bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Epidemiology of Dengue Among Children Aged < 18 Months—Puerto Rico, 1999–2011
Authors: Hause Anne M. , Perez-Padilla Janice , Horiuchi Kalanthe , Han George S. , Hunsperger Elizabeth , Aiwazian Jonathan , Margolis Harold S. , Tomashek Kay M.
Published: December 2015

Dengue, a mosquito-borne viral illness caused by dengue virus types (DENV)-1 to DENV-4, is endemic in Puerto Rico. Severe dengue usually occurs in individuals previously infected with DENV or among infants born to previously infected mothers. To describe clinical features of dengue in infants, we retrospectively characterized dengue patients aged < 18 months reported to the Passive Dengue Surveillance System (PDSS) during 1999–2011. To determine frequency of signs, symptoms, and disease severity, case report forms and medical records were evaluated for patients who tested positive for dengue by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction or anti-DENV immunoglobulin Menzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Of 4,178 reported patients aged < 18 months, 813 (19%) were laboratory positive. Of these, most had fever (92%), rash (53%), bleeding manifestations (52%), and thrombocytopenia (52%). Medical records were available for 145 (31%) of 472 hospitalized patients, of which 40% had dengue, 23% had dengue with warning signs, and 33% had severe dengue. Mean age of patients with severe dengue was 8 months. Anti-DENV immunoglobulin G (IgG) titers were not statistically different in patients with (50%) and without (59%) severe dengue. In this study, one-third of DENV-infected infants met the severe dengue case definition. The role of maternal anti-DENV IgG in development of severe disease warrants further study in prospective cohorts of mother-infant pairs.
Whole Genome Shotgun Sequencing Shows Selection on Leptospira Regulatory Proteins During in vitro Culture Attenuation
Authors: Lehmann Jason S. , Corey Victoria C. , Ricaldi Jessica N. , Vinetz Joseph M. , Winzeler Elizabeth A. , Matthias Michael A.
Published: December 2015

Leptospirosis is the most common zoonotic disease worldwide with an estimated 500,000 severe cases reported annually, and case fatality rates of 12–25%, due primarily to acute kidney and lung injuries. Despite its prevalence, the molecular mechanisms underlying leptospirosis pathogenesis remain poorly understood. To identify virulence-related genes in Leptospira interrogans, we delineated cumulative genome changes that occurred during serial in vitro passage of a highly virulent strain of L. interrogans serovar Lai into a nearly avirulent isogenic derivative. Comparison of protein coding and computationally predicted noncoding RNA (ncRNA) genes between these two polyclonal strains identified 15 nonsynonymous single nucleotide variant (nsSNV) alleles that increased in frequency and 19 that decreased, whereas no changes in allelic frequency were observed among the ncRNA genes. Some of the nsSNV alleles were in six genes shown previously to be transcriptionally upregulated during exposure to in vivo-like conditions. Five of these nsSNVs were in evolutionarily conserved positions in genes related to signal transduction and metabolism. Frequency changes of minor nsSNV alleles identified in this study likely contributed to the loss of virulence during serial in vitro culture. The identification of new virulence-associated genes should spur additional experimental inquiry into their potential role in Leptospira pathogenesis.
Influence of Intermittent Preventive Treatment on Antibodies to VAR2CSA in Pregnant Cameroonian Women
Authors: Babakhanyan Anna , Tutterrow Yeung L. , Bobbili Naveen , Salanti Ali , Wey Andrew , Fogako Josephine , Leke Robert J. , Leke Rose G. F. , Taylor Diane Wallace
Published: December 2015

Intermittent preventive treatment (IPT) and insecticide-treated bed nets are the standard of care for preventing malaria in pregnant women. Since these preventive measures reduce exposure to malaria, their influence on the antibody (Ab) response to the parasite antigen VAR2CSA was evaluated in pregnant Cameroonian women exposed to holoendemic malaria. Ab levels to full-length VAR2CSA (FV2), variants of the six Duffy binding like (DBL) domains, and proportion of high avidity Ab to FV2 were measured longitudinally in 92 women before and 147 women after IPT. As predicted, reduced exposure interfered with acquisition of Ab in primigravidae, with 71% primigravidae being seronegative to FV2 at delivery. Use of IPT for > 13 weeks by multigravidae resulted in 26% of women being seronegative at delivery and a significant reduction in Ab levels to FV2, DBL5, DBL6, proportion of high avidity Ab to FV2, and number of variants recognized. Thus, in women using IPT important immune responses were not acquired by primigravidae and reduced in a portion of multigravidae, especially women with one to two previous pregnancies. Longitudinal data from individual multigravidae on IPT suggest that lower Ab levels most likely resulted from lack of boosting of the VAR2CSA response and not from a short-lived Ab response.
Use of Blood Smears and Dried Blood Spots for Polymerase Chain Reaction–Based Detection and Quantification of Bacterial Infection and Plasmodium falciparum in Severely Ill Febrile African Children
Authors: Wihokhoen Benchawan , Dondorp Arjen M. , Turner Paul , Woodrow Charles J. , Imwong Mallika
Published: December 2015

Molecular approaches offer a means of testing archived samples stored as dried blood spots in settings where standard blood cultures are not possible. Peripheral blood films are one suggested source of material, although the sensitivity of this approach has not been well defined. Thin blood smears and dried blood spots from a severe pediatric malaria study were assessed using specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers to detect non-typhoidal Salmonella (NTS; MisL gene), Streptococcus pneumoniae (lytA), and Plasmodium falciparum (18S rRNA). Of 16 cases of NTS and S. pneumoniae confirmed on blood culture, none were positive by PCR using DNA extracts from blood films or dried blood spots. In contrast, four of 36 dried blood spots and two of 178 plasma samples were PCR positive for S. pneumoniae, despite negative bacterial blood cultures, suggesting false positives. Quantitative assessment revealed that the effective concentration of P. falciparum DNA in blood films was three log orders of magnitude lower than for dried blood spots. The P. falciparum kelch13 gene could not be amplified from blood films. These findings question the value of blood PCR-based approaches for detection of NTS and S. pneumoniae, and show that stored blood films are an inefficient method of studying P. falciparum.
Safety, Immunogenicity, and Protective Efficacy of Intradermal Immunization with Aseptic, Purified, Cryopreserved Plasmodium falciparum Sporozoites in Volunteers Under Chloroquine Prophylaxis: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Bastiaens Guido J. H. , van Meer Maurits P. A. , Scholzen Anja , Obiero Joshua M. , Vatanshenassan Mansoureh , van Grinsven Tim , Sim B. Kim Lee , Billingsley Peter F. , James Eric R. , Gunasekera Anusha , Bijker Else M. , van Gemert Geert-Jan , van de Vegte-Bolmer Marga , Graumans Wouter , Hermsen Cornelus C. , de Mast Quirijn , van der Ven André J. A. M. , Hoffman Stephen L. , Sauerwein Robert W.
Published: December 2015

Immunization of volunteers under chloroquine prophylaxis by bites of Plasmodium falciparum sporozoite (PfSPZ)–infected mosquitoes induces > 90% protection against controlled human malaria infection (CHMI). We studied intradermal immunization with cryopreserved, infectious PfSPZ in volunteers taking chloroquine (PfSPZ chemoprophylaxis vaccine [CVac]). Vaccine groups 1 and 3 received 3× monthly immunizations with 7.5 × 104 PfSPZ. Control groups 2 and 4 received normal saline. Groups 1 and 2 underwent CHMI (#1) by mosquito bite 60 days after the third immunization. Groups 3 and 4 were boosted 168 days after the third immunization and underwent CHMI (#2) 137 days later. Vaccinees (11/20, 55%) and controls (6/10, 60%) had the same percentage of mild to moderate solicited adverse events. After CHMI #1, 8/10 vaccinees (group 1) and 5/5 controls (group 2) became parasitemic by microscopy; the two negatives were positive by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). After CHMI #2, all vaccinees in group 3 and controls in group 4 were parasitemic by qPCR. Vaccinees showed weak antibody and no detectable cellular immune responses. Intradermal immunization with up to 3 × 105 PfSPZ-CVac was safe, but induced only minimal immune responses and no sterile protection against Pf CHMI.
Rapid Increase in Scrub Typhus Incidence in Mainland China, 2006–2014
Authors: Wu Yi-Cheng , Qian Quan , Magalhaes Ricardo J. Soares , Han Zhi-Hai , Haque Ubydul , Weppelmann Thomas A. , Hu Wen-Biao , Liu Yun-Xi , Sun Yan-Song , Zhang Wen-Yi , Li Shen-Long
Published: December 2015

Scrub typhus is a vector-borne disease, which has recently reemerged in China. In this study, we describe the distribution and incidence of scrub typhus cases in China from 2006 to 2014 and quantify differences in scrub typhus cases with respect to sex, age, and occupation. The results of our study indicate that the annual incidence of scrub typhus has increased during the study period. The number of cases peaked in 2014, which was 12.8 times greater than the number of cases reported in 2006. Most (77.97%) of the cases were reported in five provinces (Guangdong, Yunnan, Anhui, Fujian, and Shandong). Our study also demonstrates that the incidence rate of scrub typhus was significantly higher in females compared to males (P < 0.001) and was highest in the 60–69 year age group, and that farmers had a higher incidence rate than nonfarmers (P < 0.001). Different seasonal trends were identified in the number of reported cases between the northern and southern provinces of China. These findings not only demonstrate that China has experienced a large increase in scrub typhus incidence, but also document an expansion in the geographic distribution throughout the country.
A study on bloodsucking Tabanidae and Stomoxys calcitrans (Diptera) attacking horses and cows in Northern Scania, Sweden
Authors: Vaduva Gabriela
Published: December 2015

In Sweden, during summer, grazing horses and cows are frequently exposed to bloodsucking flies. This study has been performed in the geographical areas of Gundrastorp (pasture) and Kämlehöjalt (wood pasture), in northern Scania, Sweden where the occurrences of biting flies may represent a scourge for domesticated animals. The distribution of biting flies, Tabanidae and Stomoxys calcitrans (L) (known as stable flies) was studied by insect trapping using two Nzi traps, one for each habitat. No attractants have been used in order to improve trap capture rate. This research pointed out that tabanid and stable flies did not show any preference between the two landscape types or between hosts where they get their blood meal. Capture rates increased on days with high temperature. There were also differences in number between all types of weather for both tabanid and stable flies. In terms of species activity in all types of weather, 13 species of Tabanidae displayed some differences between them in each habitat. In the genus Tabanus, Tabanus bromius and Tabanus maculicornis showed similar patterns with regards to daily activity in different types of weather, being followed by Haematopota pluvialis and Hybomitra bimaculata. Moreover, with regards to the number of male and female tabanids collected in Nzi traps, a higher difference for each area was found. As a parallel survey, the landing behavior of each genus of collected tabanids on blue and black colors before going into Nzi traps showed the same variation during the experiments. Nzi traps set near the horses and cows have shown high efficiency in capturing biting flies, allowing animals to graze somewhat undisturbed.
Evaluating Alternate Post-Mining Land-Uses: A Review
Authors: Mborah Charles , Bansah Kenneth J. , Boateng Mark K.
Published: December 2015

The ultimate objective of post-mine land-use and reclamation planning is to identify appropriate alternate land uses to which mined land could be put. This will ensure that land-use and morphology of the location will be capable of supporting either the prior land-use or pre-mining environment. The main challenge is usually, the choice of variables that must be considered in deciding a particular post-mining land-use. Literature reviews were conducted to identify the major factors needed to be considered in the selection of a post-mining land-use. This paper also looks at the most commonly practiced and accepted post-mining land-use techniques. Factors identified as important in the selection process include land resources (e.g. physical, biological and cultural characteristics), ownership, type of mining activity, legal requirements, location, needs of the community, economic, environmental, technical and social factors. In a broad categorization, all post-mining land-uses could be placed under one of the following land-use: agriculture, forestry, lake or pool, intensive recreational land-use, non-intensive recreational land-use, conservation and pit backfilling. However, the objective of any particular post-mining land use should be achieving economic and sustainable outcomes which meet human wants and needs, and protect life and the environment.
Measurement of Learning Process by Semantic Annotation Technique on Bloom’s Taxonomy Vocabulary
Authors: Yanchinda Jirawit , Yodmongkol Pitipong , Chakpitak Nopasit
Published: December 2015

A lack of science and technology knowledge understanding of most rural people who had the highest education at elementary education level more than others level is unsuccessfully transferred appropriate technology knowledge for rural sustainable development. This study provides the measurement of the learning process by semantic annotation technique on Bloom’s Taxonomy vocabulary to prove the effectiveness of tutorial science ontology improving the learning process of non-science and technology educated farmers. The result showed that (i) experimental sample group who additional social science ontologies significantly improve learning process of throughput domain knowledge. (ii) The experimental group reaches analysis level while the control group without ontology input meets apply level. The experimental group cognitive level improves one step further of the control group.
Assessing Students’ Understanding of Control of Variables across Three Grade Levels and Gender
Authors: Tairab Hassan H.
Published: December 2015

Research studies that deal with student ability to investigate and carry out inquiry oriented investigations often call for educational practitioners to pay particular attention to incorporating the skills of scientific inquiry in the process of teaching and learning. This has the aim of helping learners acquire the skills needed to become problem solvers and independent thinkers. One aspect of the inquiry practice that is directly related to student ability to carry out scientific investigations is the ability to handle and control experimental variables. This skill is commonly known as ‘control of variables ability’. Control of variables, as a process skill, has been widely regarded as an important ability in scientific investigations. The purpose of this study, therefore, was to assess how well students across educational grade levels develop this important process skill. Specifically, this study was designed to assess the understanding of the control of variables of selected sample of science students from grades 8, 10, and 12 and to compare these students in relation to the development of this ability across grade levels. Using an assessment framework developed and used by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), 128 science students were tested to assess their understanding of ideas pertaining to control of variables as a fundamental integrated process skill. The findings revealed that students across grade levels exhibited alternative conceptions of key ideas related to control of variables as a fundamental ability such as testing hypotheses, selecting the appropriate experimental setup, handling more than two variables, and providing valid explanations to the expected outcomes of an experimental setup. These findings suggested that much work is needed to improve student ability to handle and control experimental variables particularly in the context of UAE Curriculum and recent educational reforms that stress the need for better preparation of students to meet the challenges of today’s changing societies. The findings have also highlighted that such a need for better preparation of students for the future scientific inquiries requires new curricula and teaching approaches that respond to and focus on not only learning essential scientific content but also on acquiring advanced transferable abilities related to scientific inquiry and logical reasoning skills that can be used to solve societal problems.
Students’ Learning Assessment Practices Used by Jordanian Teachers of Mathematics for Grades (1-6)
Authors: Abed Eman Rasmi , Abu Awwad Ferial Mohammad
Published: December 2015

This study aims to investigate the students’ learning assessment practices used by Jordanian teachers of mathematics for grades (1-6) in Amman. The sample of the study consists of (402) teachers. A questionnaire of (72) items are developed on four domains, namely: questions, homework, exams, and alternative strategies. Validity and reliability are established. Results of the study show that the mean of the scores for the four domains and the entire items are medium, the highest was on exams and the lowest on the homework. ANOVA analysis show that there were no statistically significant differences related to number of courses and gender. On the other hand, there are statistically significant differences on the scientific qualification in favor of postgraduate studies. As for the type of school, the results are in favor of government schools. In regard to the number of experience years, the results are in favor of category (5-10) years on homework domain only.
A Sociological Approach to Institutional Communication: The Public Image in Organizational Administration in Education
Authors: Serpa Sandro
Published: December 2015

Acknowledging that the external context visibly affects any organization, this investigation seeks to constitute a specific contribution to the study of the importance of public image in organizational administration. To that end, a collection and documentary analysis of news stories from the newspaper O Fayalense on the Asylum for the Disadvantaged Children of Horta [Asilo de Infância Desvalida da Horta], an institution located on Faial Island, Azores, Portugal, covering the time period of 1858 to 1895, is performed. In the presentation and discussion of the results, a comparison is made between two periods that involve a single president because they vary in the type of news stories published (at the level of sources and subjects). It is concluded that the news stories published cover three large types of references, which, given the period in question, vary substantially: factual information (on the celebrations occurring in the asylum, communications about donations received and appreciation of benefactors, or institutional information on the elections of the asylum directorate), praise (regarding the asylum’s mission, operation, or administration), and censures (including responses to external criticism, criticism of previous managements, and stories regarding the asylum’s precarious circumstances). The implication of the study is that the importance of a positive public image, especially a positive image that is supportive of the leadership, should not be overlooked for the organizational administration to have greater chances of success.
Distribution and status of giant otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) in the Pantanal wetland, Brazil
Authors: Tomas Walfrido M. , Camilo André R. , Ribas Carolina , Leuchtenberger Caroline , Borges Paulo André Lima , Mourão Guilherme , Pellegrin Luiz A.
Published: December 2015

The giant otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) is listed as vulnerable in Brazil, is included in Appendix I of CITES and is classified as endangered by the IUCN. In Brazil, few viable populations persist outside the Amazon basin and the Pantanal wetland. Furthermore, there is limited information on the distribution and abundance of the existing populations. The aim of this study was to estimate the abundance of giant otters in the Pantanal wetland and to discuss the conservation status of this population. From July 2000 to November 2011 we conducted surveys throughout the Pantanal to detect the occurrence of giant otters by the observations of active dens and latrines and the direct visualization of the otters. We also monitored giant otter population in five rivers, which allowed us to obtain information on number of individuals, group size and linear density. The species was found to occur in almost every river stretch within the Pantanal wetland, as well as in several aquatic habitat types, indicating a remarkable recovery since the over-hunting during the 1960s. The population of giant otter in the Pantanal may reach 3969 (SD = 1103) individuals, based on our estimated number of individual per kilometer of rivers and creeks (0.54 ± 0.15), over a total of about 7350km of rivers and secondary channels occurring in the Pantanal. These results indicate that the Pantanal is an important area to preserve the giant otter and its habitat, despite the many threats that the species still faces in the region, such as increased vessel traffic, pollution and siltation, as well as disruption of the hydrological characteristics due to the construction of dams and river-bed sedimentation.
First giant otter distribution survey in the southeast of Roraima, Brazil, with notes on the OSG Guidelines for a Standardization of Survey Methods
Authors: Evangelista Emanuela , Tosi Chiara
Published: December 2015

A distribution survey of giant otter was conducted for the first time in the southeast corner of Roraima, bordering  the state of Amazonas, in Brazil (1° 4' S, 61°36' O). The region has recently been recognized as a protected area and is currently elaborating its own management plan. Our survey was carried out according to the guidelines for a standardisation of survey methods as recommended by the IUCN/SSC Otter Specialist Group. The short expedition covered two squares of 100x100km on the UTM grid and interested tree different river basins, investigating black-water as well as white-water watercourses. With the aim of contributing to the optimisation of the standard survey methodology, we carried out some field tests during the survey and present the results in this paper. The expedition revealed the presence of giant otter in all the basins investigated and recorded a series of human activities that may represent a threat to the species survival in the future. Although the results presented are preliminary, we discuss the implication of the presence of the giant otter in the region from a conservation perspective and provide suggestions for the protected area management plan.
Serum Levels of Apoptosis-Related Markers (sFasL, TNF-α, p53 and bcl-2) in COPD Patients
Authors: Kosacka Monika , Porębska Irena , Korzeniewska Anna , Rubinsztajn Renata , Grabicki Marcin , Jankowska Renata , Batura-Gabryel Halina , Chazan Ryszarda
Published: December 2015

Introduction: Taking into account important role of apoptosis in COPD pathogenesis, we wanted to asses the serum levels of markers involved in apoptosis regulation, including apoptosis inducers such as TNF-α, sFasL or p53 protein and apoptosis inhibitor bcl-2 and, in addition, to compare these markers with selected COPD parameters. Material and methods: In 181 patients (60 women) with COPD (age was 62.2 + 9.37 years; FEV1% 55.2 + 19.98 %) and in 29 controls (11 women), serum levels of TNF-α, sFasL, p53 and bcl-2 were evaluated by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. Results: In COPD patients the mean sFasL level was 0.092 ± 0.077 ng/mL and mean TNF-α level was 2.911 ± 3.239 pg/mL. There were no differences in serum sFasL and TNF-α in COPD patients and control group. TNF-α and sFasL did not correlate with COPD parameters such as FEV1%, BMI, RV% (percentage of predicted value of residual volume) or BODE. Although we tried to evaluate bcl-2 and p53 protein serum levels with two different tests, measurable levels of bcl-2 were only detected in 15 patients and p53 in only 3 patients. Bcl-2 values were from 0.418 to 11.423 ng/mL and p53 from 90.772 to 994.749 pg/mL. Conclusions: We didn’t observe any differences in serum levels of pro- and antiapoptotic markers in COPD patients and the control group or correlations between the markers studied and COPD parameters.
Usefulness of Lung Ultrasound in Diagnosing Causes of Exacerbation in Patients with Chronic Dyspnea
Authors: Rogoza Katarzyna , Kosiak Wojciech
Published: December 2015

Dyspnea is a non-specific symptom that requires fast diagnostics, accurate diagnosis and proper treatment. The most common causes of dyspnea include exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and chronic heart failure (CHF). Distinction between these two medical conditions seems to be critical in diagnostics of emergencies. At the same time, basic diagnostic tools available in emergency room, such as classic radiography (X-ray) of the chest, electrocardiography (ECG) or b-type natriuretic peptide test, are sometimes ambiguous. Therefore looking for additional diagnostic tool seems to be justified and necessary. Transthoracic lung ultrasound assessment is a simple and easily accessible examination, enabling the early and explicit diagnostics of pulmonary oedema and its distinction from other, non-cardiac causes of dyspnea. This review outlines the current knowledge on the subject of transthoracic lung ultrasound (TLUS), particularly in respect of its clinical usefulness in distinction of causes of dyspnea exacerbation.
Improve Freshwater Management to Reduce Harmful Algal Blooms
Authors: Hudnell H. Kenneth
Published: December 2015

An adaptive systems approach to freshwater management can reverse the trend of increasing water impairment and improve water quality in the near term at an affordable cost.
Mapping residual transmission for malaria elimination
Authors: Reiner Robert C , Le Menach Arnaud , Kunene Simon , Ntshalintshali Nyasatu , Hsiang Michelle S , Perkins T Alex , Greenhouse Bryan , Tatem Andrew J , Cohen Justin M , Smith David L
Published: December 2015

Eliminating malaria from a defined region involves draining the endemic parasite reservoir and minimizing local malaria transmission around imported malaria infections. In the last phases of malaria elimination, as universal interventions reap diminishing marginal returns, national resources must become increasingly devoted to identifying where residual transmission is occurring. The needs for accurate measures of progress and practical advice about how to allocate scarce resources require new analytical methods to quantify fine-grained heterogeneity in malaria risk. Using routine national surveillance data from Swaziland (a sub-Saharan country on the verge of elimination), we estimated individual reproductive numbers. Fine-grained maps of reproductive numbers and local malaria importation rates were combined to show ‘malariogenic potential’, a first for malaria elimination. As countries approach elimination, these individual-based measures of transmission risk provide meaningful metrics for planning programmatic responses and prioritizing areas where interventions will contribute most to malaria elimination.
Effect of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome on the Ulnar Nerve at the Wrist
Authors: Kang Seok , Yang Seung Nam , Yoon Joon Shik , Kang Hyo Jeong , Won Sun Jae
Published: December 2015

Objectives

The aim of this study was to compare the ulnar nerve at the wrist by sonographicand electrophysiologic studies between patients with carpal tunnel syndrome and control participants and to verify the effect of carpal tunnel syndrome of the ulnar nerve at the wrist.

Methods

Forty‐two hands of patients with carpal tunnel syndrome and 37 hands of control participants were examined. Electrophysiologic studies of the ulnar nerve were done in all participants. The cross‐sectional areas of the median and ulnar nerves at the wrist were evaluated by sonography. Fifteen hands of patients with carpal tunnel syndrome who underwent carpal tunnel release were also evaluated by sonography after the operation.

Results

The ulnar nerve cross‐sectional area of the patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (mean ± SD, 5.16 ± 1.04 mm2) was significantly larger than that of the controls (3.56 ± 0.52 mm2; P < .0001). After release of the transverse carpal ligament, the cross‐sectional area of the ulnar nerve was significantly smaller than the size measured prior to surgery (P < .0001). The cross‐sectional area of the median nerve was significantly correlated with that of the ulnar nerve (P < .05). However, no statistically significant difference was found between the patients with carpal tunnel syndrome and controls in ulnar nerve conduction. There were no statistically significant differences in nerve conduction study results or cross‐sectional area of the ulnar nerve between patients with carpal tunnel syndrome with and without extramedian symptoms.

Conclusions

The cross‐sectional areas of the ulnar and median nerves at the wrist are increased in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome. Also, the cross‐sectional area of the ulnar nerve is decreased after carpal tunnel release.
Customized Fetal Growth Charts for Parents' Characteristics, Race, and Parity by Quantile Regression Analysis
Authors: Ghi Tullio , Cariello Luisa , Rizzo Ludovica , Ferrazzi Enrico , Periti Enrico , Prefumo Federico , Stampalija Tamara , Viora Elsa , Verrotti Carla , Rizzo Giuseppe
Published: December 2015

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to construct fetal biometric charts between 16 and 40 weeks’ gestation that were customized for parental characteristics, race, and parity, using quantile regression analysis.

Methods

In a multicenter cross‐sectional study, 8070 sonographic examinations from low‐risk pregnancies between 16 and 40 weeks’ gestation were analyzed. The fetal measurements obtained were biparietal diameter, head circumference, abdominal circumference, and femur diaphysis length. Quantile regression was used to examine the impact of parental height and weight, parity, and race across biometric percentiles for the fetal measurements considered.

Results

Paternal and maternal height were significant covariates for all of the measurements considered (P < .05). Maternal weight significantly influenced head circumference, abdominal circumference, and femur diaphysis length. Parity was significantly associated with biparietal diameter and head circumference. Central African race was associated with head circumference and femur diaphysis length, whereas North African race was only associated with femur diaphysis length.

Conclusions

In this study we constructed customized biometric growth charts using quantile regression in a large cohort of low‐risk pregnancies. These charts offer the advantage of defining individualized normal ranges of fetal biometric parameters at each specific percentile corrected for parental height and weight, parity, and race. This study supports the importance of including these variables in routine sonographic screening for fetal growth abnormalities.
Sonography of Abdominal Wall Masses and Masslike Lesions
Authors: Ahn Sung Eun , Park Seong Jin , Moon Sung Kyoung , Lee Dong Ho , Lim Joo Won
Published: December 2015

Sonography is usually regarded as a first‐line imaging modality for masses and masslike lesions in the abdominal wall. A dynamic study focusing on a painful area or palpable mass and the possibility of ultrasound‐guided aspiration or biopsy are the major advantages of sonography. On the other hand, cross‐sectional imaging clearly shows anatomy of the abdominal wall; thereby, it is valuable for diagnosing and evaluating the extent of diseases. Cross‐sectional imaging can help differentiate neoplastic lesions from non‐neoplastic lesions. This pictorial essay focuses on sonographic findings of abdominal wall lesions compared with computed tomographic and magnetic resonance imaging findings.
A study on electric field mapping from the F region to the E region at Arecibo
Authors: Gong Yun , Zhou Qihou , Zhang Shaodong
Published: December 2015

We present the first direct comparison of the vertical electric fields in the E and F regions at Arecibo. The electric field is generally assumed to be height invariant and can be mapped from the F region to the E region along the magnetic field line. We develop a method to verify the electric field mapping by comparing the E and F region eastward ion drifts at heights where the E region vertical ion drift is zero. Our method avoids using the ion‐neutral collision frequency, which is considered to be the most uncertain parameter in computing the E region electric field using radar measurements. The results show that the F region eastward E × B ion drift and the E region eastward ion drift at locations where vertical ion drift equals zero are not consistent. This implies that the E region vertical electric field is not the same as that from the F region.
Sense‐and‐Avoid System Based on Radar and Cooperative Sensors
Authors: Kemkemian Stéphane , Nouvel Myriam
Published: December 2015

UAS (unmanned aircraft systems) are now widely used in the military field as well as for security purposes or even increasingly for a number of civilian applications. Therefore, in the future, they will be introduced into the general air traffic. That can be done if UAS are equipped with “sense‐and‐avoid” systems. An interesting solution is to use a combination of a cooperative sensor such as ADS‐B and a noncooperative “all weather” sensor, namely, radar. The capabilities of radar can be further improved for safety reasons, thanks to the data fusion methods and the other data provided by other noncooperative sensors such as electro‐optical sensors.
Requirements: Levels of Safety
Authors: Patchett Charles H.
Published: December 2015

This chapter provides an overview of the safety requirements for Unmanned Air Systems (UAS). It is not meant as a textbook or an in‐depth analysis but as a summary of the key aspects for the layman. For the serious student of safety as applied to UAS, the chapter contains substantial references for further study.

In general, it covers the
Safe to Fly
aspect, dominated by certification requirements and system design guidelines, and the
Flown Safely
aspect that represents the world of operational regulations and flight procedures. From these viewpoints, the chapter considers the meaning of safety and those areas peculiar, and, it has to be said, difficult for UAS, particularly the human–machine interaction (HMI).
U
nited
S
tates
S
ecret
S
ervice
Authors: Burton Corey
Published: December 2015

Since 1865, the United States Secret Service has been the federal law enforcement agency tasked with investigating and combatting the production and dissemination of counterfeit currency. As technology, society, and security‐based needs have changed, the Secret Service has acquired additional investigative and protective responsibilities. The current entry provides a short history of the agency as well as a review of the current scope of its investigations, protective mission, and training.
Repeat Victimization
Authors: Henriksen Caitlin B. , Mattick Kelsey L. , Fisher Bonnie S.
Published: December 2015

Research shows that a small proportion of targets that experience more than one victimization comprise a disproportionate amount of total criminal victimizations. The characteristics that distinguish these incidents vary in terms of offense type, duration of time between victimizations and crime target. Due to these subtle, yet important differences, multiple terms have been used to describe these various types of recurring victimizations. Researchers have developed and tested theories to explain and predict recurring victimization, and have identified predictors that can inform the prevention of recurring victimization.
Rational Choice Theory
Authors: Beaudry‐Cyr Maude
Published: December 2015

Rational choice theory is one of the core criminological theories. While its earliest roots can be traced back to classical criminology, the rational choice theoretical framework has more recently felt the influence of routine activity theory and situational crime prevention. As it stands, rational choice theory assumes that participation in criminal activity is the result of a rational decision‐making process by which the costs and benefits associated with crime are consciously weighed. An individual may decide to participate in criminal activity if the benefits of crime are determined to be greater than its costs.
Burglary
Authors: Fox Bryanna Hahn
Published: December 2015

While there is still a great deal to learn about burglary, a growing body of research on the offense, as on well as general criminal behavior, has elicited a great deal of knowledge about burglary, burglars, and the decision‐making process leading up to the commission of this crime. Still, there are many aspects of burglary that have been understudied, or completely excluded altogether. This entry reviews the research on burglary, including the characteristics of burglars, how burglaries are committed and solved, and the characteristics of the target, victim, and environment in which burglaries take place. Critical information on burglary that is currently absent from the knowledge base is also discussed. Through this review it is possible to gain a broad overview of a variety of key traits relating to the commission of burglaries, and lay the foundation for future research on this prolific offense.
Occupational Crime
Authors: Donner Christopher M.
Published: December 2015

This entry provides an overview of occupational crime. Specifically, it discusses the types of occupational crime, gives contemporary examples of occupational crime, details why occupational crime is difficult to research, and summarizes the costs associated with occupational crime.
Crime and Punishment in
H
ong
K
ong
Authors: Chan Heng Choon (Oliver)
Published: December 2015

In general, official and unofficial crime data in Hong Kong are collected through different methods, with the most widely used official crime statistics compiled by the Hong Kong Police Force. Over the past decade, a steady decline in total reported offenses, both violent and nonviolent, is evident. In Hong Kong, similar to other countries' criminal justice system that emphasizes due process, punishment is the final and an important step in the criminal process. Custodial and community (noncustodial) sentences are the two key types of sentencing option in Hong Kong. Custodial (or imprisonment) sentences are operated by the Correctional Services Department, while community sentences (i.e., probation and community service orders) are operated by the Social Welfare Department. These different sentencing options serve different purposes and target different types of convicted/adjudicated juveniles and adults.
White‐Collar Crime
Authors: Michel Cedric
Published: December 2015

The term “white‐collar crime” is a broad criminological concept that encompasses illegal and/or immoral activities that are generally committed by powerful individuals or entities for financial gain under the guise of social and professional respectability. Empirical research has evidenced that the financial cost and physical harmfulness of white‐collar crime overshadows the social impact of traditional offenses such as burglary, robbery, and even homicide. Nevertheless, because of the power and influence of white‐collar offenders, societal response to street crime continues to be more severe, both in media treatment and in punitive criminal justice policies.
Due Process
Authors: Franz Andrew
Published: December 2015

What is the origin of due process? How did it develop in the United States, and specifically come to be an important aspect of that nation's law or rights? To understand due process we must understand how it developed and how is categorized within the legal system and where it is situated. As far as criminology and criminal justice are concerned, due process has two major and almost mutually exclusive components. The first is substantive due process, which refers to arbitrary laws and egregious law enforcement misconduct. Accordingly, the remedies for violation of substantive due process are either to enjoin the law in question from being enforced at all or money damages. The second category of due process is procedural and constitutes both enumerated and nonenumerated rights concerned with the fairness of procedures at and tangential to tribunals. Enumerated rights are rights contained in the Bill of Rights that have explicitly been given life and vibrancy by the Supreme Court. Nonenumerated rights concern procedural due process because these rights, though not specifically mentioned, are nonetheless considered essential for fair trials and procedures in the American scheme of justice. A significant aspect of understanding procedural due process involves understanding the specific right and the case law that announced them as such. Another significant aspect of understanding the concept is whether the right has been incorporated – made applicable to the states via the Fourteenth Amendment or exclusively in the province of the federal government. Due process intimately involves the important political and legal concept of exclusion. Due process may also be criticized as being too narrow or not broad enough from a number of different perspectives. What is clear is that due process is essential to understanding the American jurisprudence of rights in criminal contexts, but its application is limited in a more comparative and global assessment of rights and rule of law.
Recidivism
Authors: Zgoba Kristen M. , Dayal Nishi P.
Published: December 2015

Recidivism is one of the most fundamental concepts in criminal justice. It is considered the hallmark of incarceration, treatment, and program effectiveness. This entry reviews the definition, the national statistics on recidivism from the Bureau of Justice Statistics and the Pew Center on the States, the importance of measuring recidivism, and the methodological difficulties associated with determining recidivism rates.
Classical Strain Theory
Authors: Pals Heili
Published: December 2015

Classical strain theory predicts that deviance is more likely to occur if one's culturally determined aspirations for monetary success and the opportunity to achieve that success are not congruent. Merton defines three different deviant adaptations (innovation, retreatism, and rebellion) for situations where cultural goals are either not accepted or not achievable via legitimate means. Extensions of the classic theory include: (1) the realization that both legitimate and illegitimate means to achieve monetary success can sometimes be unattainable; (2) that the goals of the middle class are the culturally accepted goals, which creates higher strain for people from lower socioeconomic strata; (3) that the link between strain and deviant motivation is emotion; and (4) broadening the definition of strain from failure to achieve monetary success to other types of strain (many of which are less class based than failure to achieve monetary success). Classic strain theory was popular in 1950s and 1960s, but due to lack of empirical support was largely abandoned until 1990s when new empirical studies and new extensions of the theory revived the classic idea of strain theory.
Mental Illness and Crime
Authors: Rosen Michael J. , Teasdale Brent
Published: December 2015

The relationship between mental illness and violence has been subjected to much empirical scrutiny. Early research suggested that mental disorders have no association with violence or victimization. However, recent research has indicated the contrary. This entry will report on the empirical evidence for the epidemiology of violence by and against persons with mental illnesses and will provide theoretical explanations for such findings.
Crime and Punishment in
M
exico
Authors: Norris Brian
Published: December 2015

Police, courts, and corrections institutions in Mexico originated in the sixteenth century. Evolution over five hundred years modernized each sector, but competition between due process concerns and public‐order imperatives was always an enduring theme. Mexico's written inquisitorial judicial system originated in the Spanish Inquisition. Precursors to modern police forces, built on older traditions dating from the conquest, came about during the presidency of Benito Juarez in the mid eighteenth century. Modern corrections institutions were created from whole cloth in the first decade of the twentieth century. Empirical criminology developed in the country when reliable government data became available, well into the twentieth century. Crime trends in the last twenty years, as represented by homicide rates, show Mexico to be more dangerous than the United States but less dangerous that other Latin American countries.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF)
Authors: Montague David R. , Sobba Kristen N.
Published: December 2015

The United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) is a federal agency with a specific role. The importance of this agency, however, is the fact that the very nature of the focus deals with dimensions of American society that have been “lightning rod” since the founding of the United States. This entry provides an introduction to and history of the ATF along with information about the organizational structure, mission, and role of the various parts of the organization. An understanding of some of the various recent incidents which have brought more attention to the ATF is also offered. Finally, a sense of how one should understand the ATF today is suggested, in addition to numerous references to aid further reading and research.
Deadly Force
Authors: Kania Richard R. E.
Published: December 2015

Law enforcement officials are granted the authority and power to take lives in pursuit of legal ends. In the United States, they do so around 400 times a year. Competing explanations offered are situational, organizational, and social conflict based.
Campus Crime
Authors: Schafer Joseph A.
Published: December 2015

University and college campuses bring together diverse groups of students, faculty, and employees. For students, the prototypical college experience makes the campus their home away from home; it is a place to live, work, recreate, learn, and study. As such, matters of crime, safety, and security are as important and relevant to college students as they might be to residents of any neighborhood. This is juxtaposed against the knowledge youth tend to underestimate their risk of being the victim of crime and may engage in high‐risk behavior. This entry examines the scope and nature of campus crime, its relationship with fear (especially among female students), and the mechanisms campuses employ to prevent and mitigate harm associated with crime and violence.
Psychological Theories of Crime
Authors: Jones Shayne
Published: December 2015

Psychological perspectives and theories on criminal behavior are numerous and distinct. They include, but are not limited to, biological, neurological, cognitive, developmental, personality, and integrated approaches. The purpose of this entry is to offer a brief summary of how these diverse perspectives can provide an understanding of criminal behavior. Although psychological perspectives are less represented within mainstream criminology than other approaches, many criminological theories have a psychological component. Moreover, criminological inquiry can be supplemented and improved by the inclusion of psychological perspectives.