bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Fast SVM-Based Tongue’s Colour Classification Aided by k-Means Clustering Identifiers and Colour Attributes as Computer-Assisted Tool for Tongue Diagnosis
Authors: Kamarudin Nur Diyana , Ooi Chia Yee , Kawanabe Tadaaki , Odaguchi Hiroshi , Kobayashi Fuminori
Published: April 2017

In tongue diagnosis, colour information of tongue body has kept valuable information regarding the state of disease and its correlation with the internal organs. Qualitatively, practitioners may have difficulty in their judgement due to the instable lighting condition and naked eye’s ability to capture the exact colour distribution on the tongue especially the tongue with multicolour substance. To overcome this ambiguity, this paper presents a two-stage tongue’s multicolour classification based on a support vector machine (SVM) whose support vectors are reduced by our proposed k-means clustering identifiers and red colour range for precise tongue colour diagnosis. In the first stage, k-means clustering is used to cluster a tongue image into four clusters of image background (black), deep red region, red/light red region, and transitional region. In the second-stage classification, red/light red tongue images are further classified into red tongue or light red tongue based on the red colour range derived in our work. Overall, true rate classification accuracy of the proposed two-stage classification to diagnose red, light red, and deep red tongue colours is 94%. The number of support vectors in SVM is improved by 41.2%, and the execution time for one image is recorded as 48 seconds.
Optical and Structural Properties of Solvent Free Synthesized Starch/Chitosan-ZnO Nanocomposites
Authors: Sanmugam Anandhavelu , Vikraman Dhanasekaran , Venkatesan Sethuraman , Park Hui Joon
Published: April 2017

The objective of this work is to develop an environmentally friendly method for preparation of ZnO nanocomposites. ZnO nanocomposites were prepared by three natural fibers such as coir, sawdust, and chitosan using aqueous solution of zinc chloride and sodium hydroxide. The functional groups of ZnO, C=O for polysaccharide, and N-H bending vibration of amine were confirmed by FTIR spectroscopy. A new high intensity absorption band has been observed at 424 cm−1 which corresponds to the E2 mode of hexagonal ZnO. The crystallinity and phase formation of coir, chitosan, and sawdust combined ZnO nanocomposites were confirmed by X-ray diffraction patterns. XRD patterns revealed the polycrystalline nature of ZnO composites belonging to the hexagonal phase with (101) preferential lattice orientation. The microstructural parameters were calculated for coir, chitosan, and saw wood combined ZnO composites. Also texture coefficients were estimated for all the diffraction lines of ZnO based nanocomposites. SEM and TEM analyses confirmed evenly distributed nanosized grains in the ZnO composites. The UV-Vis absorption spectra were observed where the blue shift absorption peak was at 334 nm. The optical band gap values were estimated in the range of 3.18–3.26 eV. The emission peak was observed at ~388 nm and ~463 nm by photoluminescence spectroscopy.
Insufficient Humidification of Respiratory Gases in Patients Who Are Undergoing Therapeutic Hypothermia at a Paediatric and Adult Intensive Care Unit
Authors: Tanaka Yukari , Iwata Sachiko , Kinoshita Masahiro , Tsuda Kennosuke , Tanaka Shoichiro , Hara Naoko , Shindou Ryota , Harada Eimei , Kijima Ryouji , Yamaga Osamu , Ohkuma Hitoe , Ushijima Kazuo , Sakamoto Teruo , Yamashita Yushiro , Iwata Osuke
Published: April 2017

For cooled newborn infants, humidifier settings for normothermic condition provide excessive gas humidity because absolute humidity at saturation is temperature-dependent. To assess humidification of respiratory gases in patients who underwent moderate therapeutic hypothermia at a paediatric/adult intensive care unit, 6 patients were studied over 9 times. Three humidifier settings, 37-default (chamber-outlet, 37°C; Y-piece, 40°C), 33.5-theoretical (chamber-outlet, 33.5°C; Y-piece, 36.5°C), and 33.5-adjusted (optimised setting to achieve saturated vapour at 33.5°C using feedback from a thermohygrometer), were tested. Y-piece gas temperature/humidity and the incidence of high (>40.6 mg/L) and low (<32.9 mg/L) humidity relative to the target level (36.6 mg/L) were assessed. Y-piece gas humidity was 32.0 (26.8–37.3), 22.7 (16.9–28.6), and 36.9 (35.5–38.3) mg/L {mean (95% confidence interval)} for 37-default setting, 33.5-theoretical setting, and 33.5-adjusted setting, respectively. High humidity was observed in 1 patient with 37-default setting, whereas low humidity was seen in 5 patients with 37-default setting and 8 patients with 33.5-theoretical setting. With 33.5-adjusted setting, inadequate Y-piece humidity was not observed. Potential risks of the default humidifier setting for insufficient respiratory gas humidification were highlighted in patients cooled at a paediatric/adult intensive care unit. Y-piece gas conditions can be controlled to the theoretically optimal level by adjusting the setting guided by Y-piece gas temperature/humidity.
Global Protease Activity Profiling Provides Differential Diagnosis of Pancreatic Cysts
Authors: Ivry Sam L. , Sharib Jeremy M. , Dominguez Dana A. , Roy Nilotpal , Hatcher Stacy E. , Yip-Schneider Michele T. , Schmidt C. Max , Brand Randall E. , Park Walter G. , Hebrok Matthias , Kim Grace E. , O'Donoghue Anthony J. , Kirkwood Kimberly S. , Craik Charles S.
Published: April 2017

Purpose: Pancreatic cysts are estimated to be present in 2%–3% of the adult population. Unfortunately, current diagnostics do not accurately distinguish benign cysts from those that can progress into invasive cancer. Misregulated pericellular proteolysis is a hallmark of malignancy, and therefore, we used a global approach to discover protease activities that differentiate benign nonmucinous cysts from premalignant mucinous cysts.

Experimental Design: We employed an unbiased and global protease profiling approach to discover protease activities in 23 cyst fluid samples. The distinguishing activities of select proteases was confirmed in 110 samples using specific fluorogenic substrates and required less than 5 μL of cyst fluid.

Results: We determined that the activities of the aspartyl proteases gastricsin and cathepsin E are highly increased in fluid from mucinous cysts. IHC analysis revealed that gastricsin expression was associated with regions of low-grade dysplasia, whereas cathepsin E expression was independent of dysplasia grade. Gastricsin activity differentiated mucinous from nonmucinous cysts with a specificity of 100% and a sensitivity of 93%, whereas cathepsin E activity was 92% specific and 70% sensitive. Gastricsin significantly outperformed the most widely used molecular biomarker, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), which demonstrated 94% specificity and 65% sensitivity. Combined analysis of gastricsin and CEA resulted in a near perfect classifier with 100% specificity and 98% sensitivity.

Conclusions: Quantitation of gastricsin and cathepsin E activities accurately distinguished mucinous from nonmucinous pancreatic cysts and has the potential to replace current diagnostics for analysis of these highly prevalent lesions. Clin Cancer Res; 23(16); 4865–74. ©2017 AACR.
MiR-142-3p Overexpression Increases Chemo-Sensitivity of NSCLC by Inhibiting HMGB1-Mediated Autophagy
Authors: Chen Yuqing , Zhou Xin , Qiao Jianou , Bao Aihua
Published: April 2017

Background: Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a deadly cancer with high mortality rate. Drug resistance represents a main obstacle in NSCLC treatment. High mobility group box-1 (HMGB1) protein promotes drug resistance in NSCLC cells by activating protective autophagy. Methods: In the current study, we investigated the regulatory role of microRNA-142-3p (miR-142-3p) in HMGB1-mediated autophagy of NSCLC cells and its impact on drug resistance of NSCLC in vitro and in vivo. HMGB1 was identified as a putative target gene of miR-142-3p by in silico analysis. Our luciferase reporter assay results confirmed that miR-142-3p directly targets the 3’-UTR of HMGB1 in NSCLC cells. Results: MiR-142-3p overexpression suppressed while miR-142-3p knockdown increased HMGB1 mRNA and protein expression. Starvation induced HMGB1 expression and activated autophagy in NSCLC cells. The starvation-induced autophagy was inhibited by miR-142-3p overexpression or HMGB1 knockdown. Moreover, miR-142-3p overexpression or HMGB1 knockdown increased PI3K, Akt, and mTOR phosphorylation. Inhibition of PI3K or mTOR restored starvation-induced autophagy inhibited by miR-142-3p overexpression or HMGB1 knockdown. Conclusions: These results demonstrated that miR-142-3p regulates starvation-induced autophagy of NSCLC cells by directly downregulating HMGB1 and subsequently activating the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway. Further, miR-142-3p overexpression inhibited anticancer drug-induced autophagy and increased chemo-sensitivity of NSCLC in vitro and in vivo. These findings shed light on the therapeutic potential of miR-142-3p in combating acquired NSCLC chemo-resistance.
Patient-Reported Outcomes in Onychomycosis: A Review of Psychometrically Evaluated Instruments in Assessing Treatment Effectiveness
Authors: Wang Jenny , Wiznia Lauren E. , Rieder Evan A.
Published: April 2017

Purpose: Onychomycosis is the most common nail disorder and causes morbidity and impaired quality of life (QOL). Patient-reported outcomes (PRO) are patients' assessment of their health status or treatment response. PROs help assess what is most bothersome to patients to identify targets for intervention. We sought to review the PRO instruments currently used to assess QOL and treatment response in onychomycosis patients. Procedures: A systematic review was performed by searching PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, and PsycINFO databases through December 31, 2016, to identify all English language literature on onychomycosis, PRO, and QOL. Results: Currently, 5 validated PRO instruments exist specifically for onychomycosis. Oral therapies were most extensively studied using PRO instruments. QOL data generally correlated with clinical change, although patients sometimes reported improvement without any clinically significant nail clearance. The only psychometrically validated PRO instrument used to evaluate treatment response is the OnyCOE-t™. Conclusions: Clinicians may underestimate the impact of onychomycosis on patients. With recent initiatives from health-care management organizations to improve patient experience and the recent approval of expensive and nonsuperior topical antifungal medications, PROs will be increasingly important in onychomycosis to assess patient priorities and optimize treatment. Future research should evaluate these instruments in special populations and fingernail disease.
Subjective Time Perceptions and Aging Well: A Review of Concepts and Empirical Research - A Mini-Review
Authors: Gabrian Martina , Dutt Anne J. , Wahl Hans-Werner
Published: April 2017

Human beings impose subjective, time-related interpretations on their existence, and the experience of time is a major aspect of lifespan development. In this mini-review, we understand subjective time as the way individuals subjectively perceive and evaluate the passing of their personal “objective” lifetime. A broad range of constructs and operationalizations has been developed in (gero-) psychology to capture subjective time, including future time perspective, personal goals, or autobiographical memories. In order to theoretically integrate this yet loosely connected body of literature, we propose a conceptual model of subjective time concepts according to 2 dimensions: temporal direction (past, present, future) and thematic field (duration/expansion, time-ordered life content, and time-related evaluations, attitudes, and mindsets). This conceptual model of subjective time perceptions builds the foundation for a review of the empirical literature regarding associations of subjective time with developmental outcomes (i.e., subjective well-being and physical health) in middle and late adulthood. Empirical findings establish subjective time concepts as a consistent predictor of well-being and health. Positive subjective time perceptions (i.e., an expanded view of the future, a focus on positive past and future life content, and favorable time-related evaluations) were associated with higher well-being and better physical health, while negative subjective time perceptions in general were linked to lower levels of health and well-being. Contrasting past- and future-oriented subjective time perceptions, it appears that past-oriented subjective time perceptions have been studied primarily in relation to subjective well-being, while future-oriented time perceptions play a key role both with regard to physical health and well-being. In conclusion, we argue that a stronger integration of subjective time constructs into developmental regulation models may deepen our understanding of human development across the lifespan. To this end, we call for theoretical and empirical interlinkages between yet loosely connected conceptual developments related to subjective time. These endeavors should be paralleled by an extension of methodological procedures (e.g., implementation of longitudinal research designs as well as a focus on the oldest-old) in order to inform a “lifespan theory of subjective time.”
Microparticles during long-term follow-up after acute myocardial infarction
Authors: Christersson Christina , Thulin Åsa , Siegbahn Agneta
Published: April 2017

Microparticles (MPs) are formed from platelets (PMPs), endothelial cells (EMPs) and monocytes (MMPs), and in acute myocardial infarction (MI), there is an increase of MPs in the culprit artery. In this study MPs were evaluated in whole blood in 105 patients with MI at five time-points during a two-year follow-up (FU). Patients with non-ST-elevated MI had higher concentrations of CD41+MPs compared to ST-elevated MI patients (p=0.024). The concentrations of PMPs in whole blood increased during the time period (p<0.001), but no significant change over time was found for EMPs and MMPs. CD62P+MP counts were higher in MI patients with diabetes (p=0.020), and patients with hypertension had increased levels of CD14+MPs (p=0.004). The amount of CD62P+TF+MPs increased significantly during FU (p<0.001). Patients with atherosclerosis in three arterial beds, i. e. coronary, carotid and peripheral arteries, had lower concentrations of CD62P+TF+MPs (p=0.035) and CD144+TF+MPs (p=0.004) compared to patients with atherosclerosis in one or two arterial beds. Higher concentrations of CD62P+MPs early after MI were associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events during FU, hazard ratio 3.32 (95%CI1.20–9.31). Only small variations in PMP, EMP and MMP concentrations were found during long-term FU after MI and their levels seem to reflect the underlying cardiovascular disease rather than the acute MI. PMPs expressing P-selectin might be a promising biomarker for predicting future cardiovascular events, but further studies are needed to confirm these results.

Supplementary Material to this article is available online at www.thrombosis-online.com.
Enfrentamento religioso/espiritual em pessoas com câncer em quimioterapia: revisão integrativa da literatura
Authors: Sousa Fernanda Fernandes de Paiva Ribeiro , Freitas Susy Maria Feitosa de Melo , Farias Ana Gesselena Da Silva , Cunha Maria da Conceição Dos Santos Oliveira , Araújo Márcio Flávio Moura de , Veras Vívian Saraiva
Published: April 2017

Objetivou-se identificar as evidências científicas disponíveis acerca do enfrentamento religioso/espiritual utilizado por pessoas com câncer, em quimioterapia. Trata-se de revisão integrativa da literatura. Utilizou-se os descritores Quimioterapia e Espiritualidade. As bases de dados foram: LILACS, PUBMED, ScienceDirect, EMBASE, CINAHL e BDENF. Os estudos reconhecem a religião/espiritualidade como estratégia de enfrentamento positivo, ao contribuírem para a adesão ao tratamento e redução do estresse. O enfrentamento negativo foi associado à incidência de efeitos colaterais, sofrimento psicológico, ansiedade e depressão. Conclui-se que o reconhecimento da espiritualidade como estratégia de enfrentamento e a identificação das carências espirituais fornecem aos profissionais de enfermagem um melhor escopo de informações para o plano de cuidados e para uma assistência mais integral
Práticas inovadoras para biblioteca escolar
Authors: Silveira Eduardo
Published: April 2017

Resenha de: BLATTMANN, Ursula; VIANNA, William Barbosa (Org.). Inovação em escolas com bibliotecas. Florianópolis: Dois por Quatro, 2016. ISBN 978-85-69609-03-2
Low-Dose Paclitaxel–Coated Versus Uncoated Percutaneous Transluminal Balloon Angioplasty for Femoropopliteal Peripheral Artery Disease
Authors: Schroeder Henrik , Werner Martin , Meyer Dirk-Roelfs , Reimer Peter , Krüger Karsten , Jaff Michael R. , Brodmann Marianne
Published: April 2017

Background:

Numerous studies have reported favorable outcomes using drug-coated balloons (DCBs) for treatment of symptomatic peripheral artery disease of the superficial femoral and popliteal arteries. However, the treatment effect compared with an uncoated balloon has differed greatly among the randomized trials, with better outcomes observed with higher-dose DCBs. This European trial was designed to assess the safety and effectiveness of a next-generation low-dose (2-µg/mm
2
surface dose of paclitaxel) DCB.

Methods:

This was a prospective, randomized, multicenter, single-blinded trial. Patients were randomized (3:1) to treatment with a low-dose DCB or an uncoated percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) balloon. The primary safety end point was a composite of freedom from device- and procedure-related death through 30 days after the procedure and freedom from target limb major amputation and clinically driven target lesion revascularization through 12 months after the procedure. The primary effectiveness end point was primary patency at 12 months.

Results:

Patients were randomized to treatment with a DCB (222 patients, 254 lesions) or uncoated PTA balloon (72 patients, 79 lesions) after successful predilatation. Mean lesion length was 7.2 and 7.1 cm, and 19.2% and 19.0% of lesions represented total occlusions, respectively. The primary safety end point was met, and superiority was demonstrated; freedom from a primary safety event was 94.1% (193 of 205) with DCB and 83.3% (50 of 60) with PTA, for a difference of 10.8% (95% confidence interval, 0.9%–23.0%). The primary effectiveness end point was met, and superiority of DCB over PTA was achieved (83.9% [188 of 224] versus 60.6% [40 of 66];
P
<0.001). Outcomes with DCB were also superior to PTA per the Kaplan-Meier estimate for primary patency (89.0% versus 65.0% at 365 days; log-rank
P
<0.001) and for rates of clinically driven target lesion revascularization (5.9% versus 16.7%;
P
=0.014).

Conclusions:

Superiority with a low-dose DCB for femoropopliteal interventions was demonstrated over PTA for both the safety and effectiveness end points.

Clinical Trial Registration:

URL:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT01858363.
Revision of the genus Hormoserphus Townes, 1981 (Hymenoptera: Proctotrupidae), with description of Trachyserphus gen. n. and a new species
Authors: KOLYADA VICTOR , MOSTOVSKI MIKE B.
Published: April 2017

Revision of the genus Hormoserphus Townes, 1981 has shown that its type species, Proctotrupes clypeatus Ashmead, 1893 belongs to Oxyserphus Masner, 1961 (Oxyserphus clypeatus (Ashmead, 1893), comb. n. [= Hormoserphus transgressus Townes, 1981, syn. n.]) thus making Hormoserphus a junior synonym of the latter genus. Trachyserphus Kolyada, gen. n. is described to accommodate Oriental Trachyserphus segregatus (Townes, 1981), comb. n. (from Hormoserphus), Central American Trachyserphus defrictus (Townes, 1981), comb. n. (from Sminthoserphus Townes, 1981) and South American Trachyserphus masneri Kolyada, sp. n. Hormoserphus chinensis He & Fan, 1991 and Hormoserphus striatus He & Xu, 2015 are treated as junior synonyms of T. segregatus. An identification key to the species of Trachyserphus is provided.
A new Panolis Hübner, [1821] species from Vietnam (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae, Orthosiini)
Authors: BENEDEK BALÁZS , BABICS JÁNOS
Published: April 2017

Panolis is a well-defined and compact Palearctic trifine Noctuidae genus within the subfamily Hadeninae, tribus Orthosiini. It is currently represented by seven species and one subspecies: Panolis flammea ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775), Panolis japonica Draudt, 1935, Panolis variegatoides Poole, 1989, Panolis exquisita Draudt, 1950, Panolis pinicortex Draudt, 1950, Panolis pinicortex exornata Hreblay & Ronkay, 1997, Panolis estheri Ronkay, Ronkay, Gyulai & Hacker, 2010 and Panolis ningshan Wang, Fan, Owada, Wang & Nylin, 2014. Only one species (P. flammea) occurs in the Western Palearctic region, while all others are found in the eastern part of Asia. No Panolis species is known outside of the Palearctic region. The genus is connected to coniferous woodlands as the larvae are feed on various species of pines. Imagoes are on the wing during the spring, from late February until May. All Panolis species have an unmistakable, rather decorative external appearance with fine and conspicuous pink-red-purple or dark orange ground colouration, and remarkable noctuid patterns. Most recent information about the genus was provided by Wang et. al, 2014, including his description of a new species, and a morphological and molecular analysis in order to reconstructing the phylogeny of the genus, and exploring its Chines Oriental origin. Present paper contains the description of a new Panolis species found recently in Vietnam, from where the genus was not known so far. This discovery expands our knowledge about Panolis and support the statement of the Chines Oriental origin.
Atmospheric Responses and Feedback to the Meridional Ocean Heat Transport in the North Pacific
Authors: Tatebe Hiroaki , Kurogi Masao , Hasumi Hiroyasu
Published: April 2017

Atmospheric responses and feedback to meridional ocean heat transport (OHT) have been investigated using a global climate model that is interactively connected with a high-resolution regional ocean model embedded in the western North Pacific. Compared with a global climate model without the regional model, the net heat supply into the Kuroshio–Oyashio Extension (KOE) region is increased as a result of the increase of the mean northward ocean heat transport (OHT) by the western boundary currents and mesoscale eddies. Resultant sea surface temperature (SST) rise sharpens the meridional SST gradient and reinforces the cross-frontal difference of the surface heat flux and thereby enhances lower-tropospheric baroclinicity. These changes cause northward deflection and strengthening of the wintertime storm track over the North Pacific, which leads to the Pacific–North American (PNA)-like pattern anticyclonic response of the mean westerly jet. The increase of the eddy northward atmospheric heat flux (AHF) associated with the enhanced storm-track activity is compensated by the decrease of the mean northward AHF. The changes of the atmospheric circulations reduce the mean northward OHT in the eastern North Pacific that compensates the increase of the mean northward OHT in the KOE region. The atmospheric responses, which have once been excited by the SST fronts in the KOE region, stabilize the trans–North Pacific OHT. The modeling results herein suggest that basinwide Bjerknes-like compensation works in air–sea coupled processes for the formation of the climatic mean state in the North Pacific.
Evidence for a Strong Association of Short-Duration Intense Rainfall with Urbanization in the Beijing Urban Area
Authors: Yang Ping , Ren Guoyu , Yan Pengcheng
Published: April 2017

Correlations of the urban heat island intensity (UHII) and key surface variables with the short-duration intense rainfall (SDIR) events are examined for the Beijing urban areas by applying hourly data of a high-density automatic weather station (AWS) network. Higher frequencies (amounts) of the SDIR events are found in or near the central urban area, and most of the SDIR events begin to appear in late evening and nighttime, but tend to end in late night and early morning. Correlations of the UHII with the SDIR frequency (amount) are all highly significant for more than 3 h ahead of the beginning of the SDIR events. Although the UHII at immediate hours (<3 h) before the SDIR occurrence is more indicative of SDIR events, their occurrence more depends on the magnitude of the UHII at earlier hours. The UHII before the beginning of the SDIR events also shows high-value centers in the central urban area, which is generally consistent with the distribution of the SDIR events. The spatial and temporal patterns of regional SDIR events exhibit similar characteristics to the site-based SDIR events and also show a good relationship with the UHII in the urban areas. In addition to the UHII over the urban areas, surface air temperature, surface air pressure, relative humidity, and near-surface wind directions at the Beijing station experience large changes before and after the beginning time of regional SDIR events, and have the potential to indicate the occurrence of SDIR events in the studied area.
Development of novel high Tg polyimide-based composites. Part II: Mechanical characterisation
Authors: Tsampas Spyros , Fernberg Patrik , Joffe Roberts
Published: April 2017

In this study, the mechanical performance assessment of a newly developed carbon fibre-reinforced polyimide composite system T650/NEXIMID® MHT-R is presented. This system was subjected to a series of mechanical tests at ambient and elevated temperature (320℃) to determine basic material properties. Moreover, an additional test was conducted, using a T650/NEXIMID® MHT-R laminate in which the fibre sizing was thermally removed prior to laminate manufacturing, to investigate the effect of fibre treatment on mechanical performance. The experimental results indicated that the T650/NEXIMID® MHT-R composites along with exceptionally high Tg (360–420℃) exhibited competitive mechanical properties to other commercially available polyimide and epoxy-based systems. At elevated temperature, the fibre-dominated properties were not affected whilst the properties defined by matrix and fibre/matrix interface were degraded by approximately 20–30%. Finally, the fibre sizing removal did not affect the tensile and compressive strength, however, the shear strength obtained from short-beam shear test was deteriorated by approximately 15%.
Social Context, Biology, and the Definition of Disorder
Authors: Horwitz Allan V.
Published: April 2017

In recent years, medical sociologists have increasingly paid attention to a variety of interactions between social and biological factors. These include how social stressors impact the functioning of physiological systems, how sociocultural contexts trigger genetic propensities or mitigate genetic defects, and how brains are attuned to social, cultural, and interactional factors. This paper focuses on how both sociocultural and biological forces influence what conditions are contextually appropriate responses or disorders. It also suggests that some of the most obdurate health problems result from mismatches between natural genes and current social circumstances rather than from genetic defects. Finally, it examines how social environments have profound impacts on how much harm disorders create. It shows how sociological insights can help establish valid criteria for illnesses and indicates the complexities involved in defining what genuine disorders are.
Screening for Dyslexia in French-Speaking University Students: An Evaluation of the Detection Accuracy of the Alouette Test
Authors: Cavalli Eddy , Colé Pascale , Leloup Gilles , Poracchia-George Florence , Sprenger-Charolles Liliane , El Ahmadi Abdessadek
Published: April 2017

Developmental dyslexia is a lifelong impairment affecting 5% to 10% of the population. In French-speaking countries, although a number of standardized tests for dyslexia in children are available, tools suitable to screen for dyslexia in adults are lacking. In this study, we administered the Alouette reading test to a normative sample of 164 French university students without dyslexia and a validation sample of 83 students with dyslexia. The Alouette reading test is designed to screen for dyslexia in children, since it taps skills that are typically deficient in dyslexia (i.e., phonological skills). However, the test’s psychometric properties have not previously been available, and it is not standardized for adults. The results showed that, on the Alouette test, dyslexic readers were impaired on measures of accuracy, speed, and efficiency (accuracy/reading time). We also found significant correlations between the Alouette reading efficiency and phonological efficiency scores. Finally, in terms of the Alouette test, speed-accuracy trade-offs were found in both groups, and optimal cutoff scores were determined with receiver operator characteristic curves analysis, yielding excellent discriminatory power, with 83.1% sensitivity and 100% specificity for reading efficiency. Thus, this study supports the Alouette test as a sensitive and specific screening tool for adults with dyslexia.
Removal and separation of mixed ionic dyes by solvent extraction
Authors: Yi Shixiong , Sun Gang , Dai Fangyin
Published: April 2017

To reduce environmental pollution from dyeing wastewater, reverse micelles were prepared and used for the removal and separation of anionic Color Index (CI) Reactive Yellow 3 and cationic CI Basic Red 14 in mixed dye aqueous solution. The effect of the amount of dye and surfactant on removal rates of dyes was investigated. An ion-exchange reaction model was used to fit the experimental data. Ultraviolet-visible absorption spectra were employed to evaluate the state of dyes in mixed dye aqueous solution during the removal process. In addition, the removed dyes were recovered by back extraction and reused for dyeing fabrics. The results obtained indicated that the removal of dyes was increased with increasing the amount of surfactants, while the dye concentration exhibited the reverse trend. The dye extraction process could be described by the ion-exchange reaction equations. The mixed dyes could be removed and separated for the attractive force between dyes and the counter ionic surfactant. The mixed dyes were separated and recovered, which exhibited a good dyeing property.
The Rod as Excommunication: A Possible Meaning for an Ambiguous Metaphor in 1 Corinthians 4.21
Authors: White Adam G.
Published: April 2017

In 1 Cor. 4.21, Paul threatens to return to Corinth with a rod of discipline in order to deal with certain arrogant members of the Christian community. In addressing the passage, scholars generally gloss over the metaphor with little regard to its meaning. Those who do comment assume it refers to some kind of rebuke on Paul’s part but go no further in their interpretation. This article seeks to discuss the metaphor’s intended meaning, arguing that the rod comes on the back of two prior warnings outlined in 1 Cor. 4.14-20 and is itself the final act of discipline to divisive members of the church: excommunication.
Investigation of the bystander effect in school bullying: Comparison of experiential, psychological and situational factors
Authors: Song Jiyeon , Oh Insoo
Published: April 2017

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the ‘bystander effect’ known to occur in emergency situations is effective in bullying situations through examination of the individual experiences of 467 middle- and high-school students. While the bystander effect was not found to be valid in bullying situations, there were significant differences in factors influencing a bystander’s defending behavior in terms of the presence of other bystanders. In cases where bullying was witnessed in the presence of other bystanders, factors such as one’s previous experience as a perpetrator, anti-social behavior, level of harm, relationship to the victim and popularity had an effect on the defending behavior of bystanders. On the other hand, in the absence of other bystanders, one’s previous experience as a victim, level of empathy, and perceived control had an effect on the defending behavior of bystanders. The implications of these results for an effective intervention for school bullying in terms of bystanders are discussed.
Multi-component segmentation of X-ray computed tomography (CT) image using multi-Otsu thresholding algorithm and scanning electron microscopy
Authors: Zhang Pengfei , Lu Shuangfang , Li Junqian , Zhang Ping , Xie Liujuan , Xue Haitao , Zhang Jie
Published: April 2017

X-ray computed tomography is an efficient method for quantitatively estimating the characteristics and heterogeneity of shales in three dimensions. A threshold is commonly used to separate pore-fractures from the background image. However, few studies have focused on the multi-component segmentation of computed tomography images. To obtain the distribution characteristics of different components in three dimensions, a segmentation method was proposed that combines a multi-Otsu thresholding algorithm with scanning electron microscopy. The gray value distributions of different components were first determined using this method. Then, the shale components were divided into several groups based on these gray values. The threshold of each component group was determined using the multi-Otsu thresholding algorithm. The computed tomography image stacks of two shale samples were processed using this segmentation method, and another computed tomography image stack was used to verify the method. The results showed that (1) the multi-component segmentation method can successfully segment computed tomography image stacks using the calculated values determined by computed tomography, which agree well with the measured values obtained from X-ray diffraction, total organic carbon, and porosity tests in the laboratory; (2) samples with similar provenances and mineral compositions have the same gray value distribution in the back scattering scanning electron microscopy and computed tomography images; (3) this method is superior in both the effectiveness and efficiency of the computed tomography image stack segmentation of samples according to the gray value distribution, as determined by samples with similar provenances and mineral compositions.
The Influence of Effortful Thought and Cognitive Proficiencies on the Conjunction Fallacy: Implications for Dual-Process Theories of Reasoning and Judgment
Authors: Scherer Laura D. , Yates J. Frank , Baker S. Glenn , Valentine Kathrene D.
Published: April 2017

Human judgment often violates normative standards, and virtually no judgment error has received as much attention as the conjunction fallacy. Judgment errors have historically served as evidence for dual-process theories of reasoning, insofar as these errors are assumed to arise from reliance on a fast and intuitive mental process, and are corrected via effortful deliberative reasoning. In the present research, three experiments tested the notion that conjunction errors are reduced by effortful thought. Predictions based on three different dual-process theory perspectives were tested: lax monitoring, override failure, and the Tripartite Model. Results indicated that participants higher in numeracy were less likely to make conjunction errors, but this association only emerged when participants engaged in two-sided reasoning, as opposed to one-sided or no reasoning. Confidence was higher for incorrect as opposed to correct judgments, suggesting that participants were unaware of their errors.
‘Uneven, but in the Direction of Enhanced Effectiveness’ – A Critical Analysis of ‘Anticipatory Ill-Treatment’ under Article 3 ECHR
Authors: Arai-Takahashi Yutaka
Published: April 2017

This article critically analyses a range of issues relating to so-called ‘anticipatory’ or ‘speculative’ ill-treatment in expulsion cases under Article 3 ECHR. It seeks to ascertain whether the approach of both the European Court and Commission of Human Rights (the Strasbourg organs) to those issues has provided any coherent and predictable criteria for individual applicants. The dynamic jurisprudence has considerably extended the scope of application of this absolute right with the consequence that the responsibility of a Member State may arise even from acts of non-State actors in an extra-territorial context. This assertive stance can also be revealed in the Strasbourg organs' assessment of the minimum standard of ill-treatment in expulsion cases. Yet, the author argues that there exist some oscillations in the Strasbourg organs' dynamic policy, disclosing inconsistency on certain issues. There seems to be a hidden double standard between expulsion and non-expulsion cases with more onerous evidentiary standards imposed on the individual applicants challenging speculative ill-treatment. The Strasbourg organs' tacit recognition of the notion of proportionality in their earlier decisions also contradicts the unconditional nature of the right under Article 3. Despite those flaws, the author concludes that assertive policy underpinning the Strasbourg organs' decision-making has carved out various potentially workable principles designed to enhance the effective guarantee of this non-derogable right.
Social Rights as Components in the Civil Right to Personal Liberty: Another Step Forward in the Integrated Human Rights Approach?
Authors: Koch Ida Elisabeth
Published: April 2017

The article seeks to get closer to an understanding of the legal implications of the notion of the indivisibility of human rights as distinct from the philosophical implications. While the first part of the article (Sections I-IV) deals with the notion of indivisibility in a general way by discussing possible interpretations and legal principles for pursuing an integrated human rights approach, the second part of the article (Sections V-VIII) deals with indivisibility in the concrete context of deprivation of liberty for medical or social reasons. Despite increased awareness of the possibilities of an integrated human rights approach, the European Court of Human Rights has in this particular context been reluctant to accept a blurred dividing line between social and civil rights. By emphasising the close connection between the existence of treatment and the duration of the confinement, the article, however, argues that fulfilment of the civil right to personal liberty is dependent on recognition of the interdependence between social rights and civil rights. Even though social and civil rights have been separated into two conventions proportionality and teleological considerations lead to the conclusion that the (social) right to treatment ought to be considered an integrated component of the (civil) right to personal liberty.
Recourse to Human Rights Treaty Bodies for Monitoring of the Refugee Convention
Authors: Takahashi Saul
Published: April 2017

Nearly all human rights conventions adopt the treaty body model to monitor states parties' implementation of their treaty obligations. This monitoring mechanism provides for a quasi judicial committee, far detached from sites of many of the human rights violations it reviews. On the other hand, there is no such treaty body for the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees. Rather, there is the UNHCR; a large operational agency with offices all over the world, including in sites of refugee emergencies.

Effective monitoring of human rights conventions would seem to require a number of factors, including independence and transparency. Legitimate monitoring would have to be strong, and would have to be seen to be strong. Criticism raised in recent years of UNHCR's monitoring methods are largely based on frustration with these points. This paper will examine these issues, and also examine whether recourse to the treaty bodies really provides an adequate remedy for refugee rights. The argument of this paper is that while the UNHCR's monitoring of the Refugee Convention is problematic in many respects, the monitoring of refugee issues by the treaty bodies is in many ways incomplete and inconsistent, and that the treaty body model does not provide refugee advocates with a comprehensive solution.
Family Law Issues in a Multicultural Setting: Abolishing or Reaffirming Sex as a Legally Relevant Category? A Human Rights Approach
Authors: Loenen Titia
Published: April 2017

In the Netherlands, and more generally in Western Europe, the influx of large immigrant groups brings along all kinds of multicultural challenges. In this contribution I will address the question how to deal with the divergent norms and values new groups bring along. Should newcomers be required to assimilate or should society, on the contrary, leave ample space for their divergent norms and values? And if the latter, how far should we go in this respect, especially in those situations where the imported norms and values clash with those prevalent in the host-society? This paper will focus on one of the areas where this problem is most keenly felt as problematic, the area of family law issues. Here, especially Islamic norms and values potentially clash with the fundamental right to equal treatment without discrimination on the basis of sex.

The discussion how far we should go in accommodating and incorporating Islamic norms and values in our legal system is most of the time conducted in political/philosophical terms. Though this discussion is highly interesting and important, this contribution chooses a different, legal perspective, and more specifically, the perspective of human rights. The reason to do so lies in the fact that in the European legal setting human rights norms increasingly seem to set the framework for and provide the limits within which choices of accommodation or assimilation will have to be made. After presenting in more detail some of the problems and dilemmas involved in developing a more multicultural family law, the paper explores where international and European human rights law as it stands so far takes us in answering the question how far we should go in accommodating and/or incorporating Islamic norms and values. To conclude it will relate the conclusions to be drawn from this legal investigation to the political/philosophical discussions on the limits of multicultural approaches to law and society.
No Punishment without Guilt the Case concerning German Prosecution of a Former GDR Border Guard
Authors: Rytter Jens Elo
Published: April 2017

After the reunification in 1990, Germany started prosecuting persons responsible for the inhumane border-policing regime in the former GDR, which had resulted in the deaths of hundreds of citizens attempting to flee the country. This article focuses on the conviction of a former GDR private border guard for homicide. The border guard brought the case before the German Constitutional Court, and later the Strasbourg Court, claming that his conviction violated the prohibition of retroactive punishment. Neither complaint succeeded. The article argues that, whilst formally upholding the absolute prohibition of retroactive punishment in Article 7 ECHR, the Strasbourg Court held in essence, as had the German Constitutional Court, that the prohibition of retroactivity had to yield to material justice in case of manifest violations of fundamental human rights, such as the right to life.
Interim Measures in the Case Law of the European Court of Human Rights
Authors: Haeck Yves , Herrera Clara Burbano
Published: April 2017

Under its Rules of Court, the European Court of Human Rights has the power to issue interim measures. Case law shows that an interim measure is generally directed towards the respondent State but it can also or at the same time be directed towards the applicant. It has a proactive or a prohibitive nature: one or both of the parties in the proceedings before the European Court may be required to act in a certain way or to refrain from certain acts. In practice however, provisional measures are virtually only issued by the new Court in cases of imminent expulsion, extradition or deportation of individuals to their country of origin by the State against which the complaint is directed, although exceptionally other factual situations may arise such as extremely severe prison conditions or a hunger strike. As a result, the requests for interim measures will contain references to Articles 2 and/or 3 of the Convention and/or Article 1 of the Sixth Protocol. On the basis of the practice of the former European Commission and the current European Court, an overview is given of the scope of application of interim measures, the prerequisites to request an interim measure and the procedure to be followed by applicants if requesting an interim measure. Although, following two recent judgments of the First Section of the European Court, the European Court has made it clear that interim measures are binding on the respondent State, a viewpoint which is currently being challenged before the Grand Chamber of the Court, it is argued that the applicant not only has a very limited chance of success in obtaining a positive interim order, but that the new European Court is even more reluctant than the former Commission was before, when deciding whether to issue an interim measure or not. Where confronted with some specific kinds of factual situations, it may be arguable that the European Court follows the same line of reasoning towards requests for interim measures as its Interamerican counterpart, thus extending the scope of application of the interim measures to rights and freedoms, other than the above-mentioned.
Globalising Justice: From Universal Jurisdiction to Mixed Tribunals
Authors: Sriram Chandra Lekha
Published: April 2017

This article examines the burgeoning phenomenon of what is called globalised or externalised justice, wherein prosecutions for past atrocities take place far from the original locus of the crime, through the exercise of universal jurisdiction or the work of ad hoc tribunals. It first examines some of the pitfalls that come with the externalised justice of universal jurisdiction. In particular, doing justice far from the locus of the original crime may fail to serve many of the putative goals of prosecutions. It then examines the experience of mixed tribunals, which are developed in part as a remedy to some of the flaws of externalised justice, by holding proceedings at home, with greater local participation. The essay examines the work of the Special Panel for Serious Crimes in East Timor in some depth, as well as the early development of the Special Court for Sierra Leone. It finds that many of the flaws of distant justice are not entirely remedied by the use of mixed tribunals.
Human Rights and Intellectual Property: Conflict or Co-Existence?
Authors: Helfer Laurence R.
Published: April 2017

Human rights bodies within the United Nations have given unprecedented attention to intellectual property issues over the past four years, addressing important and contested issues such as patented medicines, digital copyrights, transfers of technology, and the effect of intellectual property rights on economic development. This emerging human rights approach to intellectual property is often critical of existing standards of protection and it seeks to address legal and policy issues that intellectual property treaty makers and legislators often ignore. This article analyses two competing frameworks that States, NGOs, and inter-governmental organisations are using to conceptualise the increasingly contested intersection of human rights law and intellectual property law. It traces the evolution of these two approaches and explores their consequences for the international legal system.