (water treatment x evaluation time) was used with four water treatments based on the field capacity (FC) (80%, 60%, 40% and 20%) with five replications. Plant height, number of leaves, stem diameter, dry biomass production and partitioning, quantum efficiency of photosystem II (PSII), water potential (Ψw), relative water content (RWC), carbohydrates, proteins and proline content were analyzed. Severe water stress (20% FC) led to a reduction in growth and altered the biomass partitioning pattern in the seedlings. However, water relations were not significantly affected, as the seedlings maintain high Ψw and RWC without significant increase in organic solutes content when cultivated in 20% FC. Moreover, the quantum efficiency of PSII was unaffected by the different water levels, suggesting a lack of photoinhibition due to water stress. The change in growth pattern, with an increase in root depth and reduction in shoot emission, seems to be the main strategy of the H. speciosa seedlings for the maintenance of tissue hydration throughout periods of water deficit.
Sharing with Friends versus Strangers: How Interpersonal Closeness Influences Word-of-Mouth Valence
Authors: Dubois David , Bonezzi Andrea , De Angelis Matteo
Published: February 2016

How does interpersonal closeness (IC)—the perceived psychological proximity between a sender and a recipient—influence word-of-mouth (WOM) valence? The current research proposes that high levels of IC tend to increase the negativity of WOM shared, whereas low levels of IC tend to increase the positivity of WOM shared. The authors hypothesize that this effect is due to low versus high levels of IC triggering distinct psychological motives. Low IC activates the motive to self-enhance, and communicating positive information is typically more instrumental to this motive than communicating negative information. In contrast, high IC activates the motive to protect others, and communicating negative information is typically more instrumental to this motive than communicating positive information. Four experiments provide evidence for the basic effect and the underlying role of consumers’ motives to self-enhance and protect others through mediation and moderation. The authors discuss implications for understanding how WOM spreads across strongly versus weakly tied social networks.
Belief in Free Will: Implications for Practice and Policy
Authors: Zheng Yanmei , Van Osselaer Stijn M.J. , Alba Joseph W.
Published: February 2016

The conviction one holds about free will serves as a foundation for the views one holds about the consumption activities of other consumers, the nature of social support systems, and the constraints that should or should not be placed on industry. Across multiple paradigms and contexts, the authors assess people's beliefs about the control consumers have over consumption activities in the face of various constraints on agency. They find that beliefs regarding personal discretion are robust and resilient, consistent with their finding that free will is viewed as noncorporeal. Nonetheless, they also find that these beliefs are not monolithic but vary as a function of identifiable differences across individuals and the perceived cause of behavior, particularly with regard to physical causation. Taken together, the results support the general wisdom of libertarian paternalism as a framework for public policy and highlight current and emerging situations in which policy makers might be granted greater latitude.
Enzymatic microreactors in biocatalysis: history, features, and future perspectives
Authors: Laurenti Enzo , dos Santos Vianna Jr. Ardson
Published: February 2016

Microfluidic reaction devices are a very promising technology for chemical and biochemical processes. In microreactors, the micro dimensions, coupled with a high surface area/volume ratio, permit rapid heat exchange and mass transfer, resulting in higher reaction yields and reaction rates than in conventional reactors. Moreover, the lower energy consumption and easier separation of products permit these systems to have a lower environmental impact compared to macroscale, conventional reactors. Due to these benefits, the use of microreactors is increasing in the biocatalysis field, both by using enzymes in solution and their immobilized counterparts. Following an introduction to the most common applications of microreactors in chemical processes, a broad overview will be given of the latest applications in biocatalytic processes performed in microreactors with free or immobilized enzymes. In particular, attention is given to the nature of the materials used as a support for the enzymes and the strategies employed for their immobilization. Mathematical and engineering aspects concerning fluid dynamics in microreactors were also taken into account as fundamental factors for the optimization of these systems.
Comparing Japanese and South Korean Strategies toward China and the United States
Authors: Wong Audrye Y.
Published: February 2016

Japan and South Korea have had differing patterns of responding to China’s rise and aligning with the United States. This can be explained by shifting threat perceptions based on interactions between evolving systemic and local threats, from both China and North Korea, as well as their relative degrees of imminence.
A Giant Coronary Sinus Aneurysm with Secondary Vena Cava Aneurysms
Authors: Wu Shengjun , Teng Peng , Ni Yiming , Li Renyuan
Published: February 2016

Coronary sinus aneurysm (CSA) is an extremely rare entity. Herein, we present an unusual case of an 18-year-old symptomatic female patient with a giant CSA. Secondary vena cava aneurysms were also manifested. The final diagnosis was confirmed by enhanced computed tomography (CT) and cardiac catheterization. As far as we know, it is the first case that such a giant CSA coexists with secondary vena cava aneurysms. Considering the complexity of postoperative reconstruction, we believe that heart transplantation may be the optimal way for treatment. The patient received anticoagulant due to the superior vena cava (SVC) thrombosis while waiting for a donor.
The Liberative Role of Jh?nic Joy (P?ti) and Pleasure (Sukha) in the Early Buddhist Path to Awakening
Authors: Arbel Keren
Published: February 2016

This paper challenges the traditional Buddhist positioning of the four jhànas under the category of `concentration meditation' and the premise regarding their secondary and superfluous role in the path of liberation. It seeks to show that the common interpretation of the jhànas as absorption-concentration, attainments that have no liberative value, is incompatible with the teachings of the Pàli Nikàyas. The paper argues few things: First, that one attains the jhànas, not by fixating the mind or being absorbed into a meditation object, but by releasing and letting go of the foothold of the unwholesome mind. Second and related, that the entrance into the first jhàna is the actualization and embodiment of insight practice. Third, that jhànic joy (piti) and pleasure (sukha) has significant liberative importance in the path of liberation; they allow the mind to let go of a rooted and basic tendency that causes suffering: the tendency to desire sensual pleasures (kàma).
Social and demographic inequalities in diet quality in a population-based study
Authors: ASSUMPÇÃO Daniela de , DOMENE Semíramis Martins Álvares , FISBERG Regina Mara , BARROS Marilisa Berti de Azevedo
Published: February 2016

Objective : To evaluate sociodemographic inequalities in the diet quality of the urban population of the city of Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil. Methods: A population-based, cross-sectional study was performed using data from a health survey conducted in the city of Campinas in 2008-2009. Diet quality was evaluated using the Brazilian Healthy Eating Index Revised. A total of 3,382 individuals aged 10 years old and older were analyzed. Results : Brazilian Healthy Eating Index Revised scores increased with age and education level. Women consumed more vegetables, fruits, and milk, and less sodium, meat and eggs, oils, saturated and solid fats, alcohol, and added sugars than men. Scores for whole grains, vegetables, and fruits also increased with age and education level. Conclusion: These findings point to sociodemographic segments that are more vulnerable to an inappropriate diet and identify the need of strategies to increase the consumption of whole grains, dark green vegetables, fruits, and milk, and decrease the consumption of sodium, solid fats, alcohol, and added sugar.
Secondary Alveolar Bone Grafting (CLEFTSiS) 2007–2010
Authors: Paterson Michael , Rae Jennifer , Paterson Paul , Gilgrass Toby , Devlin Mark , McIntyre Grant
Published: February 2016

Objective

To determine whether alveolar bone graft outcomes for unilateral and bilateral cleft lip and palate patients have continued to improve since the reorganization of cleft services in Scotland in 2000.

Design

Retrospective analysis of postoperative anterior occlusal radiographs. Patients and Participants: Eighty-one of 106 patients who were eligible for alveolar bone grafting between 2007 and 2010 had suitable postoperative radiographs available.

Interventions

Twenty-seven percent of the patients (n = 22) had presurgical orthodontic intervention. All patients underwent alveolar bone grafting with bone harvested from the iliac crest.

Main Outcome Measures

The Kindelan bone-fill index was used to evaluate success. Weighted kappa statistics were used to assess intra- and interobserver reproducibility. A comparison was made with results from 2000 to 2004 to assess any improvement. Chi-square tests (or Fisher exact test) were used to determine whether outcomes differed depending on the laterality of the cleft, use of presurgical expansion, or age at bone grafting.

Result

Interobserver scoring agreement was good (weighted kappa = .383). Intraobserver reproducibility was greater (weighted kappas of .835 and .620). Success was achieved in 99% of bone grafts, compared with 76% in the period from 2000 to 2004 (P < .001). There was no statistically significant relationship between the laterality of the cleft (P = 1.000), use of presurgical expansion (P = 1.000), or age at time of bone grafting and outcome (P = .259).

Conclusion

Scottish secondary alveolar bone graft outcomes improved during 2007 to 2010 in comparison to the 2000 to 2004 results.
Public Library Clients Prefer Formal Classes for Initial Training on Library’s Online Resources and Informal, On-Demand Assistance for Further Training
Authors: Wakimoto Diana K.
Published: February 2016

Abstract

Objective – To discover public library clients’ needs and preferences for modes of training on the use of the Internet and the libraries’ online resources and to apply these findings to improve training offered by public library staff.

Design – Multiple exploratory case study.

Setting – Two public libraries in New South Wales, Australia: a regional library (Mudgee Branch of the Mid-Western Regional Council Library Service) and a metropolitan library (Marrickville Central Library).

Subjects – A total of 24 public library clients. The participants were split evenly between the two libraries, with 12 from the Mudgee Branch and 12 from the Marrickville Central. The respondents were further subdivided into two groups based on age (35 to 44 years old and 65 or older) and evenly distributed by sex within the groups.

Methods – This study used naturalistic inquiry to frame the multiple exploratory case study of two public libraries. Ruthven used maximum variation sampling to guide the selection of participants. Library staff helped the researcher to identify possible participants at Marrickville, while the researcher advertised for participants at Mudgee Library and at an Internet/database course taught at the Mudgee Business Enterprise Centre. She used snowball sampling to find additional participants at both sites. Ruthven conducted semi-structured interviews with the participants, with questions covering their preferences, recommendations, and needs for online resource training. The data from the interviews and search logs were analyzed using inductive data analysis.

Main Results – Participants preferred small group, face-to-face, formalized instruction for initial training on online resources. For further training, participants preferred individualized assistance and immediate support instead of formal classes. They noted a lack of training opportunities and a lack of help from library staff as sources of frustration when trying to learn to use online resources at the public libraries.

Conclusion – Public library staff should offer formalized classes for those beginning to learn about using online resources, and focus on ad hoc, individualized assistance for more advanced learners. Since offering this type of instructional program is dependent on staff knowledge and staff availability, library staff members need to be trained in the use of online resources and classroom presentation skills.
Toward Collaborative Evidence Based Information Practices: Organisation and Leadership Essentials
Authors: Mirijamdotter Anita
Published: February 2016

This commentary is based on my key note for the EBLIP conference held in 2009 in Stockholm, Sweden. The title was: Bridging the gap between users and systems – the potential contribution of Social Informatics to Evidence Based Library and Information Practice. In the following commentary, I focus on the application of social informatics principles to develop a collaborative evidence based approach grounded in shared workplace leadership. My remarks highlight some main contributions from the field of library and information science and social informatics and conclude with implications for practice, including further research.
Conceptualizing Practical Aspects of Public Library Initiatives Provides a Useful Model for Future Research
Authors: Sharun Sara
Published: February 2016

A Review of:

Sung, H. Y., Hepworth, M., & Ragsdell, G. (2013). Investigating essential elements of community engagement in public libraries: An exploratory qualitative study. Journal of Librarianship and Information Science 45(3), 206-218. doi: 10.1177/0961000612448205

Objective – To examine characteristics of a community engagement (CE) initiative in a public library in order to identify and describe essential elements of CE and develop a model for CE in public libraries.

Design – Case study.

Setting – A public library in a mid-sized city in England, United Kingdom.

Subjects – An unspecified number of community members, library staff, and external agency staff participating in a community news program.

Methods – There were 12 semi-structured interviews conducted with library staff, community members, and participants from 12 community news agencies operating under the umbrella of a larger community news organization. The authors directly observed an unknown number of undescribed program meetings and events. They also performed document analysis on unspecified government policies, media reports, and program publications to corroborate the information gathered from their interviews and observations.

Main Results – The data were analyzed in an inductive manner using ATLAS qualitative data analysis software. Results are described in a qualitative manner and do not correspond directly to the individual methods used. The coding of data from interviews and observations (which are not analyzed separately) resulted in the identification of seven themes related to community engagement in libraries: belonging, commitment, communication, flexibility, genuineness, relevance, and sustainability.

Conclusion – The “essential elements” model that was developed from this case study can be applied by other public libraries in their processes and practices, and can contribute to the creation of a more genuinely community-driven approach to service.
Perceptions of Shared Leadership within Academic Libraries Suggest Room for Improvement
Authors: Gore Genevieve C.
Published: February 2016

Objective – To survey middle managers’ beliefs regarding their participation in shared leadership and their libraries’ practices of shared leadership.

Design – Cross-sectional survey.

Setting – Twenty-two academic libraries within four-year public master’s level institutions in the Pacific Northwest of the United States.

Subjects – A total of 115 middle managers were invited to participate; 77 completed the survey for a response rate of 66.9%.

Methods – Selected middle managers were contacted by email a total of five times and were invited to complete a Web-based survey composed of three sections. The first section contained 10 statements for rating shared leadership within their own institutions, which they were asked to rate on an eight-point Likert scale from 1 (strongly agree) to 7 (strongly disagree), with 8 as an option for no opinion. The second section used the same scale to rate their levels of agreement with conceptual definitions of shared leadership from Jackson’s Framework. Jackson’s Framework consists of four components for ascertaining levels of shared leadership from both managerial and staff perspectives: accountability, equity, partnership and

ownership. The third section invited subjects to provide their own definition of shared leadership. A three-part pretest served to validate the survey instrument. Mean scores were calculated for each statement.

Main Results – In the first section, there was the highest overall level of agreement (1.52) with the statement “I am accountable for the decisions within the scope of my responsibility” followed by “I share information with the senior library administration” (1.71). There was the lowest overall level of agreement (3.65) with the statement that “Ideas presented at all levels of staff in the library are equally considered.” In the second section, respondents’ mean scores for Jackson’s definitions of four concepts of shared leadership were 2.62 for ownership, 2.68 for both partnership and equity, and 2.77 for accountability. In the third section, respondents most often linked their definitions of shared leadership with communication, learning and collaboration.

Conclusion – Examining middle managers’ perceptions of shared leadership may help us understand organizational trends and capacity for leadership within libraries. Future research could examine shared leadership at levels below middle management as well as the relationship between accountability and shared leadership throughout the organization.
Image-Seeking Preferences Among Undergraduate Novice Researchers
Authors: Bridges Laurie , Edmunson-Morton Tiah
Published: February 2016

Objective – This study investigated the image-seeking preferences of university freshmen to gain a better understanding of how they search for pictures for assignments.

Methods – A survey was emailed to a random sample of 1,000 freshmen enrolled at Oregon State University in the fall of 2009. A total of 63 surveys were returned.

Results – The majority of students indicated they would use Google to find a picture. Nineteen respondents said they would use a library, librarians, and/or archives.

Conclusions – The results indicate the majority of students in our study would use Google to find an image for coursework purposes; yet the students who suggested they would use Google did not mention evaluating the images they might find or have concerns about copyright issues. Undergraduate students would benefit from having visual literacy integrated into standard information literacy instruction to help them locate, evaluate, and legally use the images they find online. In addition, libraries, librarians, archivists, and library computer programmers should work to raise the rankings of library digital photo collections in online search engines like Google.