bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Outcomes According to Cardiac Catheterization Referral and Clopidogrel Use Among Medicare Patients With Non–ST‐Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction Discharged Without In‐hospital Revascularization
Authors: Hess Connie N. , Hellkamp Anne S. , Roe Matthew T. , Thomas Laine , Scirica Benjamin M. , Peng S. Andrew , Peterson Eric D. , Wang Tracy Y.
Published: March 2016

Background

While use of P2Y12 receptor inhibitor is recommended by guidelines, few studies have examined its effectiveness among older non–
ST
‐segment elevation myocardial infarction patients who did not undergo coronary revascularization.

Methods and Results

We included unrevascularized non–
ST
‐segment elevation myocardial infarction patients ≥65 years discharged home from 463
ACTION
Registry‐
GWTG
hospitals from 2007 to 2010. Rates of discharge clopidogrel use were described for patients with no angiography, angiography without obstructive coronary artery disease (
CAD
; ≥50% stenosis in ≥1 vessel), and angiography with obstructive
CAD
. Two‐year outcomes were ascertained from linked Medicare data and included composite major adverse cardiac events (defined as all‐cause death, myocardial infarction readmission, or revascularization), and individual components. Outcomes associated with clopidogrel use were adjusted using inverse probability‐weighted propensity modeling. Of 14 154 unrevascularized patients, 54.7% (n=7745) did not undergo angiography, 10.6% (n=1494) had angiography without
CAD
, and 34.7% (n=4915) had angiography with
CAD
. Discharge clopidogrel was prescribed for 42.2% of all unrevascularized patients: 37.8% without angiography, 34.1% without obstructive
CAD
at angiography, and 51.6% with obstructive
CAD
at angiography. Discharge clopidogrel use was not associated with major adverse cardiac events in any group: without angiography (adjusted hazard ratio [95%
CI
]: 0.99 [0.93–1.06]), angiography without
CAD
(1.04 [0.74–1.47]), and angiography with
CAD
(1.12 [1.00–1.25],
P
interaction
=0.20).

Conclusions

We found no association between discharge clopidogrel use and long‐term risk of major adverse cardiac events among older, unrevascularized non–
ST
‐segment elevation myocardial infarction patients. Clopidogrel use in this population requires further prospective evaluation.
The identity of Nyssa yunnanensis (Cornaceae)
Authors: TAN YUN-HONG , DENG YUN FEI
Published: March 2016

Nyssa yunnanensis was previously recognized as an endemic and critically endangered Chinese species. It is similar to N. javanica, but differs in bearing thicker leathery leaves, branchlets, pedicels, and leaves abaxially persistently pilose. Examination of the herbarium specimens reveals that N. yunnanensis is well identical with N. bifida, which was previously reduced to the synonymy of N. javanica. Nyssa bifida is herein re-instated since it has priority over N. yunnanensis. The name N. bifida is lectotypified.
Nomenclatural notes on Phlegmariurus dentatus (Lycopodiaceae)
Authors: ARANA MARCELO D.
Published: March 2016

The Lycopodiaceae comprise 16 monophyletic genera grouped into three subfamilies (Arana & Øllgaard 2012, Øllgaard 2012, 2014). One of the recently resurrected genera is Phlegmariurus Holub (1964: 21) with ca. 400 species formerly treated under Huperzia Bernhardi (1801: 126) in the Neotropics and Palaeotropics, leaving Huperzia s.s. with 15–25 species restricted to the Holarctic and austral Andean regions (Arana & Øllgaard 2012).
Annotated checklist of Georgian oribatid mites
Authors: MURVANIDZE MAKA , MUMLADZE LEVAN
Published: March 2016

A new updated checklist of Georgian oribatid mites is based on the critical review of existing literature data and new findings. The list includes 534 oribatid species of which 21 species are new for the country recorded from more than 390 locations. For each species information of the global and regional distribution is presented with notes on ecological characteristics. As far as necessary we provide remarks on taxonomic issues to overcome the ambiguities and inconsistencies existing in literature.
Taxonomic review of tropical western Atlantic shallow water Drilliidae (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Conoidea) including descriptions of 100 new species
Authors: FALLON PHILLIP J. Jr.
Published: March 2016

A review of the literature and examination of over 3,200 specimens of shallow water (<200 m) tropical western Atlantic (TWA) Drilliidae Olson, 1964 in museum and private collections has resulted in the recognition of numerous previously undescribed species, 100 of which are proposed here for the first time. A total of 65 names were found in the literature. Of these, 48 are considered valid, 16 synonyms, and one nomen dubium. In addition, characteristics that distinguish each genus currently in use for TWA shallow water species have indicated the need for reassignment (new combinations within Drilliidae) of 15 species. Some nomenclatural actions have come about from the literature review and include one taxon placed in junior synonymy (under an older name recently re-discovered) and one new name for a junior homonym. Two neotypes, five lectotype designations, and one new name are also proposed. Altogether, nomenclatural actions on 17% of valid previously described taxa are proposed. The 100 proposed names are placed in 12 available and one new genus: Agladrillia Woodring, 1928 (2), Bellaspira Conrad, 1868 (7), Calliclava McLean, 1971 (3), Cerodrillia Bartsch & Rehder, 1939 (11), Clathrodrillia Dall, 1918 (6), Decoradrillia, new genus (4), Douglassia Bartsch, 1934 (4), Fenimorea Bartsch, 1934 (15), Leptadrillia Woodring, 1928 (12), Lissodrillia Bartsch & Rehder, 1939 (8), Neodrillia Bartsch, 1943 (2), Splendrillia Hedley, 1922 (13), and Syntomodrillia Woodring, 1928 (13). These are the first reports of Calliclava in the western Atlantic, previously known only from the eastern Pacific. The new genus, Decoradrillia, is proposed to hold four new species and one existing that share a unique shell microsculpture and other morphological traits. One genus, Drillia Gray, 1838, is not currently believed to have TWA representatives. Three genera comprised exclusively of bathyal species are not treated in this work: Clavus Monfort, 1810 (=Eldridgea Bartsch, 1934), Globidrillia Woodring, 1928, and Spirotropis Sars, 1878. The significant increase in species within all of the genera has the effect of strengthening the groups’ diagnostic characters by their presence across a greater number of species. Each of the 148 valid species treated herein are described (or redescribed) and photographs of types presented, as are photographs of morphological variants and representatives from separate geographic areas, if available, to illustrate species’ variability.
A new species in the indigenous New Zealand soft scale insect genus Kalasiris Henderson & Hodgson (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Coccomorpha: Coccidae) on Gahnia setifolia (Cyperaceae)
Authors: HODGSON CHRIS J. , GUNAWARDANA D. N. , RICHMOND J. E.
Published: March 2016

The genus Kalasiris Henderson & Hodgson (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Coccomorpha: Coccidae) is currently only known from New Zealand. The adult female and pupa of a new species, K. martini Hodgson & Richmond are described and illustrated below and the possible taxonomic relationships of the genus to other New Zealand genera are discussed.
Suggestion of Raspailia (Hymeraphiopsis) septentrionalis as replacement name for Raspailia (Hymeraphiopsis) fruticosa Lehnert & Stone, 2015
Authors: LEHNERT HELMUT , STONE ROBERT P.
Published: March 2016

Shortly after publication of Raspailia (Hymeraphiopsis) fruticosa Lehnert & Stone, 2015 Rob Van Soest (pers. communication) noticed that this species name is a junior primary homonym of Raspailia fruticosa Dendy, 1887, now accepted as Endectyon fruticosa. According to the ICZN the published species name is unavailable and we now suggest to replace the name with Raspailia (Hymeraphiopsis) septentrionalis (holotype deposited at the Zoologische Staatssammlung München, ZSM 20150392, collection data published in Lehnert & Stone 2015).
The Political Economy of the Euro Crisis
Authors: Copelovitch Mark , Frieden Jeffry , Walter Stefanie
Published: March 2016

This article introduces the special issue on the political economy of the Euro crisis, which aims to improve our understanding of the causes, consequences, and implications of the highly unusual nature of this crisis: a financial crisis among developed countries within a supranational monetary union. The article provides a brief chronology of the crisis, discusses its underlying causes, and reviews the ways in which comparative and international political economy can help us understand the crisis. The article then discusses the individual and collective contributions of the articles in the special issue and discusses possible future research paths on the political economy of the Euro crisis. We conclude with a brief discussion of how a political economy perspective informs our understanding of the long-term prospects for the Eurozone and European integration.
Theoretical models of public administration and patterns of state reform in Greece
Authors: Lampropoulou Manto , Oikonomou Giorgio
Published: March 2016

Departing from the post-war Weberian-oriented bureaucratic model, the Greek administrative system has been subjected to several reform programmes with a view to its modernization. This article aims to explore the main shifts in the course of administrative change and relate this process with the broader theoretical developments in the field of public administration. It is argued that the Greek administration has been unable to follow and take advantage of a vigorously expanded constellation of ideal-types and hybrid models of state (re)organization. Transformations have diachronically produced weak results and failed to build a consistent conceptual and operational administrative paradigm. Even under the current economic contraction and the external conditionality pressure, there is no strong evidence of a paradigm shift in the administrative pattern but rather fragmented changes of limited ambit.

Points for practitioners

Despite the fact that the Greek public administration has undergone a series of transformations, interestingly almost none of these reform efforts seem to have incorporated a particular administrative pattern. This article summarizes old and more recent theoretical developments on models of administrative reorganization, with a view to broadening practitioners’ choices in the process of state reform.
Networked international politics
Authors: Dorussen Han , Gartzke Erik A , Westerwinter Oliver
Published: March 2016

Network theory and methods are becoming increasingly used to study the causes and consequences of conflict. Network analysis allows researchers to develop a better understanding of the causal dynamics and structural geometry of the complex web of interdependencies at work in the onset, incidence, and diffusion of conflict and peace. This issue features new theoretical and empirical research demonstrating how properly accounting for networked interdependencies has profound implications for our understanding of the processes thought to be responsible for the conflict behavior of state and non-state actors. The contributors examine the variation in networks of states and transnational actors to explain outcomes related to international conflict and peace. They highlight how networked interdependencies affect conflict and cooperation in a broad range of areas at the center of international relations scholarship. It is helpful to distinguish between three uses of networks, namely: (1) as theoretical tools, (2) as measurement tools, and (3) as inferential tools. The introduction discusses each of these uses and shows how the contributions rely on one or several of them. Next, Monte Carlo simulations are used to illustrate one of the strengths of network analysis, namely that it helps researchers avoid biased inferences when the data generating process underlying the observed data contains extradyadic interdependencies.
Descriptive Representation and Regime Support in Latin America
Authors: Madrid Raúl L , Rhodes-Purdy Matthew
Published: March 2016

Does descriptive representation matter? We analyze the impact of descriptive representation on regime support among women and the self-identified indigenous population in Latin America. We find that having a female president does not have a consistent impact on regime support among Latin American women, but that the election of an indigenous president has significantly boosted regime support among indigenous people in Bolivia. We suggest that ethnic representation has had a greater impact than gender representation on regime support in the region for a couple of reasons. First, in Latin America, ethnicity is much more highly correlated than gender with other variables that are known to shape political attitudes, such as class, education, region, and area of residence. Second, ethnicity has been a more salient factor in elections and governing than has gender in those countries that have elected indigenous or female presidents.
Extent and Predictors of Decision Regret about Health Care Decisions
Authors: Becerra Pérez Maria Margarita , Menear Matthew , Brehaut Jamie C. , Légaré France
Published: March 2016

Background. People often face difficult decisions about their health and may later regret the choice that they made. However, little is known about the extent of decision regret in health care or its predictors. We systematically reviewed evidence about the extent of decision regret and its risk factors among individuals making health decisions. Methods. The data sources were Medline, Embase, and reverse citation searches in Google Scholar and Web of Science. Studies using the Decision Regret Scale (DRS) to measure decision regret among individuals making nonhypothetical health decisions were included. There were no restrictions on study design, setting, or language. We extracted characteristics of included studies, measures of central tendency for DRS scores (0 = no regret, 100 = high regret), and all risk factors from published analyses. Quality appraisal was conducted using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. A narrative synthesis was performed owing to the heterogeneity of studies. Results. The initial search yielded 372 unique titles, and 59 studies were included. The overall mean DRS score across studies was 16.5, and the median of the mean scores was 14.3 (standard deviation range = 2.2–34.5) ( n = 44 studies). The risk factors most frequently reported to be associated with decision regret in multivariate analyses included higher decisional conflict, lower satisfaction with the decision, adverse physical health outcomes, and greater anxiety levels. Conclusions. The extent of decision regret as assessed with the DRS in nonhypothetical health decisions was often low but reached high levels for some decisions. Several risk factors related to the decision-making process significantly predicted decision regret. Additional research into the psychometrics of the DRS and the relevance of scores for clinicians and patients would increase the validity of decision regret as a patient-reported outcome.
Building a Middle-Range Theory of Adaptive Spirituality
Authors: Dobratz Marjorie C.
Published: March 2016

The purpose of this article is to describe a Roy adaptation model based- research abstraction, the findings of which were synthesized into a middle-range theory (MRT) of adaptive spirituality. The published literature yielded 21 empirical studies that investigated religion/spirituality. Quantitative results supported the influence of spirituality on quality of life, psychosocial adjustment, well-being, adaptive coping, and the self-concept mode. Qualitative findings showed the importance of spiritual expressions, values, and beliefs in adapting to chronic illness, bereavement, death, and other life transitions. These findings were abstracted into six theoretical statements, a conceptual definition of adaptive spirituality, and three hypotheses for future testing.
Community-Centered Service Learning
Authors: Yancey Nan Russell
Published: March 2016

Although service learning has been proposed as a teaching-learning modality in response to an ongoing challenge to transform nursing education, there is a risk to community and student when service learning is poorly conceived. A community-centered service learning approach founded on a nursing theoretical perspective and community model is explored as a way to honor the wisdom and perspective of the community in changing while illuminating a new way of being a nurse in community for the nursing student.
Intersexuality and the ‘Right to Bodily Integrity’
Authors: Ammaturo Francesca Romana
Published: March 2016

In 2013, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe passed a resolution on ‘children’s right to bodily integrity’. In the resolution, concerns were expressed for about practices carried out on children without their formal consent. Among these practices, female genital cutting (FGC), non-medical circumcision and ‘normalizing’ surgeries for intersex children were listed among these practices. As a result of the adoption of the resolution elicited, strong reactions, ensued especially from Jewish and Muslim communities, which widely practices male circumcision. Simultaneously, however, intersex activists welcomed the resolution, as it gave legitimacy to their long-standing call to establish a common framework for the evaluation of all invasive medical and surgical practices on children carried out without their informed consent ( Preves, 2005 ). This article uses an examination of the resolution to reflect on both the emerging concept of the ‘right to bodily integrity’ and on current developments in the field of intersex human rights in Europe. Firstly, the article considers the political process leading to the adoption of the resolution, in order to understand and appraise the limitations of the choice to use the framework of the right to bodily integrity to jointly address jointly issues of FGC, circumcision and intersex ‘normalizing surgeries’ jointly, without fully engaging with the cultural, religious and social factors underpinning each of these phenomena. Following this discussion, the article will further analyses the specific case of intersex rights, particularly in relation to the difficult balance between a medical and the juridical approach to intersexuality. This reflection will ultimately be useful to assess the role of the resolution in helping to subtract intersexuality from the sole gaze of medical practitioners at the advantage of a human rights approach which may best protect the interests of intersex children and adults.
Family Caregivers’ Pain Management in End-of-Life Care: A Systematic Review
Authors: Chi Nai-Ching , Demiris George
Published: March 2016

Context:

Pain management was the most identified burden faced by family caregivers in end-of-life caregiving.

Objectives:

To synthesize current scientific evidence on family caregivers’ experience of pain management in end-of-life care.

Methods:

A systematic review was conducted using CINAHL, Embase, PubMed, and Cochrane Library electronic databases. Data were extracted from each included paper and organized into tables to synthesize the findings.

Results:

Fourteen research papers focusing on family caregivers’ experience of pain management and strategies in end-of-life care were included. Nine were observational studies, 3 were case studies, and 2 were experimental studies. These studies mainly focused on exploring family caregivers’ engagement in pain management and communication with the hospice care team about pain control; family caregivers’ knowledge, skills, and self-efficacy in pain management; and family caregivers’ concerns and experience of pain management.

Conclusion:

This review identified themes similar to previous reviews on family caregivers of patients with cancer or in palliative care: inadequate knowledge and assessment skills in pain management, misunderstanding of pain medications, and poor communication with the care team. Future research should design educational programs and material for family caregivers to improve their pain management knowledge and skills, communication, and engagement in care. The scientific knowledge on this topic is scarce, and level of evidence is low; it is therefore imperative to have more exploratory studies to expand the quality and quantity of evidence and increase our understanding of family caregivers’ needs and barriers to pain management based on larger and more diverse patient and caregiver samples.
Prominent Feelings and Self-Regard Among Survivors of Suicide
Authors: Rabalais Alexis M. , Wilks Scott E. , Geiger Jennifer R. , Bates Samantha M.
Published: March 2016

This cross-sectional study explores associations between elapsed time since the loss and outcomes of main feelings surrounding the loss and self-regard among 187 help-seeking survivors bereaved by suicide. Chi-square tests were conducted to examine the aforementioned relationships. In examining suicide survivors' main feelings over time, this study found mixed results in early bereavement. This study showed that at 25 to 59 months of elapsed time since the loss, both fear and happiness were significant for suicide survivors. No significance was found before 25 to 59 months, suggesting a change in suicide survivors' main emotions following 2 years of elapsed time since the loss. In later bereavement (i.e., 5 + years), suicide survivors' experiences of happiness was significant. The aforementioned results suggest that following 2 years of elapsed time since the loss, this sample of survivors bereaved by suicide experienced a change in their grief experience.
Does Model Matter? Examining Change Across Time for Youth in Group Homes
Authors: Farmer Elizabeth M. Z. , Seifert Heather , Wagner H. Ryan , Burns Barbara J. , Murray Maureen
Published: March 2016

Group homes are a frequently used but controversial treatment setting for youth with mental health problems. Within the relatively sparse literature on group homes, there is some evidence that some models of treatment may be associated with more positive outcomes for youth. This article explores this possibility by examining differences across time for youth served in group homes utilizing the Teaching Family Model (TFM) and geographically proximate homes using more eclectic approaches. Data come from a longitudinal quasi-experimental study that included 554 youth. Results suggest that youth showed, on average, significant and rapid improvement during initial months in a group home. Improvement did not differ for TFM and non-TFM homes during this initial period. Post-discharge results, though, show that TFM was associated with continued improvement after discharge and significantly better outcomes by 8 months post-discharge. Results also discuss youth-level factors that may influence outcomes as well as need for additional work to more fully understand processes and practices that are key for maximizing and maintaining youths’ positive outcomes during and after group home placements.
Enhancing the Personalization of Psychotherapy With Dynamic Assessment and Modeling
Authors: Fisher Aaron J. , Boswell James F.
Published: March 2016

Clinicians have long recognized the importance of tailoring psychotherapy interventions to the needs and characteristics of the individual patient. However, traditional approaches to clinical assessment, service delivery, and intervention research have not been conducive to such personalization. Contrary to traditional nomothetic approaches, idiographic assessment and modeling of intraindividual dynamic processes holds tremendous promise for tailoring the implementation of psychotherapy to the individual patient. In this article, we (a) present an argument for assessing person-specific dynamics, (b) provide a detailed description of a method that harnesses person-specific dynamic assessment and modeling for use in routine psychotherapy, (c) present exemplar clinical cases illustrating these methods, and (d) discuss how these methods can be translated into routine clinical assessment and psychotherapy.
Factors Associated With Accidental Injuries in Children With ADHD–Combined Type: More Than a Motor Problem?
Authors: Connolly Amanda , Fielding Joanne , Papadopoulos Nicole , McGinley Jennifer , Murphy Anna , Rinehart Nicole J.
Published: March 2016

Objective: We explored the relationship between accidental injuries, motor impairment, and co-occurring autism spectrum disorder (ASD) symptoms in children with ADHD–combined type (ADHD-CT). Method: Participants were 32 male children diagnosed with ADHD-CT and 23 typically developing male children (7-12 years, full scale IQ [FSIQ] > 80). Parents completed a customized questionnaire on the occurrence of accidental injuries (e.g., bruises, cuts) their child experienced in the past 12 months. Motor proficiency was assessed using the Movement ABC–2 (MABC-2). Parents rated motor, ADHD-CT, ASD, and anxiety symptoms. Results: Children with ADHD-CT had significantly increased parent-reported accidental injuries compared with typically developing children. Among children with ADHD-CT, Spearman’s rho rank correlations revealed no association between increased accidental injuries and MABC-2 score, but significant associations with increased hyperactivity/impulsivity, ASD, and anxiety symptoms. Conclusion: Although these findings require validation, they suggest a need for further research investigating the contribution of co-occurring ASD and anxiety symptoms to accidental injuries in children with ADHD-CT.
Intraoral Vacuum of Breast-Feeding Newborns Within the First 24 Hr
Authors: Zhang Feng , Xia Haiou , Li Xia , Qin Ling , Gu Hongmei , Xu Xujuan , Shen Meiyun
Published: March 2016

Objectives:

To explore whether newborns born via Cesarean section have a weaker intraoral vacuum compared with those born vaginally and to determine whether a weaker intraoral vacuum is related to a delayed onset of lactation.

Methods:

For this prospective cohort study, 71 mother–infant dyads were enrolled and divided into birthing groups, vaginal or Cesarean. The newborn intraoral vacuum was measured via a tube placed alongside the nipple and connected to a pressure sensor during a breast-feeding session within the first 24 hr after birth. Onset of lactation was confirmed by maternal perception of breast fullness. The intraoral vacuum and its relationship with the onset of lactation were analyzed. Results: After adjustment for confounding factors, the peak intraoral vacuum was −19.50 kPa in the vaginal group, which was significantly stronger than the −13.78 kPa in the Cesarean group ( p = .005). Additionally, the baseline intraoral vacuum in the vaginal group (−2.35 kPa) was significantly stronger than that in the Cesarean group (−1.18 kPa; p = .022). Strength of the newborn intraoral vacuum was associated with the time of onset of maternal lactation.

Conclusion:

Cesarean section may weaken newborns’ intraoral vacuum within the first 24 hr after birth. Stronger intraoral vacuum was related to earlier onset of lactation. Early intervention aimed at the weaker intraoral vacuum should be provided to promote the onset of lactation.
Attitudes of the autism community to early autism research
Authors: Fletcher-Watson Sue , Apicella Fabio , Auyeung Bonnie , Beranova Stepanka , Bonnet-Brilhault Frederique , Canal-Bedia Ricardo , Charman Tony , Chericoni Natasha , Conceição Inês C , Davies Kim , Farroni Teresa , Gomot Marie , Jones Emily , Kaale Anett , Kapica Katarzyna , Kawa Rafal , Kylliäinen Anneli , Larsen Kenneth , Lefort-Besnard Jeremy , Malvy Joelle , Manso de Dios Sara , Markovska-Simoska Silvana , Millo Inbal , Miranda Natercia , Pasco Greg , Pisula Ewa , Raleva Marija , Rogé Bernadette , Salomone Erica , Schjolberg Synnve , Tomalski Przemysław , Vicente Astrid M , Yirmiya Nurit
Published: March 2016

Investigation into the earliest signs of autism in infants has become a significant sub-field of autism research. This work invokes specific ethical concerns such as use of ‘at-risk’ language, communicating study findings to parents and the future perspective of enrolled infants when they reach adulthood. This study aimed to ground this research field in an understanding of the perspectives of members of the autism community. Following focus groups to identify topics, an online survey was distributed to autistic adults, parents of children with autism and practitioners in health and education settings across 11 European countries. Survey respondents (n = 2317) were positively disposed towards early autism research, and there was significant overlap in their priorities for the field and preferred language to describe infant research participants. However, there were also differences including overall less favourable endorsement of early autism research by autistic adults relative to other groups and a dislike of the phrase ‘at-risk’ to describe infant participants, in all groups except healthcare practitioners. The findings overall indicate that the autism community in Europe is supportive of early autism research. Researchers should endeavour to maintain this by continuing to take community perspectives into account.
Recent language experience influences cross-language activation in bilinguals with different scripts
Authors: Li Chuchu , Wang Min , Lin Candise Y
Published: March 2016

Purpose:

This study aimed to examine whether the phonological information in the non-target language is activated and its influence on bilingual processing.

Approach:

Using the Stroop paradigm, Mandarin-English bilinguals named the ink color of Chinese characters in English in Experiment 1 and named the Chinese characters in addition to the color naming in English in Experiment 2. Twenty-four participants were recruited in each experiment. In both experiments, the visual stimuli included color characters (e.g. 红, hong2, red), homophones of the color characters (e.g. 洪, hong2, flood), characters that only shared the same syllable segment with the color characters (S+T-, e.g. 轰, hong1, boom), characters that shared the same tone but differed in segments with the color characters (S-T+, e.g. 瓶, ping2, bottle), and neutral characters (e.g. 牵, qian1, leading through).

Data and analysis:

Planned t-tests were conducted in which participants’ naming accuracy rate and naming latency in each phonological condition were compared with the neutral condition.

Findings:

Experiment 1 only showed the classic Stroop effect in the color character condition. In Experiment 2, in addition to the classic Stroop effect, the congruent homophone condition (e.g. 洪 in red) showed a significant Stroop interference effect. These results suggested that for bilingual speakers with different scripts, phonological information in the non-target language may not be automatically activated even though the written words in the non-target language were visually presented. However, if the phonological information of the non-target language is activated in advance, it could lead to competition between the two languages, likely at both the phonological and lemma levels.

Originality and significance:

This study is among the first to investigate whether the translation of a word is phonologically encoded in bilinguals using the Stroop paradigm. The findings improve our understanding of the underlying mechanism of bilingual processing.
Comparative experimental study of fire-resistance ratings of timber assemblies with different fire protection measures
Authors: Xu Qingfeng , Wang Yong , Chen Lingzhu , Gao Rundong , Li Xiangmin
Published: March 2016

This article presents the results of a comparative experimental study to investigate the effects of using three different fire protection measures to improve the fire endurance of timber assembly. The three fire protection measures were fire-retardant intumescent coating, gypsum plasterboard and filling the timber assembly void with mineral wool. The fire-resistance period obtained from the fire endurance tests was based on the integrity and the insulation criteria. Compared to the reference timber assembly without any fire protection (fire-resistance time = 37 min), the increases in fire resistance using the three different fire protection measures were 6 min (16%), 37 min (100%) and 142 min (384%) for using intumescent coating (specimen F2), 12-mm-thick gypsum plasterboard (specimen F4) and infill mineral wool (F3), respectively. The specific intumescent coating used in the test failed to expand. Therefore, this specimen (F2) behaved very similarly with the control specimen (F1) without any fire protection. Attaching an additional layer of gypsum plasterboard to the timber assembly on the fire-exposed side improved the fire-resistance rating by about 30 min, which is higher than that obtained from using the current design guidance such as Eurocode EN 1995-1-2. Among these three fire protection methods, filling the void between the top and bottom timber boards gave the best result because the mineral wool not only provided insulation but also stopped direct flame attack of the timber board on the unexposed side.
Experimental and numerical analysis of cable-stiffened single-layer spherical latticed shells
Authors: Li Pengcheng , Wu Minger , Wang Hao , Shi Mingzhe
Published: March 2016

As a new type of structure, cable-stiffened single-layer latticed shell generally has an increased load-carrying capacity. In the past, greater emphasis was placed on analysing their stability behaviours using finite element method or approximate formulae. This work conducted experimental investigation into the stability behaviour of cable-stiffened single-layer latticed shells. Three experimental models, including one ordinary single-layer spherical latticed shell and two different types of cable-stiffened single-layer spherical latticed shells under three different types of load distributions, were investigated in this study. Corresponding numerical analyses were conducted to investigate the stability behaviour of the latticed shells as well. Both the experimental study and the numerical analyses indicate that the load-carrying capacity of single-layer latticed shell has been significantly improved by the introduction of the cable-stiffened system. The numerical results also show that the joint stiffness has remarkable effect on the stability of ordinary single-layer latticed shell, whereas the effect on corresponding cable-stiffened single-layer latticed shells is limited.
Stable or improved health status in the population 65 years and older in Stockholm, Sweden – an 8-year follow-up of self-reported health items
Authors: Modig Karin , Virtanen Suvi , Ahlbom Anders , Agahi Neda
Published: March 2016

Background: Previous studies have reached different conclusions about whether health is improving in the ageing population. More studies with narrow age groups analyzed separately for men and women will contribute to the literature. Aim: To describe trends in self-reported indicators of health and health-related quality of life between 2002 and 2010, focusing on differences between gender and age groups. A population-based survey of individuals 65+ in the Stockholm County was used. Results: Prevalence of health problems increased with age both among men and women. Men generally reported having no health problems to a larger extent than women, but the proportions reporting severe problems were similar. The larger picture is one of stability in health-related quality of life, even if several items developed for the better, especially among women. While the proportions reporting no health/functional problems increased for many items, the proportions reporting severe problems remained unchanged among men and improved only for two items among women. Conclusions: Overall, improvements were seen in many of the health-related quality of life items as well as for self-rated health among women. The proportions reporting long-term illness or persistent health problems increased, but fewer seem to be limited in their daily activities by these problems. The stable proportions of poor self-rated health indicates that while health and functioning seem to be improving for the majority of the older population, some groups may be lagging behind. Future studies should pay attention to changes both in the upper and lower ends of the health spectrum.
Freer but not free enough? Chinese journalists finding their feet in Africa
Authors: Gagliardone Iginio , Pál Nyíri
Published: March 2016

The high-profile appearance of Chinese media organizations in Africa has attracted considerable attention. How Chinese correspondents in Africa actually go about their work is, however, little understood. A posting in Africa gives journalists at Xinhua News Agency or China Central Television a degree of freedom not experienced in China combined with greater local visibility than a posting in the West and more market opportunities. At the same time, it carries the rather heavy responsibility to act as a pioneer of a new, distinctive global voice for China envisaged by the Chinese government. Based on interviews and observation at several Chinese media organizations in three African locations and in Beijing over the course of 3 years, this article suggests that Chinese correspondents in Africa are unable to make use of the opportunities their postings offer. While the greater investments of Chinese media in Africa have been framed to date as a challenge to their struggling competitors, in reality, journalists working for Chinese media not only feel some of the constraints that have characterized international journalism in the past decade but also face additional ones: the problem of finding and communicating a clear identity; of remaining relevant in a space where national media are growing fast and becoming more professional; of testing new styles without appealing only to a niche.
The evolution of the smart cities agenda in India
Authors: Hoelscher Kristian
Published: March 2016

With the election of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, urban-led economic growth in India was firmly framed around a vision of ‘smart cities’, an ambiguous concept, which promotes the integration of information and communication technologies in cities to improve economic growth, quality of life, governance, mobility and sustainability. Given its current policy importance, this article examines how the smart cities agenda in India has emerged, what it has encompassed and its potential for transformative urban development. Reviewing policy documents and statements in combination with selected key stakeholder interviews, this article traces the emergence of the smart cities discourse in India, suggesting that the vision and concept of the smart city has shifted over time and has been evoked in different ways to serve different purposes. Overall, the smart cities agenda in India appears to be characterized by a failure to conceptualize and develop an integrated set of policies, and while a clearer (yet contested) concept is emerging, the prospects for success are uncertain.
A review and appraisal of arrival-time picking methods for downhole microseismic data
Authors: Akram Jubran , Eaton David W.
Published: March 2016

We have evaluated arrival-time picking algorithms for downhole microseismic data. The picking algorithms that we considered may be classified as window-based single-level methods (e.g., energy-ratio [ER] methods), nonwindow-based single-level methods (e.g., Akaike information criterion), multilevel- or array-based methods (e.g., crosscorrelation approaches), and hybrid methods that combine a number of single-level methods (e.g., Akazawa’s method). We have determined the key parameters for each algorithm and developed recommendations for optimal parameter selection based on our analysis and experience. We evaluated the performance of these algorithms with the use of field examples from a downhole microseismic data set recorded in western Canada as well as with pseudo-synthetic microseismic data generated by adding 100 realizations of Gaussian noise to high signal-to-noise ratio microseismic waveforms. ER-based algorithms were found to be more efficient in terms of computational speed and were therefore recommended for real-time microseismic data processing. Based on the performance on pseudo-synthetic and field data sets, we found statistical, hybrid, and multilevel crosscorrelation methods to be more efficient in terms of accuracy and precision. Pick errors for S-waves are reduced significantly when data are preconditioned by applying a transformation into ray-centered coordinates.
Efficacy and Biomarker Study of Bevacizumab for Hearing Loss Resulting From Neurofibromatosis Type 2–Associated Vestibular Schwannomas
Authors: Blakeley Jaishri O. , Ye Xiaobu , Duda Dan G. , Halpin Chris F. , Bergner Amanda L. , Muzikansky Alona , Merker Vanessa L. , Gerstner Elizabeth R. , Fayad Laura M. , Ahlawat Shivani , Jacobs Michael A. , Jain Rakesh K. , Zalewski Christopher , Dombi Eva , Widemann Brigitte C. , Plotkin Scott R.
Published: March 2016

Purpose

Neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) is a tumor predisposition syndrome characterized by bilateral vestibular schwannomas (VSs) resulting in deafness and brainstem compression. This study evaluated efficacy and biomarkers of bevacizumab activity for NF2-associated progressive and symptomatic VSs.

Patients and Methods

Bevacizumab 7.5 mg/kg was administered every 3 weeks for 46 weeks, followed by 24 weeks of surveillance after treatment with the drug. The primary end point was hearing response defined by word recognition score (WRS). Secondary end points included toxicity, tolerability, imaging response using volumetric magnetic resonance imaging analysis, durability of response, and imaging and blood biomarkers.

Results

Fourteen patients (estimated to yield > 90% power to detect an alternative response rate of 50% at alpha level of 0.05) with NF2, with a median age of 30 years (range, 14 to 79 years) and progressive hearing loss in the target ear (median baseline WRS, 60%; range 13% to 82%), were enrolled. The primary end point, confirmed hearing response (improvement maintained ≥ 3 months), occurred in five (36%) of 14 patients (95% CI, 13% to 65%; P < .001). Eight (57%) of 14 patients had transient hearing improvement above the 95% CI for WRS. No patients experienced hearing decline. Radiographic response was seen in six (43%) of 14 target VSs. Three grade 3 adverse events, hypertension (n = 2) and immune-mediated thrombocytopenic purpura (n = 1), were possibly related to bevacizumab. Bevacizumab treatment was associated with decreased free vascular endothelial growth factor (not bound to bevacizumab) and increased placental growth factor in plasma. Hearing responses were inversely associated with baseline plasma hepatocyte growth factor (P = .019). Imaging responses were associated with high baseline tumor vessel permeability and elevated blood levels of vascular endothelial growth factor D and stromal cell–derived factor 1α (P = .037 and .025, respectively).

Conclusion

Bevacizumab treatment resulted in durable hearing response in 36% of patients with NF2 and confirmed progressive VS-associated hearing loss. Imaging and plasma biomarkers showed promising associations with response that should be validated in larger studies.
Dlc1 interaction with non-muscle myosin heavy chain II-A (Myh9) and Rac1 activation
Authors: Sabbir Mohammad G. , Dillon Rachelle , Mowat Michael R. A.
Published: March 2016

The Deleted in liver cancer 1 (Dlc1) gene codes for a Rho GTPase-activating protein that also acts as a tumour suppressor gene. Several studies have consistently found that overexpression leads to excessive cell elongation, cytoskeleton changes and subsequent cell death. However, none of these studies have been able to satisfactorily explain the Dlc1-induced cell morphological phenotypes and the function of the different Dlc1 isoforms. Therefore, we have studied the interacting proteins associated with the three major Dlc1 transcriptional isoforms using a mass spectrometric approach in Dlc1 overexpressing cells. We have found and validated novel interacting partners in constitutive Dlc1-expressing cells. Our study has shown that Dlc1 interacts with non-muscle myosin heavy chain II-A (Myh9), plectin and spectrin proteins in different multiprotein complexes. Overexpression of Dlc1 led to increased phosphorylation of Myh9 protein and activation of Rac1 GTPase. These data support a role for Dlc1 in induced cell elongation morphology and provide some molecular targets for further analysis of this phenotype.
Establishment and evaluation of a transgenic mouse model of arthritis induced by overexpressing human tumor necrosis factor alpha
Authors: Li Ge , Wu Yu'e , Jia Huanhuan , Tang Lu , Huang Ren , Peng Yucai , Zhang Yu
Published: March 2016

Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) plays a key role in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Blockade of TNFα by monoclonal antibody has been widely used for the therapy of RA since the 1990s; however, its mechanism of efficacy, and potential safety concerns of the treatment are still not fully understood. This study sought to establish a transgenic arthritic mouse model by overexpressing human TNFα (hTNFα) and to apply this model as a means to evaluate therapeutic consequences of TNFα inhibitors. The transgenic mouse line (TgTC) with FVB background was generated by incorporating 3′-modified hTNFα gene sequences. A progressively erosive polyarthritis developed in the TgTC mice, with many characteristics observed in human rheumatoid arthritis, including polyarticular swelling, impairment of movement, synovial hyperplasia, and cartilage and bone erosion. Gene expression analysis demonstrated that hTNFα is not only expressed in hyperplastic synovial membrane, but also in tissues without lesions, including brain, lung and kidney. Treatment of the TgTC mice with anti-hTNFα monoclonal antibodies (mAb) significantly decreased the level of hTNFα in the diseased joint and effectively prevented development of arthritis in a dose-dependent response fashion. Our results indicated that the TgTC mice represent a genetic model which can be used to comprehensively investigate the pathogenesis and therapeutics of TNFα-related diseases.
“White Paper” meeting summary and catalyst for future inquiry: Complex mechanisms linking neurocognitive dysfunction to insulin resistance and other metabolic dysfunction
Authors: Stoeckel Luke E. , Arvanitakis Zoe , Gandy Sam , Small Dana , Kahn C. Ronald , Pascual-Leone Alvaro , Pawlyk Aaron , Sherwin Robert , Smith Philip
Published: March 2016

Scientific evidence has established several links between metabolic and neurocognitive dysfunction, and epidemiologic evidence has revealed an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia in patients with diabetes. In July 2015, the National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases gathered experts from multiple clinical and scientific disciplines, in a workshop entitled “The Intersection of Metabolic and Neurocognitive Dysfunction”, to clarify the state-of-the-science on the mechanisms linking metabolic dysfunction, and insulin resistance and diabetes in particular, to neurocognitive impairment and dementia. This perspective is intended to serve as a summary of the opinions expressed at this meeting, which focused on identifying gaps and opportunities to advance research in this emerging area with important public health relevance.