bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Connection loss reduction in variable optical delay line by using graded‐index type photonic crystal fiber
Authors: Higuchi Keiichi , Yokota Hirohisa , Yoneya Kazuki , Imai Yoh
Published: February 2018

A low‐loss butt‐joint connection method between photonic crystal fibers (PCFs) by using a graded‐index type photonic crystal fiber (GI‐PCF) is proposed. The GI‐PCF, in which the diameter of the air holes is chosen in a parabolic distribution in the effective refractive index, is analyzed numerically by a beam propagation method. It is found that the mode extent in the GI‐PCF varies periodically along the propagation direction when the LP01 mode of the PCF is launched into the GI‐PCF. This characteristic is successfully applied to reduce the butt‐joint connection loss between the PCFs by 1.6 dB with a 20.6‐mm GI‐PCF under 200 µm air gap. © 2018 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Distributed day‐ahead scheduling in community energy management systems using inter‐community energy trade
Authors: Miyamoto Toshiyuki , Okada Masahiro , Fukuda Takuya , Kitamura Shoichi , Mori Kazuyuki , Izui Yoshio
Published: February 2018

A community energy management system (CEMS) stands between energy consumers in a community and energy suppliers, and provides ancillary service to the former. A CEMS performs day‐ahead scheduling for its energy conversion equipment and energy purchase planning for the next day to minimize energy consumption and cost under some constraints. In this study, we assume that multiple CEMSs can cooperatively perform the aforementioned; we examine a day‐ahead scheduling problem among a group of CEMSs using two key solutions for energy saving: demand response and energy trade. Using the demand response, CEMS can change the energy of consumers to improve energy utilization efficiency. Using the energy trade, CEMSs can trade surplus energy with each other. First, we build an optimization problem for a group of CEMSs. Then, the alternating direction method of multipliers is used to decompose the optimization problem into a distributed optimization problem. Results of numerical experiments show that both the demand response and the energy trade cooperatively affect energy saving of the group. © 2018 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Development of teaching material for the motivation of “measurements and controls” in technology education
Authors: Tamai Teruyuki , Shoda Yoshiaki , Kawada Kazuo
Published: February 2018

Since 2012, the subject “measurements and controls via computer programs” has been compulsory in technology education for junior high school students in Japan. However, there are few teaching materials available that students can use to compare automatic control and manual control in order to understand the usefulness of measurements and controls. In addition, there are few teaching materials that technology education teachers in junior high schools find easy to handle. Therefore, in this study, we aim to develop introductory teaching materials that can motivate students to learn about “measurements and controls via computer programs”. © 2018 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Against Existential Grounding
Authors: Melamedoff Damian ,   Philosophy Documentation Center
Published: February 2018

Existential grounding is the thesis that all existential generalizations are grounded in their particular instances. This paper argues that existential grounding is false. This is because it is inconsistent with two plausible claims about existence: (1) the claim that singular existence facts are generalizations and (2) the claim that no object can be involved in a fact that grounds that same object’s existence. Not only are these claims intuitively plausible, but there are also strong arguments in favour of each of them.
Response Mixture Modeling: Accounting for Heterogeneity in Item Characteristics across Response Times
Authors: Molenaar Dylan , de Boeck Paul
Published: February 2018

In item response theory modeling of responses and response times, it is commonly assumed that the item responses have the same characteristics across the response times. However, heterogeneity might arise in the data if subjects resort to different response processes when solving the test items. These differences may be within-subject effects, that is, a subject might use a certain process on some of the items and a different process with different item characteristics on the other items. If the probability of using one process over the other process depends on the subject’s response time, within-subject heterogeneity of the item characteristics across the response times arises. In this paper, the method of response mixture modeling is presented to account for such heterogeneity. Contrary to traditional mixture modeling where the full response vectors are classified, response mixture modeling involves classification of the individual elements in the response vector. In a simulation study, the response mixture model is shown to be viable in terms of parameter recovery. In addition, the response mixture model is applied to a real dataset to illustrate its use in investigating within-subject heterogeneity in the item characteristics across response times.
Health Endowment at Birth and Variation in Intergenerational Economic Mobility: Evidence From U.S. County Birth Cohorts
Authors: Robertson Cassandra , O’Brien Rourke
Published: February 2018

New estimates of intergenerational economic mobility reveal substantial variation in the spatial distribution of opportunity in the United States. Efforts to explain this variation in economic mobility have conspicuously omitted health despite it being a key pathway for the transmission of economic position across generations. We begin to fill this gap in the literature by examining the relationship between health endowment at birth and intergenerational economic mobility across county birth cohorts in the United States, drawing on estimates from two population-level data sets. Exploiting variation across counties and over time, we find a negative relationship between the incidence of low-weight births and the level of economic mobility as measured in adulthood for the county birth cohorts in our sample. Our results build on a large and growing literature detailing the role of early childhood health in the transmission of economic status across generations and suggest that the incidence of low-weight births is negatively associated with intergenerational economic mobility.
Sobolev regularity for first order mean field games
Authors: Jameson Graber P. , Mészáros Alpár R.
Published: February 2018

In this paper we obtain Sobolev estimates for weak solutions of first order variational Mean Field Game systems with coupling terms that are local functions of the density variable. Under some coercivity conditions on the coupling, we obtain first order Sobolev estimates for the density variable, while under similar coercivity conditions on the Hamiltonian we obtain second order Sobolev estimates for the value function. These results are valid both for stationary and time-dependent problems. In the latter case the estimates are fully global in time, thus we resolve a question which was left open in [23]. Our methods apply to a large class of Hamiltonians and coupling functions.
Current practices in clinical neurofeedback with functional MRI—Analysis of a survey using the TIDieR checklist
Authors: Randell Elizabeth , McNamara Rachel , Subramanian Leena , Hood Kerenza , Linden David
Published: February 2018

Background

A core principle of creating a scientific evidence base is that results can be replicated in independent experiments and in health intervention research. The TIDieR (Template for Intervention Description and Replication) checklist has been developed to aid in summarising key items needed when reporting clinical trials and other well designed evaluations of complex interventions in order that findings can be replicated or built on reliably. Neurofeedback (NF) using functional MRI (fMRI) is a multicomponent intervention that should be considered a complex intervention. The TIDieR checklist (with minor modification to increase applicability in this context) was distributed to NF researchers as a survey of current practice in the design and conduct of clinical studies. The aim was to document practice and convergence between research groups, highlighting areas for discussion and providing a basis for recommendations for harmonisation and standardisation.

Methods

The TIDieR checklist was interpreted and expanded (21 questions) to make it applicable to neurofeedback research studies. Using the web-based Bristol Online Survey (BOS) tool, the revised checklist was disseminated to researchers in the BRAINTRAIN European research collaborative network (supported by the European Commission) and others in the fMRI-neurofeedback community.

Results

There were 16 responses to the survey. Responses were reported under eight main headings which covered the six domains of the TIDieR checklist: What, Why, When, How, Where and Who.

Conclusions

This piece of work provides encouraging insight into the ability to be able to map neuroimaging interventions to a structured framework for reporting purposes. Regardless of the considerable variability of design components, all studies could be described in standard terms of diagnostic groups, dose/duration, targeted areas/signals, and psychological strategies and learning models. Recommendations are made which include providing detailed rationale of intervention design in study protocols.
Lymph node ratio as an alternative to pN staging for predicting prognosis after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer
Authors: Cho Dong Hui , Bae Soo Youn , You Ji Young , Kim Hong Kyu , Chang Young Woo , Choi Yoo Jin , Woo Sang Uk , Son Gil Soo , Lee Jae Bok , Bae Jeoung Won , Jung Seung Pil
Published: February 2018

Axillary nodal status is one of the most important prognostic factors in breast cancer. The lymph node ratio (LNR) has been suggested as an independent prognostic factor because the number of dissected and involved lymph nodes might differ across institutions. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) has been the preferred treatment method for reducing tumor mass in the breast and axillary area. However, NAC can reduce total number of excised lymph nodes compared with upfront surgery. Therefore, an emerging question is whether axillary nodal status and LNR following NAC can accurately predict prognosis. We evaluated the prognostic value of axillary nodal status and LNR after NAC. A total of 236 patients were enrolled. Patients were divided into four groups according to the following cut‐off values for LNR: 0 (n = 107), 0.01–0.20 (n = 68), 0.21–0.65 (n = 50) and >0.65 (n = 11). Pathologic complete responses were observed in 16.9% of the overall cohort. In univariate analysis, pathologic N stage was a significant prognostic factor of disease free survival (DFS, p = 0.013) and overall survival (OS, p = 0.004). However, in multivariate analysis, hormone receptor status (p = 0.043) and LNR (p = 0.028) were significantly associated with DFS and LNR (p = 0.017) showed statistical significance for OS; however, pathologic N stage was no longer significantly associated with DFS or OS. Traditional nodal staging has been accepted as an important prognostic factor; however, our result indicated that the nodal ratio could be an alternative to pN staging as a prognostic factor after NAC in breast cancer.
Simplified scoring system for prediction of mortality in acute suppurative cholangitis
Authors: Yıldız Barış Doğu , Özden Sabri , Saylam Barış , Martlı Fahri , Tez Mesut
Published: February 2018

Our objective in this study was to identify the factors contributing to mortality in acute suppurative cholangitis which could be tested easily in every emergency clinic. This is a retrospective study enrolling 104 patients with acute suppurative cholangitis. Demographic and laboratory data were collected for analysis. In univariant analysis red cell distribution width, total bilirubin level, intensive care unit admission was identified as statistically significant (p < 0.05) to predict mortality. Three variables were statistically significant in multivariate analysis: total bilirubin level equal to or more than 6.9 mg/dl, red cell distribution width equal to or more than 14.45%, and admission to intensive care unit. We found a new scoring system for prediction of mortality in acute suppurative cholangitis utilizing only three variables. This would serve as a simplified, rapid way to direct patients for advanced interventions instead of wasting time with more complicated and time consuming multi‐variable scoring systems.
Efficacy of Injected Corticosteroid Type, Dose, and Volume for Pain in Large Joints: A Narrative Review
Authors: Cushman Daniel M. , Bruno Benjamin , Christiansen Jacob , Schultz Andrew , McCormick Zachary L.
Published: February 2018

Corticosteroid injections are commonly used in the treatment of disorders of the large joints. This review assimilates the available literature on corticosteroid injections into the glenohumeral joint, subacromial space, hip joint, and knee joint. A systematic method to review available literature revealed 84 articles that fit the inclusion criteria. For each injection location, four items were examined: overall efficacy of injection, superior type of steroid, superior dose of steroid, and superior volume of injectate. Most research demonstrates positive short‐term outcomes in pain and function for corticosteroid injections of the large joints. Methylprednisolone and triamcinolone seem similar in efficacy, with minor differences seen in specific studies. Larger doses may last longer, but need to be balanced with the systemic effects from higher doses. Volume has not been studied extensively. Due to heterogeneity in study types, subject populations, and outcomes, it is not possible to identify a single defining trend for a superior type, dose, or volume of steroid. Future prospective studies examining these factors may better reveal the optimum regimen for each injection location.

Level of Evidence

III
Pott’s Disease Resulting in Complete Cervical Vertebral Destruction
Authors: Walden Jeffrey H. , Schmitz Jeremy
Published: February 2018

Skeletal tuberculosis, otherwise known as Pott’s disease, has been recognized for centuries. Although typically diagnosed in citizens from countries with endemic tuberculosis, long-term workers in these regions, such as military deployees, can also acquire the disease. We present a case report of a military veteran presenting with neck pain and initially diagnosed with cervical disc disease. The patient’s pain progressed to the point of developing paresthesias in his bilateral upper extremities. Eventually, cervical spine radiographs were obtained that revealed complete cervical vertebral body destruction from spinal tuberculosis. Epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment of the disorder are discussed.
Microangiopathic Hemolytic Anemia Following Three Different Species of Hump-Nosed Pit Viper (Genus: Hypnale) Envenoming in Sri Lanka
Authors: Namal Rathnayaka Rathnayaka Mudiyanselage M.K. , Ranathunga Anusha Nishanthi , Kularatne Senanayake A.M. , Rajapakse Jayanthe , Ranasinghe Shirani , Jayathunga Radha
Published: February 2018

There are 3 species of hump-nosed pit vipers in Sri Lanka: Hypnale hypnale, Hypnale zara, and Hypnale nepa. The latter 2 are endemic to the country. Microangiopathic hemolytic anemia (MAHA) is a known complication of hump-nosed pit viper bites. It was previously documented as a complication of general viper bites and not species specific. We report a series of 3 patients who developed MAHA after being bitten by each species of hump-nosed pit viper. The first patient was bitten by H hypnale and developed a severe form of MAHA associated with acute kidney injury and thrombocytopenia falling into the category of thrombotic microangiopathy. The other 2 developed MAHA that resolved without any complications.
The Political Economy of Aid Allocation in Africa: Evidence from Zambia
Authors: Masaki Takaaki
Published: February 2018

This article utilizes a newly available dataset on the geographical distribution of development projects in Zambia to test whether electoral incentives shape aid allocation at the subnational level. Based on this dataset, it argues that when political elites have limited information to target distributive goods specifically to swing voters, they allocate more donor projects to districts where opposition to the incumbent is strong, as opposed to districts where the incumbent enjoys greater popularity.
A multifractal model for the velocity gradient dynamics in turbulent flows
Authors: Pereira Rodrigo M. , Moriconi Luca , Chevillard Laurent
Published: February 2018

We develop a stochastic model for the velocity gradient dynamics along a Lagrangian trajectory in isotropic and homogeneous turbulent flows. Comparing with different attempts proposed in the literature, the present model, at the cost of introducing a free parameter known in turbulence phenomenology as the intermittency coefficient, gives a realistic picture of velocity gradient statistics at any Reynolds number. To achieve this level of accuracy, we use as a first modelling step a regularized self-stretching term in the framework of the recent fluid deformation (RFD) approximation that was shown to give a realistic picture of small-scale statistics of turbulence only up to moderate Reynolds numbers. As a second step, we constrain the dynamics, in the spirit of Girimaji & Pope (Phys. Fluids A, vol. 2, 1990, p. 242), in order to impose a peculiar statistical structure to the dissipation seen by the Lagrangian particle. This probabilistic closure uses as a building block a random field that fulfils the statistical description of the intermittency, i.e. multifractal, phenomenon. To do so, we define and generalize to a statistically stationary framework a proposition made by Schmitt (Eur. Phys. J. B, vol. 34, 2003, p. 85). These considerations lead us to propose a nonlinear and non-Markovian closed dynamics for the elements of the velocity gradient tensor. We numerically integrate this dynamics and observe that a stationary regime is indeed reached, in which (i) the gradient variance is proportional to the Reynolds number, (ii) gradients are typically correlated over the (small) Kolmogorov time scale and gradient norms over the (large) integral time scale, (iii) the joint probability distribution function of the two non-vanishing invariants$Q$and$R$reproduces the characteristic teardrop shape, (iv) vorticity becomes preferentially aligned with the intermediate eigendirection of the deformation tensor and (v) gradients are strongly non-Gaussian and intermittent, a behaviour that we quantify by appropriate high-order moments. Additionally, we examine the problem of rotation rate statistics of (axisymmetric) anisotropic particles as observed in direct numerical simulations. Although our realistic picture of velocity gradient fluctuations leads to better results when compared to the former RFD approximation, it is still unable to provide an accurate description for the rotation rate variance of oblate spheroids.
Asymptotic formulae for flow in superhydrophobic channels with longitudinal ridges and protruding menisci
Authors: Kirk Toby L.
Published: February 2018

This paper presents new asymptotic formulae for flow in a channel with one or both walls patterned with a longitudinal array of ridges and arbitrarily protruding menisci. Derived from a matched asymptotic expansion, they extend results by Crowdy (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 791, 2016, R7) for shear flow, and thus make no restriction on the protrusion into or out of the liquid. The slip length formula is compared against full numerical solutions and, despite the assumption of small ridge period in its derivation, is found to have a very large range of validity; relative errors are small even for periods large enough for the protruding menisci to degrade the flow and touch the opposing wall.
A Problem-Oriented Group Approach to Reduce Children's Fears and Concerns About the Secondary School Transition
Authors: Vassilopoulos Stephanos P. , Diakogiorgi Kleopatra , Brouzos Andreas , Moberly Nicholas J. , Chasioti Maria
Published: February 2018

To facilitate students’ transition into secondary school, a short, problem-oriented group program was designed that included interpretation retraining, problem solving, and social-skills training. Pre- and post-test data from two groups conducted over the course of 5 weeks were combined for a total of 35 6th-grade students waiting to undergo school transition. There was also a no-intervention control group (n= 19). Results indicate that completion of the program by the intervention group led to a significant decrease on negative interpretations, with greater reductions in feelings of loneliness and increases in children's positive attitudes toward school compared to the control group. In addition, 3 months before moving to secondary school, children in the intervention group reported significantly fewer concerns about school transition compared with the controls. We conclude that the inclusion of problem-based strategies may be beneficial when designing transition groups, which may also lead to a significant reduction in worries and concerns about the transition to secondary school.
Emancipatory Indigenous social innovation: Shifting power through culture and technology
Authors: Henry Ella , Newth Jamie , Spiller Chellie
Published: February 2018

This paper explores the emancipatory impulse of Indigenous social innovation and social enterprise. Indigenous approaches to solving social disparities reflect a perpetual search for innovative ways to change the circumstances of Māori. Power is an understudied dimension of social innovation and social enterprise. This paper explores the power dynamics that structure the disadvantage and marginalisation that cause populations to be underserved by markets and that limit their access to resources. We highlight that it is not power per se that enables social change: rather, it is power shifts. Through a single, richly contextualised case study of a well-known Māori social innovator, Dr Lance O’Sullivan, we reveal and illustrate the nuances of Indigenous entrepreneurship in the Far North of Aotearoa New Zealand. The case epitomises the transformative impact a social entrepreneur can have on the provision of healthcare amid market and policy failures.
Muttonbirding: Loss of executive authority and its impact on entrepreneurship
Authors: Rout Matthew , Reid John , Te Aika Benjamin , Davis Renata , Tau Te Maire
Published: February 2018

This paper explores the influence of institutions on indigenous entrepreneurship within the muttonbird economy of Ngāi Tahu (a New Zealand Māori tribe). It determines that colonisation removed the traditional Ngāi Tahu institution of executive authority which once regulated muttonbird exchange. Without this regulatory functionwhānau(family) birders compete against each other at their own expense and to the benefit of traders. As a consequence the birders are constrained in applying their birding knowledge and abilities to realise market opportunity. Furthermore, declining returns and harvesting pressure is in some cases reducing the financial and natural capital ofwhānau, whilst threats to continuing birding culture potentially undermines the socio-human capital contained within inherited traditions and the maintaining of kinship connections. It is argued that the development of a contemporary executive authority to regulate exchange and market product may reinvigorate entrepreneurial birding activities.
Dietary assessment in UK Biobank: an evaluation of the performance of the touchscreen dietary questionnaire
Authors: Bradbury Kathryn E. , Young Heather J. , Guo Wenji , Key Timothy J.
Published: February 2018

UK Biobank is an open access prospective cohort of 500 000 men and women. Information on the frequency of consumption of main foods was collected at recruitment with a touchscreen questionnaire; prior to examining the associations between diet and disease, it is essential to evaluate the performance of the dietary touchscreen questionnaire. The objectives of the present paper are to: describe the repeatability of the touchscreen questionnaire in participants (n 20 348) who repeated the assessment centre visit approximately 4 years after recruitment, and compare the dietary touchscreen variables with mean intakes from participants (n 140 080) who completed at least one of the four web-based 24-h dietary assessments post-recruitment. For fish and meat items, 90 % or more of participants reported the same or adjacent category of intake at the repeat assessment visit; for vegetables and fruit, and for a derived partial fibre score (in fifths), 70 % or more of participants were classified into the same or adjacent category of intake (κweighted > 0·50 for all). Participants were also categorised based on their responses to the dietary touchscreen questionnaire at recruitment, and within each category the group mean intake of the same food group or nutrient from participants who had completed at least one web-based 24-h dietary assessment was calculated. The comparison showed that the dietary touchscreen variables, available on the full cohort, reliably rank participants according to intakes of the main food groups.
Ramadan during pregnancy and birth weight of newborns
Authors: Savitri Ary I. , Amelia Dwirani , Painter Rebecca C. , Baharuddin Mohammad , Roseboom Tessa J. , Grobbee Diederick E. , Uiterwaal Cuno S. P. M.
Published: February 2018

Previous studies suggest that Ramadan exposure during pregnancy might affect the health of women and their babies, particularly through the effect of fasting. This study aimed to evaluate the association between Ramadan exposure and fasting during pregnancy on the birth weight of newborns. This study concerned 1351 pregnant women from a prospective cohort in Jakarta, Indonesia. Ramadan exposure was based on the actual overlap between Ramadan and pregnancy. Women's fasting behaviour was recorded among 139 women who came for antenatal care between 10 July 2013 and 7 August 2013, and those who had fasted for at least 1 d (n 110) were classified as exposed to Ramadan fasting. Furthermore, a 24 h dietary recall was performed and repeated 1 month later. Birth weight of newborns who were exposed to Ramadan during pregnancy did not significantly differ from those who were not, both in the total and trimester-specific analysis. Maternal fasting did not seem to affect the birth weight of newborns (−72 (95 % CI −258, 114) g; P = 0·44), although there was a non-significant trend towards lower birth weight with fasting in the second and third trimester. Women who fasted had significantly lower total energy, macronutrient and water intake as compared with women who did not. Women's intake was also lower during Ramadan (regardless of their fasting behaviour) as compared with 1 month later. Lifestyle changes that occur with Ramadan and fasting during pregnancy are associated with lower reported energy intake. We cannot conclude on the effect of fasting on birth weight due to low statistical power.
Managerial Styles in Privately Owned Domestic Organizations in Russia: Heterogeneity, Antecedents, and Organizational Implications—CORRIGENDUM
Authors: Balabanova Evgeniya , Rebrov Alexey , Koveshnikov Alexei
Published: February 2018

The affiliation for Evgeniya Balabanova and Alexey Rebrov in the article by Balabanova et al. in Management and Organization Review was incomplete in the version published online. The correct affiliation is National Research University Higher School of Economics, Russia, as it appears above.
Association analysis of rare and common variants with multiple traits based on variable reduction method
Authors: CHEN LILI , WANG YONG , ZHOU YAJING
Published: February 2018

Pleiotropy, the effect of one variant on multiple traits, is widespread in complex diseases. Joint analysis of multiple traits can improve statistical power to detect genetic variants and uncover the underlying genetic mechanism. Currently, a large number of existing methods target one common variant or only rare variants. Increasing evidence shows that complex diseases are caused by common and rare variants. Here we propose a region-based method to test both rare and common variant associated multiple traits based on variable reduction method (abbreviated as MULVR). However, in the presence of noise traits, the MULVR method may lose power, so we propose the MULVR-O method, which jointly analyses the optimal number of traits associated with genetic variants by the MULVR method, to guard against the effect of noise traits. Extensive simulation studies show that our proposed method (MULVR-O) is applied to not only multiple quantitative traits but also qualitative traits, and is more powerful than several other comparison methods in most scenarios. An application to the two genes (SHBG and CHRM3) and two phenotypes (systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure) from the GAW19 dataset illustrates that our proposed methods (MULVR and MULVR-O) are feasible and efficient as a region-based method.
GENES AND GINI: WHAT INEQUALITY MEANS FOR HERITABILITY
Authors: Selita Fatos , Kovas Yulia
Published: February 2018

Research has established that genetic differences among people explain a greater or smaller proportion of the variation in life outcomes in different environmental conditions. This review evaluates the results of recent educationally relevant behavioural genetic studies and meta-analyses in the context of recent trends in income and wealth distribution. The pattern of results suggests that inequality and social policies can have profound effects on the heritability of educational attainment and achievement in a population (Gene–Gini interplay). For example, heritability is generally higher at greater equality levels, suggesting that inequality stifles the expression of educationally relevant genetic propensities. The review concludes with a discussion of the mechanisms of Gene–Gini interplay and what the findings mean for efforts to optimize education for all people.
Morphometric variation of fish scales among some species of rattail fish from New Zealand waters
Authors: Ibáñez A. L. , Jawad L. A.
Published: February 2018

New Zealand rattail fish are of great interest both to biologists who study their phylogenetics and in fisheries. In contrast, their morphological evolution is little studied and poorly understood. Geometric morphometric methods based on scale shape were applied in this study to determine differences among species and genera. Scale shapes were described using seven landmarks, the coordinates of which were subjected to a generalized Procrustes analysis, followed by a principal components analysis. A cross-validated discriminant analysis was applied to assess and compare the size-shape (centroid size plus shape variables) efficacy in the species and the discrimination of the genera. Two main phenetic groups were identified: cluster no. 1 with eight species and cluster no. 2 with six species.Coelorhinchus aspercephalusandMesovagus antipodumwere more separated from the other species in the first cluster. The cross-validated canonical discriminant analysis correctly classified 74% at the genus level, with most misclassifications occurring betweenCoelorhinchusandCoryphaenoides,whereas the best classified genera wereMesovagusandTrachyrincus. The discrimination of correctly classified species ranged from 41.2 to 100%. The highest correct classification rates were recorded forCoryphaenoides armatus, Coelorhinchus innotabilis, Trachyrincus longirostrisandMesovagus antipodum.
A tutorial on computational classical logic and the sequent calculus
Authors: DOWNEN PAUL , ARIOLA ZENA M.
Published: February 2018

We present a model of computation that heavily emphasizes the concept of duality and the interaction between opposites–production interacts with consumption. The symmetry of this framework naturally explains more complicated features of programming languages through relatively familiar concepts. For example, binding a value to a variable is dual to manipulating the flow of control in a program. By looking at the computational interpretation of the sequent calculus, we find a language that lets us speak about duality, control flow, and evaluation order in programs as first-class concepts.

We begin by reviewing Gentzen's LK sequent calculus and show how the Curry–Howard isomorphism still applies to give us a different basis for expressing computation. We then illustrate how the fundamental dilemma of computation in the sequent calculus gives rise to a duality between evaluation strategies: strict languages are dual to lazy languages. Finally, we discuss how the concept of focusing, developed in the setting of proof search, is related to the idea of type safety for computation expressed in the sequent calculus. In this regard, we compare and contrast two different methods of focusing that have appeared in the literature, static and dynamic focusing, and illustrate how they are two means to the same end.
When the World Helps Teach Your Class: Using Wikipedia to Teach Controversial Issues
Authors: Cassell Mark K.
Published: February 2018

Assigning students to draft and publish a Wikipedia contribution is no longer a novelty. The pedagogical benefits from assigning a Wikipedia article vary depending on discipline, lesson plan, and how it is incorporated into the class. This research considers how a Wikipedia assignment can effectively overcome common challenges in teaching controversial topics including peer relations, teacher–student power dynamics, and (mis)perceptions of “the other.”
THE AVERAGE PERIOD OF PRODUCTION: THE HISTORY AND REHABILITATION OF AN IDEA
Authors: Lewin Peter , Cachanosky Nicolás
Published: February 2018

Austrian capital theory tried to capture the intuitive and basically undeniable importance that time plays in economic life, but arguably was diverted down a blind alley with Eugen von Böhm-Bawerk’s average period of production, a purely physical measure of ‘roundaboutness’—the length of the production process. For the general case, such a measure is a chimera. But the intuition is strong, and the idea survived and reappeared at various points in the history of capital theory. Almost unknown to economists, an alternative value measure of roundaboutness has existed at least since John Hicks’s formulation of his average period (AP) in 1939, which, coincidentally, was exactly the same measure discovered by the financial actuary Frederick Macaulay in 1938, called by him “Duration” (D). Macaulay’s D, more richly interpreted as Hicks’s AP, is a measure that more appropriately captures what it was that the Austrians struggled to express over many years in their capital theory and in their analysis of the business cycle.
Impacts of off-farm employment on groundwater irrigation in North China
Authors: Yin Ning , Huang Qiuqiong , Wang Yumeng
Published: February 2018

This study examines the relationship between groundwater irrigation and off-farm employment with a set of household level data collected in North China. The results provide evidence that off-farm employment reduces both time spent on irrigation in terms of total hours of irrigation and the amount of groundwater pumped. However, these effects have not resulted in losses of crop production. In fact, water productivity measured as output value produced per m3of groundwater pumped is higher among households with off-farm employment. These seemingly contradictory findings are explained by the increased use of water-saving technologies such as furrow irrigation, underground pipes and/or lined canals. These technologies reduce seepage losses during the conveyance of groundwater as well as during irrigation of the fields. As a result, less groundwater needs to be pumped to achieve the same level of groundwater irrigation application rate in the field.
Consumption of processed food dietary patterns in four African populations
Authors: Holmes Michelle D , Dalal Shona , Sewram Vikash , Diamond Megan B , Adebamowo Sally N , Ajayi Ikeoluwapo O , Adebamowo Clement , Chiwanga Faraja S , Njelekela Marina , Laurence Carien , Volmink Jimmy , Bajunirwe Francis , Nankya-Mutyoba Joan , Guwatudde David , Reid Todd G , Willett Walter C , Adami Hans-Olov , Fung Teresa T
Published: February 2018

Objective

To identify predominant dietary patterns in four African populations and examine their association with obesity.

Design

Cross-sectional study.

Setting/Subjects

We used data from the Africa/Harvard School of Public Health Partnership for Cohort Research and Training (PaCT) pilot study established to investigate the feasibility of a multi-country longitudinal study of non-communicable chronic disease in sub-Saharan Africa. We applied principal component analysis to dietary intake data collected from an FFQ developed for PaCT to ascertain dietary patterns in Tanzania, South Africa, and peri-urban and rural Uganda. The sample consisted of 444 women and 294 men.

Results

We identified two dietary patterns: the Mixed Diet pattern characterized by high intakes of unprocessed foods such as vegetables and fresh fish, but also cold cuts and refined grains; and the Processed Diet pattern characterized by high intakes of salad dressing, cold cuts and sweets. Women in the highest tertile of the Processed Diet pattern score were 3·00 times more likely to be overweight (95 % CI 1·66, 5·45; prevalence=74 %) and 4·24 times more likely to be obese (95 % CI 2·23, 8·05; prevalence=44 %) than women in this pattern’s lowest tertile (both P<0·0001; prevalence=47 and 14 %, respectively). We found similarly strong associations in men. There was no association between the Mixed Diet pattern and overweight or obesity.

Conclusions

We identified two major dietary patterns in several African populations, a Mixed Diet pattern and a Processed Diet pattern. The Processed Diet pattern was associated with obesity.
What’s the fuss about? Parent presentations of fussy eating to a parenting support helpline
Authors: Harris Holly A , Ria-Searle Bonnie , Jansen Elena , Thorpe Karen
Published: February 2018

Objective

To characterise parent presentations of fussy eating and mealtime interactions at a point of crisis, through analyses of real-time recordings of calls to a parenting helpline.

Design

Qualitative analysis included an inductive thematic approach to examine clinical parent presentations of fussy eating and derive underlying themes relating to mealtime interactions.

Setting

Calls made to the Child Health Line regarding feeding concerns were recorded and transcribed verbatim.

Subjects

From a corpus of 723 calls made during a 4-week period in 2009, twelve were from parents of children aged 6–48 months.

Results

Parents of infants (≤12 months, n 6) presented feeding concerns as learning challenges in the process of transitioning from a milk-based to a solid-based diet, while parents of toddlers (13–48 months, n 6) presented emotional accounts of feeding as an intractable problem. Parents presented their child’s eating behaviour as a battle (conflict), in which their children’s agency over limited intake and variety of foods (child control) was constructed as ‘bad’ or ‘wrong’. Escalating parent anxiety (parent concern) had evoked parent non-responsive feeding practices or provision of foods the child preferred.

Conclusions

Real-time descriptions of young children’s fussy eating at a time of crisis that initiated parents’ call for help have captured the highly charged emotional underpinnings of mealtime interactions associated with fussy eating. Importantly, they show the child’s emerging assertion of food autonomy can escalate parents’ emotional distress that, in the short term, initiates non-responsive feeding practices. The current study identifies the importance of educational and emotional support for parents across the period of introducing solids.
Salt intake and dietary sources of salt on weekdays and weekend days in Australian adults
Authors: Nowson Caryl , Lim Karen , Land Mary-Ann , Webster Jacqui , Shaw Jonathan E , Chalmers John , Flood Victoria , Woodward Mark , Grimes Carley
Published: February 2018

Objective

To assess if there is a difference in salt intake (24 h urine collection and dietary recall) and dietary sources of salt (Na) on weekdays and weekend days.

Design

A cross-sectional study of adults who provided one 24 h urine collection and one telephone-administered 24 h dietary recall.

Setting

Community-dwelling adults living in the State of Victoria, Australia.

Subjects

Adults (n 598) who participated in a health survey (53·5 % women; mean age 57·1 (95 % CI 56·2, 58·1) years).

Results

Mean (95 % CI) salt intake (dietary recall) was 6·8 (6·6, 7·1) g/d and 24 h urinary salt excretion was 8·1 (7·8, 8·3) g/d. Mean dietary and 24 h urinary salt (age-adjusted) were 0·9 (0·1, 1·6) g/d (P=0·024) and 0·8 (0·3, 1·6) g/d (P=0·0017), respectively, higher at weekends compared with weekdays. There was an indication of a greater energy intake at weekends (+0·6 (0·02, 1·2) MJ/d, P=0·06), but no difference in Na density (weekday: 291 (279, 304) mg/MJ; weekend: 304 (281, 327) mg/MJ; P=0·360). Cereals/cereal products and dishes, meat, poultry, milk products and gravy/sauces accounted for 71 % of dietary Na.

Conclusions

Mean salt intake (24 h urine collection) was more than 60 % above the recommended level of 5 g salt/d and 8–14 % more salt was consumed at weekends than on weekdays. Substantial reductions in the Na content of staple foods, processed meat, sauces, mixed dishes (e.g. pasta), convenience and takeaway foods are required to achieve a significant consistent reduction in population salt intake throughout the week.
Nexus between housing and pension policies in Singapore: measuring retirement adequacy of the Central Provident Fund
Authors: CHIA NGEE CHOON , TSUI ALBERT K.C.
Published: February 2018

Empirically, in many developed countries, homeownership rises with age. Both housing wealth and financial wealth affect retirement adequacy. Focusing replacement rates based on pension incomes alone may detract from the full retirement adequacy picture, as homeowners do not pay rent and hence need less cash. This paper adopts a wider perspective of retirement adequacy and includes net imputed rents in the calculation of replacement rates to gauge retirement adequacy. Including net imputed rents in replacement rates calculation is particularly important for Singapore, given the prevalence of house ownership, made possible by the nexus between retirement and housing policies. Workers can use part of the monthly contributions to Singapore's central provident fund to finance housing. While this would tradeoff retirement savings, it boosts spendable income for home-owning retirees. It is found that incorporating net imputed rent in the computation of replacement rates boosts the replacement rates by 12 percentage points for a male median worker and by 15 percentage points for female median workers.
Personalized and yet standardized: An informed approach to the integration of bereavement care in pediatric oncology settings
Authors: Wiener Lori , Rosenberg Abby R. , Lichtenthal Wendy G. , Tager Julia , Weaver Meaghann S.
Published: February 2018

Objective

The death of a child has been associated with adverse parental outcomes, including a heightened risk for psychological distress, poor physical health, loss of employment income, and diminished psychosocial well-being. Psychosocial standards of care for centers serving pediatric cancer patients recommend maintaining at least one meaningful contact between the healthcare team and bereaved parents to identify families at risk for negative psychosocial sequelae and to provide resources for bereavement support. This study assessed how this standard is being implemented in current healthcare and palliative care practices, as well as barriers to its implementation.

Method

Experts in the field of pediatric palliative care and oncology created a survey that was posted with review and permission on four listservs. The survey inquired about pediatric palliative and bereavement program characteristics, as well as challenges and barriers to implementation of the published standards of care.

Result

The majority of participants (N = 100) self-reported as palliative care physicians (51%), followed by oncologists (19%). Although 59% of staff reported that their center often or always deliver bereavement care after a child's death, approximately two-thirds reported having no policy for the oncology team to routinely assess bereavement needs. Inconsistent types of bereavement services and varying duration of care was common. Twenty-eight percent of participants indicated that their center has no systematic contact with bereaved families after the child's death. Among centers where contacts are made, the person who calls the bereaved parent is unknown to the family in 30% of cases. Few centers (5%) use a bereavement screening or assessment tool.

Significance of results

Lack of routine assessment of bereavement needs, inconsistent duration of bereavement care, and tremendous variability in bereavement services suggest more work is needed to promote standardized, policy-driven bereavement care. The data shed light on multiple areas and opportunities for improvement.
GENERATIONAL CHANGES IN RACIAL INEQUALITY IN OCCUPATIONAL ATTAINMENT, 1950–2010
Authors: Wilson Franklin D.
Published: February 2018

This paper analyzes age and cohort changes in the occupational attainment of Blacks and Whites born in successive decades from 1910 to 1979. Occupational attainment is operationalized as “occupational returns to education” and “earnings returns to occupation.” The primary objective is to determine whether the relative occupational attainment of Blacks of the baby-boom generation and Generation X improved over that of their great-grandparents, grandparents, and parents. The results indicate that Blacks and Whites, and men and women improved their occupational attainment levels over those of previous birth cohorts. However, neither Black men of the baby-boom generation nor those of Generation X improved their occupational attainment relative to White men of the same age and born in the same decade. Moreover, on a per capita basis, Black men’s occupational status declined for the most recent birth cohorts due in large part to joblessness starting with members of the 1940 birth cohort, which increased progressively with each successive birth cohort. On the other hand, Black women seem to have improved their occupational status relative to White women, but the improvements fluctuated over the decades. These findings are discussed in relation to possible causes and limitations of this analysis.
WHOSE LIVES MATTER?
Authors: Simmons Alicia D.
Published: February 2018

This study investigates the characteristics of cases of police killing unarmed Blacks that receive national news coverage. I analyze an original quantitative dataset measuring the parameters of 111 cases occurring between 2013 and 2015, and the amount of coverage they received in six national news outlets. Multivariate models indicate that cases’ national newsworthiness is positively associated with Blacks’ share of the population where the fatal encounter occurred, and the presence of video evidence, peaceful demonstrations, or civil lawsuits. National newsworthiness is negatively associated with encounters that were initiated by a call to police, and those involving decedents who resisted arrest, suffered electroshock injuries, or were impaired by drugs or alcohol. The findings strongly suggest that the most newsworthy cases are those that align with an injustice frame. I discuss the results using theories of newsworthiness, describing how patterns of story availability and story suitability might shape which cases rise to the top of the national agenda. Using the social construction of reality approach, I discuss the implications of the results for how the public understands the empirical nature of police killing unarmed Blacks, and the symbolic meaning of these events.