bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
RAPID Programming of Pattern-Recognition Processors
Authors: Angstadt Kevin , Weimer Westley , Skadron Kevin
Published: June 2016

We present RAPID, a high-level programming language and combined imperative and declarative model for programming pattern-recognition processors, such as Micron's Automata Processor (AP). The AP is a novel, non-Von Neumann architecture for direct execution of non-deterministic finite automata (NFAs), and has been demonstrated to provide substantial speedup for a variety of data-processing applications. RAPID is clear, maintainable, concise, and efficient both at compile and run time. Language features, such as code abstraction and parallel control structures, map well to pattern-matching problems, providing clarity and maintainability. For generation of efficient runtime code, we present algorithms to convert RAPID programs into finite automata. Further, we introduce a tessellation technique for configuring the AP, which significantly reduces compile time, increases programmer productivity, and improves maintainability. We evaluate five RAPID programs against custom, baseline implementations previously demonstrated to be significantly accelerated by the AP. We find that RAPID programs are much shorter in length, are expressible at a higher level of abstraction than their handcrafted counterparts, and yield generated code that is often more compact. In addition, our tessellation technique for configuring the AP has comparable device utilization to, and results in compilation that is up to four orders of magnitude faster than, current solutions.
WiSync
Authors: Abadal Sergi , Cabellos-Aparicio Albert , Alarcon Eduard , Torrellas Josep
Published: June 2016

In shared-memory multiprocessing, fine-grain synchronization is challenging because it requires frequent communication. As technology scaling delivers larger manycore chips, such pattern is expected to remain costly to support. In this paper, we propose to address this challenge by using on-chip wireless communication. Each core has a transceiver and an antenna to communicate with all the other cores. This environment supports very low latency global communication. Our architecture, called WiSync, uses a per-core Broadcast Memory (BM). When a core writes to its BM, all the other 100+ BMs get updated in less than 10 processor cycles. We also use a second wireless channel with cheaper transfers to execute barriers efficiently. WiSync supports multiprogramming, virtual memory, and context switching. Our evaluation with simulations of 128-threaded kernels and 64-threaded applications shows that WiSync speeds-up synchronization substantially. Compared to using advanced conventional synchronization, WiSync attains an average speedup of nearly one order of magnitude for the kernels, and 1.12 for PARSEC and SPLASH-2.
A DNA-Based Archival Storage System
Authors: Bornholt James , Lopez Randolph , Carmean Douglas M. , Ceze Luis , Seelig Georg , Strauss Karin
Published: June 2016

Demand for data storage is growing exponentially, but the capacity of existing storage media is not keeping up. Using DNA to archive data is an attractive possibility because it is extremely dense, with a raw limit of 1 exabyte/mm
3
(109 GB/mm
3
), and long-lasting, with observed half-life of over 500 years. This paper presents an architecture for a DNA-based archival storage system. It is structured as a key-value store, and leverages common biochemical techniques to provide random access. We also propose a new encoding scheme that offers controllable redundancy, trading off reliability for density. We demonstrate feasibility, random access, and robustness of the proposed encoding with wet lab experiments involving 151 kB of synthesized DNA and a 42 kB random-access subset, and simulation experiments of larger sets calibrated to the wet lab experiments. Finally, we highlight trends in biotechnology that indicate the impending practicality of DNA storage for much larger datasets.
Specifying and Checking File System Crash-Consistency Models
Authors: Bornholt James , Kaufmann Antoine , Li Jialin , Krishnamurthy Arvind , Torlak Emina , Wang Xi
Published: June 2016

Applications depend on persistent storage to recover state after system crashes. But the POSIX file system interfaces do not define the possible outcomes of a crash. As a result, it is difficult for application writers to correctly understand the ordering of and dependencies between file system operations, which can lead to corrupt application state and, in the worst case, catastrophic data loss. This paper presents crash-consistency models, analogous to memory consistency models, which describe the behavior of a file system across crashes. Crash-consistency models include both litmus tests, which demonstrate allowed and forbidden behaviors, and axiomatic and operational specifications. We present a formal framework for developing crash-consistency models, and a toolkit, called Ferrite, for validating those models against real file system implementations. We develop a crash-consistency model for ext4, and use Ferrite to demonstrate unintuitive crash behaviors of the ext4 implementation. To demonstrate the utility of crash-consistency models to application writers, we use our models to prototype proof-of-concept verification and synthesis tools, as well as new library interfaces for crash-safe applications.
Architecture-Adaptive Code Variant Tuning
Authors: Muralidharan Saurav , Roy Amit , Hall Mary , Garland Michael , Rai Piyush
Published: June 2016

Code variants represent alternative implementations of a computation, and are common in high-performance libraries and applications to facilitate selecting the most appropriate implementation for a specific execution context (target architecture and input dataset). Automating code variant selection typically relies on machine learning to construct a model during an offline learning phase that can be quickly queried at runtime once the execution context is known. In this paper, we define a new approach called architecture-adaptive code variant tuning, where the variant selection model is learned on a set of source architectures, and then used to predict variants on a new target architecture without having to repeat the training process. We pose this as a multi-task learning problem, where each source architecture corresponds to a task; we use device features in the construction of the variant selection model. This work explores the effectiveness of multi-task learning and the impact of different strategies for device feature selection. We evaluate our approach on a set of benchmarks and a collection of six NVIDIA GPU architectures from three distinct generations. We achieve performance results that are mostly comparable to the previous approach of tuning for a single GPU architecture without having to repeat the learning phase.
TMEM16F Regulates Baseline Phosphatidylserine Exposure and Cell Viability in Human Embryonic Kidney Cells
Authors: Schenk Laura K. , Schulze Ulf , Henke Sebastian , Weide Thomas , Pavenstädt Hermann
Published: June 2016

Background / Aims: TMEM16F is a transmembrane protein from a conserved family of Ca2+-activated proteins, which is highly expressed in several tissues. TMEM16F confers phospholipid scramblase activity and Ca2+-activated electrolyte channel activity. Potentially thereby, TMEM16F is involved in cell cycle control and apoptotic signaling. The present study evaluated the role of TMEM16F on cell proliferation and viability in Human Embryonic Kidney cells. Methods: An inducible knockdown of TMEM16F was generated and markers of apoptosis and proliferation were assessed via flow cytometry, western blotting and MTT uptake assay under different conditions. Results: TMEM16F knockdown resulted in attenuated growth of HEK293 cells. This observation correlated with an increased phosphatidylserine exposure and a decreased fraction of viable cells. Interestingly, the cells were not sensitized to Staurosporine- induced cell death. Western blot analyses displayed a parallel activation of pro- and antiapoptotic signaling pathways: Caspase 3 cleavage and Cyclin D1 abundance were simultaneously increased. Furthermore, knockdown of TMEM16F led to activation of AKT signaling. Conclusion: TMEM16F modifies viability of Human Embryonic Kidney cells via its function as a phospholipid scramblase and activation of AKT signaling pathways.
RECURSOS PARA INOVAÇÃO E DESEMPENHO: UMA ANÁLISE DA INVARIÂNCIA DE MENSURAÇÃO EM FIRMAS DE SETORES DE ALTA INTENSIDADE TECNOLÓGICA, NO BRASIL
Authors: Lazzarotti Fábio , Marcon Rosilene , Bandeira-de-Mello Rodrigo
Published: June 2016

Este estudo tem por objetivo analisar um modelo teórico que estabelece relações entre recursos para inovação e desempenho e, especificamente, verificar se o modelo é estável ao longo do tempo. A investigação adotou a técnica de análise multigrupos para análise de invariância de mensuração a partir da modelagem de equações estruturais. Usaram-se microdados da pesquisa de inovação tecnológica (PINTEC) do IBGE, referente às edições de 2003, 2005 e 2008. Evidencia-se que o modelo teórico é invariante na equivalência de estrutura fatorial. Nos demais tipos de invariância de mensuração, o modelo não é estável. Conclui-se que a inovação é um processo dinâmico e que fatores ligados ao contexto socioeconômico em que as empresas atuam, tendem a influenciar nos resultados, sugerindo uma reflexão quanto ao uso de métricas em diferentes contextos, as quais foram originalmente testadas.
FATORES INDUTORES À INOVAÇÃO TECNOLÓGICA DA INDÚSTRIA MADEIREIRA DA REGIÃO DE LAGES/SC
Authors: Simioni Flávio José , Hoff Debora Nayar , Binotto Erlaine
Published: June 2016

Objetivou-se analisar as variáveis que interferem na adoção de inovações tecnológicas de empresas madeireiras da região de Lages/SC, suas características e a conduta padrão das firmas quanto à inovação. A pesquisa contemplou 36 empresas e os dados foram coletados via questionário e submetidos à análise de regressão logística (logit) e à Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Os resultados indicam que a inovação está associada à localização em um ambiente externo mais competitivo, ao aumento do tempo de vida, à utilização de crédito e à busca da certificação pelas empresas, enquanto que as serrarias estão associadas à não inovação. As tecnologias adotadas são amplamente difundidas no setor.
INOVAÇÃO SISTEMÁTICA APLICADA A SISTEMAS INDUSTRIAIS DE POLIMERIZAÇÃO
Authors: Monteiro José Jorge Baptista de Alencar
Published: June 2016

Considere um sistema projetado para realizar reações de polimerização exotérmicas usando cadeia de reatores em série ao longo da qual a temperatura deve ser mantida abaixo dos dez graus Celsius para garantir propriedades finais adequadas do polímero produzido. O sistema enfrenta um segundo fator igualmente crítico na tendência do polímero em aderir sobre todas as superfícies de contato ao longo da cadeia de reatores, prejudicando a troca térmica. Como aumentar a produtividade do referido sistema mantendo todas as especificações do produto sem investimentos de grande vulto? As soluções usuais, como a inclusão de novos reatores, quebrariam uma ou mais das restrições impostas. Este desafio configura uma oportunidade típica para a aplicação das ferramentas e conceitos TRIZ (Teoria da Solução de Problemas Inventivos). Este artigo demonstrará a aplicação de tais ferramentas de forma estruturada, identificada como Inovação Sistemática, buscando a geração de soluções inventivas que atendam a todas as condições impostas.
O IMPACTO DOS ESFORÇOS INOVATIVOS NO DESEMPENHO ECONÔMICO-FINANCEIRO DAS EMPRESAS
Authors: Rocha Leonardo Andrade , Dal Poz Maria Ester , Almeida Carlos Alano Soares de , Oliveira Denison Murilo de
Published: June 2016

O presente trabalho analisou os impactos dos esforços inovativos, medidos pelos investimentos em Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento, sob o crescimento das vendas, considerando diferentes ‘graus de proximidade’ com a fronteira. Para testar a hipótese, foi construído um modelo de regressão com dados em painel considerando 1.500 firmas com dados financeiros de 2012. Foi calculada a Produtividade Total dos Fatores de cada firma e construído um índice de proximidade com a fronteira (firma com maior produtividade). Os resultados demonstram que firmas situadas próximas da fronteira, empregam os recursos de P&D com maior eficiência, obtendo estimativas de crescimento superior às firmas mais afastadas.
INOVAÇÃO NO SETOR PÚBLICO FEDERAL NO BRASIL NA PERSPECTIVA DA INOVAÇÃO EM SERVIÇOS
Authors: Ferreira Vicente Da Rocha Soares , Tete Marcelo Ferreira , Silva Filho Antonio Isidro da , Sousa Marcos De Moraes
Published: June 2016

O tema inovação tem se apresentado como um dos assuntos que mais geram interesses dos pesquisadores, tanto daqueles que estudam organizações do setor privado quanto daqueles que estudam o setor público. Diante desse quadro, o objetivo deste trabalho foi analisar como ocorre a inovação no setor público com base em casos de inovação premiados no Concurso de Inovação na Administração Pública Federal entre 2006 e 2010. É um trabalho de natureza qualitativa que utilizou o modelo de vetores de competências e características técnicas da inovação em serviços para analisar o conjunto de 30 casos de inovação. Os casos foram organizados em três grupos para serem analisados. Os resultados apontam que dois desses grupos apresentaram inovação radical, processo pelo qual a inovação representa a criação de um novo conjunto de características expressas em um produto totalmente novo; e um grupo apresentou inovação incremental, pelo fato de demonstrar substituição de características no serviço, mas não uma mudança na estrutura geral do sistema. Como lacuna, aponta-se que a análise foi feita à luz da inovação em serviços pela ausência de referências em administração pública. Sugerem-se estudos que descrevam mudanças nos vetores e identifiquem indutores e inibidores das inovações.
INOVAÇÃO EM PROCESSO DE ANÁLISE E SELEÇÃO DE ACERVOS DIGITAIS
Authors: De Sordi José Osvaldo , Jenuino Gilberto Russo , Costa Manuel Antônio Meireles da
Published: June 2016

A computação impregnada em objetos, máquinas, instalações (pervasive computing) é uma das características da sociedade da informação, que proporciona maior diversidade e disponibilidade na oferta de acervos de dados e informações. Atualmente o problema informacional não é mais ausência de dados e informações, mas o seu excesso, o que torna complexo e moroso o processo de análise da qualidade e seleção de conteúdos digitais, estejam estes em banco de dados ou repositório de informações. Com o objetivo de aprimorar este processo, este trabalho propõe um artefato para análise da qualidade de acervos digitais, inovador por direcionar as ações por prioridades e por contemplar especificidades tanto de bancos de dados quanto de repositórios de informações. A pesquisa é qualitativa e aplicou a técnica de grupo de discussão, percorrendo as etapas iniciais da estratégia de pesquisa design science research (DSR) associadas à concepção e averiguação da funcionalidade (affordance) de um artefato de natureza científica. Treinaram-se cinco pesquisadores na utilização do artefato, que o utilizaram para análise de cinco acervos associados a micro e pequenas empresas brasileiras, sendo: três de dados, disponíveis em banco de dados; e dois de informações, disponíveis em repositórios de informação. O artefato proposto foi avaliado por meio de uma escala de opiniões e atitudes. Os processos de pesquisa realizados colaboraram com a evolução do artefato, com a identificação e execução de pontos de melhoria que o tornaram mais funcional segundo seus usuários, adequando-o para etapa seguinte da DSR, que implica no teste de utilidade.
Activation of Peroxisome Proliferator–Activated Receptor-δ as Novel Therapeutic Strategy to Prevent In-Stent Restenosis and Stent Thrombosis
Authors: Hytönen Jarkko , Leppänen Olli , Braesen Jan Hinrich , Schunck Wolf-Hagen , Mueller Dominik , Jung Friedrich , Mrowietz Christoph , Jastroch Martin , von Bergwelt-Baildon Michael , Kappert Kai , Heuser Arnd , Drenckhahn Jörg-Detlef , Pieske Burkert , Thierfelder Ludwig , Ylä-Herttuala Seppo , Blaschke Florian
Published: June 2016

Objective—

Drug-eluting coronary stents reduce restenosis rate and late lumen loss compared with bare-metal stents; however, drug-eluting coronary stents may delay vascular healing and increase late stent thrombosis. The peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor-delta (PPARδ) exhibits actions that could favorably influence outcomes after drug-eluting coronary stents placement.

Approach and Results—

Here, we report that PPARδ ligand–coated stents strongly reduce the development of neointima and luminal narrowing in a rabbit model of experimental atherosclerosis. Inhibition of inflammatory gene expression and vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation and migration, prevention of thrombocyte activation and aggregation, and proproliferative effects on endothelial cells were identified as key mechanisms for the prevention of restenosis. Using normal and PPARδ-depleted VSMCs, we show that the observed effects of PPARδ ligand GW0742 on VSMCs and thrombocytes are PPARδ receptor dependent. PPARδ ligand treatment induces expression of pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase isozyme 4 and downregulates the glucose transporter 1 in VSMCs, thus impairing the ability of VSMCs to provide the increased energy demands required for growth factor–stimulated proliferation and migration.

Conclusions—

In contrast to commonly used drugs for stent coating, PPARδ ligands not only inhibit inflammatory response and proliferation of VSMCs but also prevent thrombocyte activation and support vessel re-endothelialization. Thus, pharmacological PPARδ activation could be a promising novel strategy to improve drug-eluting coronary stents outcomes.
Physically Plausible Methods for Projecting Changes in Great Lakes Water Levels under Climate Change Scenarios
Authors: Lofgren Brent M. , Rouhana Jonathan
Published: June 2016

A method for projecting the water levels of the Laurentian Great Lakes under scenarios of human-caused climate change, used almost to the exclusion of other methods in the past, relies very heavily on the large basin runoff model (LBRM) as a component for determining the water budget for the lake system. This model uses near-surface air temperature as a primary predictor of evapotranspiration (ET); as in previous published work, it is shown here that the model’s very high sensitivity to temperature causes it to overestimate ET in a way that is greatly at variance with the fundamental principle of conservation of energy at the land surface. The traditional formulation is characterized here as being equivalent to having several suns in the virtual sky created by LBRM. More physically based methods show, relative to the traditional method, often astoundingly less potential ET and less ET, more runoff from the land and net basin supply for the lake basins, and higher lake water levels in the future. Using various methods of estimating the statistical significance, it is found that, at minimum, these discrepancies in results are significant at the 99.998% level. The lesson for the larger climate impact community is to use caution about whether an impact is forced directly by air temperature itself or is significantly forced by season or latitude independently of temperature. The results here apply only to the water levels of the Great Lakes and the hydrology of its basin and do not affect larger questions of climate change.
The Impact of Uncertain Contact Location on Situation Awareness and Performance in Simulated Submarine Track Management
Authors: Loft Shayne , Morrell Daniel B. , Ponton Kate , Braithwaite Janelle , Bowden Vanessa , Huf Samuel
Published: June 2016

Objective:

The aim of these studies was to examine the extent to which uncertainty in contact location in submarine track management affected operator situation awareness (SA), workload, and performance and whether operator SA predicted unique variance in performance.

Background:

We extend prior research by manipulating uncertainty in contact location and by including a sample of expert track managers in a submarine combat system.

Method:

In Experiment 1, university students completed a track management task. In Experiment 2, expert submariners were embedded in a real submarine combat system. Uncertainty was manipulated and SA was measured using the situation present assessment method.

Results:

Increased uncertainty led to higher student workload and moderately impaired SA and performance, and SA predicted incremental variance in performance. Uncertainty had no effect on expert SA or the accuracy of the tactical picture compiled. On average, experts took 20 s to accept SA queries (compared with 2.18 s for students). The time taken for experts to accept SA queries, but not their subsequent response to SA queries, was positively associated with their tactical picture accuracy.

Conclusion:

Uncertainty can negatively impact SA, workload, and performance. Some key findings from the laboratory were replicated using experts, but the fact that experts took on average 20 s to accept SA queries presents a challenge for using SPAM in submarine control rooms.

Application:

Contact location is uncertain due to the use of passive sonar and hostile deception. It is essential to measure track manager SA in order to inform work design and training.
Does Health Reform Lead to an Increase in Early Retirement? Evidence from Massachusetts
Authors: Heim Bradley T. , Lin LeeKai
Published: June 2016

This article estimates the impact of the 2006 Massachusetts health reform on the decision of individuals to retire early. Using data from the American Community Survey that spans 2004 through 2012, the authors estimate difference-in-differences models for retirement using individuals from other northeastern states as the control group. The estimates suggest that the reform led women to increase early retirement from full-time work by 1.1 percentage points (from a base of 4.8%) and to increase part-time work by 1.1 percentage points (from a base of 30%). Though no significant effects were found for men overall, the estimates imply that the reform led to an increase in retirement and part-time work among lower-income men.
‘Rules of the game’ in cross-border cooperation: legal-administrative differences in Finnish–Russian crime prevention
Authors: Heusala Anna-Liisa , Koistinen Jarmo
Published: June 2016

The article illuminates the dynamics of bilateral cross-border cooperation between two vastly different legal-administrative partners. The analysis utilizes empirical findings of a case study on bilateral Finnish–Russian crime prevention cooperation. Currently, both the differences in national legislations and the fast-changing administrative environment make this cooperation challenging. The case study showed that bilateral cooperation, which is the dominant form of cooperation between EU member states and Russia, is currently affected by disjointed and even competing multilateral and bilateral structures, differences in criminal law and procedure, gaps between international treaties and national legislation, local and regional variations of practices, weak institutional trust and abrupt policy changes. The results indicate that the effectiveness of cross-border networks cannot be assessed strictly in terms of quantitative outcomes. Further long-term development of the cooperation requires both realistic understanding of legal-administrative constraints and strong commitment at the national and supranational political levels.

Points for practitioners

Future long-term development of cross-border crime prevention cooperation between EU member countries and the Russian Federation requires more flexible crime prevention instruments and institutionalization of joint investigation teams. The optimal model in joint criminal investigations with Russian authorities could be one where the evidence of the protocol of the preliminary investigation could be acquired through direct regional connections between authorities. In practice, this requires a much stronger practical trust between different levels of authorities in the EU member countries and the Russian Federation, reconciliation of differences in national legislations and long-term political commitment at the highest level.
“I Wanted to Return the Favor”
Authors: McDougal Serie , George Clarence
Published: June 2016

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 24 Black social fathers to understand their reasons for assuming fatherly roles, their impacts on the children, how their non-biological father status affects their parenting experiences, their treatment of their biological children compared with their non-biological children, and how the men are affected by the experience of social fathering. Coding revealed several dimensions of the social father experience related to reasons for becoming involved in non-biological children’s lives (the package deal concept, the need for a male role model, passing on a blessing, and biological father inadequacy), influences on social fathers’ lives (responsibility and self-conscious role modeling), social fathers’ influences on children’s lives (providing love and caring, emphasizing education, and providing discipline), challenges due to social father status (anxiety due to the biological father and limited/questioned authority), and differential treatment of biological and non-biological children (discipline and severity of physicality and comfort with intimacy).
Political Beats in the Alps
Authors: Hafez Farid
Published: June 2016

While fun is the ostensible object of hip hop music, the politically conscious aspect of hip hop culture was part of Austrian hip hop from the very beginning. Against a dominant view that Austrian hip hop was an apolitical genre carried by White Austrian middle-class artists only, this article explores the political messages in the early stages of German-speaking Austrian hip hop music. Although only few hip hop artists—especially marginalized youth and people of color—explicitly connected issues of racism in Austria with the African American experience, many Austrian rappers conveyed a political message that related to their immediate environment. U.S.-American hip hop introduced rappers to a more global perspective on politics and was thus an educational cultural project. At the same time, most hip hop groups targeted the political far-right. And racism in a unique Austrian context had even supported political movements.
Wearable Devices to Improve Physical Activity and Sleep
Authors: Melton Bridget F. , Buman Matthew P. , Vogel Robert L. , Harris Brandonn S. , Bigham Lauren E.
Published: June 2016

This study examined the efficacy of the Jawbone UP platform for increasing physical activity and improving sleep quality among African American college women using a randomized controlled trial. Participants were college-aged (19.9 ± 1.7 years) African American women ( N = 69) at a southeastern midsize university in United States. The trial began in September 2013 and concluded in February 2014. Each group received similar brief training to use the respective platforms and weekly emails encouraged regular continued engagement. There was a significant difference at the 8-week follow-up, such that the intervention group decreased step counts relative to the comparison app (9,378 vs. 11,287 steps; p = .02). For sleep, neither group demonstrated any changes in sleep duration, sleep onset latency, wakefulness after sleep onset, or sleep efficiency at the 6-week posttest or 8-week follow-up. This study found no evidence for initial efficacy as a stand-alone tool for increasing physical activity or improving sleep.
Honour Killings, Partial Defences and the Exclusionary Conduct Model
Authors: Clough Amanda
Published: June 2016

The partial defence of loss of control, as set out in s. 54 and s. 55 Coroners and Justice Act 2009 makes clear that those fearing violence will be partially exculpated from the harsh mandatory life sentence a murder conviction mandates, while a killing out of sexually jealousy will not. What is less clear is which other circumstances, and emotions, will be included under the umbrella of the two qualifying triggers to the partial defence. This article considers if honour killings in particular will be able to achieve a successful loss of control plea, and a missed opportunity to have such cases excluded expressly by the wording of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009.
Not Giving Up the Fight
Authors: Demetriou Stavros
Published: June 2016

This article reviews the Commission’s 2015 recommendations on the non-fatal offences against the person. Its analysis focuses on three main pillars: (i) it examines whether the current law in this area is in need of modernisation; (ii) it asks whether the ‘ladder’ of non-fatal offences should be reformed in the manner recommended by the Commission; and (iii) it identifies and elaborates on issues which have not been adequately addressed by the Commission in this project, albeit they constitute integral parts of the offences against the person. This paper suggests that the Commission’s recommendations provide a good starting point, but a more comprehensive review of this area is still required. It is submitted that the reluctance of the Commission to deal in more depth with some fundamental issues, such as the codification of the fault requirements, detracts from the overall strength of this project.
Examining Variability in Values Attributed to Culture
Authors: Ng Vincent , Woo Sang Eun , Tay Louis , Foster Jeff
Published: June 2016

Prior work examining the role of cultural groupings (i.e., national membership) on personal values showed small to moderate amounts of variability attributable to culture, refuting the idea that culture determines values. We extend this research by examining the proportion of variance in values that could be explained by cultural membership. Because there is no definitive level of proportion of variance that would lead to a conclusion that values are culturally determined, personality, which is arguably not culturally determined, was used as a relative benchmark. Language groups were used as an alternate conception of cultural groupings. A large data set of 144,857 workers from across 31 major language groups revealed that language groups explained a significant and non-negligible amount of variance in personal value dimensions (7%-17%). Nevertheless, this was not significantly larger than any single personality dimension (3%-12%). In other words, our data failed to support the notion that personal values are strongly determined by cultural groupings compared with personality.
Poor Choices: The Sociopolitical Context of “Grand Theft Education”
Authors: Faw Leah , Jabbar Huriya
Published: June 2016

In recent years, districts have paid special attention to the common practice of “district hopping,” families bending geographic school assignment rules by sending a child to a school in a district where the child does not formally reside—usually to a district that is more desirable because of higher performing schools or greater educational resources. In several high-profile cases, mothers who engaged in district hopping were charged with “grand theft” of educational services. By situating these cases in the broader context of market-based reforms, we refocus attention on the responses of districts rather than the actions of parents. We argue that increased privatization of education and growing dominance of a “private-goods” model of schooling create the conditions necessary for framing these actions as “theft.”
Marijuana
Authors: Kolena Branislav , Petrovičová Ida , Trnovec Tomáš , Pilka Tomáš , Bičanová Gabriela
Published: June 2016

We describe opinions on medical use of Cannabis sativa L. under conditions of Slovakia ( n = 717). Personal experience with marijuana was detected in 77.42% ( n = 553) in age categories younger than 20 years ( n = 96) and in 77.06% ( n = 457) of adults. Almost 86% of respondents ( n = 618) agreed with legal use of marijuana for medical purposes. Furthermore, respondents’ views on legal usage of marijuana for medical purposes could be affected by availability of information ( r = .12) and personal experience ( r = .23). Negative impact of substance abuse in younger age-groups was recognized as threat ( r = .47), but knowledge about harmful effect of marijuana use did not affect personal opinion for decriminalization ( r = .38).
Experience, Emotion, and Eudaimonia: A Consideration of Tourist Experiences and Well-being
Authors: Knobloch Uli , Robertson Kirsten , Aitken Rob
Published: June 2016

Experiential marketing and the quest to create memorable and extraordinary customer experiences have become central to tourism. However, implementing the concept of experiential marketing has been problematic due to a lack of knowledge regarding what makes experiences memorable, as well as inattention to the subjective and personal nature of experiences. This study explores the nature of individual experiences, particularly with regard to personal outcomes, emotions and meanings, by investigating tourists’ experiences of the same activity in three different consumption contexts. The influence of consumption context as well as significant differences in personal outcomes were evident, and more profound and meaningful than previous research suggests. Findings point to a need to understand tourist consumption experiences beyond hedonic enjoyment of the moment, and consider their broader implications on well-being and quality of life. Implications for tourism providers and experiential marketing are discussed.
Economic Recession, Job Vulnerability, and Tourism Decision Making: A Qualitative Comparative Analysis
Authors: Papatheodorou Andreas , Pappas Nikolaos
Published: June 2016

Occupational uncertainty has a considerable effect upon consumer decisions during a recession, especially with respect to discretionary products and services such as tourism. Using Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA), the study examines the complex relations among job vulnerability, disposable income for tourism, marketing activities, and price and quality issues for Greek holiday makers returning from their vacations. The article also compares QCA with the two dominant linear methods of analysis (i.e. correlation and regression) and highlights the suitability of QCA when dealing with complexity in tourism. The results reveal four configurations explaining the attributes of Greek residents’ tourism decisions, characterized by value-for-money orientation, achievement of best available purchase, psychological strengthening, and price sensitivity. The study also employs predictive validity for the presented models. The findings are valid from both a methodological and managerial perspective suggesting new research insights.
Subject–verb agreement and verbal short-term memory: A perspective from Greek children with specific language impairment
Authors: Lalioti Marina , Stavrakaki Stavroula , Manouilidou Christina , Talli Ioanna
Published: June 2016

This study investigated the performance of school age Greek-speaking children with SLI on verbal short-term memory (VSTM) and Subject–Verb (S-V) agreement in comparison to chronological age controls and younger typically developing children. VSTM abilities were assessed by means of a non-word repetition task (NRT) and an elicited production task, an off-line grammaticality judgment (GJ) task, and an on-line self-paced listening task were employed to examine S-V agreement abilities. The study found significant between-group differences in the NRT and the off-line GJ task. No significant between-group differences were found for the S-V agreement production task and for reaction times of the on-line task. The authors argue that the children with SLI showed increased grammatical sensitivity in S-V agreement and relate their lower performance on the off-line GJ task to the task’s metalinguistic demands. The findings suggest that deficits in VSTM constitute a robust marker for SLI and claim that S-V agreement can be acquired by SLI individuals with apparent limitations in VSTM.
Tactile Memory
Authors: Gloviczki Peter Joseph
Published: June 2016

Autoethnographic sketching allows for examination of various elements of lived experience. This article focuses on tactile memory.
Learner Satisfaction in Marketing Simulation Games
Authors: Caruana Albert , La Rocca Antonella , Snehota Ivan
Published: June 2016

Simulation games have become widespread in business courses, yet the understanding of their learning effects remains limited. The effectiveness of using simulation in marketing classes is not uniform, and not all students welcome it to the same extent. Drawing on a survey among 173 students engaged in a simulation game as part of a course in a 2-year business graduate program, we employ “expectation–confirmation theory” and the “unified theory of acceptance and use of technology” to develop a model to investigate the relation between Learner Satisfaction and Performance Expectancy and Effort Expectancy with a marketing simulation game. In addition, we examine the influence of Age, Gender, Course Type, Course Stage, and Recalled Performance. We report that Performance Expectancy and Effort Expectancy drive Learner Satisfaction. We also find Recalled Performance of students to be related to Learner Satisfaction. We discuss the implications of our results for the use of marketing simulation games in business programs in relation to experiential learning theory linking Learner Satisfaction to learning outcomes. In light of our results, instructors can affect the learning experience from simulation games by acting on Performance Expectancy and Effort Expectancy as antecedents of Learner Satisfaction.
Collaborative research exploring mental health service user perspectives on acute inpatient occupational therapy
Authors: Bryant Wendy , Cordingley Kevin , Sims Katherine , Dokal-Marandi Jasvinder , Pritchard Helen , Stannard Vicky , Adamako Ellen
Published: June 2016

Introduction

User perspectives are important for understanding why people engage with occupational therapy during an admission for acute mental health issues, and can be used to inform service provision and development.

Method

Twenty-two recent and current inpatients participated in six semi-structured individual interviews and three focus groups. Data from the two methods were initially subject to separate thematic analysis. Then a further stage of constant comparative analysis, of both data sets, generated the findings presented here.

Findings

Three themes were identified: (1) ‘A tiny sort of world’ expressed experiences of being restricted; (2) ‘Relief’ indicated how occupational therapy offered relief from the ward and experiences of mental ill-health; and (3) ‘Something to do’ suggested specific purposes for engaging in occupation. These themes indicate how service users experience and value occupational therapy for different reasons at different times. The approach of occupational therapists to service users, valuing them as occupational beings, is a key aspect of their experience.

Conclusion

The profession is challenged to design flexible opportunities for occupational engagement which simultaneously provide relief and distraction, address diverse occupational needs, and are feasible within the resource restrictions of acute mental health services.
Non-disclosure of genetic risks
Authors: Chico Victoria
Published: June 2016

In ABC v. St Georges Healthcare NHS Trust, the High Court of England and Wales rejected the argument that doctors have a legal duty to disclose actionable genetic risks to a patient’s relatives. This article reconsiders the concept of a duty to disclose actionable genetic risks in the context of widening perceptions of legal harm and developing professional and public perceptions of corresponding wrongs.
Book Review: Deborah Brautigam, Will Africa Feed China?
Authors: Tyagi Jyoti
Published: June 2016

Deborah Brautigam, Will Africa Feed China?, Oxford University Press, New York, 2015, xvi + 228 pp., $21.94 (Hardcover), ISBN 978-0-19-939685-6.
Understanding Non-Adherence From the Inside: Hypertensive Patients’ Motivations for Adhering and Not Adhering
Authors: Herrera Pablo A. , Moncada Laura , Defey Denise
Published: June 2016

Patients’ low adherence to medical treatment in chronic illnesses is one of the biggest public health problems. Numerous studies attend to the diverse factors associated with patient adherence. However, little research has been done to explore patients’ reasons for non-compliance from their own point of view. In this article, we aim to understand patient non-adherence using dialogical self-theory and qualitative research methods. We interviewed 51 hypertensive patients to explore their anti- and pro-adherence motivations. Results show that most patients adhere and non-adhere to different aspects of treatment programs (medication, exercise, diet) according to the way they construct meaning to those activities. Also, our findings support the notion that patients’ non-adherent behavior aims to preserve important values such as self-esteem, autonomy, affiliation, well-being, freedom, and health (or that more adherence is not worth the extra effort). We discuss the therapeutic relevance of empathically understanding patients’ worldview and implicit beliefs.
Association of Short-term Complications With Procedures Through Separate Incisions During Total Ankle Replacement
Authors: Criswell Braden , Hunt Kenneth , Kim Todd , Chou Loretta , Haskell Andrew
Published: June 2016

Background:

Surgeons disagree about the safety of adding adjuvant procedures requiring separate incisions during total ankle replacement (TAR). This study tested the hypothesis that complication rates for patients in the first year after TAR would be greater when combined with procedures through separate incisions.

Methods:

A retrospective review was performed on a consecutive series of 124 patients who underwent total ankle replacement between 2007 and 2013. Demographics, case-specific data, and postoperative complications over the first year were collected. A chi-square analysis was performed to compare differences in complication rates among patients with and without additional procedures requiring a separate incision. The average patient age was 67±10 years. Fourteen patients (11%) were diabetic and 2 patients (2%) were current smokers. Eighty-seven (70%) had prior trauma leading to arthritis. Ninety-seven (78%) cases used the Scandinavian Total Ankle Replacement (STAR), 16 (13%) Salto Talaris, and 11 (9%) In Bone implants. Ten (8%) cases were revisions. Excluding percutaneous Achilles lengthening, 35 of 124 patients (28%) had a total of 54 adjuvant procedures requiring a separate incision during TAR. These included 9 (7%) calcaneal osteotomies, 8 (6%) medial malleolar fixation, 6 (5%) subtalar fusions, 5 (4%) lateral ligament repair, 4 (3%) open Achilles lengthening, 4 (3%) removal of hardware, 2 (2%) first metatarsal osteotomy, and 8 other procedures.

Results:

Overall, 32 (26%) of the 124 patients had a complication, including 15 (12%) delayed wound healing, 6 (5%) malleolar fracture, and 11 other complications. At 1 year, 24 (27%) of 89 patients without additional incisions and 8 (23%) of 35 patients with additional incisions, excluding percutaneous Achilles lengthening, had any complication ( P = .64).

Discussion:

This study did not demonstrate an association between additional procedures requiring a separate incision during TAR and early complications. Overall complication rates were similar to previously reported series of TAR. This study suggests that surgeons can add adjuvant procedures during TAR to improve alignment, stability, or treat adjacent segment arthritis without affecting short-term complication rates. The necessity or utility of these adjuvant procedures requires further study.

Level of Evidence:

Level III, comparative series.
Superior Tuber Displacement in Intra-articular Calcaneus Fractures
Authors: Ghorbanhoseini Mohammad , Ghaheri Azadeh , Walley Kempland C. , Kwon John Y.
Published: June 2016

Background:

Intra-articular calcaneus fractures result in heel shortening, widening, varus malalignment, and loss of height. Little has been written regarding superior displacement of the calcaneal tuber, which warrants consideration as previous literature has demonstrated issues arising from a shortened triceps surae. We sought to determine the amount of tuber elevation seen in calcaneus fractures as compared to normal calcanei and propose 2 new measurements that aid in quantifying displacement and may aid in the surgical management of calcaneus fractures.

Methods:

Lateral radiographs of 220 normal calcanei were examined. Two novel measurements, the talo-tuber angle and talo-tuber distance, were used to establish normative data for calcaneal tuber positioning. Lateral radiographs of 50 calcaneus fractures treated operatively were examined and the same measurements were obtained before and after surgery to determine the amount of superior tuber elevation.

Results:

Normative data demonstrated a mean of 38.6 degrees (±SD = 4.3, range: 26.2-58.4) when using the talo-tuber angle and 54.5 mm (±SD = 7.3, range: 36.2-72.6) when using the talo-tuber distance in normal calcanei. Patients sustaining calcaneus fractures demonstrated a mean of 29.5 degrees (±SD = 5.9, range: 20-46.4) for the talo-tuber angle and 39.0 mm (±SD = 9.4, range: 24.0-62.9) for the talo-tuber distance. These values changed to a mean of 37 degrees (±SD = 5.2, range: 26.4-50) for the talo-tuber angle and 51.8 mm (±SD = 8.6, range: 33.2-75.7) for the talo-tuber distance after surgery. There was a statistically significant difference ( P value < .01) for both talo-tuber angle and distance between normal and fractured calcanei. Inter- and intra-observer agreement was excellent.

Conclusion:

Superior displacement of the calcaneal tuber is a deformity seen in intra-articular calcaneus fractures that has been poorly described that warrants increased awareness and correction at the time of surgery. We propose 2 novel measurements with associated normative data that may aid surgeons in quantifying this deformity and assessing anatomic reduction.

Level of Evidence:

Level III, comparative study.
A new simplified method for anti-symmetric mode in-plane vibrations of frame structures with column cracks
Authors: Mazanoglu Kemal , Kandemir-Mazanoglu Elif C
Published: June 2016

This paper is on the natural frequency and mode shape computation of frame structures with column cracks. First, a model of intact frame structures is built to perform vibration analysis. Beam elements are considered as lumped masses and rotational springs at the storey levels of frames. Equivalent model of columns and lumped mass-stiffness effects of beams have been combined to carry out continuous solution for the anti-symmetric mode in-plane vibrations of frames. In addition, frame systems with multiple column cracks are analyzed in terms of anti-symmetric mode vibration characteristics. Cracks are considered as massless rotational springs in compliance with the local flexibility model. Compatibility and continuity conditions are satisfied at crack and storey locations of the equivalent column, modeled using the Euler–Bernoulli beam theory. The proposed method is tested for single-storey single- and multi-bay, H-type and double-storey single-bay frame systems with intact and cracked columns. Results are validated by those given in the current literature and/or obtained by the finite element analyses.