bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Testing theZimbardoTimePerspectiveInventory in theChinese context
Authors: Wang Ya , Chen Xing‐jie , Cui Ji‐fang , Liu Lu‐lu
Published: December 2015

In this study, the authors evaluated theChinese version of theZimbardoTimePerspectiveInventory (ZTPI). TheZTPIwas tested among a sample of 303 university students. A subsample of 51 participants was then asked to complete theZTPIagain along with another set of questionnaires. The five‐factor model of a 20‐item short version of theZTPIshowed good model fit, internal consistency, and test‐retest reliability. The 20‐itemChinese version of theZTPIalso provided good validity, showing correlations with other variables in expected directions.Past‐Positive was positively correlated with reappraisal and negatively correlated with suppression emotion regulation strategies, andPresent‐Hedonistic was positively correlated with reappraisal emotion regulation strategies. These findings indicate that theZTPIis a reliable and valid instrument for measuring time perspective in theChinese setting.
Predicting the electronic and optical properties of IB metals doped monoclinic BiVO4: First principle calculations
Authors: Ding Kaining , Wen Lili , Xu Lintao , Wu Huadeng , Ye Yiguang , Zhang Yongfan
Published: December 2015

The effect of doping IB metals (Cu, Ag, and Au) on the photocatalytic activity of monoclinic Bismuth vanadate (BiVO4) was investigated by predicting their electronic and optical properties based on the first‐principle calculation. For the Cu‐doped system, the formation of shallow acceptor level will narrow the band gap and trap the electrons which may enhance the separation of photo‐induced carriers. And the doping of Ag has little effect on the electronic structure. However, the doping of Au will introduce a deep localized impurity level which should serve as both charge traps and recombination centers, and hinder the separation of photo‐induced carriers. With incorporation of Cu, the mobility of charge carriers is enhanced due to the smaller effective mass, but the Ag and Au doping would not improve the transfer of charges. In summary, only the doping of Cu has positive effect on improving the photocatalytic activity of monoclinic BiVO4. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
An Automated Emergency Landing System for Fixed‐Wing Aircraft: Planning and Control
Authors: Warren Michael , Mejias Luis , Kok Jonathan , Yang Xilin , Gonzalez Felipe , Upcroft Ben
Published: December 2015

A number of hurdles must be overcome in order to integrate unmanned aircraft into civilian airspace for routine operations. The ability of the aircraft to land safely in an emergency is essential to reduce the risk to people, infrastructure, and aircraft. To date, few field‐demonstrated systems have been presented that show online replanning and repeatability from failure to touchdown. This paper presents the development of the guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) component of an automated emergency landing system (AELS) intended to address this gap, suited to a variety of fixed‐wing aircraft. Field‐tested on both a fixed‐wing unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and Cessna 172R during repeated emergency landing experiments, a trochoid‐based path planner computes feasible trajectories, and a simplified control system executes the required maneuvers to guide the aircraft toward touchdown on a predefined landing site. This is achieved in zero‐thrust conditions with engine forced to idle to simulate failure. During an autonomous landing, the controller uses airspeed, inertial, and GPS data to track motion and maintains essential flight parameters to guarantee flyability, while the planner monitors glide ratio and replans to ensure approach at correct altitude. Simulations show reliability of the system in a variety of wind conditions and its repeated ability to land within the boundary of a predefined landing site. Results from field‐tests for the two aircraft demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed GNC system in live operation. Results show that the system is capable of guiding the aircraft to close proximity of a predefined keyhole in nearly 100% of cases.
Electro‐oxidation and reduction of H2 on platinum studied by scanning electrochemical microscopy for the purpose of local detection of H2 evolution
Authors: Jamali Sina S. , Moulton Simon E. , Tallman Dennis E. , Weber Jan , Wallace Gordon G.
Published: December 2015

Electrochemical detection of H2 using scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) has shown to hold great promise as a sensitive characterization method with high spatial resolution for active surfaces generating H2. Herein, the factors contributing to the current that is measured by SECM in generation/collection mode for H2 detection are studied. In particular, the concentration gradient of H2 at the substrate, the H2/H+ recycling between the SECM tip and substrate and hemispherical profile of H2 diffusion has been discussed. It was postulated that H2/H+ recycling plays a dominant role in the oxidative current measured in generation/collection mode of SECM when the microelectrode is positioned in close vicinity of substrate. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Grapiprant: an EP4 prostaglandin receptor antagonist and novel therapy for pain and inflammation
Authors: Kirkby Shaw Kristin , Rausch‐Derra Lesley C. , Rhodes Linda
Published: December 2015

There are five active prostanoid metabolites of arachidonic acid (AA) that have widespread and varied physiologic functions throughout the body, including regulation of gastrointestinal mucosal blood flow, renal haemodynamics and primary haemostasis. Each prostanoid has at least one distinct receptor that mediates its action. Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) is a prostanoid that serves important homeostatic functions, yet is also responsible for regulating pain and inflammation. PGE2 binds to four receptors, of which one, the EP4 receptor, is primarily responsible for the pain and inflammation associated with osteoarthritis (OA). The deleterious and pathologic actions of PGE2 are inhibited in varying degrees by steroids, aspirin and cyclo‐oxygenase inhibiting NSAIDs; however, administration of these drugs causes decreased production of PGE2, thereby decreasing or eliminating the homeostatic functions of the molecule. By inhibiting just the EP4 receptor, the homeostatic function of PGE2 is better maintained. This manuscript will introduce a new class of pharmaceuticals known as the piprant class. Piprants are prostaglandin receptor antagonists (PRA). This article will include basic physiology of AA, prostanoids and piprants, will review available evidence for the relevance of EP4 PRAs in rodent models of pain and inflammation, and will reference available data for an EP4 PRA in dogs and cats. Piprants are currently in development for veterinary patients and the purpose of this manuscript is to introduce veterinarians to the class of drugs, with emphasis on an EP4 PRA and its potential role in the control of pain and inflammation associated with OA in dogs and cats.
Biosynthesis of glycosaminoglycans: associated disorders and biochemical tests
Authors: Sasarman Florin , Maftei Catalina , Campeau Philippe M. , Brunel‐Guitton Catherine , Mitchell Grant A. , Allard Pierre
Published: December 2015

Glycosaminoglycans (GAG) are long, unbranched heteropolymers with repeating disaccharide units that make up the carbohydrate moiety of proteoglycans. Six distinct classes of GAGs are recognized. Their synthesis follows one of three biosynthetic pathways, depending on the type of oligosaccharide linker they contain. Chondroitin sulfate, dermatan sulfate, heparan sulfate, and heparin sulfate contain a common tetrasaccharide linker that is O‐linked to specific serine residues in core proteins. Keratan sulfate can contain three different linkers, either N‐linked to asparagine or O‐linked to serine/threonine residues in core proteins. Finally, hyaluronic acid does not contain a linker and is not covalently attached to a core protein. Most inborn errors of GAG biosynthesis are reported in small numbers of patients. To date, in 20 diseases, convincing evidence for pathogenicity has been presented for mutations in a total of 16 genes encoding glycosyltransferases, sulfotransferases, epimerases or transporters. GAG synthesis defects should be suspected in patients with a combination of characteristic clinical features in more than one connective tissue compartment: bone and cartilage (short long bones with or without scoliosis), ligaments (joint laxity/dislocations), and subepithelial (skin, sclerae). Some produce distinct clinical syndromes. The commonest laboratory tests used for this group of diseases are analysis of GAGs, enzyme assays, and molecular testing. In principle, GAG analysis has potential as a general first‐line diagnostic test for GAG biosynthesis disorders.
Impact of age at onset and newborn screening on outcome in organic acidurias
Authors: Heringer Jana , Valayannopoulos Vassili , Lund Allan M. , Wijburg Frits A. , Freisinger Peter , Barić Ivo , Baumgartner Matthias R. , Burgard Peter , Burlina Alberto B. , Chapman Kimberly A. , i Saladelafont Elisenda Cortès , Karall Daniela , Mühlhausen Chris , Riches Victoria , Schiff Manuel , Sykut‐Cegielska Jolanta , Walter John H. , Zeman Jiri , Chabrol Brigitte , Kölker Stefan ,   additional individual contributors of the E‐IMD consortium
Published: December 2015

Background and aim

To describe current diagnostic and therapeutic strategies in organic acidurias (OADs) and to evaluate their impact on the disease course allowing harmonisation.

Methods

Datasets of 567 OAD patients from the E‐IMD registry were analysed. The sample includes patients with methylmalonic (MMA, n = 164), propionic (PA, n = 144) and isovaleric aciduria (IVA, n = 83), and glutaric aciduria type 1 (GA1, n = 176). Statistical analysis included description and recursive partitioning of diagnostic and therapeutic strategies, and odds ratios (OR) for health outcome parameters. For some analyses, symptomatic patients were divided into those presenting with first symptoms during (i.e. early onset, EO) or after the newborn period (i.e. late onset, LO).

Results

Patients identified by newborn screening (NBS) had a significantly lower median age of diagnosis (8 days) compared to the LO group (363 days, p < 0.001], but not compared to the EO group. Of all OAD patients 71 % remained asymptomatic until day 8. Patients with cobalamin‐nonresponsive MMA (MMA‐Cbl−) and GA1 identified by NBS were less likely to have movement disorders than those diagnosed by selective screening (MMA‐Cbl−: 10 % versus 39 %, p = 0.002; GA1: 26 % versus 73 %, p < 0.001). For other OADs, the clinical benefit of NBS was less clear. Reported age‐adjusted intake of natural protein and calories was significantly higher in LO patients than in EO patients reflecting different disease severities. Variable drug combinations, ranging from 12 in MMA‐Cbl− to two in isovaleric aciduria, were used for maintenance treatment. The effects of specific metabolic treatment strategies on the health outcomes remain unclear because of the strong influences of age at onset (EO versus LO), diagnostic mode (NBS versus selective screening), and the various treatment combinations used.

Conclusions

NBS is an effective intervention to reduce time until diagnosis especially for LO patients and to prevent irreversible cerebral damage in GA1 and MMA‐Cbl−. Huge diversity of therapeutic interventions hampers our understanding of optimal treatment.
Conserved Curvature of RNA Polymerase I Core Promoter Beyond rRNA Genes: The Case of the Tritryps
Authors: Smircich Pablo , Duhagon María Ana , Garat Beatriz
Published: December 2015

In trypanosomatids, the RNA polymerase I (RNAPI)-dependent promoters controlling the ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes have been well identified. Although the RNAPI transcription machinery recognizes the DNA conformation instead of the DNA sequence of promoters, no conformational study has been reported for these promoters. Here we present the in silico analysis of the intrinsic DNA curvature of the rRNA gene core promoters in Trypanosoma brucei, Trypanosoma cruzi, and Leishmania major. We found that, in spite of the absence of sequence conservation, these promoters hold conformational properties similar to other eukaryotic rRNA promoters. Our results also indicated that the intrinsic DNA curvature pattern is conserved within the Leishmania genus and also among strains of T. cruzi and T. brucei. Furthermore, we analyzed the impact of point mutations on the intrinsic curvature and their impact on the promoter activity. Furthermore, we found that the core promoters of protein-coding genes transcribed by RNAPI in T. brucei show the same conserved conformational characteristics. Overall, our results indicate that DNA intrinsic curvature of the rRNA gene core promoters is conserved in these ancient eukaryotes and such conserved curvature might be a requirement of RNAPI machinery for transcription of not only rRNA genes but also protein-coding genes.
Clostridium difficile Infections in Veterans Health Administration Long-Term Care Facilities
Authors: Reeves Jeffrey S. , Evans Martin E. , Simbartl Loretta A. , Kralovic Stephen M. , Kelly Allison A. , Jain Rajiv , Roselle Gary A.
Published: December 2015

OBJECTIVE

A nationwide initiative was implemented in February 2014 to decrease Clostridium difficile infections (CDI) in Veterans Affairs (VA) long-term care facilities. We report a baseline of national CDI data collected during the 2 years before the Initiative.

METHODS

Personnel at each of 122 reporting sites entered monthly retrospective CDI case data from February 2012 through January 2014 into a national database using case definitions similar to those used in the National Healthcare Safety Network Multidrug-Resistant Organism/CDI module. The data were evaluated using Poisson regression models to examine infection occurrences over time while accounting for admission prevalence and type of diagnostic test.

RESULTS

During the 24-month analysis period, there were 100,800 admissions, 6,976,121 resident days, and 1,558 CDI cases. The pooled CDI admission prevalence rate (including recurrent cases) was 0.38 per 100 admissions, and the pooled nonduplicate/nonrecurrent community-onset rate was 0.17 per 100 admissions. The pooled long-term care facility–onset rate and the clinically confirmed (ie, diarrhea or evidence of pseudomembranous colitis) long-term care facility–onset rate were 1.98 and 1.78 per 10,000 resident days, respectively. Accounting for diagnostic test type, the long-term care facility–onset rate declined significantly (P=.05), but the clinically confirmed long-term care facility–onset rate did not.

CONCLUSIONS

VA long-term care facility CDI rates were comparable to those in recent reports from other long-term care facilities. The significant decline in the long-term care facility-onset rate but not in the clinically confirmed long-term care facility–onset rate may have been due to less testing of asymptomatic patients. Efforts to decrease CDI rates in long-term care facilities are necessary as part of a coordinated approach to decrease healthcare-associated infections.

Infect. Control Hosp. Epidemiol. 2016;37(3):295–300
Drifting Towards Bordeaux? The Evolving Varietal Emphasis of U.S. Wine Regions
Authors: Alston Julian M. , Anderson Kym , Sambucci Olena
Published: December 2015

In an ever-more-competitive global market, vignerons compete for the attention of consumers by trying to differentiate their product while also responding to technological advances, climate changes and evolving demand patterns. In doing so, they highlight their regional and varietal distinctiveness. This paper examines the extent to which the winegrape varietal mix varies within and among states of the United States and relative to the rest of the world, and how that picture has been evolving. It reports varietal intensity indexes for different regions, indexes of similarity of varietal mix between regions and over time, and price-based quality indexes across regions and varieties within and among the three west-coast States. Broadly speaking, the mix of winegrape varieties in the United States is not very different from that in the rest of the world and, since 2000, it has become even less differentiated and closer to that of France and the world as a whole. But individual U.S. regions vary considerably in the mix of varieties in which they specialize and in the quality of grapes they produce of a given variety; and region-by-variety interactions have complex influences on the pattern of quality and production. We use measures of regional varietal comparative advantage and a Nerlovian partial adjustment model to account for some of the shifting varietal patterns in the U.S. vineyard and in winegrape production. (JEL Classification: D24, L66, Q13)
Sensory Analysis and Willingness to Pay for Craft Cider
Authors: Tozer Peter R. , Galinato Suzette P. , Ross Carolyn F. , Miles Carol A. , McCluskey Jill J.
Published: December 2015

We conducted a blind tasting sensory evaluation experiment and a chemical analysis of four craft hard apple ciders from the Pacific Northwest of the USA. Using the sensory and demographic data collected during the experiment, we estimated the consumer willingness-to-pay (WTP), using a contingent valuation model. Overall liking, taste, and aroma, from the sensory evaluation, as well as age of the sampler and if the sampler was a cider drinker, contributed positively to the WTP. In contrast, if the subject was a beer drinker this reduced their WTP. From the chemical analysis we found that tannin level had a positive effect on WTP, but an increased level of sweetness, as part of a ratio of specific gravity to acid, decreased consumer WTP. (JEL Classifications: C91, D12, L66, Q13)
Short-term weight gain after adenotonsillectomy in children with obstructive sleep apnoea: systematic review
Authors: Van M , Khan I , Hussain S S M
Published: December 2015

Background:

Children with obstructive sleep apnoea commonly undergo adenotonsillectomy as first-line surgical treatment. This paper aimed to investigate whether this intervention was associated with weight gain after surgery in the paediatric population with obstructive sleep apnoea.

Method:

Two independent researchers systematically reviewed the literature from 1995 to 2014 for studies on patients who underwent adenotonsillectomy with weight-based measurements before and after surgery. The databases used were Ovid Medline, Embase and PubMed.

Results:

Six papers satisfied all inclusion criteria. Four of these papers showed a significant weight increase and the others did not. The only high quality, randomised, controlled trial showed a significant increase of weight gain at seven months follow up, even in patients who were already overweight before their surgery.

Conclusion:

The current evidence points towards an association between adenotonsillectomy and weight gain in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea in the short term.
Autolytinae from Peru: description ofMyrianida paredesisp. nov. and new records ofMyrianida pentadentata(Imajima, 1966), andProceraea micropedata(Hartmann-Schröder, 1962)
Authors: Aguirre Luis , San Martín Guillermo , Álvarez-Campos Patricia
Published: December 2015

A new species,Myrianida paredesi, and new records ofMyrianida pentadentata(Imajima, 1966), andProcerarea micropedata(Hartmann-Schöder, 1962), are described from the central coast of Peru.Myrianida paredesiis characterized by the presence of an additional mid-dorsal, digitiform structure, quite similar to a dorsal cirrus (unique among all syllids), a subtriangular prostomium with a posterior region extended to middle peristomium, pharynx with a single elongated sinuation and a trepan with 14–15 equal teeth in a single ring. Descriptions of male and female stolons are also provided. The phylogenetic position of the new species within Myrianida is determined using molecular data, suggesting it is closely related to the species that share the presence of one ciliary troch per segment (exceptM. pachycera; unknown inM. australiensis), moderate number of equal teeth on trepan (exceptM. pachycera), and the mode of reproduction.

Descriptions of the collected specimens ofMyrianida pentadentata(Imajima, 1966), andProceraea micropedata(Hartmann-Schröder, 1962), both new reports to Peru, are also included.
Three non-indigenous species ofAoroides(Crustacea: Amphipoda: Aoridae) from the French Atlantic coast
Authors: Gouillieux Benoit , Lavesque Nicolas , Leclerc Jean-Charles , Le Garrec Vincent , Viard Frédérique , Bachelet Guy
Published: December 2015

The amphipod genusAoroidesis reported for the first time in European marine waters. Specimens ofAoroides semicurvatusandAoroides curvipeswere collected in oyster reefs in Arcachon Bay between 2009 and 2014 and in Hossegor Lake in 2014 (SW France). Specimens ofAoroides longimeruswere collected in 2013 and 2014 in subtidal slipper limpet beds andZostera marinameadows in Arcachon Bay and in 2014 on floating pontoons in the Bay of Brest (W France). These species, native to Asia, may have been accidentally introduced in Arcachon Bay and Hossegor Lake with oyster transfers and in the Bay of Brest through both oyster transfers and shipping.
Eating and ageing in rural Australia: applying temporal perspectives from phenomenology to uncover meanings in older adults’ experiences
Authors: KING ALEXANDRA CLARE , ORPIN PETER , WOODROFFE JESSICA , BOYER KIM
Published: December 2015

Nutritious and enjoyable eating experiences are important for the health and wellbeing of older adults. Social gerontology has usefully engaged with the role of time in older adults’ eating lives, considering how routines and other temporal patterns shape experiences of food, meals and eating. Building on this foundation, the paper details one set of findings from qualitative doctoral research into older adults’ experiences of food, meals and eating. Informed by phenomenological ethnography, it engages with one of four dimensions of the human lifeworld – the temporal dimension. The research involved repeated in-depth interviews, walking interviews and observation with 21 participants aged 72–90 years, living in rural Tasmania, Australia. The temporal elements of older adults’ experiences are detailed in terms of the past, present and future. The findings show that older adults have vivid memories of eating in uncertain and austere times, and these experiences have informed their food values and behaviours into old age. In the present, older adults employ several strategies for living and eating well. Simultaneously, they are oriented towards their uncertain eating futures. These findings reveal the implicit meanings in older adults’ temporal experiences of food, meals and eating, highlighting the importance of understanding older adults’ lifeworlds, and their orientation towards the future, for developing effective responses to concerns about food and eating in this age group.
Spousal age differences and synchronised retirement
Authors: GUSTAFSON PER
Published: December 2015

Many couples want to retire together even if spouses differ in age. Drawing on theories of leisure complementarity, gender roles and social status, this article uses comprehensive Swedish register data from 2002 to 2010 to explore synchronised retirement and its association with spousal age differences and other socio-demographic factors. Synchronisation rates in dual-earner couples (N = 83,986) were 10 per cent for retirement the same calendar year and 25 per cent for retirement the same or the following year. Contrary to theoretical expectations, synchronisation was more common in women-older couples than in men-older couples, although this was largely a consequence of the skewed distribution of age differences. Moreover, spouses' education, incomes, assets, employment and health were differently associated with synchronisation in same-age, men-older and women-older couples. In the total population, average retirement age differed very little between synchronising couples and other couples. Yet women who synchronised retired at an earlier age than other women, whereas men who synchronised retired later than other men. This was partly an effect of the predominance of men-older couples, but men in men-older couples were also more likely than women in women-older couples to delay retirement in order to synchronise.
Native English speakers' authority in English
Authors: Wang Ying
Published: December 2015

Given the unprecedented spread of English, native English speakers (NESs) have been estimated to number 508 million by 2050 (Graddol, 1997: 27), while a bold estimation of speakers of English is 2 billion by 2050 (Crystal, 2008: 4–5). The international demographic profile of English presents a scenario whereby the development of English depends on how this language is used by non-native English speakers (NNESs), who are obviously in the majority for English use (e.g. Brumfit, 2001: 116; Crystal, 2008: 6; Graddol, 1997: 10; Mauranen, 2012; Seidlhofer, 2011: 7–8). While the importance of the number of English speakers globally is acknowledged, English in China remains a particularly interesting area for linguists. Not only English is widely learned in China, but also Chinese speakers of English are increasingly involved in intercultural encounters. In Graddol's (1997, 2006) discussion of the future of English, a comprehensive account is put forward about China, a country that has statistical significance for the development of English, given its large population of people who know English and its economic development. As Crystal (2008: 5) notes:

[I]f India is the significant factor in relation to second-language speakers (in the sense of countries where English has some sort of special status), then China is surely the corresponding factor in relation to foreign-language speakers (in the sense of countries where the language has no official status).

In this sense, it would seem that China will play an important role in shaping the profile of English use in the future. If this is an acceptable hypothesis, the development of English in China has implications for the future world of English use.
The Shock of the New
Authors: Elmes Simon
Published: December 2015

It was the late Robert Hughes's remarkable TV series and book on modern art, The Shock of the New, first seen in the early 1980s, that with its title so deftly captured the both the excitement and the puzzlement to the beholder of creative novelty and innovation. And it is in many ways a self-fulfilling phrase, since epigrammatic, yet meaning-laden titles and names are the stuff of the broadcast programmer and the namer of new products. The new can indeed be shocking to the beholder, and Hughes's title says it in a sharp, monosyllabic manner whose five-word cadence has both balance and rhythm. Shuffle the words – or render them in a different grammatical format (‘novelty shocks’, for example) – and it falls apart. Words applied to new things and events matter, because they need to be repeated and, the makers hope, be talked about; resonance and repeatability are important to original things being launched on an unsuspecting public.
Criteria for new inclusions in the OED – A case study of informatization
Authors: Chen Guohua , Cheng Lixia
Published: December 2015

In 1977 two French men, Simon Nora, a high-level civil servant, and Alain Minc, an economist, co-authored a report entitled L'informatisation de la société to French president Valery Giscard d'Estaing, which was later translated into English and published as The Computerization of Society (Nora & Minc, 1980). However, in a paper of the same title written in English and published in 1987, Minc simply transplanted the French word informatisation directly into English rather than sticking to the old translation computerization. However that was not the first time the word informatisation was used in the English language. One year before, the word informatization had appeared in an article published in the American magazine Dædalus:

(1)

This is what the information society is offering as a by-product of a new stage in the mechanization of the economy and the informatization of culture. […] It is no accident that the phrase “artificial intelligence” has become such an important term within the culture of those responsible for the informatization of society, because, if intelligence can be artificial, then the randomness of history will disappear (Smith, 1986: 165–6).
Employing native-English-speaking teachers in China: Benefits, problems and solutions
Authors: Rao Zhenhui , Yuan Hua
Published: December 2015

The beginning of this new century has witnessed two important events in English language education in China. The first is the expansion of English language education into the primary curriculum. In 2001, the Chinese Ministry of Education (MOE) required that primary schools located in cities and county seats start to offer English classes at Primary 3 from the autumn of 2001 and that the rest start to do so in the following year (MOE, 2001). The second is the increase of enrolment in various types of Chinese colleges and universities. For example, in 1999 the number of students enrolled in Chinese higher education was six million, but it rose to over 20 million in 2004 (Jin & Cortazzi, 2006). Such a rapid development of English language education has resulted in a number of difficulties and challenges for EFL teaching in China, but the most serious constraint comes from the lack of qualified teachers (Rao, 2010). To compensate for the shortage of English teachers, many Chinese schools are endeavoring to attract more native-English-speaking teachers (henceforth NESTs) to fill up EFL teaching vacancies. In 2006, for example, there were 150,000 foreign EFL teachers working in China (Jeon & Lee, 2006).
Performance on the Boston Naming Test in Bilinguals
Authors: Sheppard Christine , Kousaie Shanna , Monetta Laura , Taler Vanessa
Published: December 2015

Objectives:We examined performance on the Boston Naming Test (BNT) in older and younger adults who were monolingual English or French speakers, or bilingual speakers of English and French (n=215).Methods:Monolingual participants completed the task in their native language, and bilingual participants completed the task in English, French, and bilingual (either-language) administrations.Results:Overall, younger and older monolingual French speakers performed worse than other groups; bilingual participants performed worst in the French administration and approximately two-thirds of bilingual participants performed better when responses were accepted in either language. Surprisingly, however, a subset of bilinguals performed worse when responses were accepted in either language as compared to their maximum score achieved in either English or French. This either-language disadvantage does not appear to be associated with the degree of balanced bilingualism, but instead appears to be related to overall naming abilities. Differential item analysis comparing language groups and the different administrations identified several items that displayed uniform and/or non-uniform differential item functioning (DIF).Conclusions:The BNT does not elicit equivalent performance in English and French, even when assessing naming performance in monolingual French speakers using the French version of the test. Scores were lower in French overall, and several items exhibited DIF. We recommend caution in interpreting performance on these items in bilingual speakers. Finally, not all bilinguals benefit from an either-language administration of the BNT. (JINS, 2015,21, 350–363)
The (non) particularities of West European radical left party supporters: comparing left party families
Authors: Charalambous Giorgos , Lamprianou Iasonas
Published: December 2015

So far little has been done to explore similarities and differences between radical left parties and other traditionally perceived party families of the left at the societal level. A noticeable gap thus remains in the study of the European radical left: whether and in what ways social divides form the basis of radical left party support. Using data from the fourth round of the European Social Survey (2008), for five West European countries, we investigate radical left party supporters’ socio-demographic and attitudinal characteristics, juxtaposing them with those of social democratic party supporters and green party supporters. Our approach departs from related studies by distinguishing three cognitional operations within the economic left-right axis, that are based on the distinction between ideals and their effects on reality; and by testing for intra-left divides revolving around trust. Based on insights from cleavage research, we devise a number of hypotheses, most of which test positively. Our findings suggest left party families across Western Europe do reflect certain lines of division in society, albeit with qualifications. While structural divides are not found to be significant, there appears to be correspondence between political and attitudinal divides on a three-dimensional space. These concern the cognitive divisions within the economic left-right axis, issues of political trust, and attitudes towards the environment. Our findings have conceptual and empirical implications both for the left and for investigations into cleavage politics.
Stereotype Threat Alters the Subjective Experience of	Memory
Authors: Mazerolle Marie , Régner Isabelle , Rigalleau François , Huguet Pascal
Published: December 2015

Abstract. There is now evidence that negative age-related stereotypes about memory reduce older adults’ memory performance, and inflate age differences in this domain. Here, we examine whether stereotype threat may also influence the basic feeling that one is more or less able to remember. Using the Remember/Know paradigm, we demonstrated that stereotype threat conducted older adults to a greater feeling of familiarity with events, while failing to retrieve any contextual detail. This finding indicates that stereotype threat alters older adults’ subjective experience of memory, and strengthens our understanding of the mechanisms underlying stereotype threat effects.
Moral Reasoning and Personal Behavior: A Meta-Analytical Review
Authors: Villegas de Posada Cristina , Vargas-Trujillo Elvia
Published: December 2015

The meta-analysis examined the effect of moral development on 4 domains of action (real life, honesty, altruism, and resistance to conformity), and on action in general. The database, comprised by 151 studies across 71 years, stemmed from a previous narrative synthesis conducted by Blasi (1980) , updated with studies published up to 2013. Results showed that (a) moral development was significantly related to action in general and to each domain, (b) the effect sizes were similar for altruism, real life, and resistance to conformity, with coefficients higher than r = .20, (c) the effect size for honesty was lower than for the other 3 types of behaviors, and (d) demographic or methodological variables did not affect the association between moral development and action. Discussion centers on similarities among domains of action, perfect and imperfect duties, and the need for other constructs to account for moral action.
Exclusive photorelease of signalling lipids at the plasma membrane
Authors: Nadler André , Yushchenko Dmytro A. , Müller Rainer , Stein Frank , Feng Suihan , Mulle Christophe , Carta Mario , Schultz Carsten
Published: December 2015

Photoactivation of caged biomolecules has become a powerful approach to study cellular signalling events. Here we report a method for anchoring and uncaging biomolecules exclusively at the outer leaflet of the plasma membrane by employing a photocleavable, sulfonated coumarin derivative. The novel caging group allows quantifying the reaction progress and efficiency of uncaging reactions in a live-cell microscopy setup, thereby greatly improving the control of uncaging experiments. We synthesized arachidonic acid derivatives bearing the new negatively charged or a neutral, membrane-permeant coumarin caging group to locally induce signalling either at the plasma membrane or on internal membranes in β-cells and brain slices derived from C57B1/6 mice. Uncaging at the plasma membrane triggers a strong enhancement of calcium oscillations in β-cells and a pronounced potentiation of synaptic transmission while uncaging inside cells blocks calcium oscillations in β-cells and causes a more transient effect on neuronal transmission, respectively. The precise subcellular site of arachidonic acid release is therefore crucial for signalling outcome in two independent systems.
A Dual Role of Graphene Oxide Sheet Deposition on Titanate Nanowire Scaffolds for Osteo-implantation: Mechanical Hardener and Surface Activity Regulator
Authors: Dong Wenjun , Hou Lijuan , Li Tingting , Gong Ziqiang , Huang Huandi , Wang Ge , Chen Xiaobo , Li Xiaoyun
Published: December 2015

Scaffold biomaterials with open pores and channels are favourable for cell growth and tissue regeneration, however the inherent poor mechanical strength and low surface activity limit their applications as load-bearing bone grafts with satisfactory osseointegration. In this study, macro-porous graphene oxide (GO) modified titanate nanowire scaffolds with desirable surface chemistry and tunable mechanical properties were prepared through a simple hydrothermal process followed by electrochemical deposition of GO nanosheets. The interconnected and porous structure of the GO/titanate nanowire scaffolds provides a large surface area for cellular attachment and migration and displays a high compressive strength of approximately 81.1 MPa and a tunable Young’s modulus over the range of 12.4–41.0 GPa, which satisfies site-specific requirements for implantation. Surface chemistry of the scaffolds was modulated by the introduction of GO, which endows the scaffolds flexibility in attaching and patterning bioactive groups (such as -OH, -COOH and -NH2). In vitro cell culture tests suggest that the GO/titanate nanowire scaffolds act as a promising biomaterial candidate, in particular the one terminated with -OH groups, which demonstrates improved cell viability and proliferation, differentiation and osteogenic activities.
Syndromic surveillance of abortions in beef cattle based on the prospective analysis of spatio-temporal variations of calvings
Authors: Bronner A. , Morignat E. , Fournié G. , Vergne T. , Vinard J-L , Gay E. , Calavas D.
Published: December 2015

Our objective was to study the ability of a syndromic surveillance system to identify spatio-temporal clusters of drops in the number of calvings among beef cows during the Bluetongue epizootic of 2007 and 2008, based on calving seasons. France was partitioned into 300 iso-populated units, i.e. units with quite the same number of beef cattle. Only 1% of clusters were unlikely to be related to Bluetongue. Clusters were detected during the calving season of primary infection by Bluetongue in 28% (n = 23) of the units first infected in 2007 and in 87% (n = 184) of the units first infected in 2008. In units in which a first cluster was detected over their calving season of primary infection, Bluetongue was detected more rapidly after the start of the calving season and its prevalence was higher than in other units. We believe that this type of syndromic surveillance system could improve the surveillance of abortive events in French cattle. Besides, our approach should be used to develop syndromic surveillance systems for other diseases and purposes and in other settings, to avoid “false” alarms due to isolated events and homogenize the ability to detect abnormal variations of indicator amongst iso-populated units.
The variant Polycomb Repressor Complex 1 component PCGF1 interacts with a pluripotency sub-network that includes DPPA4, a regulator of embryogenesis
Authors: Oliviero Giorgio , Munawar Nayla , Watson Ariane , Streubel Gundula , Manning Gwendolyn , Bardwell Vivian , Bracken Adrian P. , Cagney Gerard
Published: December 2015

PCGF1 encodes one of six human Polycomb RING finger homologs that are linked to transcriptional repression and developmental gene regulation. Individual PCGF proteins define discrete Polycomb Repressor Complex 1 (PRC1) multi-protein complexes with diverse subunit composition whose functions are incompletely understood. PCGF1 is a component of a variant PRC1 complex that also contains the BCL6 co-repressor BCOR and the histone demethylase KDM2B. To further investigate the role of PCGF1, we mapped the physical interactions of the protein under endogenous conditions in a cell model of neuronal differentiation. Using stringent statistical cut-offs, 83 highly enriched interacting proteins were identified, including all previously reported members of the variant PRC1 complex containing PCGF1, as well as proteins linked to diverse cellular pathways such as chromatin and cell cycle regulation. Notably, a sub-network of proteins associated with the establishment and maintenance of pluripotency (NANOG, OCT4, PATZ1 and the developmental regulator DPPA4) were found to independently interact with PCGF1 in a subsequent round of physical interaction mapping experiments. Furthermore, knockdown of PCGF1 results in reduced expression of DPPA4 and other subunits of the variant PRC1 complex at both mRNA and protein levels. Thus, PCGF1 represents a physical and functional link between Polycomb function and pluripotency.
Language modulates brain activity underlying representation of kinship terms
Authors: Wu Haiyan , Ge Yue , Tang Honghong , Luo Yue-Jia , Mai Xiaoqin , Liu Chao
Published: December 2015

Kinship terms have been found to be highly diverse across languages. Here we investigated the brain representation of kinship terms in two distinct populations, native Chinese and Caucasian English speakers, with a five-element kinship identification (FEKI) task. The neuroimaging results showed a common extensive frontal and parietal lobe brain activation pattern for different kinship levels for both Chinese and Caucasian English speakers. Furthermore, Chinese speakers had longer reaction times and elicited more fronto-parietal brain networks activation compared to English speakers in level three (e.g., uncle and nephew) and four (e.g., cousin), including an association between the middle frontal gyrus and superior parietal lobe, which might be associated with higher working memory, attention control and social distance representation load in Chinese kinship system processing. These results contribute to our understanding of the representation of kinship terms in the two languages.
Associations of Different Adipose Tissue Depots with Insulin Resistance: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Observational Studies
Authors: Zhang Mingzhi , Hu Tian , Zhang Shaoyan , Zhou Li
Published: December 2015

Fat distribution is strongly associated with insulin resistance, a risk factor for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. However, associations of different adipose tissue depots or/and obesity indices with insulin resistance have not been systematically evaluated. In this study we examined associations of different adipose tissue depots/obesity indices with insulin resistance, as measured by homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) in observational studies. A total of 40 studies with 56 populations and 29 adipose tissue depots/obesity indices were included in the meta-analysis. There were strong correlation between HOMA-IR and visceral fat mass (r = 0.570, 95% confidence interval(CI): 0.424~0.687), total fat mass (r = 0.492, 95%CI: 0.407~0.570), body mass index (r = 0.482, 95%CI: 0.445~0.518) and waist circumference (r = 0.466, 95%CI: 0.432~0.500), except lower extremity fat (r = 0.088, 95%CI: −0.116~0.285). Sample size, diabetic status, gender, mean of body mass index and race contributed to heterogeneity of these associations. This study showed a positive correlation between insulin resistance and most adipose tissue depots/obesity indices and the strongest association is for visceral fat mass.
Formation and dissolution of microbubbles on highly-ordered plasmonic nanopillar arrays
Authors: Liu Xiumei , Bao Lei , Dipalo Michele , De Angelis Francesco , Zhang Xuehua
Published: December 2015

Bubble formation from plasmonic heating of nanostructures is of great interest in many applications. In this work, we study experimentally the intrinsic effects of the number of three-dimensional plasmonic nanostructures on the dynamics of microbubbles, largely decoupled from the effects of dissolved air. The formation and dissolution of microbubbles is observed on exciting groups of 1, 4 and 9 nanopillars. Our results show that the power threshold for the bubble formation depends on the number density of the nanopillars in highly-ordered arrays. In the degassed water, both the growth rate and the maximal radius of the plasmonic microbubbles increase with an increase of the illuminated pillar number, due to the heat balance between the heat loss across the bubble and the collective heating generated from the nanopillars. Interestingly, our results show that the bubble dissolution is affected by the spatial arrangement of the underlying nanopillars, due to the pinning effect on the bubble boundary. The bubbles on nanopillar arrays dissolve in a jumping mode with step-wise features on the dissolution curves, prior to a smooth dissolution phase for the bubble pinned by a single pillar. The insight from this work may facilitate the design of nanostructures for efficient energy conversion.
Using aptamers to elucidate esophageal cancer clinical samples
Authors: Liu Zhenxu , Lu Yi , Pu Ying , Liu Jun , Liu Bo , Yu Bo , Chen Ke , Fu Ting , Yang Chaoyong James , Liu Huixia , Tan Weihong
Published: December 2015

The epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) is closely correlated with the occurrence and development of various cancers of epithelial origin. This study tested, for the first time, the ability of EpCAM aptamer SYL3C to detect EpCAM expression in 170 cases of esophageal cancer (EC) and precancerous lesions, as well as 20 cases of EC series samples, using immunofluorescence imaging analysis. Corresponding antibodies were used as control. EpCAM overexpression was 98% in both esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and esophageal adenocarcinoma (EACA) and 100% in metastasis, but no EpCAM overexpression was detected in undifferentiated EC (UEC). Significant differences were noted among various stages of differentiation (p < 0.05) with the degree of differentiation inversely correlated with the expression of EpCAM. Overexpressed EpCAM was detected in severe dysplasia, but negative in mild to moderate dysplasia and benign esophageal lesions. In a competitive binding experiment, EpCAM aptamer generated a staining pattern similar to that of antibody, but the binding sites with EpCAM were different. Based on these results, it can be concluded that EpCAM is suitable for use as an EC biomarker, therapeutic target and effective parameter for tumor transfer and prognosis evaluation by aptamer SYL3C staining.