bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pollination ecology of Derris trifoliata (Fabaceae), a mangrove associate in Coringa Mangrove Forest, Andhra Pradesh, India
Authors: Raju A.J. Solomon , Kumar Rajendra
Published: May 2016

Derris trifoliata is a perennial woody climber.  It blooms massively for about two weeks in July/August. The flowers are hermaphroditic, feebly protandrous, self-compatible and display a vector dependent mixed breeding system.  They close back by the end of the day of anthesis.  The forenoon anthesis and pollen and nectar as rewards attract daytime foragers.  The nectar feeding foragers require strength to depress the keel petals in order to collect nectar; only those foragers which have the required strength to do so can collect nectar and in the process trip the floral mechanism and effect pollination. When floral explosion occurs, the pollen is somewhat exposed and the pollen feeding foragers then collect it.  Both long- and short-tongued bees trip the flowers, collect nectar and effect pollination. Individual flowers that were not tripped by insects set fruit to negligible level.  In open-pollination mode, fruit set rate is up to 30-31% only despite the flowers being visited by insect pollinators.  Fruits mature quickly within a month.  Each fruit contains 1-3 seeds against 6 linearly arranged ovules in the ovary.  The fruits are leathery and possess air cavities, the characteristics of which enable them to float in tidal water.  They settle at the parent plant if the site is partly or fully exposed or float for dispersal if the site is inundated with tidal water.  Seed release occurs when fruits absorb water and the pericarp breaks.  Seeds germinate only when they reach a suitable habitat in mangroves.
A preliminary study on the birds of Thane Creek, Maharashtra, India
Authors: Chaudhari-Pachpande Sheetal , Pejaver Madhuri K.
Published: May 2016

Shorebirds also known as waders comprise several adaptations, which enable them to forage on exposed mudflats.  The population of birds in any ecosystem shows the environmental quality of the area, pollution level, security and availability of food and habitat.  Thane Creek located in Mumbai is one of the unique mangrove ecosystems, maintaining a good population of sediment-dwelling organisms that support a myriad of migratory and non-migratory bird populations.  Bird surveys were carried out using the point count method across two different locations at Thane Creek.  In total 95 species of birds were recorded during the study and distinguished as per the pattern of their foraging.  A healthy diversity of bird species observed indicates the high productivity of the creek.
New distribution records of three Fimbristylis species for the Andaman Islands, India
Authors: Naik Mudavath Chennakesavulu , Veeranjaneyulu Dasari , Rao Ravi Prasad
Published: May 2016

Three sedges, Fimbristylis bisumbellata, Fimbristylis littoralis and Fimbristylis microcarya form new distributional records for Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Brief description and Photographs for the species are provided.
The rediscovery of the Common Water Monitor Lizard Varanus salvator (Squamata: Varanidae) in northern Myanmar
Authors: Oo Sai Sein Lin , Bates Paul Jeremy James
Published: May 2016

On 09 June 2015, a Common Water Monitor Varanus salvator (Laurenti, 1768) was observed and photographed (Image 1) on the campus of Banmaw University, Banmaw (Bhamo), Kachin State, Myanmar (24018’15”N & 97015’52”E).  Subsequently, a second individual was observed 140km to the west at Banmauk, Sagaing Division (24024’N & 95051’E). These two observations are the first records of Varanus salvator from Upper Myanmar since Anderson (1878). It would be interesting to conduct follow-up studies to determine whether this is indeed a relict northern population.
A partial checklist of moths (Lepidoptera) of Dehradun, Mussoorie and Devalsari in Garhwal, Uttarakhand, India
Authors: Sondhi Yash , Sondhi Sanjay
Published: May 2016

Two-hundred-and-forty-eight species of moths were recorded during surveys conducted over 40 nights in Dehradun and Mussoorie in Dehradun District and Devalsari in Tehri Garhwal District in Uttarakhand.
Self-Institutionalizing as Political Agency: Contemporary Art Practice in Bucharest and Budapest
Authors: Galliera Izabel
Published: May 2016

Reacting against politically monopolizing attempts at rewriting the socialist past in post-1989 Hungary and Romania, a diverse number of artists, curators, critics, activists and students have come together to form temporary organizations and institutions. Through a contextual reading and critical analysis of The Department for Art in Public Space (2009–2011) in Bucharest and DINAMO (2003–2006) and IMPEX (2006–2009) in Budapest, this article investigates what the author refers to as a “self-institutionalizing” and the ways in which this practice becomes a vehicle to rear politicized civil societies in post-cold war Central and Eastern Europe. The discussion of the two self-institutionalizing initiatives in Romania and Hungary seeks to contribute and complicate the official and institutionalized narrative of institutional critique rooted in a North American context.
Symbolic Melodic Similarity: State of the Art and Future Challenges
Authors: Velardo Valerio , Vallati Mauro , Jan Steven
Published: May 2016

Fostered by the introduction of the Music Information Retrieval Evaluation Exchange (MIREX) competition, the number of systems that calculate symbolic melodic similarity has recently increased considerably. To understand the state of the art, we provide a comparative analysis of existing algorithms. The analysis is based on eight criteria that help to characterize the systems, highlighting strengths and weaknesses. We also propose a taxonomy that classifies algorithms based on their approach. Both taxonomy and criteria are fruitfully exploited to provide input for new, forthcoming research in the area.
De-Naturalizing the Natural Attitude: A Husserlian Legacy to Social Phenomenology
Authors: Weiss Gail
Published: May 2016

This essay focuses on Husserl’s conception of the natural attitude, which, I argue, is one of his most important contributions to contemporary phenomenology. I offer a critical exploration of this concept’s productive explanatory potential for feminist theory, critical race theory, queer theory, and disability studies. In the process, I draw attention to the rich, multi-faceted, and ever-changing social world that can be brought to life through this particular phenomenological concept. One of the most striking features of the natural attitude, as Husserl describes it, is that it is not natural at all, but rather, is a developmental phenomenon that is acquired through, and profoundly influenced by, specific socio-cultural practices. To de-naturalize the natural attitude, then, is to recognize that the natural attitude is not fixed or innate but relative to a particular time period and culture, and therefore always capable of being changed.
Phylogenetic relationships in Mormodes (Orchidaceae, Cymbidieae, Catasetinae) inferred from nuclear and plastid DNA sequences and morphology
Authors: SALAZAR GERARDO A. , CABRERA LIDIA I. , GERLACH GÜNTER , HÁGSATER ERIC , CHASE MARK W.
Published: May 2016

Interspecific phylogenetic relationships in the Neotropical orchid genus Mormodes were assessed by means of maximum parsimony (MP) and Bayesian inference (BI) analyses of non-coding nuclear ribosomal (nrITS) and plastid (trnL–trnF) DNA sequences and 24 morphological characters for 36 species of Mormodes and seven additional outgroup species of Catasetinae. The bootstrap (>50%) consensus trees of the MP analyses of each separate dataset differed in the degree of resolution and overall clade support, but there were no contradicting groups with strong bootstrap support. MP and BI combined analyses recovered similar relationships, with the notable exception of the BI analysis not resolving section Mormodes as monophyletic. However, sections Coryodes and Mormodes were strongly and weakly supported as monophyletic by the MP analysis, respectively, and each has diagnostic morphological characters and different geographical distribution. The geographic structure reflected by the recovered phylogenetic patterns suggests that it is possible to undertake taxonomic revision of regional clades, which eventually will lead to a thorough revision of the genus.
Two new species of Callerya Endl. (Leguminosae: Papilionoideae) from Thailand
Authors: SIRICHAMORN YOTSAWATE , BALSLEV HENRIK , MATTAPHA SAWAI
Published: May 2016

Callerya chlorantha and C. tenasserimensis, here illustrated and described as new to science, are found in dry deciduous or bamboo forest in Kanchanaburi and Ratchaburi provinces in Thailand. Callerya chlorantha, characterized by having pale green flowers that are rare in the genus, grows on limestone. This species is considered as Data Deficient (DD) at this time because there are not yet sufficient data about its distribution, abundance or threats. Callerya tenasserimensis has glabrous leaves and stems and rather small, purple or maroon flowers with golden-brown hairs on the calyx and abaxial side of the standard petal. The conservation status of this species is assessed as Vulnerable (VU).
First records of Chevrolatiini and Cephenniini in Eocene Baltic amber (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Scydmaeninae)
Authors: JAŁOSZYŃSKI PAWEŁ , KUBISZ DANIEL
Published: May 2016

Fossils of two tribes of the ant-like stone beetles, previously unknown in Eocene deposits, are recorded, based on inclusions in Baltic amber. Well-preserved specimens of Chevrolatia sp. (Chevrolatiini) and Cephennodes sp. (Cephenniini) are described, but the species lack reliable diagnostic characters and remain unnamed. This is the first record of a fossil of Chevrolatiini, an extant tribe that includes only one genus, Chevrolatia Jacquelin du Val, distributed in the Holarctic, Mexico, West Palaearctic and Afrotropical regions. The extant tribe Cephenniini, in turn, is cosmopolitan, but the only fossil unambiguously assigned to this taxon, an unnamed genus, was known from Upper Cretaceous Burmese amber. Many extant species of Cephennodes Reitter are known from Palaearctic, but they predominantly inhabit its eastern part, with only two species occurring in Europe. The Eocene specimen of Cephennodes sp. is also the first known fossil of this genus.
A new genus and species of micro bee fly from the Earliest Eocene French amber (Diptera: Mythicomyiidae: Psiloderoidinae)
Authors: MYSKOWIAK JUSTINE , GARROUSTE ROMAIN , NEL ANDRE
Published: May 2016

Mythicomyiidae, or micro bee flies, are tiny flies (0.5–5.0 mm) that are found throughout most parts of the world except the highest altitudes and latitudes (Greathead & Evenhuis 2001). Including all extinct and extant taxa, the Mythicomyiidae currently comprise more than 380 valid taxonomic species distributed among 30 genera. The subfamily Psiloderoidinae is especially well represented among the fossil Mythicomyiidae by seven Cretaceous or Cenozoic genera. We here describe a new genus and a new species of this subfamily based on fossils from the Earliest Eocene of Oise (France). A Psiloderoidinae, Proplatypygus matilei Nel & DePloëg, 2004, is already described in this amber. Another mythicomyiid, Eurodoliopteryx inexpectatus Nel, 2006, is the most frequent bombylioid in this amber (Nel & DePloëg, 2004; Nel, 2006).
Millionaire Migration and Taxation of the Elite
Authors: Young Cristobal , Varner Charles , Lurie Ithai Z. , Prisinzano Richard
Published: May 2016

A growing number of U.S. states have adopted “millionaire taxes” on top income-earners. This increases the progressivity of state tax systems, but it raises concerns about tax flight: elites migrating from high-tax to low-tax states, draining state revenues, and undermining redistributive social policies. Are top income-earners “transitory millionaires” searching for lower-tax places to live? Or are they “embedded elites” who are reluctant to migrate away from places where they have been highly successful? This question is central to understanding the social consequences of progressive taxation. We draw on administrative tax returns for all million-dollar income-earners in the United States over 13 years, tracking the states from which millionaires file their taxes. Our dataset contains 45 million tax records and provides census-scale panel data on top income-earners. We advance two core analyses: (1) state-to-state migration of millionaires over the long-term, and (2) a sharply-focused discontinuity analysis of millionaire population along state borders. We find that millionaire tax flight is occurring, but only at the margins of statistical and socioeconomic significance.
Tycho Brahe, Abū Macshar, and the comet beyond Venus (ninth century A.D.)
Authors: Neuhäuser Ralph , Kunitzsch Paul , Mugrauer Markus , Luge Daniela , van Gent Rob
Published: May 2016

From his observations of the a.d. 1572 supernova and the a.d. 1577 comet, Tycho Brahe concluded that such transient celestial objects are outside the Earth’s atmosphere, and he quoted the ninth century a.d. Persian astrologer and astronomer Abū Macshar: Dixit Albumasar, Cometa supra Venerem visus fuit; i.e., the latter had reported much earlier that comets were seen beyond Venus. However, even from a more detailed Latin translation, the observations and logic behind Abū Macshar’s conclusion were not understandable. We present here the original Arabic text (manuscript Ankara, Saib 199) together with our translation and interpretation: Abū Macshar reported that he had observed Venus in (or projected onto) the tail of a comet and concluded that the comet was behind Venus because he had observed the extinction of Venus due to the cometary tail to be negligible ( light of Venus was unimpaired). He then concluded that the comet would be located behind Venus. He also mentioned that others had observed Jupiter and Saturn in cometary tails, so that those comets would even be located beyond those two outer planets – in the sphere of the stars. The dates of the observed close conjunctions were not mentioned; using known orbital elements for a few comets, we found a few close conjunctions between comets and planets from a.d. 770 to 868, but we cannot be sure regarding which conjunctions were reported. While the argument of Abū Macshar is not correct (as cometary tails are optically thin), the conclusion – namely that comets are outside the Earth’s atmosphere and beyond the moon – is correct. This may have helped Tycho Brahe to come to his revolutionary conclusion.
Wages and Recruitment
Authors: Falch Torberg
Published: May 2016

In this article, the author estimates the causal effect of the wage level on the recruitment rate in establishments. During the 1990s, the wage setting for certified teachers in Norway was completely centralized, with a state-paid wage premium of about 10% at some schools with severe recruitment problems. The empirical approach exploits within-school variation in wage-premium eligibility and that actual teacher supply is empirically observed at schools with excess demand for teachers. In a difference-in-differences framework, the wage premium increases the recruitment rate by 6 to 7 percentage points. This finding is robust to model specification and indicates that the recruitment elasticity to the wage is equal to the separation elasticity in absolute terms. The implied short-run labor-supply elasticity for individual establishments is about 1.4. It is also evidence of a diminishing return to scale in recruitment activity, a central assumption in search-theoretic models of imperfect competition in the labor market.
Career Intentions and Experiences of Pre- and In-Service Female Band Teachers
Authors: Fischer-Croneis Sarah H.
Published: May 2016

The purpose of this study was to examine pre- and in-service female band teachers’ perspectives regarding their experiences in realizing their professional goals. Domains guiding this inquiry included (a) gaining entry into the profession of band teaching, (b) navigating the profession, and (c) gender issues. Findings from this multiple case study indicated that numerous outside factors affected the career paths of the participants, resulting in all of the women pursuing elementary, middle, or multi–grade level jobs. These factors included (a) the positions available at the time of the initial job search, (b) family responsibilities, (c) the perceived time commitment thought to accompany high school band teaching positions, and (d) the desire to witness musical and social growth in students. Some of the participants believed the band profession was increasingly welcoming to women; however, several of the participants reported challenges of being a woman in band teaching. These challenges included the struggle to network with those perceived to be in power, fitting in at professional development events, and gaining respect from students and colleagues. Although some of the women found their gender could be an asset, they also found themselves restricted by social constructs and stereotypes of gender.
Whether, and how, a church ought to repent for a historical wrong
Authors: Bergen Jeremy M.
Published: May 2016

This article proposes a framework for churches that are discerning whether, and how, to publicly repent or apologize for a particular historical wrong. Biblical resources from both testaments, recent developments in theology, reflection on instances of ecclesial repentance, and multidisciplinary work on apologies suggest how penitent churches may hear what the Spirit is saying to them. An act of repentance by a church entails confession of sin, public acknowledgment, commitment to a future, and public witness. Churches are challenged to engage in repentance to the extent that they resist seeking to control the process and attend to the particulars of repair and renewal.
‘When I look at this van, it’s not only a van’: Symbolic objects in the policing of migration
Authors: Lowndes Vivien , Madziva Roda
Published: May 2016

The ‘Go Home Van’ was the centrepiece of the UK government’s 2013 immigration enforcement campaign. Vehicles were driven around ethnically diverse London neighbourhoods clad with giant posters offering irregular migrants a choice between ‘voluntary departure’ and criminal arrest. Abandoned shortly afterwards in response to complaints, the GHV nonetheless had a significant impact on migrants. Through interviews and focus groups, this article investigates what was conveyed by the van, and the means by which it achieved these effects. We find that the GHV communicated meanings about the illegitimacy and criminality of migrants, with its material characteristics (visibility and mobility) as important as the words and pictures on its surface. Migrants sought to resist the van through hiding, while support organisations rejected dominant meanings and crafted alternatives. The article establishes a research agenda around the wider role of symbolic objects, in the context of the global migration crisis.
Introduction to Latent Class Analysis With Applications
Authors: Porcu Mariano , Giambona Francesca
Published: May 2016

Latent class analysis (LCA) is a statistical method used to group individuals (cases, units) into classes (categories) of an unobserved (latent) variable on the basis of the responses made on a set of nominal, ordinal, or continuous observed variables. In this article, we introduce LCA in order to demonstrate its usefulness to early adolescence researchers. We provide an application of LCA to empirical data collected from a national survey carried out in 2010 in Italy to assess mathematics and reading skills of fifth-grade primary school pupils (10 years in age). The data were used to measure pupils’ supplies of cultural capital by specifying a latent class model. This article aims to describe and interpret results of LCA, allowing users to replicate the analysis. All LCA examples included in the text are illustrated using the Latent GOLD package, and command files needed to reproduce all analyses with SAS and R are available as supplemental online appendix files along with the example data files.
Anticholinergic premedication-induced fever in paediatric ambulatory ketamine anaesthesia
Authors: Kim Kyung Woo , Choe Won Joo , Kim Jun Hyun , Kim Kyung-Tae , Lee Sang-Il , Park Jang Su , Kim Jung Won , Heo Min Hee
Published: May 2016

Objective

A randomized, double-blind, prospective study to evaluate the effect of anticholinergic drugs on thermoregulation in paediatric patients undergoing ambulatory anaesthesia with ketamine.

Methods

Patients were randomized to receive either 0.005 mg/kg glycopyrrolate or the equivalent volume of normal saline (placebo) at 30 min before ketamine anaesthesia. Body temperature was measured tympanically at baseline and at 0, 30, 60 and 90 min postoperatively. The quantity of saliva prodiced during surgery and incidence of fever were recorded.

Results

Body temperature was significantly higher in the glycopyrrolate group ( n = 42) than the placebo group ( n = 42) at 30, 60 and 90 min after surgery, and higher than baseline at 0, 30, 60 and 90 min after surgery. In the placebo group, body temperature was significantly higher than baseline at 0 and 30 min after surgery. Saliva secretion was significantly lower in the glycopyrrolate group than the placebo group.

Conclusion

Routine premedication with adjunctive anticholinergics should not be considered in paediatric patients receiving ketamine sedation due to the increased risk of fever. Trial registration number, Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT02430272
Diagnostic value of elevated serum miRNA-143 levels in sepsis
Authors: Han Yu , Dai Qing-Chun , Shen Hong-Li , Zhang Xiao-Wei
Published: May 2016

Objective

To evaluate serum micro RNA-143 (miR-143) levels in patients with sepsis or non-infectious systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), and investigate its possible diagnostic or prognostic value.

Methods

Serum was obtained from patients with sepsis or SIRS and healthy control subjects. Relative miR-143 expression was determined using quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction. The diagnostic and prognostic value of serum miR-143 was evaluated.

Results

Serum miR-143 levels were significantly higher in patients with sepsis ( n = 103) than patients with SIRS ( n = 95) and healthy controls ( n = 40). There were significant positive correlations between serum miR-143 level and SOFA and APACHE II scores in patients with sepsis ( r = 0.794 and r = 0.825, respectively). Serum miR-143 had a sensitivity of 78.6% and specificity of 91.6% for distinguishing between sepsis and SIRS. There was no association between serum miR-143 and 28-day survival in patients with sepsis.

Conclusion

Serum miR-143 is elevated in patients with sepsis, and may be a useful biomarker for distinguishing between sepsis and SIRS.
Epidural blood patch for spontaneous intracranial hypotension with chronic subdural haematoma: A case report and literature review
Authors: Zhang Jian , Jin Dan , Pan Kong-Han
Published: May 2016

Spinal leakage of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is considered to be the primary cause of spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH). Subdural haematoma (SDH) is a serious complication of SIH. This current report presents a case of bilateral SDH with SIH that was treated with epidural blood patching (EBP). A 43-year-old male complained of experiencing orthostatic headaches for 2 months without neurological signs. The patient worsened in a local hospital and was transferred to the Sir Run Run Hospital. Brain computed tomography showed bilateral SDH with a midline shift. The patient underwent emergency trephination in the left frontal temporal region. Postoperative magnetic resonance myelography showed a CSF leak originating at the T11–L2 level. As a consequence of clinical deterioration of the patient, EBP was subsequently performed at the T12–L1 level. The headache was rapidly relieved and later the SDH was completely absorbed. This case report and literature review aims to remind clinicians that SIH can cause SDH and that EBP is a viable treatment option.
The Influence of Treatment Motivation on Outcomes of Social Skills Training for Juvenile Delinquents
Authors: van der Stouwe Trudy , Asscher Jessica J. , Hoeve Machteld , van der Laan Peter H. , Stams Geert Jan J. M.
Published: May 2016

This study examined the influence of treatment motivation on posttreatment effectiveness of an outpatient, individual social skills training for juvenile delinquents imposed as a penal sanction. Propensity score matching was used to match a control group of juveniles receiving treatment as usual ( n = 108 of total N = 354) to a treatment group of juveniles receiving Tools4U, a social skills training with a parental component ( N = 115). Treatment motivation was examined as a moderator and predictor of treatment effects on impulsivity, social perspective-taking, social problem-solving, lack of critical reasoning, developmental task-related skills, and parenting skills. Treatment effects were mostly consistent across juveniles with different levels of treatment motivation. Only one moderating effect was found on active tackling (i.e., actively addressing problems), and predictive effects were found on seeking social support, cognitive empathy, hostile intent attribution, and self-centeredness. Implications for further research are discussed.
Medullary infarction causing coexistent SUNCT and trigeminal neuralgia
Authors: Lambru Giorgio , Trimboli Michele , Tan S Veronica , Al-Kaisy Adnan
Published: May 2016

Background

Short-lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache attacks with conjunctival injection and tearing (SUNCT) or with autonomic symptoms (SUNA) are grouped together within the trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias (TACs). However, the SUNCT and SUNA phenotype and management overlap with those of trigeminal neuralgia (TN). Additionally, a broad variety of cerebral pathologies are reportedly able to trigger either TN- or SUNCT-like pain, and emerging structural neuroimaging findings suggest the possible role of neurovascular conflict with the trigeminal nerve in SUNCT, further supporting aetiological and pathophysiological overlaps among SUNCT, SUNA and TN.

Case report

We present the first case of coexisting chronic SUNCT- and TN-like phenotypes caused by haemorrhagic infarct of the dorsolateral medulla.

Discussion

In light of our case, a perturbation of the dorsolateral medullary circuits may constitute an important pathophysiological component, supporting a unifying nosological hypothesis that considers SUNCT, SUNA and TN clinical variants of the same disorder.
Cross-Cultural Validity of Preschool Learning Behavior Scale in Chinese Cultural Context
Authors: Wu Zhongling , Hu Bi Ying , Fan Xitao
Published: May 2016

This study investigated the cross-cultural validity of the Preschool Learning Behavior Scale (PLBS) in the Chinese cultural context. Multiple approaches were used for this purpose, including exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, criterion-related validity evidence, and internal consistency reliability estimates. The findings generally supported the PLBS’ three-factor structure (Competence Motivation, Learning Strategy, and Attention/Persistence) as used in the Chinese cultural context, and with minor adaptations, PLBS could be a psychometrically sound measure for assessing the learning behaviors of Chinese children.
On the long-term effects of methyl isocyanate on cell-mediated immunity in Bhopal gas-exposed long-term survivors and their offspring
Authors: Senthilkumar Chinnu Sugavanam , Sah Nand Kishore , Ganesh Narayanan
Published: May 2016

Methyl isocyanate (MIC) is a toxic industrial chemical that is documented as a potent respiratory toxicant. We investigated cell-mediated immunity (CMI) in the MIC-exposed long-term survivors and their offspring born after the Bhopal gas-leak tragedy in 1984. Several earlier reports show inconsistency in the assessment of immunological effects of MIC on the human population. In these studies, important factors including lifestyle attributes were overlooked. We incorporated these factors also in our study of the basic cell-mediated immune function in the Bhopal MIC-affected population. Twenty-seven years after exposure, we assessed the circulating T-lymphocyte frequency using E-Rosette assay. A total of 46 MIC-exposed healthy long-term survivors and their offspring were studied vis-a-vis parallel gender–age group-matched unexposed controls from Bhopal and various other regions of India. The influence of several lifestyle variabilities (smoking, alcohol intake, and tobacco chewing) on T-lymphocyte frequency was also taken into consideration. Our observations suggest that Erythrocyte-Rosette-forming cell (E-RFC) distribution frequency is largely insignificant in the MIC-affected population as compared to controls ( p > 0.05). In the MIC-affected tobacco chewers, there was a trend of suppression in CMI (relative decrease = 10.3%) as compared to nonchewers. Overall, our results show negligible long-term effect of MIC on CMI measured in terms of E-RFC frequency. These observations are not in agreement with earlier findings that immunosuppressive effects of MIC exposure persist in the T-cells of the affected population. However, atypical lymphocytes were frequently observed as E-RFC in the exposed females when compared to all other subgroups. Hematopoietic disorders (atypical lymphocytosis) in the MIC-affected population along with previous reports on the cytogenetic and humoral immune system linking cancer risk and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are important.
From the Orange Revolution to the Revolution of Dignity
Authors: Reznik Oleksandr
Published: May 2016

The article examines the determinants for participation in two Ukrainian revolutions, the Orange Revolution in 2004 and the Revolution of Dignity in 2013–2014. These revolutions were proof of the social movement that accompanies post-communist transition in an Eastern European country. This social movement, in a transitional society in the process of redefining traditional ethno-cultural identities, defined a value-rational understanding of democracy and market economy. A result of Ukrainian government action, these two revolts (which occurred less than ten years apart) have both similar and different features. The methods of binary logistic regression used in this research reveal that both protests are the result of macroregional division and the Ukrainian population’s foreign policy priorities. However, in determining participation in the Orange Revolution, these factors also combined with principles of linguistic identity, age, and status differentiation. In contrast, participation in the Revolution of Dignity was shaped by support for democratic and market values.
Synthesis of a boron/nitrogen-containing compound based on triazine and boronic acid and its flame retardant effect on epoxy resin
Authors: Zhang Tie , Liu Weishi , Wang Meixiao , Liu Ping , Pan Yonghong , Liu Dongfa
Published: May 2016

With the aim of developing a novel organic flame retardant, an organic boronic acid derivative containing a triazine ring (2,4,6-tris(4-boronic-2-thiophene)-1,3,5-triazine (3TT-3BA)) was synthesized. The thermal properties of 3TT-3BA and its corresponding intermediate products were investigated by thermogravimetric analysis. The results show that 3TT-3BA has a high char yield (56.9%). The flame retardant properties of epoxy resin (EP) with 3TT-3BA were investigated by cone calorimeter, limiting oxygen index (LOI) test, and vertical burning test (UL 94). The LOI of EP with 20% 3TT-3BA is 31.2% and the UL 94 V-0 rating is achieved for EP with 20% 3TT-3BA. The flame retardant mechanism of 3TT-3BA in EP was investigated using TGA–Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy.
Taphophobia and ‘life preserving coffins’ in the nineteenth century
Authors: Cascella Marco
Published: May 2016

In 1891 the Italian psychiatrist Enrico Morselli (1852–1929) described taphophobia, defining it as an extreme condition of claustrophobia due to the fear of being buried alive. This rare psychopathological phenomenon reflects an ancient fear, and its origin is not known. Taphophobia is closely linked to the problem of apparent death and premature burial. In the nineteenth century, scientists and authors paid particular attention to the issue of apparent death, and special devices (safety coffins) were invented to ensure that premature burial was avoided. Nowadays taphophobia is quite a rare psychiatric disorder; different forms of social anxiety disorders are much more widespread. Its modern equivalent could be the fear of organs harvested from a patient who is still alive.
Random response of dielectric elastomer balloon to electrical or mechanical perturbation
Authors: Jin Xiaoling , Huang Zhilong
Published: May 2016

Random response of dielectric elastomer balloon disturbed by electrical or mechanical fluctuation is analytically investigated in this article. The stochastic differential equation governing the oscillating behavior around the stable equilibrium position is first derived by introducing the translation transformation. The stationary joint probability density about the disturbing stretch ratio and its rate of change is analytically established by adopting the stochastic averaging of energy envelope; the statistics quantities, such as the mean value and the standard deviation of the disturbing stretch ratio, are then subsequently calculated. Two special cases, the first case with only voltage fluctuation and the second one with only pressure variation, are discussed in detail, and the random response properties are summarized. The accuracy of the analytical solution is verified by comparing with the Monte Carlo simulation for the perturbation with weak intensity, and the valid ranges for the mean voltage and pressure are illustrated. This work provides an effective technique to evaluate the detection precision of new type of sensors based on the dielectric elastomer.
The Importance of Reading in Earnest
Authors: Job Jennifer , Coleman Mary Ruth
Published: May 2016

Until recently, reading instruction for early grades has focused on fiction. However, the Common Core State Standards and the Next Generation Science Standards both emphasize the reading of nonfiction texts to gain specific skill sets for analyzing information. Research has shown that gifted students and children with culturally/linguistically diverse backgrounds may find nonfiction texts more engaging to their interests than fiction. Nonfiction can activate prior learning and encourage students to learn to categorize and synthesize information, especially when combined with scientific inquiry. In this article, the authors explore the new standards-based emphasis on reading nonfiction, the skills built by students’ reading nonfiction with a focus on gifted students from culturally/linguistically different and economically disadvantaged families, and we share one approach to including nonfiction in elementary classrooms through the U-STARS~PLUS Science & Nonfiction Connections, a program for recognizing and supporting underrepresented gifted populations.
Evaluation of red blood cell distribution width as a prognostic indicator in cats with acquired heart disease, with and without congestive heart failure
Authors: Roderick Kursten V , Abelson Amanda L , Nielsen Lindsey , Price Lori Lyn , Quinn Rebecca
Published: May 2016

Objectives

Congestive heart failure secondary to cardiomyopathy is a common manifestation of cardiac disease in cats, carrying a variable prognosis. The objective of this retrospective study was to evaluate the relationship between red blood cell distribution width (RDW) and survival time in feline patients with acquired heart disease with and without congestive heart failure (CHF).

Methods

Three hundred and forty-nine client-owned cats with echocardiograms and complete blood count, including RDW measurement, performed between March 2006 and December 2011, were included in the study. Patient characteristics, including signalment, hematocrit, RDW, echocardiographic parameters and survival, were recorded. Comparisons between RDW in cats with asymptomatic acquired heart disease and those with CHF were made. Survival was documented and compared at 30 days and 6 months.

Results

CHF was present in 80 cats and absent in 269 cats. Cats with CHF had an increase in mortality compared with cats without CHF at 30 days and 6 months ( P = 0.007 and P = 0.04, respectively). RDW was not significantly associated with survival in cats with or without CHF at 30 days or 6 months. A significant difference was found between median RDW values in cats with CHF vs cats without CHF (16.3% vs 15.8%; P = 0.02). The median RDW value was significantly higher in cats with unclassified cardiomyopathy compared with cats with other types of cardiomyopathy (16.3% vs 15.8%; P = 0.03).

Conclusions and relevance

Single RDW values did not predict mortality in cats with acquired heart disease but may be useful in determining if cats have decompensated heart disease and CHF. Human studies indicate that incremental increases in serial RDW measurements are associated with decreased survival; serial RDW measurements in cats may be an area of future study.
Digital Difference: Theorizing Frameworks of Bodies, Representation and Stereotypes in Digital Games
Authors: Cover Rob
Published: May 2016

This article presents a theoretical framework for making sense of gaming, ethnicity and race through the conceptual lens of critical approaches to the body, representation and the relationship between bodies and technologies of gameplay. Taking the view that gaming is a core activity of contemporary digital sociality that always involves bodies, whether represented on-screen or as game-players who are neither disembodied nor radically separated from those on-screen re-presentations, this article addresses the fact that, in everyday social life, stereotypes of representations of bodies of difference circulate in embedded ways in all communicative activities including digital gaming. However, if re-thinking the relationship of the body and its on-screen representations through assemblages of bodies–technologies beyond the more rudimentary real/virtual distinctions of older conceptualizations of media use, it is possible to open new critical frameworks for addressing race and ethnicity discrimination in the contemporary activity and performativity of gameplay. This article begins with a brief introduction to critical approaches to the body, followed by a discussion of on-screen representation and bodily stereotyping, finishing with an analysis of the relationship between bodies, gaming avatars and mutually constitutive body–technology relationships.
The language of labelling and the politics of hostipitality in the British asylum system
Authors: McFadyen Gillian
Published: May 2016

Since 1990 when Britain witnessed a spike in asylum applications, consecutive governments have adopted a stance towards asylum, whereby the interests of the state supersede those seeking asylum. By employing Jacques Derrida’s notion of hospitality and the politics of labelling, the article identifies five ways in which Conservative, New Labour and Conservative Liberal Democratic coalition governments have sought to establish the label of a genuine asylum seeker. Drawing upon parliamentary archives, the article presents a narrative of an idealised refugee figure that has been created through consecutive British governments, at the expense of the asylum seeker. Individuals who do not meet the genuine criteria are branded as failed, bogus asylum seekers, or more recently, immigrants, who abuse the system. The article argues that what we are witnessing within the British asylum system is the politics of hostipitality, whereby hostility is the overriding reaction to the asylum seeker.
Diversity and voice: The political participation of young people in the European Union
Authors: Sloam James
Published: May 2016

There is widespread concern about declining public involvement in established democracies. Europeans are turning away from mainstream electoral politics towards new forms of political engagement. This is particularly the case for younger citizens. If young people are ‘reinventing political activism’ (Norris, 2002), in which forms of participation and in which countries is it most true? Drawing on data from the European Social Survey, the following article compares and contrasts young people’s politics in the 15 old member states of the European Union. Youth engagement generally reflects a country’s civic-political culture. However, there are significant differences in levels of youth participation, in ratios of youth participation (compared to the adult population as a whole) and in the relative popularity of different forms of political action. The United Kingdom stands out, however, with a disturbingly large gap between the political engagement of young people and older adults.
Behaviour of a high-intensity discharge lamp fed by a high-frequency dimmable electronic ballast
Authors: Chammam A , Nsibi W , Nejib Nehdi M , Mrabet B , Sellami A
Published: May 2016

The main advantages of high-frequency electronic ballasts for high-intensity discharge lamps are high luminous efficacy, small size, lightweight and longer lifetime. This is why high-intensity discharge lamps operating at high frequency are widely used. This paper proposes an approach for designing resonant circuit electronic ballasts controlled by frequency variation for high-intensity discharge lamps. The proposed technique including an AC/DC rectifier, a power factor correction circuit and a DC/AC half bridge inverter. These electronic ballasts offer a wide range of dimming controls and can avoid acoustic resonance. However, under dimming, the electric and photometric characteristics of the lamp change. In order to study these effects under the process of dimming, this work studies the lamp properties by varying both lamp power and operating frequency.
Policy Help Needed, Experience Required
Authors: Moreland-Russell Sarah , Zwald Marissa , Golden Shelley D.
Published: May 2016

Objectives. There is a shift toward a “health in all policies” approach in public health; however, most practitioners are not equipped with the necessary knowledge or skills to engage in and practice policy. This study explores how public health professionals can become policy practitioners and better engage in the policy process. This article also provides recommendations for training programs on how to increase students’ policy-related knowledge and skills. Method. We conducted in-depth interviews with 10 public health policy experts in the United States spanning academic, governmental, advocacy, and practice settings. Key informants provided perspectives regarding strengths and skill sets that practitioners need to better position themselves to do policy-relevant work and opportunities for public health programs to improve training. The research team conducted thematic analyses to determine commonality among expert responses. Results. Informants identified a number of strengths and skills that either support or impede practitioners’ ability to conduct policy work and proposed recommendations for public health curricula to integrate policy-related coursework or practical experiences to prepare practitioners for policy careers. Conclusion. Public health professionals need to become more politically astute to practice and advance public health policy. To facilitate the development of such skills, public health training and pedagogy must integrate policy practice into traditional public health coursework, include new policy-focused courses, and provide opportunities for real-world policy experience.
Exploring the literature on music participation and social connectedness for young people with intellectual disability: A critical interpretive synthesis
Authors: Murphy Melissa AI , McFerran Katrina
Published: May 2016

Background:

This article explores the literature on social connectedness and music for young people with disability. It then critically examines the level of congruence between the reported literature to date and current rights-based disability studies discourse.

Method:

A critical interpretive synthesis was used to examine 27 articles referencing the use of music for social connectedness. Areas of focus in the review are the nature of connections being fostered in music programs, the use of voice and collaboration.

Results:

The majority of music programs reported on closed groups. Outdated ‘expert’ models of working persist. The use of participants’ voice in the literature is growing, although there is a lack of collaboration and negative reporting.

Conclusion:

A shift in thinking heralds greater collaboration with participants, although this could be broadened to include decisions on research agendas, planning and evaluation. There is also need for active fostering of broader socio-musical pathways.
Indications for Insulin Pump Therapy in Type 1 Diabetes and Associations With Glycemic Control
Authors: Jendle Johan H. , Rawshani Araz , Svensson Ann-Marie , Avdic Tarik , Gudbjörnsdóttir Soffia
Published: May 2016

Background:

Real-world data regarding indications for use of insulin pump remain sparse. We investigated characteristics among individuals with type 1 diabetes (T1D) in relation to indication for use of insulin pump (CSII). Comparison was made with T1D subjects using multiple daily injections (MDI).

Methods:

We included all individuals with T1D who had at least 1 registration in the National Diabetes Register during 2014-2015. Among 46 874 individuals, we excluded 2350 due to missing data. We examined 35 725 on MDI and 8799 on CSII regarding characteristics in relation to insulin delivery method, as well as association between insulin delivery and glycemic control (HbA1c) and presence of albuminuria.

Results:

Unadjusted mean (SD) HbA1c was 63.84 (15.07) mmol/mol (7.99 [1.38]%) and 63.75 (13.19) mmol/mol (7.99 [1.21]%) in the MDI and CSII group, respectively. MDI and CSII users were on average 48.8 and 41.5 years old, respectively. MDI users were on average 26 years old and CSII users 17 years old at the time of diabetes diagnosis. Overall, a higher proportion of CSII users were females (53.5%). As compared with MDI, use of CSII was associated with up to 7.84 mmol/mol (0.72%) lower HbA1c in a multivariable adjusted model. Use of CSII was, however, not associated with risk of having albuminuria.

Conclusions:

CSII was used more frequently in younger individuals, early-onset diabetes, and problematic glycemic control. The use of CSII was associated with lower HbA1c among CSII users except from those who started CSII due to high HbA1c.
Giving Knowledge Workers a Voice through Joint Consultative Councils
Authors: Adikaram Arosha S.
Published: May 2016

This case study aims to outline and explore the implementation of a Joint Consultative Council (JCC) and the related outcomes, challenges and issues faced by an information technology (IT) company in Sri Lanka. Implementation of JCC in the company as a form of employee voice was a result of a planned intervention of the new Human Resources (HR) team of the company, with the intentions of increasing employee involvement, commitment, employee relations and most importantly, communication. At the initial sessions of the council ‘tea, towels and toilets’ issues were mainly discussed and an apparent gulf between the management and the employee representatives was apparent. While the council has given some form of voice to employees, it was clearly a ‘voice without muscle’, devoid of any significant joint decision making. After recouping the process to enhance joint decision-making and communication, the proceeding JCC regained the trust and enthusiasm of employees and management. There is a possibility of continuation and subsequent institutionalization of the JCC in the company. However, the process needs more time to establish itself effectively in the company with increased trust between parties. This case study provides practical insights into the creation of a JCC as a form of Non-union Employee Representation (NER) for knowledge workers, addressing a lacuna in knowledge on the practical implementation of JCC, as well as the practice of JCCs among different categories of workers such as knowledge workers. Insights drawn from the case can be used as learning points in creating successful JCCs in organizations.