bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Vulnerability to climate change and adaptation strategies of local communities in Malawi: experiences of women fish-processing groups in the Lake Chilwa Basin
Authors: Jørstad Hanne , Webersik Christian
Published: December 2016

Abstract. In recent years, research on climate change and human security has received much attention among policy makers and academia alike. Communities in the Global South that rely on an intact resource base and struggle with poverty, existing inequalities and historical injustices will especially be affected by predicted changes in temperature and precipitation. The objective of this article is to better understand under what conditions local communities can adapt to anticipated impacts of climate change. The empirical part of the paper answers the question as to what extent local women engaged in fish processing in the Chilwa Basin in Malawi have experienced climate change and how they are affected by it. The article assesses an adaptation project designed to make those women more resilient to a warmer and more variable climate. The research results show that marketing and improving fish processing as strategies to adapt to climate change have their limitations. The study concludes that livelihood diversification can be a more effective strategy for Malawian women to adapt to a more variable and unpredictable climate rather than exclusively relying on a resource base that is threatened by climate change.
Distinct phases of eustatism and tectonics control the late
Quaternary landscape evolution at the southern coastline of Crete
Authors: Mouslopoulou Vasiliki , Begg John , Fülling Alexander , Moraetis Daniel , Partsinevelos Panagiotis , Oncken Onno
Published: December 2016

Abstract. The extent to which climate, eustacy and tectonics interact to shape the late Quaternary landscape is poorly known. Alluvial fans often provide useful indexes that allow decoding the information recorded on complex coastal landscapes, such as those of Eastern Mediterranean. In this paper we analyse and date (using optically stimulated luminescence – OSL) a double alluvial-fan system in Crete, an island straddling the forearc of the Hellenic subduction margin, in order to constrain the timing of, and quantify the contributing factors to, its landscape evolution. The studied alluvial system is unique because each of its two juxtaposed fans records individual phases of alluvial and marine incision, providing, thus, unprecedented resolution in the formation and evolution of its landscape. Specifically, our analysis shows that the fan sequence at Domata developed during the last glaciation (Marine Isotope Stage 3; 57–29 kyr) due to five distinct stages of marine transgressions and regressions and associated river incision, as a response to climatic changes and tectonic uplift at rates of ~ 2.2 mm/yr. Comparison of our results with published tectonic uplift rates from Crete shows, however, that vertical movement on Crete was minimal during 20–50 kyr BP and mot uplift was accrued during the last 20 kyr. This implies that eustacy and tectonism impacted on the landscape at Domata over mainly distinct time-intervals (e.g. sequentially and not synchronously), forming and preserving the coastal landforms, respectively.
Impact of natural parameters on rock glacier development and conservation in subtropical mountain ranges. Northern sector of the Argentine Central Andes
Authors: Forte Ana P. , Villarroel Cristian D. , Esper Angillieri María Y.
Published: December 2016

Abstract. This paper presents a detailed rock glacier inventory used in determining how the various natural parameters affect a mountain periglacial environment. This study was undertaken in a northernmost sector of the central Argentine Andes, in an area stretching between 31°02' and 31°22' S latitude. This is a high and arid subtropical region where permafrost and cryogenic processes are predominant, featuring as well as a large number of rock glaciers and associated periglacial landforms. Rock glaciers inventory was based on geomorphological characterization with optical remote sensing data and field description information. The study region covers 630 km2, with 3,25 % of this area showing 402 rock glaciers and protalus rampart features. In total, 172 rock glaciers have been identified, 48 of which are considered active. In such a sector, the protalus rampart range shows the largest landform occurrences, though fossil and inactive rock glaciers are usually larger and are developed over a larger attitudinal distribution. Based on previous studies, we have considered that the study of active rock glaciers is an effective approach to assess the current state of periglacial environment evolution. Therefore, we analysed their spatial distribution and their relationship through different variables, by resorting to statistical analysis and a frequency ratio method. The chosen natural parameters were: Lithology, Elevation, Latitude and Longitude, Aspect, Slope and Annual Potential Solar Incoming Radiation. Analytical results have demonstrated that active rock glaciers landforms lie above 3.600 m a.s.l. elevations, on 11° to 28° slopes with predominating south facing aspect and relatively low solar radiation. The statistical analysis shows that elevation, lithology and aspect are the most influencing factors for current periglacial environment development while rock glacier conservation is mainly controlled by lithology. On the study area,the annual potential solar radiation show high values but there is not any significant difference between landform and, therefore, it is scarcely influential. The research is carried out over a high mountain area where poor accessibility hindered the chances for obtaining systematic data on weather and environment. A simple and low coast methodology was used to analyse an area where no studies on rock glacier distribution had been made before. This information gains special importance because Argentina has recently instituted a national law for glacial and periglacial environment protection and conservation. Therefore, this research and its results may contribute a significant step toward knowing the number, features and distribution of rock glacier bodies lying in a scarcely studied region.
Visibilidad e impacto de las revistas peruanas de Ciencias Sociales en acceso abierto
Authors: Morales Morante Luís Fernando
Published: December 2016

En el presente artículo se analiza la producción científica y los principales indicadores de visibilidad internacional de 24 revistas peruanas de Ciencias Sociales indexadas en el Catálogo Latindex entre los años 2005-2014, disponibles en acceso abierto. Los resultados indican un mayor número de revistas del campo de la Psicología, Ade-Economía y Derecho, respecto del resto de áreas de conocimiento. Se observa un volumen importante de artículos publicados así como un predominio de artículos escritos por autores nacionales sobre los extranjeros. Se constata un claro dominio de las universidades privadas, respecto de las públicas en la tarea editorial de revistas científicas. Se proponen acciones e iniciativas de incentivo para mejorar el impacto, calidad, número de citas y la presencia en motores de búsqueda internacional.
Subchains: A Technique to Scale Bitcoin and Improve the User Experience
Authors: Rizun Peter R.
Published: December 2016

Orphan risk for large blocks limits Bitcoin’s transactional capacity while the lack of secure instant transactions restricts its usability. Progress on either front would help spur adoption. This paper considers a technique for using fractional-difficulty blocks (weak blocks) to build subchains bridging adjacent pairs of real blocks. Subchains reduce orphan risk by propagating blocks layer-by-layer over the entire block interval, rather than all at once when the proof-of-work is solved. Each new layer of transactions helps to secure the transactions included in lower layers, even though none of the transactions have been con-firmed in a real block. Miners are incentivized to cooperate building subchains in order to process more transactions per second (thereby claiming more fee revenue) without incur-ring additional orphan risk. The use of subchains also diverts fee revenue towards network hash power rather than dripping it out of the system to pay for orphaned blocks. By nesting subchains, weak block verification times approaching the theoretical limits imposed by speed-of-light constraints would become possible with future technology improvements. As subchains are built on top of the existing Bitcoin protocol, their implementation does not require any changes to Bitcoin’s consensus rules.
A Probabilistic Analysis of the Nxt Forging Algorithm
Authors: Popov Serguei
Published: December 2016

We discuss the forging algorithm of Nxt from a probabilistic point of view, and obtain explicit formulas and estimates for several important quantities, such as the probability that an account generates a block, the length of the longest sequence of consecutive blocks generated by one account, and the probability that one concurrent blockchain wins over an- other one. Also, we discuss some attack vectors related to splitting an account into many smaller ones.
Management of Acute Proximal Humeral Fractures
Authors: Kancherla Vamsi Krishna , Singh Anshuman , Anakwenze Oke A.
Published: December 2016

Proximal humeral fractures, which typically occur in elderly persons, are among the most common fractures. A myriad of nonsurgical and surgical treatment options exist for these injuries, including short-term immobilization and early physical therapy, percutaneous fixation, plate osteosynthesis, intramedullary nailing, hemiarthroplasty, and reverse shoulder arthroplasty. The choice of treatment depends on the fracture type and severity, surgeon expertise, patient age, and patient health status.
Socio-Economic, Demographic and Institutional Variables’ Impact on the Development of Life Insurance in Sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar
Authors: Dieng Momar Sylla , Fall Mouhamadou
Published: December 2016

This study empirically analyzes the Socio-economic, Demographic and Institutional Variables’ Impact on the Development of Life Insurance in Sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar taking into account the Socio-economic and the Cultural structures of the set of countries. A mixed effect panel model is used to estimate the relationship between these variables and life insurance provisions, life insurance density and life insurance premium. covering the period 2000-2013, we found that financial development and urbanization are the only variables significantly related to all the variables of interest.
Survey of Free Market Principles for Encouraging Market: Participation of African American and the Economically Challenged
Authors: Nwaokoro Amaechi N.
Published: December 2016

This study targets to challenge African American and other economically challenged to embrace free market principles to enhance their participation in the economy of Albany/Dougherty County, Georgia. With a market-based questionnaire, this study assess the understanding of these principles from among the students of Albany State University, the major educational institution in the county. Among other compelling actions, the responses provided on the survey highlight the need for effective education, increasing interest in taking market risks, elevation of access to capital, and fairer and inclusive society.

 

 

 
Macroeconomic and Financial Shocks in African Franc Zone: Exploring the nexus with Vector Autoregression
Authors: Tchouassi Gérard
Published: December 2016

This paper analyzes the impulse response functions due to macroeconomic and financial shocks in the African franc zone. To this end, we rely on the estimation of a vector autoregression (VAR) model for a sample of 14 African countries of the franc zone over the 1994-2014 times. Our results show that the evolution of the combined impulse response functions that a shock of the interest rate has a positive impact on snapshot itself, but negative on the other variables. A shock of the consumer price index has a positive impact on the instantaneous interest rate and the change in GDP per capita. But has a negative impact on the global balance as well as itself. A shock of the global balance has a negative higher instantaneous impact on itself but positive on the other variables. Although the variations observed following this shock on the other variables are quite low. A supply shock in the level of GDP per capita has a negative instantaneous impact on the global balance and itself, but positive on the other variables. Moreover, while this shock causes a slight increase in interest rates over the time, the stationary trend evolutions of the price index and decreasing of the global balance is observed. In terms of recommendations, it appears that the interest rate and the global balance are the two central variables that have captured the attention of the economic policymakers in these countries to improve country’s performance on the pathway of progress.
An Appraisal of the Activities of Central Depository Bangladesh Limited (CDBL)
Authors: Chowdhury Tanbir Ahmed , Huda Farzana
Published: December 2016

In Bangladesh the establishment of Central Depository Bangladesh Limited (CDBL) added value to the stock market and plays a vital role in the progress of economic development. CDBL is engaged in the operations of the Central Depository System (CDS), a major financial market infrastructure in Bangladesh established as a part of the overall financial sector development. This study tried to analyze the growth and development of CDBL. Seven trend equations have been tested for different activities of CDBL.It is observed that CDBL was able to achieve a stable growth of listed securities in CDS, depository participants, settlement of securities transactions, documentation of CDBL, total assets and net income during the period of 2007-2015. Square of correlation coefficient (r2) has also been tested for all trend equations. It indicates the prospect of CDBL in Bangladesh is relatively bright.
New Criticism on the Competitiveness Concept: A Critical Review of the Concept at the Macroeconomic Level
Authors: Charrass Abdelmajid
Published: December 2016

Competitiveness of nations has always been a subject of controversy regarding its validity. It is a concept surrounded by paradox, and it is widely used despite its conceptual fragility and the lack of a definition consensus. Moreover, this omnipresent concept in economic analysis is not included in any economic theory in the strict sense. Up to now, there is no theory of national competitiveness.

Despite the abundant publications about competitiveness, a critical review of competitiveness of nation has not yet appeared. This paper is proposed as a critical review of the concept of competitiveness at the nation’s level, and it aims to examine the reasons that make this concept a point of controversy among economists.
This paper summarizes the rejection of the competitiveness concept in three points: Firstly, competitiveness is a microeconomic concept which gets deteriorated when applied to a nation, because nations do not compete like companies. Secondly, competitiveness is gained reputation in the political world; it is used without attention to explain success or defeat of an economy in a simplistic way. Today, the concept of national competitiveness is part of a hegemonic discourse. Finally, neither a definition consensus, nor an empirical evidence or a theoretical foundations, the national competitiveness appears such an international ideology rather than an economic concept. This doctrine is more evident with economic patriotism and the globalization that raises the frenzy of competition (Krugman, 1999).
Random Walk in Emerging Asian Stock Markets
Authors: Shaik Muneer , Maheswaran S.
Published: December 2016

The random walk hypothesis is an important area of research in finance and many tools have been proposed to investigate the behaviour of the fluctuations in stock prices. However, a detail study on emerging Asian stock markets which employ the various unit root tests has not been done. In this paper, we employ six different unit root tests such as the Augmented Dickey and Fuller test (1979), Phillips and Perron test (1988), Kwiatkowski-Phillips-Schmidt-Shin test(1992), Dickey-Fuller GLS (ERS) test (1996), Elliot-Rothenberg-Stock Point-Optimal test (1996) and Ng and Perron (2001) unit root tests on 10 emerging Asian stock markets to detect for the presence of a random walk in stock prices. We have conducted the unit root tests during different sub-sample time periods of global financial crisis to check for robustness. To be specific, we have found that during the overall sample period (2001-2015) 8 out of 10 Asian stock markets and during the pre-crisis period (2001-2007) all the 10 Asian stock market prices do follow random walk according to the unit root tests under consideration. However, during the crisis & post-crisis period (2008-2015) we have found only 5 out of 10 Asian markets follow the random walk movement based on unit root tests.
Antecedents of E-Banking Services by Customers for the Selected Commercial Banks in Sylhet, Bangladesh
Authors: Hossain Mohammad Zahed
Published: December 2016

This study is conducted to identify customers view regarding cost effectiveness, time savings and security of different types of e-banking products like online banking, ATM banking, internet banking, mobile banking and telephone banking. E-banking is the alternative delivery channels that banks adopted for providing efficient banking services through the help of internet, computers, mobile phone etc. Banks’ customers were considered as population and primary data were collected through questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and Chi-square test were used for analyzing the data. The results indicated that customers prefer ATM banking services most, next to follow mobile banking and online banking. The customers believed that all types of e-banking products save time and except telephone banking others types of e-banking products were secured. Online banking and ATM banking services were not considered as cost effective. Analysis indicated no relationship between online banking and different demographic variables. ATM banking services was highly influenced by most of the demographic variables whereas internet banking, mobile banking and telephone banking influenced by few demographic variables i.e. age groups, education level, and monthly income. The results help banks to develop varieties of e-banking products and formulate strategies by considering the demographic characteristics of the customers. Customers expect more users friendly e-banking products along with diversify features and suggested to develop latest e-banking products like mobile apps based banking for ensuring long term customers relationship, attracting potential customers and keeping existing customers that may ensure consistent growth and profit as well.
The Effects of Celebrity Endorsement on Customer’s Attitude toward Brand and Purchase Intention
Authors: Ha Nguyen Minh , Lam Nguyen Hung
Published: December 2016

Celebrity endorsement has become a popular choice in advertising due to the its originality and the celebrity’s attractiveness that make a big impact on brand awareness and customer behavior. This study analyzes the effect of celebrity endorsement on customer’s attitude toward brand as well as the effect of customer’s attitude toward brand on customer’s purchase intention in Vietnam. A survey was conducted with 306 individuals in Vietnam. After conducting the explanatory factor analysis (EFA), and multi-variable regression analysis, results indicate that customer’s attitude toward brand is positively affected by 03 factors: celebrity match-up congruence with the brand/product, celebrity trustworthiness, and celebrity expertise. Attitude toward brand also has a positive impact on customer’s purchase intention.
Improvement and Test of Stock Index Futures Trading Model Based on Bollinger Bands
Authors: Yan Xiao-Xu , Zhang Yuan-Biao , Lv Xin-Kun , Li Zi-Yu
Published: December 2016

Bollinger Bands trading model is an important strategy in program trading. But in practice, the trade model based on the traditional Bollinger Bands theory has great flaws such as “over-sensitive” flaw, incomplete transaction stop-loss, and the adaptability of the model’s basic parameters is poor. In this paper, the empirical research method is used to analyze the shortcomings of the traditional Bollinger Bands transaction model and put forward improved methods. Accordingly, we introduce the price speed, improve the stop-loss rules, and adjust the basic parameters to improve the model. The improved trading model is tested with the data of Shanghai and Shenzhen stock index futures. The result showed that the modified Bollinger Bands transaction model has strong profitability and low risk, which is instructive to the practice of stock index futures.
The Effect of Trade Liberalization On Economic Growth: Selected MENA Countries
Authors: Hozouri Naeimeh
Published: December 2016

This paper investigates the combined effects of international trade on economic development deals and tariff rates. A sample of 12 countries (selected countries MENA) during the period of 2000-2013, and the dynamic panel data model have been used for this purpose. Our results show that the sensitivity of economic growth have significant and inverse relationship with tariff changes, though its relationship with trade volume is positive.
Concentrations of Some Trace Elements in Vegetables Sold at Maun Market, Botswana
Authors: Bati Keagile , Mogobe Oarabile , Masamba Wellington R. L.
Published: December 2016

Contamination of vegetables with toxic metals is one of the most important contributing factors to ill health throughout the world, more so because vegetables are considered essential for human health and their consumption is highly recommended by health authorities. The aim of this study was to determine the concentrations of selected essential elements (Fe, Cu, Mn, Mo, Zn) and toxic elements (As, Cd, Cr, Pb) in common vegetables sold for human consumption in supermarkets and open market of Maun village, Botswana. Five vegetables (cabbage, rape, tomatoes, onions and potatoes) were purchased from different selling points, washed with de-ionised water, cut into small pieces and digested with aqua regia on a block digester, following the US. EPA method 200 - 7 and analysed for metal content using Inductively Coupled Plasma - Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-AES). The results showed that concentrations of essential and toxic metals varied with the type of vegetable and also with the market category (supermarket or street vendor). The highest concentration of essential elements was obtained from cabbage with a Zn concentration of 135.4mg/Kg and the lowest was from onion with a Mo concentration of 1.35mg/Kg. For toxic elements the highest concentration was obtained from rape vegetable with a Pb concentration of 4.73mg/Kg and the lowest from the same vegetable with Cr concentration below the detection limit. Also observed was that leafy vegetables, especially cabbage, had the highest concentrations of most trace metals. It was concluded that vegetables sold in Maun had sufficient levels of essential elements but also some had high concentrations of toxic metals. We thus recommend consumption of vegetables from the studied markets with reduced frequency to avoid metal poisoning.
Static or dynamic low-frequency magnetic field?
A review of literature
Authors: Głąb Grzegorz , Dudek Jolanta , Klimek Krzysztof , Skalska-Dulińska Barbara , Urszula Chrabota Urszula , Chojak-Fĳałka Katarzyna , Ridan Tomasz , Glodzik Jacek
Published: December 2016

The therapeutic application of magnetic fi elds has experienced signifi cant growth in recent years. A small number of contraindications,
as well as the lack of side effects makes both permanent magnets and alternating magnetic fi elds frequently used in
physical therapy practice. In a signifi cant number of clinical studies the effi cacy of this physical factor as both an independent
method, as well as supporting treatment programs has been confi rmed. In the last few years, a lot of emphasis is put on the
fact that all therapeutic methods should have a scientifi c basis and their usage should meet the evidence based medicine criteria
(EBM). Therefore, this work will focus on comparison of the use of permanent magnets and alternating low-frequency
magnetic fi eld on the basis of the available literature, including mainly, a randomized double-blind trial. Analysis of the available
literature on permanent magnet usage has shown clinical effi cacy in many diseases, however, placebo-controlled studies
confi rm mainly the analgesic effect in patients after liposuction surgery, with diabetic neuropathy and with chronic pelvic pain.
The use of the alternating low-frequency magnetic fi eld also leaves many questions to which scientists have still not found the
answer. Randomized double-blind trial proved its therapeutic effi cacy in patients after knee arthroscopy, fractures and delayed
bone unions, knee and cervical spine osteoarthritis as well as in case of leg ulceration. Alternating magnetic fi eld application
has a wider therapeutic range in comparison to permanent magnets and its effectiveness is much better documented, both in
clinical studies as well as randomized double-blind trials.

Cite this article as: Głąb G., Dudek J., Klimek K., Skalska-Dulińska B., Chrabota U., Chojak-Fijałka K., Ridan T., Glodzik J. Static or dynamic low-frequency magnetic field? A review of literature. Med Rehabil 2016; 20(2): 31-35.
Hepatitis B Vaccination Efficacy in Iranian Healthcare Workers: A Meta-Analysis Study
Authors: Sayehmiri Kourosh
Published: December 2016

Context: Despite various studies, there is no overall estimation about the efficacy of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccine among healthcare workers (including healthcare personnel and healthcare students). The present meta-analysis study was conducted to investigate the efficacy of HBV vaccine in healthcare workers in Iran. Evidence Acquisition: This study was performed according to the PRISMA guidelines for systematic review and meta-analysis studies. A comprehensive search was conducted using national and international databases including: Magiran, Iranmedex, IranDoc, SID, Medlib, Scopus, Pubmed, Science Direct, Cochrane, Embase, Web of Science, Springer, wiley online library, Trials Register, DOAJ, and Google Scholar search engine without time limit up to 2016. Just papers which were qualified according to inclusion criteria were examined. The data were analyzed using meta-analysis method in STATA software Ver.11.1. Results: 1726 healthcare workers had been examined in 12 studies. The efficacy of HBV vaccine, 1 - 6 months after the injection of the third dose was determined to be 93.1% (95% CI: 90.3 - 97); this rate was 95.9% (95% CI: 93.1 - 98.6) for male and 91.3% (95% CI: 87.1% - 95.5%) for female participants. HBV vaccine efficacy was 90.9% (95% CI: 86.5-95.3) for 8 studies conducted on healthcare personnel and 97.3% (95% CI: 94.7-97.7) for 3 studies on healthcare students. Conclusions: Immunogenicity of HBV vaccine was 90 - 97 in healthcare workers. Hence, the complete course of vaccination is sufficient for prevention of HBV and there is no need for booster dose or dose re-administration.
Frequency of and Risk Factors for Acute Kidney Injury Associated With Vancomycin Use in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit
Authors: Bonazza Sarah , Bresee Lauren C. , Kraft Timothy , Ross B. Catherine , Dersch-Mills Deonne
Published: December 2016

BACKGROUND: Published information evaluating frequency of and risk factors for vancomycin-induced acute kidney injury (AKI) in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) population is conflicting.

OBJECTIVES: The primary objective was to describe the proportion of our PICU patients who developed AKI with intravenous (IV) vancomycin. The secondary objective was to describe the associated potential risk factors.

METHODS: Pediatric patients (0–18 years) who received their first IV vancomycin dose in the PICU were evaluated in this retrospective chart review. AKI was defined based on Pediatric-Modified RIFLE (pRIFLE) criteria. Patient demographics, vancomycin trough concentrations, concomitant nephrotoxins, and estimated creatinine clearance changes were analyzed.

RESULTS: Of 265 patients included, the primary outcome of AKI (defined by meeting any pRIFLE criteria) occurred in 62 (23.4%) patients (48 category R, 11 category I, 3 category F). Patients who received vancomycin treatment for = 5 days were more likely to develop AKI (unadjusted odds ratio [uOR]: 2.52; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.11–5.73), as were patients with a maximum vancomycin trough level = 20 mg/L (OR: 2.99; 95% CI: 1.54–5.78) and patients on 1 (uOR: 2.29; 95% CI: 1.12–4.66) or more concurrent nephrotoxin (uOR: 3.11; 95% CI: 1.43–6.77). Among nephrotoxins, patients receiving furosemide concomitantly with vancomycin were more likely to develop AKI (uOR: 3.47; 95% CI: 1.92–6.27). After adjustment, only furosemide was a significant predictor of risk of AKI/AKI (adjusted OR: 3.52; 95% CI: 1.88–6.62). The study was limited by its retrospective and observational design, and confounding variables.

CONCLUSIONS: Patients who were receiving vancomycin with concurrent furosemide were at highest risk of developing AKI.
Evaluation of Medication-related Self-care Skills in Patients With Cystic Fibrosis
Authors: Lewis Kelsey Lackey , John Barnabas , Condren Michelle , Carter Sandra M.
Published: December 2016

BACKGROUND: As the life expectancy of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) increases, the focus on ensuring success with medication therapies is increasingly important. The ability of patients to autonomously manage medications and related therapies is poorly described in the literature.

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this project was to assess the level of medication-related knowledge and self-care skills in patients with CF.

METHODS: This project took place in a Cystic Fibrosis Foundation accredited affiliate center. Eighty-nine patients between the ages of 6 and 60 were eligible to participate based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Pharmacists administered a 16-item questionnaire and detailed medication history during clinic visits from January through May 2014.

RESULTS: Forty-five patients 6 to 41 years old participated in the study. The skills most often performed independently were preparing nebulizer treatments (85%) and telling someone if they feel their medicines are causing a problem (89%). Skills least often performed were carrying a medication list (82%) and bringing a medication list to appointments (76%). In respondents 21 years of age and older, less than 75% of respondents were involved with obtaining financial resources, maintaining equipment, carrying a medication list, or rinsing their mouth after using inhaled medicines. Participants were able to provide drug name, dose, and frequency of use for pancreatic enzymes and azithromycin 37% and 24% of the time, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: In the population surveyed, many medication-related skills had not been acquired by early adulthood. Assessing and providing education for medication-related self-care skills at all ages are needed.
A Pediatric Diabetic Ketoacidosis Management Protocol Incorporating a Two-Bag Intravenous Fluid System Decreases Duration of Intravenous Insulin Therapy
Authors: Veverka Megan , Marsh Kourtney , Norman Susan , Brock Michael Alan , Peng Monica , Shenk Jennifer , Chen Jerome Gene
Published: December 2016

OBJECTIVES: Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children with type 1 diabetes. We implemented a standardized DKA management protocol by using a 2-bag intravenous (IV) fluid system. The purpose of the study was to examine if the protocol improved clinical outcomes and process efficiency.

METHODS: This was a retrospective study of patients who did and did not undergo the protocol. Patients were included if they were 18 years of age or younger, were diagnosed with DKA, admitted to an intensive care unit or stepdown unit, and received continuous IV insulin.

RESULTS: Of 119 encounters evaluated, 46 (38.7%) received treatment with the protocol and 73 (61.3%) did not. The median time to normalization of ketoacidosis was 9 hours (IQR 5–12) and 9 hours (IQR 6.5–13) for protocol and non-protocol groups, respectively (p = 0.14). The median duration of IV insulin therapy was 16.9 hours (IQR 13.7–21.5) vs. 21 hours (IQR 15.3–26) for protocol and non-protocol groups (p = 0.03). The median number of adjustments to insulin drip rate was 0 (IQR 0–1) and 2 (IQR 0–3) for protocol and non-protocol groups (p = 0.0001). There was no difference in the incidence of hypokalemia, hypoglycemia, or cerebral edema.

CONCLUSIONS: The protocol did not change time to normalization of ketoacidosis but did decrease the duration of insulin therapy, number of adjustments to insulin drip rate, and number of wasted IV fluid bags without increasing the incidence of adverse events.
Immediate perception of a reward is distinct from the reward’s long-term salience
Authors: McGinnis John P , Jiang Huoqing , Agha Moutaz Ali , Sanchez Consuelo Perez , Lange Jeff , Yu Zulin , Marion-Poll Frederic , Si Kausik
Published: December 2016

Reward perception guides all aspects of animal behavior. However, the relationship between the perceived value of a reward, the latent value of a reward, and the behavioral response remains unclear. Here we report that, given a choice between two sweet and chemically similar sugars—L- and D-arabinose—Drosophila melanogaster prefers D- over L- arabinose, but forms long-term memories of L-arabinose more reliably. Behavioral assays indicate that L-arabinose-generated memories require sugar receptor Gr43a, and calcium imaging and electrophysiological recordings indicate that L- and D-arabinose differentially activate Gr43a-expressing neurons. We posit that the immediate valence of a reward is not always predictive of the long-term reinforcement value of that reward, and that a subset of sugar-sensing neurons may generate distinct representations of similar sugars, allowing for rapid assessment of the salient features of various sugar rewards and generation of reward-specific behaviors. However, how sensory neurons communicate information about L-arabinose quality and concentration—features relevant for long-term memory—remains unknown.
Highly coherent tunable mid-infrared frequency comb pumped by supercontinuum at 1 µm
Authors: Jin Lei , Yamanaka Masahito , Sonnenschein Volker , Tomita Hideki , Iguchi Tetsuo , Sato Atsushi , Oh-hara Toshinari , Nishizawa Norihiko
Published: December 2016

We report a tunable mid-infrared frequency comb working at 184 MHz, which is based on difference frequency generation in a periodically poled Mg-doped stoichiometric lithium tantalate (PPMgSLT) crystal pumped by high-power supercontinuum pulses. Supercontinuum pulses from two fibers with different dispersion properties were examined. With a photonic crystal fiber (PCF) having normal dispersion properties, a tunable wavelength range of 2.9–4.7 µm was achieved. With another PCF having zero dispersion at 1040 nm, a maximum power of 1.34 mW was observed at 3.9 µm. The high coherence of the pulses generated with this scheme was verified experimentally, and a fringe visibility of 0.90 was observed.
A review and meta-analysis of the enemy release hypothesis in plant–herbivorous insect systems
Authors: Meijer Kim , Schilthuizen Menno , Beukeboom Leo , Smit Christian
Published: December 2016

A suggested mechanism for the success of introduced non-native species is the enemy release hypothesis (ERH). Many studies have tested the predictions of the ERH using the community approach (native and non-native species studied in the same habitat) or the biogeographical approach (species studied in their native and non-native range), but results are highly variable, possibly due to large variety of study systems incorporated. We therefore focused on one specific system: plants and their herbivorous insects. We performed a systematic review and compiled a large number (68) of datasets from studies comparing herbivorous insects on native and non-native plants using the community or biogeographical approach. We performed a meta-analysis to test the predictions from the ERH for insect diversity (number of species), insect load (number of individuals) and level of herbivory for both the community and biogeographical approach. For both the community and biogeographical approach insect diversity was significantly higher on native than on non-native plants. Insect load tended to be higher on native than non-native plants at the community approach only. Herbivory was not different between native and non-native plants at the community approach, while there was too little data available for testing the biogeographical approach. Our meta-analysis generally supports the predictions from the ERH for both the community and biogeographical approach, but also shows that the outcome is importantly determined by the response measured and approach applied. So far, very few studies apply both approaches simultaneously in a reciprocal manner while this is arguably the best way for testing the ERH.
Methylation‐independent adaptation in chemotaxis of Escherichia coli involves acetylation‐dependent speed adaptation
Authors: Baron Szilvia , Afanzar Oshri , Eisenbach Michael
Published: December 2016

Chemoreceptor methylation and demethylation has been shown to be at the core of the adaptation mechanism in Escherichia coli chemotaxis. Nevertheless, mutants lacking the methylation machinery can adapt to some extent. Here we carried out an extensive quantitative analysis of chemotactic and chemokinetic methylation‐independent adaptation. We show that partial or complete adaptation of the direction of flagellar rotation and the swimming speed in the absence of the methylation machinery each occurs in a small fraction of cells. Furthermore, deletion of the main enzyme responsible for acetylation of the signaling molecule CheY prevented speed adaptation but not adaptation of the direction of rotation. These results suggest that methylation‐independent adaptation in bacterial chemotaxis involves chemokinetic adaptation, which is dependent on CheY acetylation.
Subduction, high‐P metamorphism, and collision fingerprints in South Iran: Constraints from zircon U‐Pb and mica Rb‐Sr geochronology
Authors: Shafaii Moghadam H. , Bröcker M. , Griffin W. L. , Li X.‐H. , Chen R. X. , O'Reilly S. Y.
Published: December 2016

The Esfandagheh region of the Zagros Orogenic Belt is an ideal area to address many aspects of continental convergence between Arabia and Eurasia, including incorporation of Late Neoproterozoic (Ediacaran) basement, subduction‐related magmatism, and the formation of HP/LT rocks. The rock units exposed here represent a presumably Jurassic magmatic arc within the Sanandaj‐Sirjan Zone (SSNZ), remnants of oceanic lithosphere, blueschist‐ and greenschist‐facies rocks, and a distinct group of poorly characterized rocks. U‐Pb ages define four populations, related to Paleoproterozoic, Ediacaran, Carboniferous, and Jurassic magmatic events. U‐Pb ages of ∼1.8–1.7 Ga for a pegmatite represent the first report of Paleoproterozoic rocks in Iran. Zircon U‐Pb ages from the SSNZ provide evidence for Ediacaran (547 Ma), Carboniferous (326–312 Ma), and Jurassic (194–186 Ma) magmatic activity. Zircons from the Haji‐Abad ophiolites yielded Jurassic ages. The new Rb‐Sr results from white micas provide indications of a poorly constrained >85 Ma high‐pressure metamorphic history. Rb‐Sr ages of two chlorite‐epidote‐actinolite schists indicate that greenschist‐facies P‐T conditions had already been attained around 130–125 Ma. The new results are consistent with a model in which the closure of the Esfandagheh Ocean and the subsequent collision between Arabia and Iran led to incorporation of Paleoproterozoic and Cadomian rock units and tectonic juxtaposition of all lithotectonic elements, from oceanic lithosphere to continental crust, along the Main Zagros Suture Zone.
Madagascar's escape from Africa: A high‐resolution plate reconstruction for the Western Somali Basin and implications for supercontinent dispersal
Authors: Phethean Jordan J.J. , Kalnins Lara M. , van Hunen Jeroen , Biffi Paolo G. , Davies Richard J. , McCaffrey Ken J.W.
Published: December 2016

Accurate reconstructions of the dispersal of supercontinent blocks are essential for testing continental breakup models. Here, we provide a new plate tectonic reconstruction of the opening of the Western Somali Basin during the breakup of East and West Gondwana. The model is constrained by a new comprehensive set of spreading lineaments, detected in this heavily sedimented basin using a novel technique based on directional derivatives of free‐air gravity anomalies. Vertical gravity gradient and free‐air gravity anomaly maps also enable the detection of extinct mid‐ocean ridge segments, which can be directly compared to several previous ocean magnetic anomaly interpretations of the Western Somali Basin. The best matching interpretations have basin symmetry around the M0 anomaly; these are then used to temporally constrain our plate tectonic reconstruction. The reconstruction supports a tight fit for Gondwana fragments prior to breakup, and predicts that the continent‐ocean transform margin lies along the Rovuma Basin, not along the Davie Fracture Zone (DFZ) as commonly thought. According to our reconstruction, the DFZ represents a major ocean‐ocean fracture zone formed by the coalescence of several smaller fracture zones during evolving plate motions as Madagascar drifted southwards, and offshore Tanzania is an obliquely rifted, rather than transform, margin. New seismic reflection evidence for oceanic crust inboard of the DFZ strongly supports these conclusions. Our results provide important new constraints on the still enigmatic driving mechanism of continental rifting, the nature of the lithosphere in the Western Somali Basin, and its resource potential.
Characterization of murine polyspecific monoamine transporters
Authors: Miura Yamato , Yoshikawa Takeo , Naganuma Fumito , Nakamura Tadaho , Iida Tomomitsu , Kárpáti Anikó , Matsuzawa Takuro , Mogi Asuka , Harada Ryuichi , Yanai Kazuhiko
Published: December 2016

The dysregulation of monoamine clearance in the central nervous system occurs in various neuropsychiatric disorders, and the role of polyspecific monoamine transporters in monoamine clearance is increasingly highlighted in recent studies. However, no study to date has properly characterized polyspecific monoamine transporters in the mouse brain. In the present study, we examined the kinetic properties of three mouse polyspecific monoamine transporters [organic cation transporter 2 (Oct2), Oct3, and plasma membrane monoamine transporter (Pmat)] and compared the absolute mRNA expression levels of these transporters in various brain areas. First, we evaluated the affinities of each transporter for noradrenaline, dopamine, serotonin, and histamine, and found that mouse ortholog substrate affinities were similar to those of human orthologs. Next, we performed drug inhibition assays and identified interspecies differences in the pharmacological properties of polyspecific monoamine transporters; in particular, corticosterone and decynium‐22, which are widely recognized as typical inhibitors of human OCT3, enhanced the transport activity of mouse Oct3. Finally, we quantified absolute mRNA expression levels of each transporter in various regions of the mouse brain and found that while all three transporters were ubiquitously expressed, Pmat was the most highly expressed transporter. These results provide an important foundation for future translational research investigating the roles of polyspecific monoamine transporters in neurological and neuropsychiatric disease.
Magnets for Particle Accelerators and Colliders
Authors: Bottura Luca , Rossi Lucio
Published: December 2016

The article contains sections titled:

Introduction

Accelerators, Colliders, and Role of Superconducting Magnets

Magnetic Design

Mechanical Design

Margins, Stability, Training, and Protection

Field Quality

Fast‐Cycled Synchrotrons

Acknowledgments
Quantum Standards for Voltage
Authors: Kohlmann Johannes
Published: December 2016

Famous applications of Josephson junctions have successfully been established in electrical metrology for high‐precision measurements. The main important representative of a metrological application is the Josephson voltage standard initially used for dc measurements. Meanwhile, the developments are focused on Josephson voltage standards for ac applications. These quantum voltage standards for output voltages up to 10 V contain series arrays of 100 000 Josephson junctions or even more. This chapter describes the development and present status of modern Josephson voltage standards.
‘Look This Way’: Using Gaze Maintenance to Facilitate the Detection of Children's False Reports
Authors: Lawrence Hannah , Akehurst Lucy , Leach Amy‐May , Cherryman Julie , Vrij Aldert , Arathoon Megan , Vernham Zarah
Published: December 2016

In two experiments, we investigated whether imposing a secondary task is an effective technique for detecting child deceit. First, 85 children aged 8 to 11 years old provided either a true or false report of a recent school event. At interview, some children were asked to gaze towards either the interviewer's face (IF) or a teddy bear's face (TF), whereas some children were given no gaze instruction. In both the IF and TF conditions, lie‐tellers provided significantly fewer details than truth‐tellers. A total of 192 adult evaluators then judged the credibility of 10 children's reports from one of the three ‘gaze’ conditions with and without guidance on level of detail. Evaluators discriminated truths from lies successfully when judging children instructed to look at IF, but not when children were asked to gaze towards TF. Evaluators who received guidance demonstrated better discrimination between true and false reports than evaluators who received no such information. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Clinical Enthesitis in a Prospective Longitudinal Psoriatic Arthritis Cohort: Incidence, Prevalence, Characteristics, and Outcome
Authors: Polachek Ari , Li Suzanne , Chandran Vinod , Gladman Dafna D.
Published: December 2016

Objective

To evaluate the incidence, prevalence, characteristics, disease associations, risk factors, and outcome of clinical enthesitis in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

Methods

The study included patients with PsA followed prospectively. Enthesitis was defined as the presence of at least 1 tender enthesis at 1 of the 18 entheseal sites of the Spondyloarthritis Research Consortium of Canada enthesitis index.

Results

Between 2008 and 2014, 281 of 803 patients had enthesitis, providing a prevalence of 35%. A total of 192 patients developed enthesitis during the course of followup, with an annual incidence of 0.9%. Most of the patients had 1 (48.4%) or 2 (32.2%) tender entheseal sites, and the mean ± SD number of sites per visit was 2.03 ± 1.6. The 3 most common sites were at the insertions of the Achilles tendon, plantar fascia on the calcaneus, and the lateral epicondyles (24.2%, 20.8%, and 17.2%, respectively). More active disease (higher actively inflamed joint count, tenosynovitis, and dactylitis), more pain, and less clinical damage were associated with enthesitis. Higher body mass index, more actively inflamed joints, and younger age were risk factors for developing this condition. Enthesitis resolved in most patients without changing treatment.

Conclusion

Clinical enthesitis is common, with a period prevalence of 35% of PsA patients. It usually involves only 1 or 2 sites simultaneously. The most common tender sites are at the insertions of the Achilles tendon, plantar fascia, and the lateral epicondyles. More active disease and more pain are associated with enthesitis.