bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluating Highway Traffic Safety: An Integrated Approach
Authors: Yang Yanqun , Easa Said M. , Lin Zhibin , Zheng Xinyi
Published: June 2018

This paper presents a novel methodology for determining the overall highway safety level by integrating statistical analysis and analytic network process (ANP) with set pair analysis (SPA) which is applied in the evaluation of the overall highway safety for the first time. The methodology accounts for both quantitative and qualitative factors that contribute to traffic safety. The statistical analysis uses crash, alignment, intersection, and other data to determine the significant indices (variables) that affect safety. These indices are then combined with the planning (qualitative) indices to determine the weights of all indices based on expert opinions using ANP. Finally, the overall safety level of the highway is determined using SPA. The methodology is illustrated using data collected from two highways in China. The results demonstrate that the proposed methodology is sound and reliable. The methodology is applicable to existing or new highways and can help to effectively evaluate the overall safety of a highway and develop long-term strategies for safety improvements.
Residual Capability of Alkali Binding by Hydrated Pozzolanic Cements in Long‐Service Concrete Structures
Authors: Berra Mario , Mangialardi Teresa , Paolini Antonio Evangelista
Published: June 2018

An experimental procedure was developed and applied to cement pastes made with two different pozzolanic cements (CEM IV/B (P) and CEM IV/B (V)) in order to ascertain the existence of a residual capability of alkali binding by long‐term hydrated pozzolanic cements and, at the same time, to evaluate the alkali retention capability and the concentration of OH− ions in the pore solution of such cementitious matrices. The developed procedure consisted of accelerated curing of cement paste specimens (150 days at 60°C and 100% RH), subsequent leaching tests at 60°C for 30 days by using deionized water or basic solutions (NaOH or KOH at different concentrations) as leaching media, and correlation of the leaching test results with a simple mass balance equation for sodium and potassium ions. The developed procedure was found to be appropriate for evaluating both the pore liquid alkalinity and the alkali retention capability by long‐term hydrated pozzolanic cement pastes. A residual capability of alkali binding was also identified for both tested pozzolanic cements, thus indicating their potential ability to prevent (CEM IV/B (V)) or minimize (CEM IV/B (P)) the risk of deleterious expansion associated with alkali‐aggregate reaction in long‐service concrete structures, like concrete dams.
A Multipoint Liquid Level Sensor Based on Two Twisted Polymer Optical Fibers in a Race-Track Helical Structure
Authors: Zhang Yingzi , Hou Yulong , Zhang Yanjun , Zhang Liang , Hu Yanjun , Gao Xiaolong , Zhang Huixin , Liu Wenyi
Published: June 2018

A multipoint liquid level sensor based on the RI modulation of macrobend polymer optical fiber (POF) couplers is proposed. By twinning two twisted POFs around a race-track column, a series of U-shaped sensing heads are achieved. The output power in the passive fiber declines in a step form while the sensing heads are immersed into liquid in turn. The introduction of UV optical cement in the gap between two POFs improves the side-coupling ratio, increasing the attenuation per step. For the measurement range of 100 cm, the resolution is 2 cm. The sensor can differentiate different liquids with low temperature dependence.
Introducing Fuzziness in CDS Pricing under a Structural Model
Authors: Wu Liang , Sun Jian-guo , Mei Xian-bin
Published: May 2018

OTC credit derivatives are nonstandardized financial derivatives which have the following characteristics. (1) Information on trades is not public. (2) There is no performance guarantee from the stock exchange. (3) The bigger the risk in performance, the bigger the price floating. These result in an asymmetry of market information flow and this asymmetry acts as a decisive factor in the credit risk pricing of financial instruments. The asymmetry of market information flows will lead to obvious fuzziness in how counterparty risks are characterized, as in the process of valuing assets when discontinuous jumping takes place. Accurately measuring the amplitude and frequency of asset values when influenced by information asymmetry cannot be arrived at just by analyzing the random values of historical data. With this in mind, this paper hypothesizes both asset value jump amplitude and frequency of random parameters as a triangular fuzzy interval, i.e., a new double exponential jump diffusion model with fuzzy analysis. It then gives a credit default swap pricing formula in the form of fuzziness. Through the introduction of fuzzy information, this model has the advantage of being able to arrive at results in the form of triangular fuzziness and, consequently, being able to solve some inherent problems in a world characterized by asymmetry in the flow of market information and, to a certain extent, the inadequate disclosure of information.
Oxygen-Containing Nanoclusters on the Surface of Pt-Electrodes and Oxygen Reduction Reaction in Alkaline Medium
Authors: Trunov Aleksey M.
Published: June 2018

Analysis of the role of oxygen-containing nanoclusters in oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) on Pt-electrodes in alkaline media is provided on the basis of the concept of electrochemical processes with slowed stage of consecutive heterogeneous chemical reaction (ConHCR). Under the ConHCR concept, the main factor determining the ORR characteristics is energetic inhomogeneity of electrode surface (EIES) according to Temkin. A new concept, according to which EIES is determined by the Gibbs energy of formation of oxygen-containing surface structures with inclusions of surface defects of the platinum crystal structure, Pts,d, is formulated. A correlation between the level of EIES of Pt-electrodes and packing density of Pts,d atoms on the surface of Pt(hkl) monocrystals is determined. The concept, according to which the stationary potential of ORR process is considered as a “mixed potential” of two reactions (electrochemical reduction of surface atom PtIIs,d and consecutive oxidation of PtIs,d by molecular oxygen), is substantiated. It is proposed that the formation of surface nanocluster transition state [⁎(OO)PtIIs,d(OH)] defines the rate of the entire ORR process on Pt-electrodes in alkaline media.
Laccase Inhibition by Mercury: Kinetics, Inhibition Mechanism, and Preliminary Application in the Spectrophotometric Quantification of Mercury Ions
Authors: Juárez-Gómez J. , Rosas-Tate E. S. , Roa-Morales G. , Balderas-Hernández P. , Romero-Romo M. , Ramírez-Silva M. T.
Published: June 2018

The noncompetitive inhibition of laccase by mercury ions is reported, in particular focusing their effect over the enzyme catalytic activity. The enzymatic kinetics were obtained for different substrates (caffeic acid, gallic acid, and catechol), where caffeic acid displayed the greatest enzymatic activity. The laccase inhibition by mercury ions permitted to establish the inhibition effect through a mixed model (that actually displayed a behavior closer to that of the noncompetitive inhibitors) when evaluated by means of UV-Vis spectrophotometry, using caffeic acid as an electron donor. A mercury concentration of 2 mM led to 35% enzymatic inhibition after only a 2-minute incubation period. This method was used for quantification of mercury ions in aqueous solution, showing a detection limit of 15 ± 1 ppm. Therefore, this work presented a novel perspective for the determination of the toxic Hg(II) ions that can be readily implemented into environmental remediation methods.
The Standard Fire Testing and Numerical Modelling of the Behavior of Calcium Silicate Board Metallic‐Framework Drywall Assembly with Junction Box
Authors: Wang Yinuo , Chuang Ying-Ji , Lin Ching-Yuan , Zhang Hao
Published: June 2018

The metallic‐framework drywall is used as the specimens in this research. The standard fire test and finite element simulation were performed once on 300 cm × 300 cm area specimen and twice on 100 cm × 100 cm area specimens, to quantify and evaluate the effect of the junction boxes on the fireproof property after being embedded into the metallic‐framework drywall. The results of the experiment show that the temperature of unexposed surface rises faster due to the higher thermal conductivity of the internal metal junction box. The general junction box whose material is PVC can be softened off when heated, affecting the integrity of the firewall and also leading to rapid transfer to the unexposed surface. The prediction of finite element simulation temperature is highly correlated with the results of the real experiment. It is effective to strengthen the original weaknesses by adding a calcium silicate board behind the junction box and using metal panels instead of PVC. The temperature of the temperature junction box surface which is the highest temperature point of unexposed surface decreased most significantly at 72.9°C after the reinforcement. In addition, after reinforcement, the fire resistance time can reach to 1 hour by inserting the junction box into the metallic‐framework drywall.
Bioactivity‐Guided Isolation of Neuritogenic Factor from the Seeds of the Gac Plant (Momordica cochinchinensis)
Authors: Mazzio E. , Badisa R. , Eyunni S. , Ablordeppey S. , George B. , Soliman K. F. A.
Published: May 2018

Nerve growth factor (NGF) is an endogenously produced protein with the capacity to induce central nervous system (CNS) neuronal differentiation and repair. NGF signaling involves its binding to tropomyosin‐related kinase (Trk) receptors, internalization, and initiation of phosphorylation cascades which cause microtubule reorganization and neuronal outgrowth. Because NGF cannot cross the blood‐brain barrier, its therapeutic use is limited. Synthetic peptides that can act as NGF receptor agonists (NGF mimetics) are known to attenuate neurodegenerative pathologies in experimental models of Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease; however, the existence of plant‐based NGF mimetics is uncertain. For this reason, we recently completed a high throughput screening of over 1100 nutraceuticals (vitamins, herbal plant parts, polyphenolics, teas, fruits, and vegetables) to identify neuritogenic factor using a PC‐12 cell model. Remarkably we found only one, commonly known as the seed of Gac plant (Momordica cochinchinensis) (MCS). In the current study, we further investigated this seed for its neuritogenic effect using bioactivity‐guided chemical separations. The data show no biological neuritogenic activity in any chemical solvent fraction, where activity was exclusive to the crude protein. MSC crude proteins were then separated by 1D electrophoresis, where the active neuritogenic activity was confirmed to have a molecular mass of approximately 17 kDa. Subsequently, the 17kDa band was excised, digested, and run on a UPLC‐MS/MS with a Q Exactive Hybrid Quadrupole‐Orbitrap Mass Spectrometer with data evaluated diverse tools such as X! Tandem, OMS, and K‐score algorithms. Proteomic evaluation of the 17kDa band confirmed evidence for 11S globulin subunit beta, napin, oleosin, Momordica trypsin inhibitors (TI) MCoTI‐I /II, and many isoforms of Two Inhibitor Peptide Topologies (TIPTOPs). While all peptides identified correspond to the genus/species, Momordica cochinchinensis and Cucumis Sativus, a significant limitation of the analysis is the nonexistence of full annotation for the Momordica cochinchinensis proteome. In conclusion, these findings demonstrate that there is a stable protein within MCS having a mass of 17kDa with the capacity to induce neurite outgrowth. Future work will be required to establish the therapeutic value of the MCS for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
Patient- and Caregiver-Related Factors Associated with Caregiver Assessed Global Deterioration Scale Scoring in Demented Patients
Authors: Mougias Antonios A. , Christidi Foteini , Kontogianni Evaggelia , Skaltsounaki Elena , Politis Anastasios , Politis Antonios
Published: June 2018

Background. Informant-based rating scales are widely used in dementia but patients’ and caregivers’ features influence the final scoring. We aimed to evaluate the role of patient- and caregiver-related factors in a caregiver rated Global Deterioration Scale (GDS) score in a sample of Greek patients with dementia. Methods. We included 194 patients with dementia and 194 caregivers/family relatives; Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE); Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI); Katz Index of Activities of Daily Living (K-IADL) were administered to (a) patients and Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression (CES-D) Scale; Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI) to (b) caregivers. Participants’ demographics and patients’ and caregivers’ characteristics were entered into a 3-block regression analysis. Results. The final model explained 55% of the total variance of the caregiver assessed GDS score. The following variables significantly contributed to the final model: MMSE (β=-0.524); K-IADL (β=-0.264); ZBI (β=0.145). Conclusion. We herein confirm the contribution of patients’ cognitive and functional status and caregivers’ burden in caregiver rated GDS scoring irrespective of demographic-related characteristics.
Delayed Diagnosis of Acute Rheumatic Fever in a Patient with Multiple Emergency Department Visits
Authors: Kaminecki Inna , Verma Renuka , Brunetto Jacqueline , Rivera Loyda I.
Published: June 2018

While the incidence of acute rheumatic fever (ARF) in the United States has declined over the past years, the disease remains one of the causes of severe cardiovascular morbidity in children. The index of suspicion for ARF in health care providers may be low due to decreasing incidence of the disease and clinical presentation that can mimic other conditions. We present the case of a 5-year-old boy with a history of intermittent fevers, fatigue, migratory joint pain, and weight loss followinggroup A Streptococcuspharyngitis. The patient presented to the emergency department twice with the complaints described above. On his 3rd presentation, the workup for his symptoms revealed the diagnosis of acute rheumatic fever with severe mitral and aortic valve regurgitation. The patient was treated with penicillin G benzathine and was started on glucocorticoids for severe carditis. The patient was discharged with recommendations to continue secondary prophylaxis with penicillin G benzathine every 4 weeks for the next 10 years. This case illustrates importance of primary prevention of acute rheumatic fever with adequate antibiotic treatment ofgroup A Streptococcuspharyngitis. Parents should also receive information and education that a child with a previous attack of ARF has higher risk for a recurrent attack of rheumatic fever. This can lead to development of severe rheumatic heart disease. Prevention of recurrent ARF requires continuous antimicrobial prophylaxis. Follow-up with a cardiologist every 1-2 years is essential to assess the heart for valve damage.
Protecting Podocytes: A Key Target for Therapy of Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis
Authors: Campbell Kirk N. , Tumlin James A.
Published: May 2018

Background: Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is a histologic pattern of injury demonstrated by renal biopsy that can arise from a diverse range of causes and mechanisms. It has an estimated incidence of 7 per 1 million and is the most common primary glomerular disorder leading to end-stage renal disease in the United States. This review focuses on damage to the podocyte and the consequences of this injury in patients with FSGS, the genetics of FSGS, and approaches to treatment with a focus on the effects on podocytes. Summary: The podocyte is central to the glomerular filtration barrier and is particularly vulnerable because of its highly differentiated post-mitotic phenotype. The progressive structural changes involved in the pathology of FSGS include podocyte foot process effacement, death of podocytes and exposure of the glomerular basement membrane, filtration of nonspecific plasma proteins, expansion of capillaries, misdirected filtration at points of synechiae, and mesangial matrix proliferation. Although damage to and death of podocytes can result from single-gene disorders, evidence also suggests a role for soluble factors, such as soluble urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor, cardiotrophin-like cytokine-1, and anti-CD40 antibodies, that promote FSGS recurrence post transplant. Several classes of medications, including corticosteroids, calcineurin inhibitors, endothelin receptor antagonists, adrenocorticotropic hormone, and rituximab, have been shown to be effective for the treatment of FSGS and have been demonstrated to have significant protective effects on podocytes. Key Messages: Greater understanding of podocyte biology is essential to the identification of new treatment targets and medications for the management of patients with FSGS.
Texture Analysis of T1-Weighted and Fluid-Attenuated Inversion Recovery Images Detects Abnormalities That Correlate With Cognitive Decline in Small Vessel Disease
Authors: Tozer Daniel J. , Zeestraten Eva , Lawrence Andrew J. , Barrick Thomas R. , Markus Hugh S.
Published: June 2018

Background and Purpose—

Magnetic resonance imaging may be useful to assess disease severity in cerebral small vessel disease (SVD), identify those individuals who are most likely to progress to dementia, monitor disease progression, and act as surrogate markers to test new therapies. Texture analysis extracts information on the relationship between signal intensities of neighboring voxels. A potential advantage over techniques, such as diffusion tensor imaging, is that it can be used on clinically obtained magnetic resonance sequences. We determined whether texture parameters (TP) were abnormal in SVD, correlated with cognitive impairment, predicted cognitive decline, or conversion to dementia.

Methods—

In the prospective SCANS study (St George’s Cognition and Neuroimaging in Stroke), we assessed TP in 121 individuals with symptomatic SVD at baseline, 99 of whom attended annual cognitive testing for 5 years. Conversion to dementia was recorded for all subjects during the 5-year period. Texture analysis was performed on fluid-attenuated inversion recovery and T1-weighted images. The TP obtained from the SVD cohort were cross-sectionally compared with 54 age-matched controls scanned on the same magnetic resonance imaging system.

Results—

There were highly significant differences in several TP between SVD cases and controls. Within the SVD population, TP were highly correlated to other magnetic resonance imaging parameters (brain volume, white matter lesion volume, lacune count). TP correlated with executive function and global function at baseline and predicted conversion to dementia, after controlling for age, sex, premorbid intelligence quotient, and magnetic resonance parameters.

Conclusions—

TP, which can be obtained from routine clinical images, are abnormal in SVD, and the degree of abnormality correlates with executive dysfunction and global cognition at baseline and decline during 5 years. TP may be useful to assess disease severity in clinically collected data. This needs testing in data clinically acquired across multiple sites.
Baroreflex Impairment After Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Is Associated With Unfavorable Outcome
Authors: Nasr Nathalie , Gaio Rita , Czosnyka Marek , Budohoski Karol , Liu Xiuyun , Donnelly Joseph , Sykora Marek , Kirkpatrick Peter , Pavy-Le Traon Anne , Haubrich Christina , Larrue Vincent , Smielewski Peter
Published: June 2018

Background and Purpose—

Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is characterized by important changes in the autonomic nervous system with potentially adverse consequences. The baroreflex has a key role in regulating the autonomic nervous system. Its role in SAH outcome is not known. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between the baroreflex and the functional 3-month outcome in SAH.

Methods—

The study used a prospective database of 101 patients hospitalized for SAH. We excluded patients receiving β-blockers or noradrenaline. Baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) was measured using the cross-correlation method. A good outcome was defined by a Glasgow Outcome Scale score at 4 or 5 at 3 months.

Results—

Forty-eight patients were included. Median age was 58 years old (36–76 years); women/men: 34/14. The World Federation of Neurosurgery clinical severity score on admission was 1 or 2 for 73% of patients. In the univariate analysis, BRS (
P
=0.007), sedation (
P
=0.001), World Federation of Neurosurgery score (
P
=0.001), Glasgow score (
P
=0.002), Fisher score (
P
=0.022), and heart rate (
P
=0.037) were associated with outcome. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for the model with BRS as a single predictor was estimated at 0.835. For each unit increase in BRS, the odds for a good outcome were predicted to increase by 31%. Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for heart rate alone was 0.670. In the multivariate analysis, BRS (odds ratio, 1.312; 95% confidence interval, 1.048–1.818;
P
=0.018) and World Federation of Neurosurgery (odds ratio, 0.382; 95% confidence interval, 0.171–0.706;
P
=0.001) were significantly associated with outcome. Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was estimated at 0.900.

Conclusions—

In SAH, early BRS was associated with 3-month outcome. This conclusion requires confirmation on a larger number of patients in a multicentre study.
Risk of Ischemic and Hemorrhagic Strokes in Occult and Manifest Cancers
Authors: Andersen Klaus Kaae , Olsen Tom Skyhøj
Published: June 2018

Background and Purpose—

Manifest cancer is associated with increased risk of stroke. The risk of stroke in people with occult cancer in comparison to the risk in the background population without cancer has not been investigated. Smoking is a risk factor for both cancer and stroke, but the role of smoking for the risk of stroke in cancer has not been investigated.

Methods—

We identified all incident cases of cancer in Denmark 2003 to 2012 (n=264.376) from the Danish Cancer Registry. Each person with cancer was matched by age, sex, and income with 10 randomly selected persons without cancer at index date (n=2.571.260). Linking data to the Danish Stroke Registry, we studied risk of ischemic/hemorrhagic stroke the year before (occult cancer) and after cancer diagnosis was established in the Danish Stroke Registry (manifest cancer) and stratified into the 15 most common cancer types related (lung, colon, bladder, rectum, pancreas, kidney, stomach, and head and neck cancer) and unrelated (non-Hodgkin lymphoma, breast, prostate, melanoma, central nervous system, ovary and endometrial) to smoking.

Results—

Risk of ischemic/hemorrhagic stroke was increased for both occult (relative risk, 1.75/2.00) and manifest cancers (relative risk, 1.30/1.41). For occult cancer, risk of ischemic stroke was increased for all of the smoking-related cancers, but among cancers unrelated to smoking, only lymphoma, central nervous system, and endometrial cancer were associated with increased risk of stroke; breast, prostate, melanoma, and ovarian cancers were not. For occult cancer, risk of hemorrhagic stroke was generally increased for smoking-related cancers while not for cancers unrelated to smoking. For manifest cancer, risk of ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke was generally increased for cancers related to smoking while not for cancers unrelated to smoking.

Conclusions—

Cancer, occult and manifest, is associated with increased risks for stroke. The increased risk is linked mainly to cancers related to smoking.
Reconsidering the Industrial Revolution: England and Wales
Authors: Wrigley E. Anthony
Published: June 2018

In the mid-sixteenth century, England was a small country on the periphery of Europe with an economy less advanced than those of several of its continental neighbors. In 1851, the Great Exhibition both symbolized and displayed the technological and economic lead that Britain had then taken. A half-century later, however, there were only minor differences between the leading economies of Western Europe. To gain insight into both the long period during which Britain outpaced its neighbors and the decades when its lead evaporated, it is illuminating to focus on the energy supply. Energy is expended in all productive activities. The contrast between the limitations inherent to organic economies dependent on the annual round of plant photosynthesis for energy and the possibilities open to an economy able to make effective use of the vast quantity of energy available in coal measures is key both to the understanding of the lengthy period of Britain’s relative success and to its subsequent swift decline.
The Origins of Economic Growth and Regional Income Inequality in Latin Europe, 1870–1950
Authors: Díez-Minguela Alfonso , Martinez-Galarraga Julio , Sanchis-Llopis M. Teresa , Tirado-Fabregat Daniel A.
Published: June 2018

Regional income inequality in Latin Europe (France, Italy, Spain, and Portugal) showed a distinctive pattern between 1870 and 1950. Data about population on a decadal basis and Gross Domestic Product (gdp) for 171 regions (84 French départements, 22 Italian regioni, 18 Portuguese distritos, and 49 Spanish provincias) shows that regional inequality increased from 1870 to 1910 but gradually flattened out thereafter until 1950. Current regional disparities in per-capita income throughout Latin Europe are essentially the result of a long-term evolution that traces back to the origins of modern economic growth. Moreover, this study shows the emergence of the core–periphery pattern that characterizes much of Latin Europe today.
Introduction: A New Look at the Origins of Economic Growth and Regional Inequality
Authors: Martí-Henneberg Jordi , Tirado-Fabregat Daniel A.
Published: June 2018

The contributions to this special issue share important themes and methodologies in their quest to explicate economic development and its effects. Nonetheless, each area under examination has its own peculiarities and warrants its own scope of analysis. The result is a special issue that pursues an innovative line of research, exploring parallels and contrasts in economic growth and inequality based on new data at the regional, rather than simply the national, level.
Editorial: New Trends in Connectomics
Authors: Sporns Olaf , Bassett Danielle S.
Published: June 2018

Connectomics is an integral part of network neuroscience. The field has undergone rapid expansion over recent years and increasingly involves a blend of experimental and computational approaches to brain connectivity. This Focus Feature on “New Trends in Connectomics” aims to track the progress of the field and its many applications across different neurobiological systems and species.
The Myth of Colonial ‘Protection’ of Indigenous Peoples: The Case of the Chittagong Hill Tracts under British Rule
Authors: Shahabuddin Mohammad
Published: June 2018

Through a critical examination of British colonial policies in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) in Bangladesh, this article challenges the conventional wisdom that colonial administration had a benevolent strategy of ‘protecting’ indigenous peoples. To this end, this article specifically dispels three examples of such protectionist rhetoric advanced in the CHT by the British colonial administration: protection of hill peoples from external invasions, from the exploitation of dominant Bangalee groups, and from their own oppressive chiefs. I conclude that these protectionist policies were in fact motivated by self-interest and, therefore, often proved to be counterproductive for hill peoples by further empowering dominant Bangalees and tribal chiefs. Therefore, in engaging with the question of ‘protection’ of ordinary hill peoples in the CHT from ongoing oppression and marginalisation, we must consider new paradigms, beyond the colonial isolationist and seclusionist model of protection.
The Capture of the Polish Constitutional Tribunal and Beyond: Of Institution(s), Fidelities and the Rule of Law in Flux
Authors: Koncewicz Tomasz Tadeusz
Published: May 2018

History might have stopped for the Polish Constitutional Court in 2015–2016. After thirty years of building an impressive resume as one of the most influential and successful European constitutional courts and living proof of ‘the rule of law in action’, the Court has fallen under the relentless attack of a right-wing populist government and succumbed to it. This paper moves beyond the hitherto dominant perspective of ‘here and now’ and lawyers’ fixation on ‘the boat’, and instead focuses more on the journey and important lessons the journey might teach us and enhance the understanding of ‘our boat’. The Polish case (‘the boat’) is much more than just an isolated example of yet another government going rogue. An important European dimension colors what has transpired in Poland over the last twenty months. To understand what has happened in Poland and why, one has to take a longer view and revisit not only its 2004 accession, but also its 1989 constitutional moment. The constitutional debacle in Poland must be but a starting point for a more general analysis of the processes of the politics of resentment and constitutional capture that strike at core European principles of the rule of law, separation of powers and judicial independence.
The Glass Making Crucibles from Ile-Ife, SW Nigeria
Authors: Babalola A.B. , Rehren Th. , Ige A. , McIntosh S.
Published: May 2018

Crucibles to melt glass are very rare in archaeological contexts in sub-Saharan Africa. Recent archaeological excavations at Igbo Olokun, Ile-Ife (Southwest Nigeria) revealed abundant fragments of glass crucibles from 11th-15th centuryADdeposits, matching the complete and near complete examples earlier reported from Ile-Ife. This paper provides an in-depth examination of these crucible fragments in order to understand the material quality of the crucibles, their typology, and their functions in glass- working/making. Optical microscopic and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS) analyses were carried out on ten crucible samples. The composition of ceramic fabrics and the adhering glass are presented and discussed in view of their function. The crucibles were produced from specifically selected highly refractory clay and used for melting glass from its raw materials; colorants were added to the melt in the crucible. The useable capacity of the crucibles varied from 1 to 7 liters, equivalent to about 2.5 to 17.5 kg of finished glass for each crucible. Compositional analysis of a sample of the thousands of glass beads from the excavations indicates that the crucibles were used to melt the glass used in the beads. Archaeological evidence of glass bead making at this scale has not previously been reported from West Africa. The crucibles are unique evidence of indigenous glass-working/making in Sub-Saharan Africa from early through mid-second millenniumAD.
Mapping library values and student learning outcomes
Authors: Larsen Dale , Wallace Shane , Pankl Lis
Published: June 2018

The teaching efforts at Marriott Library are distributed widely across a variety of groups and a range of subject matter. Teaching styles and pedagogical foci are varied and diverse among the librarians in the building. To increase collaboration and raise teaching standards, Graduate and Undergraduate Services (GUS) formulated Guidelines for teaching librarians by using the University of Utah’s Quality Course Framework (QCF) and Marriott Library’s own Four Core Student Library Learning Outcomes and mapping them to the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education. To facilitate communication and usability, the Guidelines contain an alignment matrix for librarians to follow through the teaching process. The matrix is also intended to open up new opportunities for conversation and collaboration between librarians and academic staff to better serve student needs.

The purpose of this report is to document and reflect upon the collaborative work done by teaching librarians at the University of Utah to create the Teaching Guidelines. The process of this work involved the synthesis and alignment of several models of pedagogical structure as well as the overarching interests and goals of a variety of stakeholders and participants in the teaching environment at the University. The product of these efforts includes clear Teaching Guidelines, alignment with the ACRL Framework for Information Literacy, and an alignment matrix designed to provide a clear map of the teaching philosophies and strategies employed at the library.

This report presents the process of creating and implementing the Guidelines and outlines the background of the process, including those institutional, situational, and environmental circumstances which shaped the general course of its development. The report includes an analysis of the pedagogical characteristics of the Guidelines. The report also presents an example of the Guidelines as used in action when developing the library-related content for an undergraduate-level community learning course known as ‘Learning, Engagement, Achievement and Progress’ (LEAP).
Chilean Wildfires: Probabilistic Prediction, Emergency Response, and Public Communication
Authors: Dacre H. F. , Crawford B. R. , Charlton-Perez A. J. , Lopez-Saldana G. , Griffiths G. H. , Veloso J. Vicencio
Published: June 2018

The 2016/17 wildfire season in Chile was the worst on record, burning more than 600,000 ha. While wildfires are an important natural process in some areas of Chile, supporting its diverse ecosystems, wildfires are also one of the biggest threats to Chile’s unique biodiversity and its timber and wine industries. They also pose a danger to human life and property because of the sharp wildland–urban interface that exists in many Chilean towns and cities. Wildfires are, however, difficult to predict because of the combination of physical (meteorology, vegetation, and fuel condition) and human (population density and awareness level) factors. Most Chilean wildfires are started because of accidental ignition by humans. This accidental ignition could be minimized if an effective wildfire warning system alerted the population to the heightened danger of wildfires in certain locations and meteorological conditions. Here, we demonstrate the design of a novel probabilistic wildfire prediction system. The system uses ensemble forecast meteorological data together with a long time series of fire products derived from Earth observation to predict not only fire occurrence but also how intense wildfires could be. The system provides wildfire risk estimation and associated uncertainty for up to six days in advance and communicates it to a variety of end users. The advantage of this probabilistic wildfire warning system over deterministic systems is that it allows users to assess the confidence of a forecast and thus make more informed decisions regarding resource allocation and forest management. The approach used in this study could easily be adapted to communicate other probabilistic forecasts of natural hazards.
Using a Variability Factor to Account for Cloud Microphysical Inhomogeneity in Mesoscale Models
Authors: Kogan Yefim
Published: May 2018

Different formulations of the joint probability distribution function (JPDF) based on large-eddy simulation (LES) studies of shallow cumulus and cumulus congestus clouds were evaluated. It was shown that inhomogeneity in both cloud types can be quantified by their respective JPDFs calculated using datasets from the entire simulation time period (“generic” JPDFs). The generic JPDF can be a priori integrated and yield a one-dimensional variability factor (V factor) specific for each cloud type. A quite accurate approximation of V factors by an analytical function in the form of a third-order polynomial was obtained and can be easily implemented in mesoscale models. The effect on precipitation of conversion rates modified by V factors was also evaluated in LES sensitivity studies of shallow cumulus (Cu) and congestus Cu clouds. The surface precipitation increased significantly when V factors were taken into account. The sensitivity experiments revealed that most of the increase resulted from the modified autoconversion process. The effect of accretion rates modified by V factors was much less significant, primarily because of the nearly linear dependence of accretion on its parameters. This fact shows the importance of the most accurate formulation of the autoconversion process.
Clinically inappropriate post hoc exclusion of study participants from test accuracy calculations: the ROMA score, an example from a recent NICE diagnostic assessment
Authors: Lang Shona , Armstrong Nigel , Deshpande Sohan , Ramaekers Bram , Grimm Sabine , de Kock Shelley , Kleijnen Jos , Westwood Marie
Published: May 2018

Objective

To explore how the definition of the target condition and post hoc exclusion of participants can limit the usefulness of diagnostic accuracy studies.

Methods

We used data from a systematic review, conducted for a NICE diagnostic assessment of risk scores to inform secondary care decisions about specialist referral for women with suspected ovarian cancer, to explore how the definition of the target condition and post hoc exclusion of participants can limit the usefulness of diagnostic accuracy studies to inform clinical practice.

Results

Fourteen of the studies evaluated the ROMA score, nine used Abbott ARCHITECT tumour marker assays, five used Roche Elecsys. The summary sensitivity estimate (Abbott ARCHITECT) was highest, 95.1% (95% CI: 92.4 to 97.1%), where analyses excluded participants with borderline tumours or malignancies other than epithelial ovarian cancer and lowest, 75.0% (95% CI: 60.4 to 86.4%), where all participants were included. Results were similar for Roche Elecsys tumour marker assays. Although the number of patients involved was small, data from studies that reported diagnostic accuracy for both the whole study population and with post hoc exclusion of those with borderline or non-epithelial malignancies suggested that patients with borderline or malignancies other than epithelial ovarian cancer accounts for between 50 and 85% of false-negative ROMA scores.

Conclusions

Our results illustrate the potential consequences of inappropriate population selection in diagnostic studies; women with non-epithelial ovarian cancers or non-ovarian primaries, and those borderline tumours may be disproportionately represented among those with false negative, ‘low risk’ ROMA scores. These observations highlight the importance of giving careful consideration to how the target condition has been defined when assessing whether the diagnostic accuracy estimates reported in clinical studies will translate into clinical utility in real-world settings.
Time and Business Sustainability: Socially Responsible Investing in Swiss Banks and Insurance Companies
Authors: Risi David
Published: May 2018

Business sustainability aims to combine market logic with social welfare logic. In literature, it is commonly assumed that sustainability and the social welfare logic associated with it are characterized by a long-term orientation. However, this assumption is problematic because this principle may not apply in certain contexts. This qualitative study challenges this assumption and focuses on the mechanisms by which time affects the adoption of sustainability practices in the context of socially responsible investing (SRI) practices in Swiss banks and insurance companies. The article provides insights into the mechanisms associated with different time horizons and investigates their effects on the adoption of SRI in financial intermediaries. It also shows how the dimension of time shapes interactions between the two institutional logics underlying SRI in business organizations through specific mechanisms.
East Asia International Relations and International Relations Theory: Where Does a Poor Fit Exist, and What to Do about It
Authors: Kim Min-hyung
Published: May 2018

This article seeks to critically assess the relevance of International Relations Theory (IRT) for East Asia International Relations (IR). After identifying the shortcomings of IRT in explaining East Asia IR, the article provides several ways to modify it with a goal to make it more suitable for East Asia IR. Its central claim is that the IRT’s bias toward European experiences and great power politics generates unsatisfactory accounts for and inaccurate predictions about East Asia IR. This does not mean, however, that we should treat IRT as completely irrelevant and develop an indigenous theory of East Asia IR. Given that no single theory is complete and perfectly relevant across time and space and that many core concepts and key variables of IRT are also pertinent for East Asia IR, our efforts should instead be made to refine the existing IRT and make it more suitable for East Asia IR by problematising its major assumptions and central claims on the basis of East Asian experiences. This will save IRT from being a region-specific and a country-specific theory of IR.
Role of Osteocyte-PDL Crosstalk in Tooth Movement via SOST/Sclerostin
Authors: Odagaki N. , Ishihara Y. , Wang Z. , Ei Hsu Hlaing E. , Nakamura M. , Hoshijima M. , Hayano S. , Kawanabe N. , Kamioka H.
Published: June 2018

Sclerostin (Scl) negatively regulates bone formation and favors bone resorption. Osteocytes, the cells responsible for mechanosensing, are known as the primary source of Scl and are a key regulator of bone remodeling through the induction of receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL). However, the spatiotemporal patterns of Scl in response to mechanical stimuli and their regulatory mechanisms remain unknown. We investigated the regulatory dynamics of the SOST/Scl expression generated by orthodontic tooth movement (OTM) in vivo and in vitro. In 8-wk-old male mice, coil springs were used to move the first molar mesially for 0, 1, 5, or 10 d. A regional histogram and the distribution patterns of the Scl expression showed that the Scl expression in the alveolar bone was increased on the compression side and peaked on day 5, with a gradual increase in the degree of significance. On day 10, the expression around the periodontal ligament (PDL)–alveolar bone boundary returned to the control level. Conversely, the expression of Scl on the tension side was only significantly decreased on day 1. Compressive force biphasically modulated the SOST/Scl expression in the isolated human PDL and thereby upregulated osteocytic SOST via paracrine activation in an osteocyte-PDL co-culture system designed to mimic OTM. This system did not affect the RANKL or OPG expression in osteocytes, suggesting that the bone resorption pathways are acted upon in a PDL-dependent and osteocyte-independent manner through RANKL/OPG signaling. Moreover, sclerostin neutralizing antibody significantly attenuated the upregulation of SOST that was induced by compressive force. In conclusion, our results provide evidence to support that factors secreted by the PDL, including SOST/Scl, control alveolar bone remodeling through osteocytic SOST/Scl in OTM.
Quality of Life in Children and Adolescents With Learning Problems: Development and Validation of the LD/QOL15 Scale
Authors: Waber Deborah P. , Boiselle Ellen C. , Forbes Peter W. , Girard Jonathan M. , Sideridis Georgios D.
Published: June 2018

Learning problems (LP) can have wider implications than the academic deficits per se. The goal of the present series of studies was to develop a reliable and valid quality-of-life measure targeted to children and adolescents with LP. In Study 1, using a 35-item questionnaire, we surveyed 151 parents/guardians of children referred for assessment of learning disorders. Exploratory factor analysis identified a three-factor model: Academic Performance, School Understanding, and Child/Family Psychological. These factors were validated against standardized measures of academic achievement and psychosocial functioning. The questionnaire was then reduced to 15 items—the LD/QOL15 —and administered to a community sample of 325 parents/guardians of children in Grades 1 to 8 (Study 2). The three-factor model was verified with confirmatory factor analysis. Comparison of general education ( n = 232) and LP ( n = 93) groups within the community sample documented substantial group differences ( p < .0001), with the LP group having higher mean scores. These differences were larger for older students (Grades 5–8) than younger students (Grades 1–4; p < .01). The LD/QOL15 is a brief and reliable measure that is valid to assess quality of life and, potentially, outcomes in children and adolescents with LP.
Dexterity and Finger Sense: A Possible Dissociation in Children With Cerebral Palsy
Authors: Guedin Nolwenn , Fluss Joel , Thevenot Catherine
Published: June 2018

Both hand and finger sensory perception and motor abilities are essential for the development of skilled gestures and efficient bimanual coordination. While finger dexterity and finger sensory perception can be impaired in children with cerebral palsy (CP), the relationship between these two functions in this population is not clearly established. The common assumption that CP children with better sensory function also demonstrate better motor outcomes has been recently challenged. To study these questions further, we assessed both finger dexterity and finger gnosia, the ability to perceive one’s own fingers by touch, in groups of 11 children with unilateral (i.e., hemiplegic CP) and 11 children with bilateral spastic CP (i.e., diplegic CP) and compared them with typical children. In our sample, children with hemiplegia exhibited finger dexterity deficit in both hands and finger gnosia deficit only in their paretic hand. In contrast, children with diplegia exhibited finger gnosia deficits in both hands and finger dexterity deficit only in their dominant hand. Thus, our results indicated that children with spastic hemiplegia and diplegia present different sensory and motor profiles and suggest that these two subgroups of CP should be considered separately in future experimental and clinical research. We discuss the implications of our results for rehabilitation.
Effects of Creative Thinking and Its Personality Determinants on Negative Emotion Regulation
Authors: Chiu Fa-Chung , Hsu Chih-Chun , Lin Yao-Nan , Liu Cheng-Hong , Chen Hsueh-Chih , Lin Chi-Hsiang
Published: June 2018

This study investigated the relationship between creativity and negative emotion, and the effects of integrating creative insight into the reappraisal process on negative emotions. In Study 1, participants’ creativity and baseline anxiety levels were measured; then anxiety was induced, and anxiety levels were reassessed. In Study 2, participants wrote about past negative events and then completed the positive and negative affect schedule. They were split into three groups (insight reappraisal, simple reappraisal, or control groups); each of them received a separate intervention, and then they completed positive and negative affect schedule again. In Study 3, participants were randomly assigned to insight reappraisal or control groups; apart from measuring cognitive changes, the procedures were identical to Study 2. All participants were undergraduate students. Results showed that flexibility, originality, risk-taking, and complexity are negatively correlated with anxiety, and that insight reappraisal can induce insight experience and enhance cognitive changes, and reduce negative emotional responses. Therefore, integrating creative insight into the reappraisal process can enhance its effectiveness in reducing negative emotions.