bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
English-Dogri Translation System using MOSES
Authors: Singh Avinash , Kour Asmeet , Jamwal Shubhnandan S.
Published: March 2017

The objective behind this paper is to analyze the English-Dogri parallel corpus translation. Machine translation is the translation from one language into another language. Machine translation is the biggest application of the Natural Language Processing (NLP). Moses is statistical machine translation system allow to train translation models for any language pair. We have developed translation system using Statistical based approach which helps in translating English to Dogri and vice versa. The parallel corpus consists of 98,973 sentences. The system gives accuracy of 80% in translating English to Dogri and the system gives accuracy of 87% in translating Dogri to English system.
A Cost Effective Sharepoint Platform Attendance Tracking System
Authors: Balute August Anthony N. , Macalaguing Mateo D. , Gonzales Dennis B.
Published: March 2017

The economy is made out of ventures and organizations. Economy has survived in light of the fact that the business pioneers had possessed the capacity to adjust to the changing times however development. Before whatever else individuals maintain their business physically, squandering time, cash and exertion. Information in paper are truly consuming physical room in the workplace; Data are effortlessly lost making misfortune the organizations. At the point when the paperless age came to be, a great deal of engineers made apparatuses that some overlooked how they can completely amplify it and relied on upon its default out of the container highlights. Once in a while that on the off chance that it doesn't address their issues they toss it out of the receptacle and by new programming to fit their business needs. This is the primary motivation behind why it turned out with this paper to show how a basic stockpiling site can be amplified and utilized for any business preferred standpoint and extending its capacity to meet our everyday needs.
Infrastructure Asset Reporting and Pricing Uncertainty in the Municipal Bond Market
Authors: Bloch Rebecca I. , Marlowe Justin , Mead Dean Michael
Published: March 2017

We examine the infrastructure provision of the GASB's Statement No. 34 to determine whether there is unique information content in the modified approach versus traditional depreciation, both allowable under this provision. Using a dataset containing investor bid spreads on secondary market bond auctions from states using the modified approach as well as those from states using traditional depreciation, we find bonds from modified approach states have significantly narrower bid spreads than bonds from traditional depreciation states, indicating the modified approach provides unique information about governments' financial condition. Findings suggest the modified approach reduces uncertainty about infrastructure condition, improving market efficiency.
Autophagy Inhibits the Accumulation of Advanced Glycation End Products by Promoting Lysosomal Biogenesis and Function in the Kidney Proximal Tubules
Authors: Takahashi Atsushi , Takabatake Yoshitsugu , Kimura Tomonori , Maejima Ikuko , Namba Tomoko , Yamamoto Takeshi , Matsuda Jun , Minami Satoshi , Kaimori Jun-ya , Matsui Isao , Matsusaka Taiji , Niimura Fumio , Yoshimori Tamotsu , Isaka Yoshitaka
Published: March 2017

Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are involved in the progression of diabetic nephropathy. AGEs filtered by glomeruli or delivered from the circulation are endocytosed and degraded in the lysosomes of kidney proximal tubular epithelial cells (PTECs). Autophagy is a highly conserved degradation system that regulates intracellular homeostasis by engulfing cytoplasmic components. We have recently demonstrated that autophagic degradation of damaged lysosomes is indispensable for cellular homeostasis in some settings. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that autophagy could contribute to the degradation of AGEs in the diabetic kidney by modulating lysosomal biogenesis. Both a high-glucose and exogenous AGE overload gradually blunted autophagic flux in the cultured PTECs. AGE overload upregulated lysosomal biogenesis and function in vitro, which was inhibited in autophagy-deficient PTECs because of the impaired nuclear translocation of transcription factor EB. Consistently, streptozotocin-treated, PTEC-specific, autophagy-deficient mice failed to upregulate lysosomal biogenesis and exhibited the accumulation of AGEs in the glomeruli and renal vasculature as well as in the PTECs, along with worsened inflammation and fibrosis. These results indicate that autophagy contributes to the degradation of AGEs by the upregulation of lysosomal biogenesis and function in diabetic nephropathy. Strategies aimed at promoting lysosomal function hold promise for treating diabetic nephropathy.
Biological effect of Lawsonia inermis plant
Authors: ALzubedy Buthaina Abdul-Hamza H. , ALhamdany Shaymaa O. M. , ALkazaly Raghad K. M. , ALzubedy Masya A. A. , AbdulKareem Zenia , Al-Sadie Huda A.K. , Sadoon Ali Hadeb
Published: March 2017

This study was compared the antimicrobial effectiveness of Lawsonia inermis plant extract (alcoholic, aqueous and silver nanoparticles) on the growth of different types of Gve+ bacteria and Gve- bacteria at concentration 80 mg /L. It was noted that the ( alcoholic, hot and cold water) extract have highest impact recorded in the growth of bacteria S.aurous with inhibition zone (26mm) followed by the bacteria P.aueroginosa at inhibition zone reached (22mm) and finally the yeast C. albicans at inhibition zone reached (17mm), while silver nano-particles of the plant extract the most influence on the bacteria, it gave the highest Inhibition area reached (30mm) on the growth of the S. aurous, followed by the inhibition area of P.aueroginosa reached (26mm) then Strep. pyogein (25mm), and finally the yeast C. albicans reached (18 mm). With regard to the complex (alcoholic extract and antibiotic Amoxylein) its effects has varied upon microorganisms, there is a synergistic effect on the growth of the yeast C. albicans at inhibition zone (30mm) while it has been observed inhibitory effect of this complex on the growth of p. aeroginosa with inhibition zone amounted to (15mm), but did not show any significant impact on the growth of both bacteria (K. pneumonia, E.coli Strep. Pyogein& P. aeroginosa,), while the (alcoholic extract and antibiotic Erythromycin) showed inhibitory and synergistically effect on each of the bacteria (E.coli, S. aurous, yeast C. albicans and P. aeroginosa) respectively. According to obtained results the antibiotic Erythromycin shows higher inhibitory effect than antibiotic Amoxylein. It has also been investigated the lower values of absorbance at the wavelength of 260 nm with increasing the concentration of crude alcoholic extract, this reveled the ability of henna extract in the removal of free radicals liberated from photolysis of hydrogen peroxide compound .
Strengthening of Nurul Ilmi Mosque with Concrete Jacketing
Authors: Fauzan Fauzan , Anas Ismail Febrin , Apriwelni Siska , Faradiza Imelia , Al Jauhari Zev
Published: March 2017

Abstract—Nurul Ilmi moesque is one of building for worship located in University of Andalas. In 2008 the new building of mosques was designed using previous indonesian seismic code, SNI 1726: 2002. The right side of the new mosque was constructied in 2009. Due to the limitation of the budget, the construction of the left side of the mosque was continued on 2014. However, a new indonesian seismic code SNI 03-1726-2012 was established and the designed mosque should be revised based on the new indonesian seismic code.  Since the right side of the mosque was designed by using the old seismic code (SNI 1726: 2002), so it is necessary to evaluate the strength of the structure by using the seismic code (SNI 03-1726-2012). Based on the analysis results, it was found that the right side of the building structure is not strong enough to resist the combination loads acting on the structure, especially the earthquake load. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthening (retrofitting) the right side of the building structure before connecting with the left side of the building. In this study, the concrete jacketing method  was used to the retrofit the column structure. The results show that the jacketing method is effective to increase the capacity of the column and reduce internal forces and displacements that occur in the structure of the mosque, so the structure can resist the working loadsKeywords—column, concrete jacketing, earthquake, displacement, strengthening.
Environmental factors associated with autism spectrum disorder: a scoping review for the years 2003–2013
Authors: Ng Michelle , de Montigny Joanne , Ofner Marianna , Do Minh
Published: March 2017

Introduction

The number of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has been rapidly rising in the past decade. The etiology of this disorder, however, is largely unknown, although the environmental relative to the genetic contribution is substantial. We conducted a scoping review to comprehensively assess the current state of knowledge of the environmental factors present from preconception to early life associated with ASD, and to identify research gaps.

Methods

We searched electronic databases MEDLINE, PsycINFO and ERIC for articles on potential risk factors or protective factors from the physical and social environments associated with ASD and its subclassifications published between 1 January, 2003, and 12 July, 2013. We categorized articles into broad themes: chemical, physiological, nutritional and social factors, based on environmental exposure.

Results

We identified over 50 000 publications, but after ineligible studies were screened out, 315 articles remained. Most of these studies examined physiological factors, followed closely by chemical factors, and to a much lesser extent, nutritional and social factors, associated with ASD. Despite a vast literature and many heterogeneous studies, several risk factors emerged consistently: chemical factors such as traffic-related air pollutants; physiological factors including advanced parental age, preterm birth, low birth weight, hyperbilirubinemia and clustering of pregnancy complications; and maternal immigrant status. Despite extensive research on vaccines, findings overwhelmingly demonstrate no support for an association with ASD.

Conclusion

The lack of consistency, temporality and specificity of associations between environmental factors and ASD remains the largest barrier to establishing causal relationships. More robust research is required to resolve inconsistencies in the literature. Future research should explore underlying mechanisms of associations between the risk factors that we identified and ASD.
Melanesia’s test: The political quandary of West Papua
Authors: Blades Johnny
Published: March 2017

West Papuans often say that the conflict in their homeland, the self-determination struggle against Indonesian territorial control and the impact of a heavy military presence, are a regional issue. As a people, the West Papuans have historically identified as being Pacific Islanders and particularly as Melanesians. If a regional solution is required to address the political quandary of West Papua, it is informative to adopt a regional lens and explore the way the other Melanesian countries, especially the governments and media, respond to the situation there; also how they engage with Indonesia over West Papua. Events of the last few years within the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) have made it clear that some leverage is being applied on the issue in the geopolitical domain. At the same time, mainstream media coverage of events unfolding in West Papua, as well as the MSG’s response, has been largely missing. However, a true internationalisation of the West Papua issue has arrived and deserves close inspection.
Making the case for a political ecology investigation at Goro nickel mine
Authors: Gooch Nicole
Published: March 2017

New Caledonia’s Goro nickel mine, owned by Brazilian mining giant Vale, is unique in the world. The US $6 billion smelter, set over a vast biodiversity hotspot, is using high-pressure acid leaching treatment technology that has never been tested on such a scale. Over the past 10 years it has been the source of a series of environmental accidents, and the object of many conflicts, including intra-community conflicts (Horowitz, 2009, 2010). With multiple actors, complicated motives and set within a political and economic context of decolonisation and development, Vale New Caledonia’s mining project at Goro in the south of the main island of Grand Terre deserves to be the focus of a multi-dimensional and nuanced journalism investigation. This article argues that to do so requires combining journalism as a research practice with a political ecology framework. This combination should ensure that the journalist has an in-depth understanding of the structures and processes of the field (Nash, 2014), enabling her to interrogate, map the visible as well as the visible, and avoid the superficial.
Courageous women in media: Marcos and censorship in the Philippines
Authors: Forbes Amy
Published: March 2017

When Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos declared Martial Law in 1972, press freedom became the first casualty in the country that once boasted of being the ‘freest in Asia’. Printing presses, newspaper offices, television and radio stations were raided and padlocked. Marcos was especially fearful of the press and ordered the arrest of journalists whom he charged with conspiring with the ‘Left’. Pressured into lifting martial law after nearly 10 years, Marcos continued to censor the media, often demanding publishers to sack journalists whose writing he disapproved of. Ironically, he used the same ‘subversive writings’ as proof to Western observers that freedom of the press was alive and well under his dictatorship. This article looks at the writings of three female journalists from the Bulletin Today. The author examines the work of Arlene Babst, Ninez Cacho-Olivares, and Melinda de Jesus and how they traversed the dictator’s fickle, sometimes volatile, reception of their writing. Interviewed is Ninez Cacho-Olivare, who used humour and fairy tales in her popular column to criticise Marcos, his wife, Imelda, and even the military that would occasionally ‘invite’ her for questioning. She explains an unwritten code of conduct between Marcos and female journalists that served to shield them from total political repression.
Review: The struggle for media freedom amid jihadists, gaggers and ‘democratators’
Authors: Robie David
Published: March 2017

Robie, D. (2015). The struggle for media freedom amid jihadists, gaggers and ‘democratators’. Pacific Journalism Review, 21(2): 197-199. Review of The New Censorship: Inside the global battle for press freedom, by Joel Simon. New York: Columbia University Press, 2015. 236 pp. ISBN978-0-231-16064-3.One of the ironies of the digital revolution is that there is an illusion of growing freedom of expression and information in the world, when in fact the reverse is true. These are bleak times with growing numbers of journalists being murdered with impunity, from the Philippines to Somalia and Syria. The world’s worst mass killing of journalists was the so-called Maguindanao, or Ampatuan (named after the town whose dynastic family ordered the killings), massacre when 32 journalists were brutally murdered in the Philippines in November 2009.
Detention attention: Framing a Manus Island riot
Authors: Ellis Katherine , Fulton Janet , Scott Paul
Published: March 2017

This article reports on a research project that investigated the framing of asylum seekers in the Australian news publicationsThe Australian and The Guardian Australia Edition, during their coverage of a riot that occurred in an asylum seeker processing centre on Manus Island, Papua New Guinea, in February 2014. Analysis found themes of asylum seekers represented as threats to national identity, State sovereignty, and as victims. The research discusses the potential impacts framing may have on the way asylum seekers are perceived by readers of these publications. Its findings showed that the process of framing in news reports can both privilege and exclude aspects of an event being reported.
Editorial: Ruthless tidal wave
Authors: Robie David
Published: March 2017

THIS edition of Pacific Journalism Review began with a theme around ‘Endangered Journalists’. However, by the time it was into full editorial production it was clear that this was also about the global silence and injustice imposed on West Papua and the ‘endangered’ indigenous people in this mountainous land on the cusp of Asia and the Pacific. While the edition layout was being prepared, remarkable events were happening in West Papua and elsewhere in Indonesia this year around the historically significant anniversary date of 1 May 2016 – fifty-three years after a United Nations Temporary Executive Authority (UNTEA) handed power over the former Dutch colony in West New Guinea to Jakarta with a mandate to rule until such time as the Papuan people decided on their future in a free vote.
The ghost of Felix Culpa: Adventures in the journalism education trade
Authors: Cass Philip
Published: March 2017

What is the most effective way to teach the realities of journalism to students? This article argues that the most effective model is the community newspaper, which provides students with the opportunity to learn how to write for their own community, but also to learn the fundamentals of running a news outlet, from selling advertising to liaising with printers. It also argues that the same lessons can be applied in the digital age to online news sites and to students who need to know how to keep themselves afloat as independent journalists. Drawing on 20 years’ of experience teaching journalism in different countries, including Australia, Fiji and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the article looks at what worked, what did not and what lessons can be learned for the future.
REVIEW: Valiant on digital media, lacking on indigeneity
Authors: Hollings James
Published: March 2017

Media and Journalism: New Approaches to Theory and Practice [3rd ed.], edited by Jason Bainbridge, Nicola Goc and Liz Tynan. Melbourne: Oxford University Press., 2015. 504 pp. ISBN 9-780-1955-8801-9.THIS IS an updated version of a well-established media text by three prominent Australian media academics. Like the first edition, it is aimed at beginner media studies students, providing them with a basic introduction to media, communication, journalism studies and public relations concepts, all in a friendly, informal tone.
Hemangioma in the Anterior Thigh With Corresponding Periosteal Bone Reaction
Authors: Fuchs Robyn K. , Bayliss Amy J. , Warden Stuart J.
Published: March 2017

A 24-year-old female runner presented to physical therapy via direct access with an 8-month history of mid-thigh pain. At the onset of her symptoms, radiographs were negative; following physical therapy evaluation, additional imaging was requested. Lateral-view radiographs revealed cortical hypertrophy with no stress fracture. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed an enhancing mass adjacent to the anterolateral surface of the mid shaft of the femur, with associated cortical hypertrophy, consistent with a deep intramuscular hemangioma.

J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2017;47(3):218. doi:10.2519/jospt.2017.6302
Atypical Clinical Presentation of Rapidly Progressing Femoral Head Avascular Necrosis
Authors: Signorino Joseph A. , Jayaseelan Dhinu J. , Brindle Kathleen
Published: March 2017

A 51-year-old man presented to an urgent care facility 2 weeks after onset of left lateral hip and buttock pain. Radiographs were noncontributory. An orthopaedist referred him to physical therapy, but due to the worsening clinical presentation, he was referred back to the orthopaedist for additional evaluation. Magnetic resonance imaging was ordered and demonstrated abnormal femoral head and acetabular contour, extensive bone marrow edema, and a complex joint effusion. He was diagnosed with femoral head avascular necrosis.

J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2017;47(3):217. doi:10.2519/jospt.2017.6483
Incidence and impact on prognosis of heart failure in Middle Eastern patients undergoing percutaneous coronary interventions
Authors: Hammoudeh Ayman J , Al-Natour Dalal , Khader Yousef , Alhaddad Imad A , Tabbalat Ramzi , Al-Mousa Eyas , Saleh Akram
Published: March 2017

Background:  Heart failure (HF) is a serious complication of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) that adversely impacts survival and quality of life.  Aims and Objectives: We sought to study the incidence of HF in Middle Eastern patients undergoing PCI and its impact on prognosis.Materials and Methods: The first Jordanian PCI Registry was a prospective multicenter study of PCI patients who were followed for one year. Patients who developed heart failure during hospitalization had their clinical and coronary angiographic profiles and adverse outcomes compared with those in patients who did not develop HF.  Results: Of 2425 patients who had PCI, 194 (8.0%) developed HF during the hospital stay. Compared with patients who did not develop HF, those who developed HF were more likely to have diabetes mellitus, prior history of myocardial infarction (MI), elevated levels of cardiac biomarkers, ST-segment elevation MI and multivessel or left anterior descending coronary artery disease (all p values<0.05). Cardiac mortality was significantly higher among patients who developed HF compared with those who did not (5.2% vs. 0.4%; p<0.0001) and at one year (11.2% vs. 1.2%; p<0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that HF during hospital stay was an independent predictor of one-year cardiac mortality (Odds ratio 6.1, 95% CI 3.3-11.1, p<0.001) . At one year, readmission rates for HF and ACS were higher among HF patients.  Conclusions: Certain clinical and angiographic features were associated with higher incidence of HF among Middle Eastern patients who undergo PCI. HF was associated with higher risk of death and other adverse cardiac events during hospital stay and one year of follow up.Asian Journal of Medical Sciences Vol.8(2) 2017 20-28
Emotional impact of dissection hall on medical students
Authors: Singroha Ritu , Verma Usha , Malik Preeti , Chhikara Pankaj , Yadav Suman
Published: March 2017

Background: Dissection of the dead human body has been central to medical education since Renaissance. First year medical students normally experience a variety of emotional reactions and mixed feelings, when they encounter human cadavers for the frst time. Aims and Objective: First year medical students normally experience a variety of emotional reactions and mixed feelings, when they encounter human cadavers for the first time. The aim of the study was to study the difference in dissection hall experience of the male and female medical students over a period of time.Material and Methods: Total 178 students were given a questionnaire within 3-4 days and again 3 months after the start of dissection in the dissection hall. The students were asked to answer in either ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ option.Results: All the symptoms were found to be decreased in both male and female students over a period of 3 months except lack of concentration in males. No statistical signifcant difference was found between the symptoms of male and female students.Conclusion: A better teacher – student interaction, pre-education sessions will help in improving the attitudes of students towards cadaveric dissection, thereby reducing the drop-out rates.Asian Journal of Medical Sciences Vol.8(2) 2017 86-89
Endodontically treated primary second molar giving rise to formation of dentigerous cyst
Authors: Chakraborty Somnath , Rastogi Pradeep
Published: March 2017

The primary teeth with infected root canals, especially in those cases in which infection has spread to the periradicular tissues are common problem associated with primary dentition. Thus in the feld of pediatric dentistry, pulpectomy is considered to be the safe, commonest and successful treatment procedure for primary dentition with periapical inﬂammation. Sometimes even after pulpectomy, there remains some residual periapical infection which can lead to some complications like dentigerous cyst.Dentigerous cyst is an epithelial-lined developmental cavity that encloses the crown of an unerupted tooth at the cementoenamel junction. The present case report describes a case of a 9 year old boy whose primary second molar was pulpectomizedand later on lead to the development of a dentigerous cyst.Asian Journal of Medical Sciences Vol.8(2) 2017 90-93
Leukocyte count and C reactive protein as diagnostic factors in febrile convulsion
Authors: Biyani Garima , Ray Swapan Kumar , Chatterjee Kripasindhu , Sen Sukanta , Mandal Pradyut Kumar , Mukherjee Mallar
Published: March 2017

Background: Febrile convulsion (FC) is the most common seizure disorder in childhood. White blood cell (WBC) and C reactive protein (CRP) are commonly measured in FC. Add a paragraph on Aims and Objectives of the study.Aims and Objectives: To compare WBC and CRP in febrile children, aged 6 months to five years, with and without FC, in order to determine whether leukocytosis and elevated CRP can be used as diagnostic tool for febrile seizure.Materials and Methods: In this cross sectional study 214 children (112 with FC), aged 6 months to 5 years, admitted to in the first 48 hours of their febrile disease, either with or without seizure, were evaluated over a 12 months period. Age, sex, temperature; WBC, CRP and hemoglobin were recorded in all children. There was a significant increase of WBC (P<0.001) in children with FC so we can deduct that leukocytosis encountered in children with FC can be due to convulsion in itself.Results: When comparing FC and non-FC children, we encountered a significant increase of WBC (P =0.0005) in children with FC, measured at the time of admission to pediatric medicine ward. There was no significant difference regarding CRP between the two groups. In fact, elevated CRP is a result of underlying pathology.Conclusion: In stable patients, if there’s no reason to suspect a bacterial infection or who don’t have any indication of lumbar puncture, there’s no need to assess WBC as an indicator of underlying infection. Any child with febrile seizure with a high CRP value should be evaluated for infection.Asian Journal of Medical Sciences Vol.8(2) 2017 56-58
Does the clinical assessment help in predicting malignancy in thyroid swell
Authors: Devkota Ishwor Raj , Bhandary S. , Karki S.
Published: March 2017

Objectives: To predict malignant nodules in solitary thyroid nodules on clinical assessment.Materials and methods: A total of 48 cases with thyroid nodule were clinically assessed in detail and underwent the standard thyroid surgery at BPKIHS, Dharan during the period of one year (April 2012 to march 2013).Results: The mean age was 41.42 years with female to male ratio of 15:1. Most of the patients were euthyroid (73%). Majority of the thyroid nodules were malignant (85.4%) and only 14.6% were benign on clinical assessment. The sensitivity of clinical evaluation was 84.6%, specificity 13.6%, positive predictive value 53.6%, negative predictive value 42.8%. Percentage of the false negative, false positive and overall accuracy was 57.1%, 46.3% and 52% respectively.Conclusion: Even though the sensitivity is high, clinical assessment has low specificity. So we cannot rely on clinical assessment in predicting malignancy in the thyroid nodules.
Role of nasal decongestants in spontaneous healing of traumatic tympanic membrane perforation
Authors: Rai Shiwani , Koirala K. , Sharma V.
Published: March 2017

Objective: To study the role of nasal decongestants in spontaneous healing of traumatic tympanic membrane perforation.Material and Methods: A prospective single blinded, randomized controlled study was carried out in the department of ENT, Manipal College of Medical Sciences, Pokhara, Nepal. Patients with traumatic tympanic membrane perforation were divided into two groups; those receiving nasal decongestants along with conservative measures (Group1) and those receiving conservative measures only (Group2). Healing of tympanic membrane was compared in between these groups at 1 and 3 months. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS 20.Results: There were 30 patients in group 1 and 28 patients in group 2. The mean age of the study population was 26.98 (SD= 7.53). The M: F ratio in group 1 was 0.58:1 and that in group 2 was 0.56:1. Complete healing was seen in 25 (83%) patients in group 1 and 16 (57.1%) patients in group 2 at the end of 1 month (P=0.029). Similarly, healing was seen in in 29 (96.7%) patients in group 1 and 21 (75%) patients in group 2 at the end of 3 months (P=0.023).Conclusion: Routine use of nasal decongestants increases the chances of spontaneous healing of traumatic tympanic membrane perforations.
Race Matters: Public Views on Sentencing
Authors: Singh Anne-Marie , Sprott Jane B.
Published: March 2017

Research consistently finds that while the public expresses concerns about sentence leniency in the abstract, when presented with a specific case, people are typically not particularly punitive (Hough and Roberts 2012). While Canadian studies have further explored the effect of various social-structural factors on sentencing preferences, absent is any empirical investigation of the role, if any, that the offender's ethnicity plays. We explore this question using a convenience sample of adult Canadians and four vignettes (of an armed robbery), which were identical except for the racialized identity of the offender. Respondents' sentencing choices and perceptions of offender dangerousness, culpability, and recidivism risk were elicited. Results revealed that the “black” offender was rated as being significantly more dangerous than the “white” offender and also received a significantly more punitive sentence. After controlling for the impact of the criminal record and views of dangerousness, culpability, and recidivism risk, there was still an independent, albeit very small, effect of the racialized identity of the offender on sentencing preferences. The strongest predictor of the sentence, however, was how dangerous respondents viewed the offender. Part of the desire for a harsher sentence for the black offender likely related to views of dangerousness. The implications of these findings are discussed.
Poetry
Authors: Tregebov Rhea
Published: March 2017

Reviews of poetry published in Canada in 1991.
Relating Public Opinions of Roadway Assets to Field Data with Survey and Focus Groups
Authors: Davis Joy , Cunningham Chris , Findley Daniel , Searcy Sarah , Martin James , Watkins Lonnie
Published: March 2017

In recent years, transportation policy in the United States has increasingly focused on measuring and tracking performance outcomes. However, identifying how quantifiable outcomes—such as international roughness index ratings—influence less tangible outcomes—such as user satisfaction with a roadway—can be challenging. This paper outlines a method that enables researchers to compare stakeholder perceptions of assets with actual field-measured data for roadways. More than 350 residents in six locations in the state of North Carolina were surveyed about how those residents perceived and prioritized the roadway assets managed by the North Carolina Department of Transportation. Using a method termed “roadway reviews,” researchers asked participants about state-maintained roads as the participants were driven on those roads in real time; these surveys were supplemented with focus groups. In addition to identifying how well asset conditions on roadway segments aligned with the basic expectations of roadway users, researchers determined how these ratings compared with field measurements for the segments and captured how participants ranked the importance of specific roadway assets for overall condition, safety, and appearance. The findings will be used to improve asset management practice and will be integrated into the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s annual Highway Performance Monitoring System reports.
Analytical Hierarchy Process to Improve Project Prioritization in the Austin District, Texas
Authors: Porras-Alvarado Juan Diego , Murphy Michael R. , Wu Hui , Han Zhe , Zhang Zhanmin , Arellano Mike
Published: March 2017

A project candidate selection and ranking model (PCSRM) is commonly applied in pavement maintenance and rehabilitation planning. Typically, these models use empirical mathematical expressions that do not have a clear physical meaning and cannot accurately assess the priority of transportation agencies or pavement engineers. To overcome this limitation, this study developed a method, based on the analytical hierarchy process (AHP), to identify pavement-related factors and improve the accuracy of the PCSRMs currently used by the Austin District (Texas Department of Transportation) in its 4-year plan. The aim was to identify pavement-related factors that reflected the engineering judgment of transportation agencies and pavement engineers. The proposed method had three major components: AHP design, AHP survey and results analysis, and factors selection. A three-tier hierarchy structure of one objective, five goals, and 18 alternatives was defined. Additionally, a system to check for consistency was developed on the basis of literature recommendations. An Excel-based survey tool was developed with the objective of providing a relatively easy visual interface for the participants. The design and development of the survey tool were carried out in collaboration with the district pavement preservation engineer. Seventeen Texas Department of Transportation pavement experts completed the AHP survey with the required consistency ratio. Clustering analysis was performed to identify the pavement-related factors that showed the highest priorities. The factors with the highest overall weights should be considered in future PCSRM improvement.
Bundling or Grouping Pavement and Bridge Projects: Analysis and Strategies
Authors: Xiong Yingge , Fricker Jon D. , Labi Samuel
Published: March 2017

Project grouping is a concept that aims to reduce the overall costs of projects by combining smaller-scale pavement, bridge, and other projects under a single contract. To investigate the potential for state agencies to realize the benefits of project grouping, this study looked at economies of scale and economies of competition. The study documented the decline in unit cost as the size of the project increased for numerous bridge and pavement work types. Scale economies are true for single- and multiple-project contracts. Larger contracts lend themselves to economies of scale but can discourage all but the largest firms from bidding on the work. As a result, there is a range of contract sizes (measured in this study in terms of bridge deck area or lane mile of pavement) within which the contract is neither too small nor too big. From an examination of the work types for which adequate data were available, the size of combined projects that led to the best balance between economies of scale and economies of competition were ( a) about 20,000 ft2 of deck area for bridge projects and ( b) 10 to 20 lane miles for pavement projects. The single-project and multiple-project unit cost models developed in this project can be used to screen projects for which engineers’ estimates are available and identify single projects that should be considered for grouping into a multiple-project contract.
Introduction
Authors: Kalir Barak , van Schendel Willem
Published: March 2017

In this theme section we explore why and when states knowingly refrain
from recording people and their activities. States are not simply in pursuit
of enhanced “legibility”; at times they also need to be able to “look away.” In explaining
strategies of nonrecording, our focus is on how subjects negotiate with
state recording agencies, how nonrecording relieves state agents from the burden
of accountability, how the discretionary power of individual state agents affects
(non)recording in unanticipated ways, and how states may project an illusion of
vigorous recording internationally while actually engaging in deliberate nonrecording.
Presenting case studies from China, Greece, the Netherlands, India, and Romania,
we show that strategies of nonrecording are flexible, selective, and aimed
at certain populations—and that both citizens and noncitizens can be singled out
for nonrecording or derecording. In analyzing this state-produced social oblivion,
divergences between national and local levels are of crucial significance.
The sanctioning state
Authors: Gandhi Ajay
Published: March 2017

This article examines the Indian state’s engagement with deportable foreign migrants. It draws on an ethnography of officials’ responses in Mumbai to noncitizens from Bangladesh and countries in Africa. The conceptual focus is on the “sanctioning state”: official powers that alternately permit or prohibit migrants’ presence. At one level, the Indian state sanctions, or prohibits, unauthorized migration. Simultaneously, via authorities’ discretionary power, the state can sanction, or permit, foreigners’ presence. To address why state actors simultaneously sanction migrants’ enduring presence, and also sanction their intermittent removal, this article delves into the Indian state’s historical evolution and everyday functioning. The domains of bureaucratic practice, discretionary authority, and differentiated citizenship are framed by antecedent logics. This historical survey undergirds an ethnographic study of the state in migrant-saturated neighborhoods in Mumbai. Based on interviews and observations with officials and migrants, this article elucidates the rationales, capacities, and strategies that comprise the “sanctioning state.”
Nonrecording the “European refugee crisis” in Greece
Authors: Rozakou Katerina
Published: March 2017

This article explores nonrecording on the borders of Europe during the “European refugee crisis” in 2015. It examines the ambiguous practices of border control and the diverse actors involved. Taking the island of Lesvos as its starting point, the article interrogates how state functionaries manage an “irregular” bureaucracy. Irregular bureaucracy is approached as an essential element of state-craft , rather than an indication of state failure. Nonrecording is thus a crucial site of contestation between the state, nonstate agents, and the government, as well as between Greece and “Europe.” Nevertheless, despite the prevalence of irregularity, the imagery associated with ideal bureaucracy—a system of absolute knowledge, control, and governance of populations—is powerful; and yet, the actors are fully aware that it is a fantasy.
“China gives and China takes”
Authors: Lan Shanshan
Published: March 2017

Based on ethnographic research in South China’s megacity Guangzhou,
this article examines the gaps and contradictions in the central and local Chinese
states’ efforts to regulate migrant traders from Africa. I identify economic interests,
everyday racism, and ideological concerns as three major factors in shaping
the nonrecording tactics of the Chinese states. The article argues that nonrecording
is a practical tactic pursued by both the central and local states in order to balance
multiple and conflicting interests at the regional, national, and international
scales. Due to tensions between different levels of state authorities, China’s policies
toward migrants from Africa are marked by sporadic shifts between recording,
nonrecording, and derecording, which contribute to the illegibility of issues of immigration
in state bureaucracy.
The nearly invisible intraneural cyst: a new and emerging part of the spectrum
Authors: Wilson Thomas J. , Hébert-Blouin Marie-Noëlle , Murthy Naveen S. , García Joaquín J. , Amrami Kimberly K. , Spinner Robert J.
Published: March 2017

OBJECTIVE

The authors have observed that a subset of patients referred for evaluation of peroneal neuropathy with “negative” findings on MRI of the knee have subtle evidence of a peroneal intraneural ganglion cyst on subsequent closer inspection. The objective of this study was to introduce the nearly invisible peroneal intraneural ganglion cyst and provide illustrative cases. The authors further wanted to identify clues to the presence of a nearly invisible cyst.

METHODS

Illustrative cases demonstrating nearly invisible peroneal intraneural ganglion cysts were retrospectively reviewed and are presented. Case history and physical examination, imaging, and intraoperative findings were reviewed for each case. The outcomes of interest were the size and configuration of peroneal intraneural ganglion cysts over time, relative to various interventions that were performed, and in relation to physical examination and electrodiagnostic findings.

RESULTS

The authors present a series of cases that highlight the dynamic nature of peroneal intraneural ganglion cysts and introduce the nearly invisible cyst as a new and emerging part of the spectrum. The cases demonstrate changes in size and morphology over time of both the intraneural and extraneural compartments of these cysts. Despite “negative” MR imaging findings, nearly invisible cysts can be identified in a subset of patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The authors demonstrate here that peroneal intraneural ganglion cysts ride a roller coaster of change in both size and morphology over time, and they describe the nearly invisible cyst as one end of the spectrum. They identified clues to the presence of a nearly invisible cyst, including deep peroneal predominant symptoms, fluctuating symptoms, denervation changes in the tibialis anterior muscle, and abnormalities of the superior tibiofibular joint, and they correlate the subtle imaging findings to the internal fascicular topography of the common peroneal nerve. The description of the nearly invisible cyst may allow for increased recognition of this pathological entity that occurs with a spectrum of findings.
Colorectal cancer statistics, 2017
Authors: Siegel Rebecca L. , Miller Kimberly D. , Fedewa Stacey A. , Ahnen Dennis J. , Meester Reinier G. S. , Barzi Afsaneh , Jemal Ahmedin
Published: March 2017

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common malignancies in the United States. Every 3 years, the American Cancer Society provides an update of CRC incidence, survival, and mortality rates and trends. Incidence data through 2013 were provided by the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program, the National Program of Cancer Registries, and the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries. Mortality data through 2014 were provided by the National Center for Health Statistics. CRC incidence rates are highest in Alaska Natives and blacks and lowest in Asian/Pacific Islanders, and they are 30% to 40% higher in men than in women. Recent temporal patterns are generally similar by race and sex, but differ by age. Between 2000 and 2013, incidence rates in adults aged ≥50 years declined by 32%, with the drop largest for distal tumors in people aged ≥65 years (incidence rate ratio [IRR], 0.50; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 0.48‐0.52) and smallest for rectal tumors in ages 50 to 64 years (male IRR, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.85‐0.96; female IRR, 1.00; 95% CI, 0.93‐1.08). Overall CRC incidence in individuals ages ≥50 years declined from 2009 to 2013 in every state except Arkansas, with the decrease exceeding 5% annually in 7 states; however, rectal tumor incidence in those ages 50 to 64 years was stable in most states. Among adults aged <50 years, CRC incidence rates increased by 22% from 2000 to 2013, driven solely by tumors in the distal colon (IRR, 1.24; 95% CI, 1.13‐1.35) and rectum (IRR, 1.22; 95% CI, 1.13‐1.31). Similar to incidence patterns, CRC death rates decreased by 34% among individuals aged ≥50 years during 2000 through 2014, but increased by 13% in those aged <50 years. Progress against CRC can be accelerated by increasing initiation of screening at age 50 years (average risk) or earlier (eg, family history of CRC/advanced adenomas) and eliminating disparities in high‐quality treatment. In addition, research is needed to elucidate causes for increasing CRC in young adults. CA Cancer J Clin 2017. © 2017 American Cancer Society. CA Cancer J Clin 2017;67:177–193. © 2017 American Cancer Society.
A review on antidepressant effect of medicinal plants
Authors: Rabiei Zahra , Rabiei Sana
Published: March 2017

Depression is a life-threatening, debilitating, and common disease affecting different segments of community. Chemical and synthetic drugs available to treat this disease cause many adverse effects and may lead to complete recovery in only 50% of patients. At the same time, medicinal plants have been reported to exert optimal pharmacological effects in treating depression in different models. In this review, the relevant articles indexed in the reliable databases PubMed, PubMed central, Scopus and Web of Science were review-ed. The review indicated that most medicinal plants exerted antidepressant effects through synaptic regulation of serotonin, noradrenaline, and dopamine, regulating activity of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, reinfor-cing anti-oxidant defense system, and decreasing inflammatory mediators. The medicinal plants and their active compounds can relieve depression through different pathways and hence are considered a new source to produce antidepressants.
Efficacy of daclatasvir plus peginterferon alfa and ribavirin for patients with chronic hepatitis C genotype 4 infection
Authors: Ahmed Hussien , Abushouk Abdelrahman Ibrahim , Gadelkarim Mohamed , Mohamed Arwa , Gabr Mohamed , Negida Ahmed
Published: March 2017

Clinical trials evaluating the safety and efficacy of daclatasvir for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 4 infection are scarce and yet with small sample sizes. Therefore, we conducted this systematic review to investigate the efficacy of daclatasvir in HCV genotype 4 treatment. A computer literature search of PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Ovid, Web of knowledge, and Cochrane central was conducted. We selected studies comparing daclatasvir plus peginterferon-alfa/ribavirin versus placebo plus peginterferon-alfa/ribavirin in patients with HCV genotype 4 infection.  Pooling data from two randomized controlled trials (n = 154 patients) showed that daclatasvir/peg-interferon/ribavirin treatment achieved a moderate sustained virologic response rate of 76% after 12 weeks and of 79% after 24 weeks. The daclatasvir containing regimen was superior to the placebo containing regimen in terms of virologic response rates after 12 weeks (RR=1.9% CI 1.3 to 2.6) and 24 weeks (RR=1.8% CI 1.3 to 2.5). More effective regimens are needed for HCV genotype 4.
Etiology of Deep Neck Infection and Determination of their Predisposing Factors and Microbial Pattern
Authors: Sultana Farjana , Ahmed Mohiuddin , Karim Md Rezaul , Hassan Mokerrom
Published: March 2017

Deep neck infection is an infection in the potential spaces and fascial planes of either with abscess formation or cellulitis .However some of may still result in fatal complications. This paper described the etiology of deep neck infection, their predisposing factors and microbial pattern. More than 50% subject of this study were of younger age group ( below 40 years) with male predominance (65%). Regarding the neck space submandibular space was the most commonly involved(32%). Etiology of neck abscess showed that odontogenic cause was the most common (60%) among the respondent, then come infected cyst, tumour. Among the predisposing factors of deep neck infection, Anaemia comprises the highest percentage (45.2%). Then comes diabetes and Liver disease, Oral hygiene, index relates with the odontogenic cause. Among the odontogenic cause patient (71.8%) had poor oral hygiene index. Regarding microbial pattern streptococcus was the highest predominance followed by Staphylococcus and E coli. This results correlates with the common dental infective microorganism which also stands for odontogenic cause of deep neck abscess. This study concluded that maintenance of good oral hygiene can prevent deep neck abscess and their devastating effect of Bangladeshi people.Update Dent. Coll. j: 2016; 6 (2): 13-20