bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Whole Genome Sequencing Defines the Genetic Heterogeneity of Familial Pancreatic Cancer
Authors: Roberts Nicholas J. , Norris Alexis L. , Petersen Gloria M. , Bondy Melissa L. , Brand Randall , Gallinger Steven , Kurtz Robert C. , Olson Sara H. , Rustgi Anil K. , Schwartz Ann G. , Stoffel Elena , Syngal Sapna , Zogopoulos George , Ali Syed Z. , Axilbund Jennifer , Chaffee Kari G. , Chen Yun-Ching , Cote Michele L. , Childs Erica J. , Douville Christopher , Goes Fernando S. , Herman Joseph M. , Iacobuzio-Donahue Christine , Kramer Melissa , Makohon-Moore Alvin , McCombie Richard W. , McMahon K. Wyatt , Niknafs Noushin , Parla Jennifer , Pirooznia Mehdi , Potash James B. , Rhim Andrew D. , Smith Alyssa L. , Wang Yuxuan , Wolfgang Christopher L. , Wood Laura D. , Zandi Peter P. , Goggins Michael , Karchin Rachel , Eshleman James R. , Papadopoulos Nickolas , Kinzler Kenneth W. , Vogelstein Bert , Hruban Ralph H. , Klein Alison P.
Published: December 2015

Pancreatic cancer is projected to become the second leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States by 2020. A familial aggregation of pancreatic cancer has been established, but the cause of this aggregation in most families is unknown. To determine the genetic basis of susceptibility in these families, we sequenced the germline genomes of 638 patients with familial pancreatic cancer and the tumor exomes of 39 familial pancreatic adenocarcinomas. Our analyses support the role of previously identified familial pancreatic cancer susceptibility genes such as BRCA2, CDKN2A, and ATM, and identify novel candidate genes harboring rare, deleterious germline variants for further characterization. We also show how somatic point mutations that occur during hematopoiesis can affect the interpretation of genome-wide studies of hereditary traits. Our observations have important implications for the etiology of pancreatic cancer and for the identification of susceptibility genes in other common cancer types.

Significance: The genetic basis of disease susceptibility in the majority of patients with familial pancreatic cancer is unknown. We whole genome sequenced 638 patients with familial pancreatic cancer and demonstrate that the genetic underpinning of inherited pancreatic cancer is highly heterogeneous. This has significant implications for the management of patients with familial pancreatic cancer. Cancer Discov; 6(2); 166–75. ©2015 AACR.

This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 109
Microtubules and Actin Cytoskeleton of Cryptococcus neoformans as Targets for Anticancer Agents to Potentiate a Novel Approach for New Antifungals
Authors: Kopecká Marie
Published: December 2015

Background: We investigated the targeting of microtubules (MT) and F-actin cytoskeleton (AC) of the human pathogenic yeast Cryptococcus neoformans with agents for cancer therapy, in order to examine whether this yeast cytoskeleton could become a new antifungal target for the inhibition of cell division. Methods: Cells treated with 10 cytoskeleton inhibitors in yeast extract peptone dextrose medium were investigated by phase-contrast and fluorescence microscopy, and growth inhibition was estimated by cell counts using a Bürker chamber and measuring absorbance for 6 days. Results: Docetaxel, paclitaxel, vinblastine sulfate salt, cytochalasin D and chlorpropham [isopropyl N-(3-chlorophenyl) carbamate] did not inhibit proliferation. The MT inhibitors methyl benzimidazole-2-ylcarbamate (BCM), nocodazole, thiabendazole (TBZ) and vincristine (VINC) disrupted MT and inhibited mitoses, but anucleated buds emerged on cells that increased in size, vacuolated and seemed to die after 2 days. The response of the cells to the presence of the actin inhibitor latrunculin A (LA) included the disappearance of actin patches, actin cables and actin rings; this arrested budding and cell division. However, in 3-4 days, resistant budding cells appeared in all 5 inhibitors. Disruption of the MT and AC and inhibition of cell division and budding persisted only when the MT and AC inhibitors were combined, i.e. VINC + LA, BCM + LA or TBZ + LA. Conclusion: The MT and AC of C. neoformans are new antifungal targets for the persistent inhibition of cell division by combined F-actin and MT inhibitors.
Review on Dynamic Contour Tonometry and Ocular Pulse Amplitude
Authors: Willekens Koen , Rocha Rita , Van Keer Karel , Vandewalle Evelien , Abegão Pinto Luís , Stalmans Ingeborg , Marques-Neves Carlos
Published: December 2015

Intraocular pressure (IOP) measurement is the cornerstone of the management of glaucoma patients. The gold standard for assessing IOP is Goldmann applanation tonometry (GAT). Recently, the dynamic contour tonometer (DCT) has become available. While both devices provide reliable IOP measurements, the results are not interchangeable. DCT has the advantage of measuring an additional parameter: ocular pulse amplitude (OPA). OPA is defined as the difference between systolic and diastolic IOP and represents the pulsatile wave front produced by the varying amount of blood in the eye during the cardiac cycle. It has been shown to vary with ocular structural parameters, such as axial length, corneal thickness, and ocular rigidity, as well as with systemic variables like heart rate, blood pressure, and left ventricular ejection fraction. Although the existence of some of these associations is still controversial, the clinical relevance of OPA has been consistently suggested, especially in glaucoma. Further research on this intriguing parameter could not only provide insight into glaucoma pathophysiology but also help integrate this variable into clinical practice.
Impact of Different Illumination Conditions on Visual Caries Detection with ICDAS
Authors: Neuhaus Klaus W. , Jasarevic Edi , Lussi Adrian
Published: December 2015

The aim of this study was to test the influence of different degrees of additional illumination on visual caries detection using the International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS). Two calibrated examiners assessed 139 occlusal surfaces of extracted permanent molars using a standard operation lamp with or without an additional headlamp providing three default brightness intensities. Histology served as the gold standard. Pooled data showed no differences in sensitivities. Specificities were not influenced by additional light. The area under the curve for the Marthaler classification D3 threshold was significantly lower when an additional strong headlamp was used (0.59 compared to 0.69-0.72 when reduced illumination intensities were used). One of the two examiners also had a significantly lower sensitivity for the D1 threshold when an additional headlamp was used. The use of additional white light led to a reduced detection of dentine lesions.
Cervical Cytology Reporting Rates from China's Largest College of American Pathologists-Certified Laboratory with a Focus on Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cytology and Its Histopathological Follow-Up Results
Authors: Zheng Baowen , Li Zaibo , Liang Xiaoman , Austin R. Marshall , Chen Congde , Zhao Chengquan
Published: December 2015

Objective: No organized cervical screening programs or national cervical cytology quality control standards currently exist in China. This study reported cervical cytology performance in China's largest independent laboratory with accreditation from the College of American Pathologists. Design: Results from over 2 million Papanicolaou (Pap) tests by the KingMed Diagnostics Laboratory were categorized according to The Bethesda System (TBS) from 2007 and 2014. Pap reports and histopathologic follow-up results of squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) were analyzed. Results: Data on 676,445 conventional Pap smears (CPS) and 1,696,284 liquid-based cytology (LBC) specimens were available. Abnormality rates reported were significantly higher with LBC than with CPS in all TBS categories (p < 0.001). A total of 800 SCC cytology reports were identified, representing a laboratory SCC reporting rate of 0.0337%. The SCC reporting rate with LBC (0.0457%) was significantly higher than the reporting rate with CPS. Histopathologic invasive cervical carcinoma and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2/3 were diagnosed in 80.7 and 17.6% of the 119 patients with SCC Pap cytology. Conclusions: Reporting rates for most TBS categories from this CAP-accredited laboratory in China were within the CAP benchmark ranges except for low atypical glandular cell and unsatisfactory case rates. Histological follow-up results in patients with SCC cytology reports demonstrate very high specificity of SCC Pap cytology.
Breast Cancer Metastasis Presenting as Conjunctival Chemosis
Authors: Diltoer Eva , ten Tusscher Marcel P.M.
Published: December 2015

A 72-year-old woman presented with a painful right eye. A few weeks before, she had noticed a red, swollen area in the conjunctiva of the same eye. On slit lamp examination, it appeared as chemosis and vascular injection; artificial tears were prescribed. A month later, a firm mass developed on the superotemporal orbital rim, in the area of the lacrimal gland. A CT scan revealed infiltrative structures in both the left and right orbit, with contrast staining in the right lacrimal gland and near the left optic nerve. A biopsy was taken of the conjunctival swelling as well as of the lacrimal gland. Both tissues showed infiltration with lobular breast carcinoma metastases.
Outcome of Type 3 Open Tibial Diaphyseal Fractures Managed with a Limb Reconstruction System: Analysis of a 49-Patient Cohort
Authors: Tekin Ali Çağrı , Saygılı Mehmet Selçuk , Adaş Müjdat , Çabuk Haluk , Arslan Samet Murat , Dedeoğlu Süleyman Semih
Published: December 2015

Objective: To evaluate functional and radiological results following treatment with the single-plane external fixator limb reconstruction system (LRS) for open tibial diaphyseal fractures resulting from high-energy trauma. Subjects and Methods: From a total of 62 patients who were operated on between 2011 and 2014 for open tibial diaphyseal fractures resulting from high-energy trauma, 50 tibias from 49 patients (males: 32, females: 17) were classified as type 3 according to the Gustilo-Anderson open fracture classification, and definitive treatment was applied with the LRS. The patients ranged in age from 20 to 36 years. Time to union, time of external fixator usage, complications and functional results according to the Johner-Wruhs criteria were recorded. Results: The mean follow-up period was 23 ± 12 months (range: 11-44). Of the 50 tibias, full union was achieved with the LRS in 48 (96%). No shortness or deformity was observed in any patient. Knee and ankle range of movement were measured as full in all patients at the final follow-up examination after removal of the LRS. The mean time to union was 20.4 ± 4 weeks (range: 16-24). The mean time of external fixator use was 20 weeks (range: 16-24 weeks). Conclusion: In this study, for the definitive treatment of open tibia diaphyseal fractures, the LRS was an optimal and safe choice that offered single-stage surgery.
Graph-Based Word Alignment for Clinical Language Evaluation
Authors: Prud'hommeaux Emily , Roark Brian
Published: December 2015

Among the more recent applications for natural language processing algorithms has been the analysis of spoken language data for diagnostic and remedial purposes, fueled by the demand for simple, objective, and unobtrusive screening tools for neurological disorders such as dementia. The automated analysis of narrative retellings in particular shows potential as a component of such a screening tool since the ability to produce accurate and meaningful narratives is noticeably impaired in individuals with dementia and its frequent precursor, mild cognitive impairment, as well as other neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental disorders. In this article, we present a method for extracting narrative recall scores automatically and highly accurately from a word-level alignment between a retelling and the source narrative. We propose improvements to existing machine translation–based systems for word alignment, including a novel method of word alignment relying on random walks on a graph that achieves alignment accuracy superior to that of standard expectation maximization–based techniques for word alignment in a fraction of the time required for expectation maximization. In addition, the narrative recall score features extracted from these high-quality word alignments yield diagnostic classification accuracy comparable to that achieved using manually assigned scores and significantly higher than that achieved with summary-level text similarity metrics used in other areas of NLP. These methods can be trivially adapted to spontaneous language samples elicited with non-linguistic stimuli, thereby demonstrating the flexibility and generalizability of these methods.
Design and Evaluation of Metaphor Processing Systems
Authors: Shutova Ekaterina
Published: December 2015

System design and evaluation methodologies receive significant attention in natural language processing (NLP), with the systems typically being evaluated on a common task and against shared data sets. This enables direct system comparison and facilitates progress in the field. However, computational work on metaphor is considerably more fragmented than similar research efforts in other areas of NLP and semantics. Recent years have seen a growing interest in computational modeling of metaphor, with many new statistical techniques opening routes for improving system accuracy and robustness. However, the lack of a common task definition, shared data set, and evaluation strategy makes the methods hard to compare, and thus hampers our progress as a community in this area. The goal of this article is to review the system features and evaluation strategies that have been proposed for the metaphor processing task, and to analyze their benefits and downsides, with the aim of identifying the desired properties of metaphor processing systems and a set of requirements for their evaluation.
Mega-Regional Trade Agreements and Post-2015 Climate Protection: Bridging the Gap
Authors: Frey Christopher
Published: December 2015

2015 is an important year for both climate and trade policy. While in the climate community eyes are set on the cop21 in Paris for a new climate policy framework which would succeed Kyoto, trade negotiators are preparing for the final phases of negotiations on so-called “mega-regional” trade agreements like the tpp, ttip, and ceta. This paper argues that the current momentum should be harnessed to make trade policy part of the “enabling environment” for emission reductions. This would reflect worldwide economic trends with respect to growing markets for low-carbon technologies like renewable energy and energy-efficiency. However, it would also mean a new approach in the relationship between trade and the environment, and a shift of focus from regulatory space to common regulation and targeted trade-liberalization of climate-friendly goods and services. This contribution explores ways in which trade liberalization and climate policy can be effectively linked in eu trade agreements under negotiation, focusing on, i.a., the liberalization of trade in low-carbon goods and services and a regulatory alignment of emissions standards.
Taxonomic review of the Genus Deltoplastis Meyrick (Lepidoptera: Lecithoceridae) in China and its neibouring countries, with a world catalogue of the genus
Authors: WANG YUQI , PARK KYU-TEK , WANG SHUXIA
Published: December 2015

The genus Deltoplastis Meyrick is reviewed from China and its neibouring countries. Fifteen species are recognized, including nine new species: D. angustifoliacea sp. nov., D. conjugata sp. nov., D. dentata sp. nov., D. curviloba sp. nov., D. gyroflexa sp. nov., D. hippocrepica sp. nov., D. mamillata sp. nov., D. acutiprocessa sp. nov., and D. maehongsonensis sp. nov. The male of D. causidica (Meyrick, 1910) and the female of D. prionaspis Gozmány, 1978 are described for the first time. Deltoplastis causidica (Meyrick, 1910) from China and Thailand, D. gypsopeda Meyrick, 1934 from Thailand and India, D. commatopa Meyrick, 1932 from Vietnam and India, D. lobigera Gozmány from India are newly recorded for each country. Photographs of adults and genitalia are provided, along with a key to the species and a world catalogue of Deltoplastis.
Comments on two questionably new axiidean taxa from the Gulf of Mexico
(Crustacea: Decapoda)
Authors: FELDER DARRYL L. , DWORSCHAK PETER C.
Published: December 2015

A recent descriptive account based on material in the Senckenberg Forschungsinstitut und Naturmuseum included descriptions of two new fossorial axiidean shrimp from the northeastern Gulf of Mexico. Both were based on fragmentary immature specimens, and the accompanying illustrations appeared to potentially represent known species. The types were obtained on loan for study in each of our labs. In one case we conclude that erroneous interpretations of a mangled immature specimen of Axianassa arenaria Kensley & Heard, 1990, led to its assignment to the wrong infraorder, and thus its erroneous description as a new genus and species. In the second case, misinterpretations of morphology of four fragmentary juvenile specimens led to assignment of a name for a population already known in literature to be separated genetically and developmentally from Atlantic populations of Callichirus major (Say, 1818) and Gulf of Mexico populations of C. islagrande (Schmitt, 1935). While no diagnostic characters of value were furnished with the description, we nonetheless conclude that the new name must be used.
The larva of Rhyacophila balcanica Radovanovic 1953 (Trichoptera: Rhyacophilidae) with notes on ecology
Authors: KARAOUZAS IOANNIS , GRAF WOLFRAM , KUČINIĆ MLADEN , VUČKOVIĆ IVAN , WARINGER JOHANN
Published: December 2015

x The previously unknown larva of Rhyacophila balcanica Radovanovic 1953 is described. The diagnostic features of the species are listed and illustrated and some information on its ecology and distribution is included. In addition, diagnostic characters for larvae of the known Greek Rhyacophila species are provided.
Five new species of the Afrotropical dark sac spider genus Messapus Simon, 1898 (Araneae: Corinnidae)
Authors: HADDAD CHARLES R. , MBO ZINGISILE
Published: December 2015

The Afrotropical dark sac spider genus Messapus Simon, 1898 (Corinnidae: Corinninae) currently only comprises two described species, the type species M. martini Simon, 1898 and M. natalis (Pocock, 1898), which have both recently been redescribed. The leg and setal morphology of Messapus is studied using scanning electron microscopy for the first time, for M. martini and M. tigris sp. n., and additional characters are provided to supplement a recent generic description. Five new species are described in the current paper: M. megae sp. n. (♂ ♀, from Zimbabwe), M. meridionalis sp. n. (♀, from South Africa), M. seiugatus sp. n. (♀, from Guinea), M. tigris sp. n. (♀, from Botswana and Namibia), and M. tropicus sp. n. (♂ ♀, from Democratic Republic of the Congo). All five species are arboreal spiders occurring on bark, lower foliage strata and the canopies of forest and savannah trees. An identification key to the seven species of the genus is provided.
A new species of Anthonympha Moriuti (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) from Russian Far East, with annotated check list of the genus
Authors: PONOMARENKO MARGARITA G.
Published: December 2015

Anthonympha rossica sp. nov., is described and illustrated. A checklist and key to the species of the genus are given. All the species are diagnosed.
A new species of spine-headed katydid Mesagraecia Ingrisch, 1998 (Conocephalinae: Agraeciini), with key to species
Authors: TAN MING KAI , INGRISCH SIGFRID , KAMARUDDIN KHAIRUL NIZAM
Published: December 2015

The taxonomy of poorly known Mesagraecia Ingrisch, 1998 is reviewed. A new species of Mesagraecia spine-headed katydid (Conocephalinae: Agraeciini) is described from Bukit Larut, Perak, Peninsular Malaysia: Mesagraecia larutensis sp. n. A key to species is also presented.
Effectively Communicating Risk and Uncertainty to the Public: Assessing the National Weather Service’s Flood Forecast and Warning Tools
Authors: Hogan Carr Rachel , Montz Burrell , Maxfield Keri , Hoekstra Stephanie , Semmens Kathryn , Goldman Elizabeth
Published: December 2015

Given the constant bombardment of weather information in different formats and time frames with different levels of certainty, how does an important message make an impact? For weather and river forecast offices, this is a pressing question given a likely future of increasing high-impact storm events. These offices need to quickly and effectively motivate public response to impending events such as flooding. Currently, communication of flood potential is accomplished through a suite of forecast and warning products, including river hydrographs, precipitation forecasts, and flood watches and warnings. Despite advances in forecast accuracy and lead time, people fail to respond to warnings and often suffer substantial damages and loss of property. To understand how the public uses and interprets National Weather Service (NWS) flood products, an extreme storm scenario was presented using NWS forecast products in a series of focus groups in the Delaware River basin (Pennsylvania–New Jersey). Findings from the sessions informed revisions of the products to which participants reported increased understanding and motivation to take action. Participants demonstrated a strong preference for river-level information presented through the NWS hydrograph among all the NWS products shown depicting an approaching hurricane. Simplified graphics, explanations in general terms, intuitive colors, and geographic specificity are key recommendations to improve comprehension of risk and uncertainty. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and NWS are taking steps to operationalize some of these suggestions. This study’s methods and results are applicable to other areas and hazard types.
Projected Changes in Mid-Twenty-First-Century Extreme Maximum Pavement Temperature in Canada
Authors: Fletcher Christopher G. , Matthews Lindsay , Andrey Jean , Saunders Adam
Published: December 2015

Future climate warming is virtually certain to bring about an increase in the frequency of heat extremes. Highway design and pavement selection are based on a temperature regime that reflects the local climate zone. Increasing heat extremes could, therefore, shift some areas into a different performance grade (PG) for pavement, and more-heat-resistant materials are associated with increased infrastructure costs. This study combines observations, output from global climate models, and a statistical model to investigate changes in 20-yr return values of extreme maximum pavement temperature TPmax. From a multimodel range of simulated TPmax, future changes in PG are computed for 17 major Canadian cities. Relative to a 1981–2000 baseline, summertime Canada-wide warming of 1°–3°C is projected for 2041–70. As a result, climate change is likely to bring about profound changes to the spatial distribution of PG, with the severity of the changes directly linked to the severity of the projected warming. Even under weak simulated warming, an increase in PG is projected for greater Toronto, which is Canada’s largest urban area; under moderate (strong) warming 7 of 17 (9 of 17) major cities exhibit an increase. The influence of model spatial resolution is evaluated by comparing the results from global climate models with output from a set of regional climate models focused on North America. With the exception of mountainous terrain in western Canada, spatial resolution is not a major determining factor for projections of future PG changes.
North Pacific Subtropical Mode Water Volume Decrease in 2006–09 Estimated from Argo Observations: Influence of Surface Formation and Basin-Scale Oceanic Variability
Authors: Cerovečki Ivana , Giglio Donata
Published: December 2015

Analysis of Argo temperature and salinity profiles (gridded at 0.5° × 0.5° resolution for 2005–12) shows a strong North Pacific Subtropical Mode Water (NPSTMW) volume and density decrease during 2006–09. In this time period, upper-ocean temperature, stratification, and potential vorticity (PV) all increased within the region in and around the NPSTMW low-PV pool, contributing to the NPSTMW volume decrease in two ways: (i) the volume of water satisfying the low-PV constraint that is part of the “mode water” definition decreased, and (ii) some water that was initially in the NPSTMW density range σθ = 25.0–25.5 kg m−3 was transformed into lighter water. Both changes in density and in PV in the NPSTMW region were a manifestation of basinwide changes. A positive PV anomaly started to propagate westward from the central Pacific in 2005, followed by a negative density anomaly in 2007, which caused a dramatic NPSTMW volume and density decrease.

A Walin estimate of surface formation in the NPSTMW density range accounted better (although not entirely) for the interannual variability of the volume of water in the NPSTMW density range without imposing the PV < 2 × 10−10 m−1 s−1 constraint than did the same estimate with the PV constraint imposed. This underlines the importance of the PV constraint in identifying the mode water. The mode water evolution cannot be fully described from a density budget alone; rather, the PV budget must be considered simultaneously.
Continental Shelf Baroclinic Instability. Part I: Relaxation from Upwelling or Downwelling
Authors: Brink K. H.
Published: December 2015

There exists a good deal of indirect evidence, from several locations around the world, that there is a substantial eddy field over continental shelves. These eddies appear to have typical swirl velocities of a few centimeters per second and have horizontal scales of perhaps 5–10 km. These eddies are weak compared to typical, wind-driven, alongshore flows but often seem to dominate middepth cross-shelf flows. The idea that motivates the present contribution is that the alongshore wind stress ultimately energizes these eddies by means of baroclinic instabilities, even in cases where obvious intense fronts do not exist. The proposed sequence is that alongshore winds over a stratified ocean cause upwelling or downwelling, and the resulting horizontal density gradients are strong enough to fuel baroclinic instabilities of the requisite energy levels. This idea is explored here by means of a sequence of idealized primitive equation numerical model studies, each driven by a modest, nearly steady, alongshore wind stress applied for about 5–10 days. Different runs vary wind forcing, stratification, bottom slope, bottom friction, and Coriolis parameter. All runs, both upwelling and downwelling, are found to be baroclinically unstable and to have scales compatible with the underlying hypothesis. The model results, combined with physically based scalings, show that eddy kinetic energy generally increases with bottom slope, stratification, wind impulse (time integral of the wind stress), and inverse Coriolis parameter. The dominant length scale of the eddies is found to increase with increasing eddy kinetic energy and to decrease with Coriolis parameter.
How Biased Is Aircraft Cloud Sampling?
Authors: Field Paul R. , Furtado Kalli
Published: December 2015

Aircraft are the dominant method for in situ sampling of cloud properties. Resource limitations mean that aircraft tend to follow a sampling strategy when there is more than one cloud from which to choose. This can result in biased cloud statistics that are used for parameterization development and model testing. In this study, order statistics are used to estimate the potential magnitude of this bias when a strategy based on choosing the larger cloud is employed. It is found for cloud properties following gamma distributions that a typical bias of a factor of 1.5 can result when the larger of two clouds is repeatedly chosen for sampling.
Synthesis of polymeric emulsifier and its application in epoxy emulsion-type sizing agent for carbon fiber
Authors: Chen Juan , Li Shun , Ma Xiaolong , Liu Huashi , Ge Heyi
Published: December 2015

A new kind of polymeric emulsifier was readily synthesized through one-pot three-stage processes. Fourier transform infrared spectroscope (FTIR) combined with conversion rate of epoxide groups tests was applied to characterize the chemical composition of the polymeric emulsifier. The emulsion sizing based on the self-made polymeric emulsifier was prepared through phase inversion emulsification method. The stability of the sizing agent was evaluated by centrifugal sedimentation and particle size investigations. The surface morphology of CF was observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM). The effects of the sizing agent on CF handleability were examined by abrasion resistance, hairiness amount and stiffness tests. The results indicated that after sizing, the CF obtained an appreciable enhancement in handleability. Finally, interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) of sized CF/epoxy resin composite increased by 55.39% compared with that of the desized one.
Minimally invasive surgery for superior mesenteric artery syndrome: a case report and literature review
Authors: Cullis Paul S , Gallagher Maeve , Sabharwal Atul J , Hammond Philip
Published: December 2015

Introduction

Superior mesenteric artery syndrome is a rare condition characterised by nausea, vomiting, postprandial pain, anorexia and early satiety. Conservative management is tried initially, but if this fails, surgery is indicated. There are few reports in the literature concerning superior mesenteric artery syndrome in children, and fewer still managed surgically by minimally invasive means.

Case presentation

A 12-year-old girl presented with weight loss, early satiety and vomiting after corrective scoliosis surgery. After upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, contrast study and computed tomography imaging, a diagnosis of superior mesenteric artery syndrome was made. Conservative management by nasojejunal feeding failed; therefore, a laparoscopic duodeno-jejunostomy was undertaken. At follow-up, her symptoms had improved.

Conclusion

This report describes the youngest child to undergo laparoscopic duodeno-jejunostomy for superior mesenteric artery syndrome. Laparoscopic duodeno-jejunostomy appears to be the most widely employed and reliable minimally invasive approach to superior mesenteric artery syndrome with a high success rate and acceptably low complication rate.
Imperforate hymen presenting as vaginal cyst in a 16-month-old child – considerations for an early diagnosis
Authors: Glavan Nedeljka , Haller Herman , Brnčić–Fischer Alemka , Glavan-Gačanin Lana , Miletić Damir , Jonjić Nives
Published: December 2015

Imperforate hymen is a congenital anomaly of female external genitalia, which is mostly diagnosed in puberty, at the age of 9–13 years, or very rarely at a younger age. Clinical picture varies from abdominal pain and low back pain to acute urinary retention. We describe a case of a 16-month-old female infant where the imperforate hymen presented as a vaginal cyst. The cyst was first observed by the patient’s mother, although the child had been examined by a paediatrician on several occasions after birth. Complete workup performed for differential diagnosis, mostly to exclude other reproductive system anomalies, led to the final diagnosis of imperforate hymen. The aim of this report is to emphasise the necessity of thorough examination of genitalia in female newborns in order to avoid possible complications associated with this diagnosis later in life, as well as other, more severe differential diagnostic anomalies.
Towards a unified economic revitalisation model: Leadership, amenities, and the bargaining model
Authors: Bassett Samuel T
Published: December 2015

This paper synthesises two models: Savitch and Kantor’s bargaining and the amenity led growth model. Using evidence from Oklahoma City’s recent revitalisation, the argument concludes that leadership serves as a pivotal link between the bargaining table and the construction of new amenities to attract productive labour and improve their bargaining position. The proposed unified model reprises the role for leadership to include providing amenities prerequisite for economic development.
Electronic Health Object
Authors: Almunawar Mohammad Nabil , Anshari Muhammad , Younis Mustafa Z. , Kisa Adnan
Published: December 2015

Electronic health records (EHRs) store health-related patient information in an electronic format, improving the quality of health care management and increasing efficiency of health care processes. However, in existing information systems, health-related records are generated, managed, and controlled by health care organizations. Patients are perceived as recipients of care and normally cannot directly interact with the system that stores their health-related records; their participation in enriching this information is not possible. Many businesses now allow customers to participate in generating information for their systems, strengthening customer relationships. This trend is supported by Web 2.0, which enables interactivity through various means, including social networks. Health care systems should be able to take advantage of this development. This article proposes a novel framework in addressing the emerging need for interactivity while preserving and extending existing electronic medical data. The framework has 3 dimensions of patient health record: personal, social, and medical dimensions. The framework is designed to empower patients, changing their roles from static recipient of health care services to dynamic and active partners in health care processes.
Acceptance of Life-Threatening Hazards among Young Tourists
Authors: Sarman Igor , Scagnolari Stefano , Maggi Rico
Published: December 2015

This work analyzes the impact of potential life-threatening events at destination on the decision to undertake a leisure trip, and points out the trade-offs between such events and the attributes of a trip. Life-threatening events are a phenomenon of contemporary tourism. Even though, if they do happen, such improbable events have massive consequences, they seem to be implicitly accepted and taken into account by tourists visiting potentially risky destinations. To evaluate the acceptance of such life-threatening events, we apply a stated choice experiment and adopt an Integrated Choice and Latent Variable model. Our research framework considers four types of hazards—terrorist acts, political insurrections, natural catastrophes, and epidemics—focusing on Southeast Asia. A questionnaire was administered to university students currently living and studying in Switzerland. Results show how different hazards, their potential magnitude, and respondents’ risk perception influence decisions.
Sources of Variation in Economic Impact Multipliers
Authors: Crompton John L. , Jeong Ji Youn , Dudensing Rebekka M.
Published: December 2015

The conceptual arguments and empirical analyses in the article illustrate that when tourism organizations replicate economic impact analyses and/or compare their results with those reported by others, perceived differences often are specious because they are attributable to artifacts in multiplier measurement as well as to changes in the structure of host economies. Four sources of variation in multipliers that may result in specious comparisons are addressed: differences in specifications of the three main types of models used in economic impact analyses, semantic and definition confusion, changes in communities’ economic structures, and calibration and decision rule changes.
Career Influences in Bridge Employment Among Retired Police Officers
Authors: Hill Stephen C. , Snell Andrea F. , Sterns Harvey L.
Published: December 2015

The careful examination of factors influencing bridge employment among retired police officers is largely absent in the literature. Two hundred and eleven retired police officers participated in a survey exploring factors that contributed to the participation in bridge employment or employment upon retiring from primary careers in law enforcement. The results indicate that retired officers who held part-time positions while fully employed as police officers were more likely to participate in bridge employment when compared with individuals who did not hold additional part-time employment while fully employed as police officers. Opportunities for training and interventions exist to help retired police officers navigate the working transition at this later-life juncture.
Gender, Race, and Age
Authors: Andreoletti Carrie , Leszczynski Jennifer P. , Disch William B.
Published: December 2015

While stereotypes about gender, race, and age (particularly old age) have been studied independently, few have examined the content of compound stereotypes that consider the intersection of gender, race, and age. Using a within-subjects design, we examined stereotypes as a function of target gender (male, female), race (Black, White), and age across the life span (adolescent, young adult, middle-aged, young-old, and old-old). Participants rated 20 target groups on 10 attributes representative of either an agentic (e.g., ambitious) or communal (e.g., considerate) orientation. Participants were presented only with categorical information (e.g., Black, 85-year-old, males), and ordering of categorical information and target groups was counterbalanced across participants. We hypothesized differential effects of target gender and race as a function of age. Multivariate analyses of variance on each attribute revealed significant main effects that supported traditional stereotype research, but significant interactions revealed a more complicated picture. Overall, results showed that while gender stereotypes about agency and communion generally hold up across the life span, they are more applicable to White than Black targets. Results also supported the notion that we hold unique stereotypes based on multiple social categories rather than simply perceiving one social category as more salient than another, which was best exemplified in the case of Black female targets that were less likely to be perceived in gender stereotypic ways across the life span. We suggest stereotype research needs to shift to accommodate for the complexity and diversity of real people.
Real-World Persuasion From Virtual-World Campaigns
Authors: Burrows Christopher N. , Blanton Hart
Published: December 2015

With the general public spending increasing amounts of time in virtual gaming worlds, it is relevant to explore social influence dynamics that can occur in virtual reality settings. Three studies tested the hypothesis that transportation into a virtual game heightens susceptibility to influence from in-game health communications. Study 1 participants played a first-person shooter game that had either landscape paintings or graphic anti-DUI (drive under the influence of alcohol) messages embedded in the background of scenes. Results indicated that, to the extent gamers were transported into the virtual experiences in the game, willingness to DUI was reduced by the presence of anti-DUI graphic messages. Study 2 explored potential mechanisms driving this effect and revealed evidence that transportation disrupts counter-arguing among individuals who might otherwise resist real-world influence attempts. Study 3 replicated Studies 1 and 2 findings but also pointed to a potential “boomerang effect” that can occur when transportation is not achieved in a game. Discussion focused on the potential positive and negative consequences of embedding persuasive health communications into the background of virtual gaming worlds.
Reparation Demands and Collective Guilt Assignment of Black South Africans
Authors: Dumont Kitty B. , Waldzus Sven
Published: December 2015

The present research studied reparation demands of born-free Black South African adolescents as members of a former victimized group from a social psychological perspective. Two cross-sectional studies tested whether identification indirectly predicts reparation demands via assignment of collective guilt to White South Africans; and whether this indirect relation is moderated by cross-group friendship. The results support both hypotheses and show a stronger link between identification with the victimized group and collective guilt assignment in a segregated rather than a desegregated context (Study 1: N = 222) and for participants reporting lower levels of cross-group friendship (Study 2: N = 145). Reparation demands are important for strongly identified members of a victimized group in a postconflict situation. Their mediation by collective guilt assignment, mitigated by cross-group friendship, indicates that one major function is to insure recognition of the victims’ past suffering and to repair the relationship rather than ostracizing the transgressor group or gaining access to resources.
Linking Racial-Ethnic Socialization to Culture and Race-Specific Coping Among African American College Students
Authors: Blackmon Sha’Kema M. , Coyle Laura D. , Davenport Sheron , Owens Archandria C. , Sparrow Christopher
Published: December 2015

In addition to the use of coping strategies generally shared by all Americans, research has shown that African Americans tend to make use of culture and race-specific coping styles that distinguish them from other racial/ethnic group populations. These coping styles are important for the negotiation of multiple types of stressors. Little has been written on the antecedents of culture and race-specific coping (i.e., Africultural coping and John Henryism). This exploratory online investigation sought to determine if childhood racial-ethnic socialization (i.e., a cultural practice and protective factor) experiences predicted present self-reported culture and race-specific coping among a group of African American college students ( N = 191). Results indicated that past racial socialization messages encouraging participants to engage in positive cross-racial interactions (i.e., cross-racial relationship messages) were positively predictive of spiritual-centered and collective coping. Racial socialization messages that prescribed how participants should cope with racism were negatively associated with prolonged, active high-effort coping (i.e., John Henryism). Ethnic socialization messages emphasizing participation in African American cultural activities (i.e., African American heritage messages) positively predicted spiritual-centered, collective, and ritual-centered coping. Finally, ethnic socialization messages encouraging participants to have respect for authority figures, retain close relationships with family members, and maintain a collectivistic orientation (i.e., African American cultural values messages) were negatively predictive of John Henryism. Taken together, childhood racial-ethnic socialization experiences are an important resource for coping during college.
The Role of Distress Tolerance in the Use of Specific Emotion Regulation Strategies
Authors: Jeffries Emily R. , McLeish Alison C. , Kraemer Kristen M. , Avallone Kimberly M. , Fleming John B.
Published: December 2015

The present study evaluated the role of distress tolerance (DT), defined as the ability to tolerate negative emotional states, in the use of four specific emotion regulation strategies (suppression, avoidance, rumination, and reappraisal). Undergraduate psychology students ( N = 431, 71.7% female; Mage = 19.80 years, SD = 3.71) completed self-report measures online for course credit. It was hypothesized that, after controlling for the effects of anxiety sensitivity and negative affectivity, DT would be negatively associated with suppression, avoidance, and rumination, and positively associated with reappraisal. Consistent with prediction, low DT significantly predicted greater use of suppression, avoidance, and rumination. However, contrary to prediction, DT did not significantly predict reappraisal. These results suggest that individuals who are unable to withstand negative emotions are more likely to use maladaptive regulation strategies.
Essential Air Service in the United States
Authors: Grubesic Tony , Wei Ran , Murray Alan , Wei Fangwu
Published: December 2015

The Essential Air Service (EAS) program continues to receive federal funding to provide air travel access to rural communities in the United States. Regular assessment and evaluation of the performance of this program are important, given limited federal resources and fiduciary duties. In fact, this program has garnered significant attention through the years because it was originally conceived to offer temporary financial bridging for maintaining commercial air service in rural and remote communities following deregulation in 1978, yet has continued to be funded at increasing rates for over thirty-five years. This article undertakes a systematic analysis of the EAS program in terms of access and intended goals and objectives. A spatial optimization model is used to examine service performance of the existing system. Program insights as well as ways system efficiency that could be enhanced are highlighted for rural air transportation service in the United States.
The "Political" Geography of Research Networks
Authors: Maggioni Mario A. , Uberti Teodora Erika , Nosvelli Mario
Published: December 2015

The production of scientific and technical knowledge is mostly concentrated in specific locations. Knowledge flows very easily within regions; however, scientific and technical knowledge does flow also between different regions. The aim of this article is to analyze knowledge flows between agglomerations of innovative inputs, and their effects on the innovative performance of regions. We estimate a regional knowledge production function and we test, through appropriate spatial econometric estimation techniques, the effect of both geographical and relational autocorrelation (as measured by participation to joint research networks in the European Union [EU] Sixth Framework Programme [FP6]). We adopt two selection criteria in order to define different relational “geographies” (hence spatial weights matrices), and we model the unobservable structure and link value of knowledge flows within these joint research networks. Our results confirm established evidence that knowledge flows within interregional research networks along a top-down nonsymmetrical and hierarchical structure. However, the EU enlargement - and a modified structure of incentive for collaboration activity of European institutions- changed the direction of knowledge flows toward a top-down dynamics of knowledge diffusion from coordinator to participants for “EASTWARD” research networks (whose coordinator is in the west and most participants in the east); while the contrary (a hierarchical bottom-up dynamic of knowledge transfer) is true for WESTWARD networks (whose coordinator is in the east and most participants in the west). FP6 is therefore a platform for knowledge barter exchange for EU15, while works as a mere one-way channel for knowledge diffusion from EU15 toward Central and Eastern European countries.