bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Critical evaluation ofKCNJ3gene product detection in human breast cancer: mRNA in situ hybridisation is superior to immunohistochemistry
Authors: Kammerer Sarah , Jahn Stephan Wenzel , Winter Elke , Eidenhammer Sylvia , Rezania Simin , Regitnig Peter , Pichler Martin , Schreibmayer Wolfgang , Bauernhofer Thomas
Published: October 2016

Increased expression levels ofKCNJ3have been correlated with lymph node metastases and poor prognosis in patients with breast cancer, suggesting a prognostic role ofKCNJ3. We aimed to establish protocols for the detection ofKCNJ3in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) breast cancer tissue. Several antibodies were tested for sensitivity and specificity by western blot, followed by optimisation of the immunohistochemistry (IHC) procedure and establishment ofKCNJ3mRNA in situ hybridisation (ISH). Methods were validated by processing 15 FFPE breast cancer samples for which microarray data were available. Spearman's rank correlation analysis resulted in borderline significant correlation for IHC versus ISH (rS:0.625;p<0.05) and IHC versus microarray (rS:0.668;p<0.01), but in significant correlation for ISH versus microarray (rS:0.861;p<0.001). The ISH method was superior to IHC, regarding robustness, sensitivity and specificity and will aid to further study expression levels ofKCNJ3in both malignant and physiological conditions.
Further clarity on cooperation and morality
Authors: Oderberg David S
Published: October 2016

I explore the increasingly important issue of cooperation in immoral actions, particularly in connection with healthcare. Conscientious objection, especially as pertains to religious freedom in healthcare, has become a pressing issue in the light of the US Supreme Court judgement inHobby Lobby. Section ‘Moral evaluation using the basic principles of cooperation’ outlines a theory of cooperation inspired by Catholic moral theologians such as those cited by the court. The theory has independent plausibility and is at least worthy of serious consideration—in part because it is an instance of double-effect reasoning, which is also independently plausible despite its association with moral theology. Section ‘Case study:Burwell v. Hobby Lobby’ examinesHobby Lobbyin detail. Even if the judgement was correct in that case the reasoning was not, as it involved applying a ‘mere sincerity’ test to the cooperation question. The mere sincerity test leads to absurd consequences, whereas a reasonableness test applied using the theory of cooperation defended here would avoid absurdity. Section ‘A question of remoteness: “accommodations” and opt-outs’ explores the post-Hobby Lobbyproblem further, examining opt-outs and accommodations: theLittle Sisters of the Poorcase shows how opt-outs are misunderstood on a mere sincerity test, which the court rightly rejected. Section 'Application to the medical field:Doogan and Wood’ discusses the UK case ofDoogan and Wood, concerning participation in abortion. Again, a judicially recognised ethic of cooperation, if it were part of the fabric of legal reasoning in such cases, would have enabled the conscientious objectors in this and similar situations to have their freedom of conscience and religion respected in a way that it currently is not.
Subclinical ischemic events in patients undergoing carotid artery stent placement: comparison of proximal and distal protection techniques
Authors: Aytac Emrah , Gürkaş Erdem , Akpinar Cetin Kursad , Saleem Muhammad A , Qureshi Adnan I
Published: October 2016

Objective

To determine the relative effectiveness of proximal and distal protection in prevention of cerebral ischemic events during carotid artery stent (CAS) placement using diffusion-weighted MRI (DW-MRI).

Methods

We analyzed data from patients who had undergone DW-MRI before and within 24 hours of CAS for symptomatic internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis (with last ischemic events within 3 months). The study was performed prospectively; patients were not randomized, and were treated either with a proximal balloon occlusion system (Mo.Ma; Invatec, Roncadelle, Italy) or filter-type distal protection device (Spider device; ev3, Plymouth, Minnesota, USA).

Results

Of the 45 patients (mean age±SD: 66.9±9.8 years; 73.3% were men) who underwent CAS, 19 had proximal protection and 26 distal protection. New ischemic lesions were detected in 26/45 patients on DW-MRI scans obtained within 24 hours after CAS. The proportion of patients with new lesions on DW-MRI at 24 hours was not different between the two groups (47.4% vs 65.4% for proximal and distal protection, respectively). The mean number of new ischemic lesions on post-CAS DW-MRI was non-significantly higher in patients who underwent CAS with distal protection (2.80±3.54 for proximal protection vs 4.96±5.11 for distal protection; p=0.12). The proportion of patients with new lesions >1 cm did not differ between the two groups (5.3% for proximal protection vs 11.5% for distal protection; p=0.62). There was no difference in the rates of ischemic stroke between patients who underwent CAS treatment using proximal and distal protection (5.3% vs 7.7%; p=1.000).

Conclusions

We found a relatively high rate of new ischemic lesions in patients undergoing CAS with cerebral protection. There was no difference in the proportion of patients with new lesions between patients treated using distal protection and those treated using proximal protection.
THE EMISSIONS REDUCTION EFFECT AND ECONOMIC IMPACT OF AN ENERGY TAX VS. A CARBON TAX IN CHINA: A DYNAMIC CGE MODEL ANALYSIS
Authors: ZOU LELE , XUE JINJUN , FOX ALAN , MENG BO
Published: October 2016

Carbon tax and energy tax are among the hot discussions in China. This study conducts simulation studies on them with a CGE model and analyzes their economic impacts, especially on the energy-intensive sectors. The Chinese economy is affected at an acceptable level by the two taxes in different scenarios. The import and export of energy-intensive industries are changed, leading to improved domestic competitiveness. Compared with implementing a single tax, a combined carbon-energy tax reduces more emissions with relatively smaller economic costs. For China, the sooner such taxes are launched, the smaller the economic costs and the more significant emission reductions.
CHINA’S TARGET RESPONSIBILITY SYSTEM AND CONVERGENCE OF CO2 EMISSIONS
Authors: SUN YOUNGPING
Published: October 2016

China has established and assigned target responsibilities for local officials in energy conservation and created an evaluation indicator, which is a key institutional arrangement that provides local officials with political incentives to promote carbon abatement policies. In this paper, we elaborate on the relationship between China’s target responsibility system and CO2 emissions using interprovincial panel data, grouping provinces into Eastern, Central and Western regions to compare China’s CO2 emissions convergence between the periods of the 10th Five-year Plan and the 11th Five-year Plan. The analysis indicates that the target responsibility system does not noticeably change local officials’ political incentives to engage in carbon abatement because the effect of the target responsibility system for energy conservation seems to be overshadowed by and subject to gross domestic product (GDP) growth targets. Against the backdrop of growing international pressure on climate change issues, this paper argues that China must include in the target responsibility system an indicator of absolute CO2 emissions reduction as a policy objective.
Productivity Improvement in the Chassis Preparation Stage of the Amplifier Production Process: A DMAIC Six Sigma Methodology
Authors: Gupta Anshu , Sharma Pallavi , Malik S. C. , Agarwal Neha , Jha P. C.
Published: October 2016

Manufacturing in India is witnessing a wave of growth, which is required to be supported by measures to increase productivity. Improved technology and infrastructure, design and process innovation, skill development, quality improvement and waste minimization are some of the ways that can be adopted to achieve this goal. At the same time demand for higher value at reduced price is also increasing on the consumer front. As a result, manufacturers are increasingly adopting quality improvement techniques to improve productivity and quality, reduce waste and thereby providing higher value at moderate cost. The data driven Six Sigma quality improvement methodology provides a framework to identify, eliminate and control the causes of variation in an operational process. In this paper, we study the chassis preparation process of an amplifier production process and implement the Six Sigma DMAIC model to identify the causes of variation, suggest and implement measures for improvement, and establish control measure to control the process performance post implementation stage. The implementation of the DMAIC methodology improved the process performance and provided measure to maintain dependable quality in the process.
GENDER MOTIVES OF MEXICAN ENTREPRENEURS IN TWO LARGE URBAN SETTINGS: AN EMPIRICAL STUDY
Authors: ROBICHAUD YVES , CACHON JEAN-CHARLES , CODINA JOSÉ BARRAGÁN , AGUIRRE MARIO CÉSAR DAVILA , ARJONA ALFONSO LOPEZ LIRA
Published: October 2016

The need for an income is cited by several studies as a primary motive for both formal and informal business start-up activities found in emerging countries. Conversely, entrepreneurs from developed countries enjoying more favorable economic conditions (such as the United States, Canada, or the European Union) are mainly motivated by intrinsic motives. Given the extant literature, it appeared important to determine which motivators were at play in larger Mexican urban centers, where economic conditions seemed to have become similar to those of Canada and the United States. No significant differences were observed between the motives of female as compared to male entrepreneurs from urban Mexico because a majority went into business primarily for economic reasons rather than for intrinsic motives. Knowing that Mexican entrepreneurs are mostly motivated by economic goals should help local governments in designing policies aimed at fostering and facilitating entrepreneurship.
Complex dynamics of diffusive predator–prey system with Beddington–DeAngelis functional response: The role of prey-taxis
Authors: Thakur Nilesh Kumar , Gupta Rashi , Upadhyay Ranjit Kumar
Published: October 2016

An attempt has been made to understand the complex dynamics of a spatial predator–prey system with Beddington–DeAngelis type functional response in the presence of prey-taxis and subjected to homogenous Neumann boundary condition. To describe the active movement of predators to the regions of high prey density or if the predator is following some sort of odor to find the prey, the prey-taxis phenomenon is included in a general reaction–diffusion equation. We have studied the linear stability analysis of both spatial and non-spatial models. We have performed extensive simulations to identify the conditions to generate spatiotemporal patterns in the presence of prey-taxis. It has been observed that the increasing predator active movement from the bifurcation value, the system shows chaotic behavior whereas increasing value of random movement brings the system back to order from the disordered state.
Complex systems modeling with intelligent control elements
Authors: Zamula Alina , Kavun Sergii
Published: October 2016

The approach to managing complex systems through the usage of fuzzy technology in combination with the system-dynamic modeling is improved. The methods of system dynamics and artificial intelligence represented the research subject. Object of study includes process operation of complex systems. For the experiment selected banking system (BS) and commercial bank (CB) as its subsystem. The mathematical models of the BS and CBs are developed; elements of intelligent control are formalized. The knowledge base in the form of production rules is designed in the paper. Functions of fuzzy variables and their parameters are selected for building fuzzy models using Mamdani and Sugeno algorithms. The control impact and the functioning of intellectual decision support system for the prediction task are studied. The efficiency of scientific research on the example of the Ukrainian BS is evaluated.
Performance in physiology evaluation: possible improvement by active learning strategies
Authors: Montrezor Luís H.
Published: October 2016

The evaluation process is complex and extremely important in the teaching/learning process. Evaluations are constantly employed in the classroom to assist students in the learning process and to help teachers improve the teaching process. The use of active methodologies encourages students to participate in the learning process, encourages interaction with their peers, and stimulates thinking about physiological mechanisms. This study examined the performance of medical students on physiology over four semesters with and without active engagement methodologies. Four activities were used: a puzzle, a board game, a debate, and a video. The results show that engaging in activities with active methodologies before a physiology cognitive monitoring test significantly improved student performance compared with not performing the activities. We integrate the use of these methodologies with classic lectures, and this integration appears to improve the teaching/learning process in the discipline of physiology and improves the integration of physiology with cardiology and neurology. In addition, students enjoy the activities and perform better on their evaluations when they use them.
The Role of TLR2, TLR4, and TLR9 in the Pathogenesis of Atherosclerosis
Authors: Roshan Mohsin H. K. , Tambo Amos , Pace Nikolai P.
Published: October 2016

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are key players in the pathogenesis of inflammatory conditions including coronary arterial disease (CAD). They are expressed by a variety of immune cells where they recognize pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs). TLRs recruit adaptor molecules, including myeloid differentiation primary response protein (MYD88) and TIRF-related adaptor protein (TRAM), to mediate activation of MAPKs and NF-kappa B pathways. They are associated with the development of CAD through various mechanisms. TLR4 is expressed in lipid-rich and atherosclerotic plaques. In TLR2−/−and TLR4−/−mice, atherosclerosis-associated inflammation was diminished. Moreover, TLR2 and TLR4 may induce expression of Wnt5a in advanced staged atheromatous plaque leading to activation of the inflammatory processes. TLR9 is activated by CpG motifs in nucleic acids and have been implicated in macrophage activation and the uptake of oxLDL from the circulation. Furthermore, TLR9 also stimulates interferon-α(INF-α) secretion and increases cytotoxic activity of CD4+T-cells towards coronary artery tunica media smooth muscle cells. This review outlines the pathophysiological role of TLR2, TLR4, and TLR9 in atherosclerosis, focusing on evidence from animal models of the disease.
An Extreme Learning Machine Based on the Mixed Kernel Function of Triangular Kernel and Generalized Hermite Dirichlet Kernel
Authors: Zhang Senyue , Tan Wenan
Published: October 2016

According to the characteristics that the kernel function of extreme learning machine (ELM) and its performance have a strong correlation, a novel extreme learning machine based on a generalized triangle Hermitian kernel function was proposed in this paper. First, the generalized triangle Hermitian kernel function was constructed by using the product of triangular kernel and generalized Hermite Dirichlet kernel, and the proposed kernel function was proved as a valid kernel function of extreme learning machine. Then, the learning methodology of the extreme learning machine based on the proposed kernel function was presented. The biggest advantage of the proposed kernel is its kernel parameter values only chosen in the natural numbers, which thus can greatly shorten the computational time of parameter optimization and retain more of its sample data structure information. Experiments were performed on a number of binary classification, multiclassification, and regression datasets from the UCI benchmark repository. The experiment results demonstrated that the robustness and generalization performance of the proposed method are outperformed compared to other extreme learning machines with different kernels. Furthermore, the learning speed of proposed method is faster than support vector machine (SVM) methods.
Actin-Dependent Alterations of Dendritic Spine Morphology in Shankopathies
Authors: Sarowar Tasnuva , Grabrucker Andreas M.
Published: October 2016

Shank proteins (Shank1, Shank2, and Shank3) act as scaffolding molecules in the postsynaptic density of many excitatory neurons. Mutations in SHANK genes, in particular SHANK2 and SHANK3, lead to autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in both human and mouse models. Shank3 proteins are made of several domains—the Shank/ProSAP N-terminal (SPN) domain, ankyrin repeats, SH3 domain, PDZ domain, a proline-rich region, and the sterile alpha motif (SAM) domain. Via various binding partners of these domains, Shank3 is able to bind and interact with a wide range of proteins including modulators of small GTPases such as RICH2, a RhoGAP protein, andβPIX, a RhoGEF protein for Rac1 and Cdc42, actin binding proteins and actin modulators. Dysregulation of all isoforms of Shank proteins, but especially Shank3, leads to alterations in spine morphogenesis, shape, and activity of the synapse via altering actin dynamics. Therefore, here, we highlight the role of Shank proteins as modulators of small GTPases and, ultimately, actin dynamics, as found in multiplein vitroandin vivomodels. The failure to mediate this regulatory role might present a shared mechanism in the pathophysiology of autism-associated mutations, which leads to dysregulation of spine morphogenesis and synaptic signaling.
Potentially Preventable Deaths by Intensive Care Medicine in Mongolian Hospitals
Authors: Mendsaikhan Naranpurev , Begzjav Tsolmon , Lundeg Ganbold , Dünser Martin W.
Published: October 2016

Purpose. To evaluate the portion of hospitalized patients dying without prior intensive care unit (ICU) admission and assess whether death could have been prevented by intensive care.Methods. In this prospective, observational, multicenter study, data of adults dying in and outside the ICU in 5 tertiary and 14 secondary hospitals were collected during six months. A group of experts categorized patients dying without prior ICU admission as whether their death was potentially preventable or not.Results. 617 patients died (72.9% in and 27.1% outside the ICU) during the observation period. In 54/113 patients (32.3%) dying in the hospital without prior ICU admission, death was considered potentially preventable. The highest number of these deaths was seen in patients aged 16–30 years and those who suffered from an infection (83.3%), underwent surgery (58.3%), or sustained trauma (52%). Potentially preventable deaths resulted in a total number of 1,078 years of life lost and 709 productive years of life lost.Conclusions. Twenty-seven percent of adults dying in Mongolian secondary and tertiary level hospitals do so without prior ICU admission. One-third, mostly young patients suffering from acute reversible conditions, may have potentially been saved by intensive care medicine.
Predictor-Year Subspace Clustering Based Ensemble Prediction of Indian Summer Monsoon
Authors: Saha Moumita , Chakraborty Arun , Mitra Pabitra
Published: October 2016

Forecasting the Indian summer monsoon is a challenging task due to its complex and nonlinear behavior. A large number of global climatic variables with varying interaction patterns over years influence monsoon. Various statistical and neural prediction models have been proposed for forecasting monsoon, but many of them fail to capture variability over years. The skill of predictor variables of monsoon also evolves over time. In this article, we propose a joint-clustering of monsoon years and predictors for understanding and predicting the monsoon. This is achieved by subspace clustering algorithm. It groups the years based on prevailing global climatic condition using statistical clustering technique and subsequently for each such group it identifies significant climatic predictor variables which assist in better prediction. Prediction model is designed to frame individual cluster using random forest of regression tree. Prediction of aggregate and regional monsoon is attempted. Mean absolute error of 5.2% is obtained for forecasting aggregate Indian summer monsoon. Errors in predicting the regional monsoons are also comparable in comparison to the high variation of regional precipitation. Proposed joint-clustering based ensemble model is observed to be superior to existing monsoon prediction models and it also surpasses general nonclustering based prediction models.
The Protective Effect of Febuxostat on Chronic Tacrolimus-Induced Nephrotoxicity in Rats
Authors: Kim Hyun Seon , Lim Sun Woo , Jin Long , Jin Jian , Chung Byung Ha , Yang Chul Woo
Published: October 2016

Background: The use of calcineurin inhibitors is a well-known risk factor for hyperuricemia in kidney transplant recipients. We evaluated the effect of febuxostat (Fx), a new uric acid-lowering drug, on hyperuricemia and renal injury in an experimental model of chronic tacrolimus (Tac)-induced nephropathy. Methods: Chronic Tac nephropathy was induced by administering Tac (1.5 mg/kg/day) to rats on a low-salt diet (0.05%) with oxonic acid (OA, 2%, 0.2 g/kg/day) for 28 days. Two doses of Fx (5 and 10 mg/kg) were concomitantly administered with Tac or vehicle (Vh). We evaluated the effect of Fx on hyperuricemia by measuring serum uric acid (SUA) levels, fractional excretion of uric acid (FEUA), and urate transporters in Tac-induced nephropathy. The effects of Fx on Tac-induced renal injury were evaluated in terms of renal function and arteriolopathy, tubulointerstitial fibrosis, inflammation, and apoptosis. We evaluated oxidative stress as a protective mechanism via xanthine oxidase (XO) activity, and as a marker of oxidative stress (via evaluation of levels of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and 4-hydroxy-2-hexenal (4-HHE)). Results: The Tac group showed higher SUA levels and lower FEUA than did the Vh group, but Fx treatment significantly decreased SUA levels in a dose-dependent manner, with an increase of FEUA at a high dose (10 mg/kg). Tac treatment increased urate-anion exchanger 1 and decreased organic anion transporter type 1 expression in renal tubular cells, but Fx treatment reversed the effects on those transporters. Impaired renal function and histological injury (interstitial fibrosis, inflammation, and arteriolopathy) in the Tac group were markedly improved by Fx administration. Increases in apoptotic cell death and activation of proapoptotic caspase-3 by Tac were remarkably decreased by Fx treatment. Tac administration increased the activity of XO in kidney tissue and serum, and the levels of 8-OHdG in urine and 8-OHdG and 4-HHE of kidney tissue, but combined treatment with Fx decreased the levels of these parameters. Conclusions: Fx is effective in controlling hyperuricemia and in preventing Tac-induced renal injury, via a reduction of oxidative stress. Therefore, a targeted therapy aimed at inhibiting uric acid by Fx may be a useful approach in the management of the progression of nephropathy in renal transplant patients treated with Tac.
From Softimage to Postimage
Authors: Hoelzl Ingrid , Marie Rémi
Published: October 2016

With the digital revolution, the photographic paradigm of the image has become supplemented with an algorithmic paradigm. The result is a new kind of image capable to gather, compute, merge and display heterogeneous data in real time; no longer a solid representation of a solid world but a softimage—a program-mable database view. In today’s neurosciences and machine vision, the very concept of “image” as a stable visual entity becomes questionable. As a result, the authors propose that the need exists to radically expand the definition of image and abandon its humanist and subjective frame: The posthuman image—which the authors propose to call the postimage—is a collaborative image created through the process of distributed vision involving humans, animals and machines.
Shepherds, Rituals, and the Sacred
Authors: Frascaroli Fabrizio
Published: October 2016

An association between the sacred and places or natural features is known in virtually every part of the world. Some tangible implications of this link, however, have been brought to the forefront only in recent years. Ecological and anthropological studies are demonstrating that not only are sacred places frequently found near major landmarks; these revered patches of land—commonly named “sacred natural sites”—also tend to shelter significant biological and cultural diversity. Therefore, these areas represent crucial conservation hotspots. Here, I use findings from my research in Central Italy to discuss the concept of “sacred natural site” from the perspective of emerging theories of biocultural diversity. In particular, I suggest that a biocultural view of these sites defies typical dichotomizations of Western modernity. The manifestation of the sacred in the world can thus be seen as a foundational moment that embraces and supersedes both of the opposite poles of nature and culture, and is cyclically reenacted through ritual. I conclude that ritual and processual interplays between humans and non-humans are crucial for sustaining the resilience of these sites.
Gomphonema shanghaiensis sp. nov., a new diatom species (Bacillariophyta) from a river in Shanghai, China
Authors: ZHANG WEI , XU XIAO-YING , KOCIOLEK J. PATRICK , WANG LI-QING
Published: October 2016

This paper describes the new species Gomphonema shanghaiensis sp. nov. from Shujiawan River, Shanghai City, in the lower reaches of Yangtze River, China. The description is based on data derived from light and scanning electron microscopy. Valves of Gomphonema shanghaiensis are narrowly lanceolate to rhombic-lanceolate, slightly asymmetrical to the apical axis, with a gibbous central region. The footpole is broadly rounded and the headpole is slightly rostrate to narrowly rounded. The axial area is narrow and linear. Central area is small, and irregularly rectangular in shape. 1–5 rounded external stigmal openings are evident, and internally 1–2 of these are positioned on the central nodule. Striae are slightly radiate at the center, radiate towards the poles. The new species was compared with G. hasta, G. archaevibrio, G. spiculoides, G. stagnorum, G. guaraniarum, G. tumens and G. disgracile, all of which resemble Gomphonema shanghaiensis but differ from the new species in specific details of size, striae density, valve shape and stigmal openings number. This species occurs in relatively clean water in Shanghai.
Storm-Track Shifts under Climate Change: Toward a Mechanistic Understanding Using Baroclinic Mean Available Potential Energy
Authors: Mbengue Cheikh , Schneider Tapio
Published: October 2016

Zonal-mean storm-track shifts in response to perturbations in climate occur even in idealized simulations of dry atmospheres with axisymmetric forcing. Nonetheless, a generally accepted theory of the mechanisms controlling the storm-track shifts is still lacking. Here, mean available potential energy (MAPE), a general measure of baroclinicity that is proportional to the square of the Eady growth rate, is used to understand storm-track shifts. It is demonstrated that, in dry atmospheres, the eddy kinetic energy (EKE) in a storm track is linearly related to the mean available potential energy, relative to a local reference state, and that maxima of the two are generally collocated in latitude. Changes in MAPE with climate are then decomposed into components. It is shown that in simulations of dry atmospheres, changes in the latitude of maximum MAPE are dominated by changes in near-surface meridional temperature gradients. By contrast, changes in the magnitude of MAPE are primarily determined by changes in static stability and in the depth of the troposphere. A theory of storm-track shifts may build upon these findings and primarily needs to explain changes in near-surface meridional temperature gradients. The terminus of the Hadley circulation often shifts in tandem with storm tracks and is hypothesized to play an important role in triggering the storm-track shifts seen in this idealized dry context, especially in simulations where increases only in the convective static stability in the deep tropics suffice to shift storm tracks poleward.
Ernest Becker’s Dark Turn (1971-1973): A Critical “Deepening”
Authors: Martin Jack , Liechty Daniel
Published: October 2016

The “dark turn” evident in Ernest Becker’s final two major works ( The Denial of Death and Escape From Evil) is described and explained in terms of its content and possible sources in the author’s work and life from 1971 to 1973. Becker’s mature philosophical anthropology, anthropodicy, and theory of evil are discussed, related to, and contrasted with his previous work and considered in the context of his life experiences, including his terminal illness.
The Promise of Sociology: Global Challenges for National Disciplines
Authors: Burawoy Michael
Published: October 2016

Sociology was founded as a positivist and universal science that obscured its national parameters. A first response was to attack false universalism with the particularism of indigenous sociologies, but this effectively reproduced the domination of northern sociologies. A second response has been to recognize and trace the superimposition of national traditions in a hierarchical world. With the movement toward commodification and rationalization of knowledge production, however, national sociologies have been aligned with and merged into the global field of sociology. Opting out of this field leaves one in the wilderness, so the third response is to enter struggle on the terrain of this global field, which in turn requires accountability to publics. To be sure there are limits to these struggles, but they are nonetheless important in keeping sociology alive as a distinct discipline, that is keeping alive the critical standpoint of civil society against the over-extension of the market and its accomplice the regulatory state.
Visual Sociology in a Discipline of Words: Racial Literacy, Visual Literacy and Qualitative Research Methods
Authors: Twine France Winddance
Published: October 2016

This article analyzes the limitations of qualitative research methods that over-privilege textual analysis in North American sociology graduate programs. I argue that visual literacy, as a methodological tool, is neglected and marginalized in the graduate curriculum. Training in visual culture including the use of photography, film and video, can contribute to theoretically grounded empirical research on race and racism. A form of academic apartheid continues to restrict the types of qualitative research methods that are authorized and regularly taught in graduate programs in sociology.
Sociology’s Fate: Intersections of History and (My) Biography
Authors: Goodwin John
Published: October 2016

In this reflective piece I use Mills as a starting point for exploring the intersections between my own biography and some of the main trends in sociology since the journal Sociology was published 50 years ago. The Millsean motif of intertwined ‘personal troubles’ and ‘developments of the epoch’ can usefully be used to examine individual experiences of change and transformation in the discipline and consider key trends such as the ‘flight’ of the discipline and the push towards interdisciplinarity.
Lessons learnt by IRSN about the involvement of experts towards the population in contaminated areas in Fukushima Prefecture
Authors: Rollinger F. , Lochard J. , Schneider T.
Published: October 2016

Since November 2011, Institut de radioprotection et de sûreté nucléaire (IRSN) experts have participated in the International Commission on Radiological Protection’s (ICRP) dialogue initiative for the rehabilitation of living conditions after the Fukushima accident. In 2013, IRSN and Centre d’étude sur l’Evaluation de la Protection dans le domaine Nucléaire (CEPN) launched a study to identify the main lessons that can be learned from these dialogues, and benefit French IRSN experts in the event of a postaccident situation. The main lesson is that in order to protect the inhabitants of contaminated areas efficiently, experts must work in cooperation with local actors to develop a co-expertise process. The availability of measurement devices for inhabitants is crucial to allow them to assess their own radiological situation. Measuring radioactivity makes it visible, and allows individuals to discuss the results in their communities and develop local projects to improve their daily life. Eventually, inhabitants create a practical radiological protection culture to manage their situation. However, helping people to protect themselves does not mean that authorities and experts have no responsibilities, and this calls for strong ethical principles such as not making decisions for people about their future. To be helpful, scientists need to understand that, as necessary as radiation protection is, it is not the only problem that inhabitants are facing and it cannot control people's lives. Radiation protection experts must commit themselves to be at the service of individuals and the community, and the issues they want to address.
Analysing public service outsourcing: The value of a regulatory perspective
Authors: Cunningham Ian , James Philip
Published: October 2016

This article draws on findings from two longitudinal case studies of voluntary organisations engaged in delivering social care services via purchaser–provider relations with local authorities. The study focuses on changes to contractual relations, employment conditions in provider organisations and service quality. The article argues the influence of the market on these changes can only be adequately comprehended by rooting the analysis in an understanding of the way in which surrounding regulatory frameworks shape its structure and operation. In doing so, it reveals how in an era of shifting market conditions characterised by greater competition and dramatic local authority cuts, a ‘soft’ regulatory framework offers little support to partnership relations between voluntary organisations and local authorities. Instead, the regulatory environment undermines financial security among voluntary organisations, degrades employment conditions in them and raises concerns regarding their service quality.
Sky watching: Vertical surveillance in civil aviation
Authors: Lin Weiqiang
Published: October 2016

Scholars have written extensively about vertical surveillance as an extension of aeriality. They have interrogated the aerial platform as a synoptic means to behold, control and wage war from above, and as a locus through which air power can be challenged from below. While this perspective highlights the complex reciprocities linking the sky and the earth, its focus remains fixated on aeriality’s (in)capacities to render terrestrial life explicit and governable. As an inhabitable space, the sky is rarely considered as a target of rational knowing and control through vertical surveillance. This article examines the views generated in sky watching, or the tactical monitoring of airspaces in air traffic management (ATM), as a rejoinder. It examines ATM’s methods of knowing the sky, its conservative logics in ‘spacing’ aircraft, and the assembling processes that geopolitically produce unequal surveillant orders. It argues that the sky, along with its visualisations, finds substance through particular technologies, calculations and expertise that repeatedly draw on the West’s visual rationalities. While a ‘benign’ form of seeing/knowing in civil contexts, sky watching in ATM summons geopolitical power not through brute force, but by discerning which visions are ‘acceptable’ for the administration of aviation safety and airborne life.
Correlates of Shyness and Unsociability During Early Adolescence in Urban and Rural China
Authors: Zhang Linlin , Eggum-Wilkens Natalie D.
Published: October 2016

The purpose of this study was to examine the differentiation and correlates of shyness and unsociability during early adolescence in urban and rural China. Participants were 93 urban and 229 rural Chinese sixth- to eighth-graders. Students rated their shyness, unsociability, fear of negative evaluation, self-efficacy for peer interactions, and perceived peer exclusion. In both urban and rural adolescents, shyness and unsociability were separate, but correlated, factors, and shyness was more strongly related to fear of negative evaluation (positively), self-efficacy for peer interactions (negatively), and perceived exclusion (positively), than unsociability. There was some evidence that shy adolescents perceived more peer exclusion in the urban context. The findings provided preliminary evidence for the differentiation of shyness and unsociability in urban and rural Chinese adolescents, and highlighted the role of social-cultural context in the implications of shyness.
High-flow nasal cannula therapy for adult patients
Authors: Zhang Jian , Lin Ling , Pan Konghan , Zhou Jiancang , Huang Xiaoyin
Published: October 2016

High-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) oxygen therapy has several physiological advantages over traditional oxygen therapy devices, including decreased nasopharyngeal resistance, washing out of the nasopharyngeal dead space, generation of positive pressure in the pharynx, increasing alveolar recruitment in the lungs, humidification of the airways, increased fraction of inspired oxygen and improved mucociliary clearance. Recently, the use of HFNC in treating adult critical illness patients has significantly increased, and it is now being used in many patients with a range of different disease conditions. However, there are no established guidelines to direct the safe and effective use of HFNC for these patients. This review article summarizes the available published literature on the positive physiological effects, mechanisms of action, and the clinical applications of HFNC, compared with traditional oxygen therapy devices. The available literature suggests that HFNC oxygen therapy is an effective modality for the early treatment of critically adult patients.
Sensitivity and Bias in the Resolution of Stream-Bounce Stimuli
Authors: Zeljko Mick , Grove Philip M.
Published: October 2016

The audiovisual stream-bounce effect refers to the resolution of ambiguous motion sequences as streaming or bouncing depending on the presence or absence of a sound. We used a novel experimental design and signal detection theory (SDT) to determine its sensory or decisional origins. To account for issues raised by Witt et al. on the interpretation of SDT results, we devised a pure signal detection (as opposed to signal discrimination) paradigm and measured participants’ sensitivity and criterion when detecting a weak tone concurrent with objectively streaming or bouncing visual displays. We observed no change in sensitivity but a significant change in criterion with participants’ criterion more liberal with bouncing targets than for streaming targets with. In a second experiment, we tasked participants with detecting a weak tone in noise while viewing an ambiguous motion sequence. They also indicated whether the targets appeared to stream or bounce. Participants’ reported equivalent, mostly bouncing responses for hit and false alarm trials, and equivalent, mostly streaming responses for correct rejection and miss trials. Further, differences in participants’ sensitivity and criterion measures for detecting tones in subjectively streaming compared to subjectively bouncing targets were inconsistent with sensory factors. These results support a decisional account of the sound-induced switch from mostly streaming to mostly bouncing responses in audiovisual stream-bounce displays.
Light Video Game Play is Associated with Enhanced Visual Processing of Rapid Serial Visual Presentation Targets
Authors: Howard Christina J. , Wilding Robert , Guest Duncan
Published: October 2016

There is mixed evidence that video game players (VGPs) may demonstrate better performance in perceptual and attentional tasks than non-VGPs (NVGPs). The rapid serial visual presentation task is one such case, where observers respond to two successive targets embedded within a stream of serially presented items. We tested light VGPs (LVGPs) and NVGPs on this task. LVGPs were better at correct identification of second targets whether they were also attempting to respond to the first target. This performance benefit seen for LVGPs suggests enhanced visual processing for briefly presented stimuli even with only very moderate game play. Observers were less accurate at discriminating the orientation of a second target within the stream if it occurred shortly after presentation of the first target, that is to say, they were subject to the attentional blink (AB). We find no evidence for any reduction in AB in LVGPs compared with NVGPs.
Do You Hear More Piano or Drum Sounds? An Auditory Version of the Solitaire Illusion
Authors: Prpic Valter , Luccio Riccardo
Published: October 2016

The solitaire illusion is an illusion of numerosity proposed by Frith and Frith. In the original version, an apparent number of elements was determined by the spatial arrangement of two kinds of elements (black and white marbles). In our study, an auditory version of the solitaire illusion was demonstrated. Participants were asked to judge if they perceived more drum or piano sounds. When half of the piano tones were perceived as lower in pitch than a drum sound and the other half higher, piano tones appeared to be arranged in small units, leading to numerosity underestimation. Conversely, when all piano tones were perceived to be higher in pitch than the drum sounds, they appeared to be arranged in a single large unit, leading to numerosity overestimation. Comparable to the visual version of the solitaire illusion, the clustering seems to be determined by Gestalt principles. In our auditory version, a clear reversal of the illusion (numerosity overestimation or underestimation) was observed when piano tones appeared to be arranged in a single large cluster or in several small clusters, respectively.
Supervisory control of a grid-connected wind turbine generator
Authors: Achour Djalloul , Kesraoui Mohamed , Chaib Ahmed
Published: October 2016

In this article, the supervisory controller is proposed to manage a hybrid wind turbine generator and a grid supplying a village load. The main problem is the compatibility of coupling of different sources. To avoid this problem, the grid supplies a motor to supplement the torque of the wind turbine when the wind speed is low, and the village demand is higher than the wind turbine generator power. On the other hand, the excess power from the wind turbine generator can be absorbed by a dynamic power load that is connected to the grid. The fuzzy proportional–integral/proportional–integral–derivative supervisory controller objectives are to stabilize the frequency and voltage of the system and satisfy the village power demand. This is achieved by balancing the active and reactive powers of the wind turbine generator and village load through a grid contribution. The whole system has been simulated using SIMPOWER in MATLAB/SIMUILINK software. The efficiency of the proposed controller has been proved by the obtained results.
Backstepping flux observer for nonlinear control of the direct-drive permanent magnet synchronous generator wind turbines
Authors: Mahersi Emna , Khedher Adel
Published: October 2016

This article described a backstepping flux observer and a backstepping control strategy applied to the wind energy conversion system based on synchronous generator. The proposed control technique is developed for both converters: the stator-side converter and the grid-side converter. The stator flux is recovered by the backstepping flux observer, and simultaneously, we introduce stator resistance variations to test the robustness of nonlinear backstepping control strategy. Then, MATLAB simulation works show high performances in terms of tracking, stability, and robustness against parameter variations.
What Do Phonological Processing Errors Tell About Students’ Skills in Reading, Writing, and Oral Language?
Authors: Choi Dowon , Hatcher Ryan C. , Dulong-Langley Susan , Liu Xiaochen , Bray Melissa A. , Courville Troy , O’Brien Rebecca , DeBiase Emily
Published: October 2016

The kinds of errors that children and adolescents make on phonological processing tasks were studied with a large sample between ages 4 and 19 ( N = 3,842) who were tested on the Kaufman Test of Educational Achievement–Third Edition (KTEA-3). Principal component analysis identified two phonological processing factors: Basic Phonological Awareness and Advanced Phonological Processing. Canonical analysis and correlation analysis were conducted to determine how each factor related to reading, writing, and oral language across the wide age range. Results of canonical correlation analysis indicated that the advanced error factor was more responsible for reading, writing, and oral language skills than the basic error factor. However, in the correlation analysis, both the basic and advanced factors related about equally to different aspects of achievement—including reading fluency and rapid naming—and there were few age differences.
Stillbirth: the impact of antiphospholipid syndrome?
Authors: Herrera C A , Heuser C C , Branch D Ware
Published: October 2016

Fetal death resulting in stillbirth is generally acknowledged as a feature of antiphospholipid syndrome. Recently published studies appear to confirm the association between antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) and stillbirth, though additional studies of better design would be welcome. Emerging evidence suggests that treatment with heparin agents and low dose aspirin to prevent fetal death is imperfect. New therapeutic approaches for patients with lupus anticoagulant or triple aPL positivity are needed.
Estimation after blinded sample size reassessment
Authors: Posch Martin , Klinglmueller Florian , König Franz , Miller Frank
Published: October 2016

Blinded sample size reassessment is a popular means to control the power in clinical trials if no reliable information on nuisance parameters is available in the planning phase. We investigate how sample size reassessment based on blinded interim data affects the properties of point estimates and confidence intervals for parallel group superiority trials comparing the means of a normal endpoint. We evaluate the properties of two standard reassessment rules that are based on the sample size formula of the z-test, derive the worst case reassessment rule that maximizes the absolute mean bias and obtain an upper bound for the mean bias of the treatment effect estimate.