bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Search for Candidate Relevant Subsets of Variables in Complex Systems
Authors: Villani M. , Roli A. , Filisetti A. , Fiorucci M. , Poli I. , Serra R.
Published: November 2015

We describe a method to identify relevant subsets of variables, useful to understand the organization of a dynamical system. The variables belonging to a relevant subset should have a strong integration with the other variables of the same relevant subset, and a much weaker interaction with the other system variables. On this basis, extending previous work on neural networks, an information-theoretic measure, the dynamical cluster index, is introduced in order to identify good candidate relevant subsets. The method does not require any previous knowledge of the relationships among the system variables, but relies on observations of their values over time. We show its usefulness in several application domains, including: (i) random Boolean networks, where the whole network is made of different subnetworks with different topological relationships (independent or interacting subnetworks); (ii) leader-follower dynamics, subject to noise and fluctuations; (iii) catalytic reaction networks in a flow reactor; (iv) the MAPK signaling pathway in eukaryotes. The validity of the method has been tested in cases where the data are generated by a known dynamical model and the dynamical cluster index is applied in order to uncover significant aspects of its organization; however, it is important that it can also be applied to time series coming from field data without any reference to a model. Given that it is based on relative frequencies of sets of values, the method could be applied also to cases where the data are not ordered in time. Several indications to improve the scope and effectiveness of the dynamical cluster index to analyze the organization of complex systems are finally given.
Lessons from Speciation Dynamics: How to Generate Selective Pressure Towards Diversity
Authors: Hamann Heiko
Published: November 2015

Recent approaches in evolutionary robotics (ER) propose to generate behavioral diversity in order to evolve desired behaviors more easily. These approaches require the definition of a behavioral distance, which often includes task-specific features and hence a priori knowledge. Alternative methods, which do not explicitly force selective pressure towards diversity (SPTD) but still generate it, are known from the field of artificial life, such as in artificial ecologies (AEs). In this study, we investigate how SPTD is generated without task-specific behavioral features or other forms of a priori knowledge and detect how methods of generating SPTD can be transferred from the domain of AE to ER. A promising finding is that in both types of systems, in systems from ER that generate behavioral diversity and also in the investigated speciation model, selective pressure is generated towards unpopulated regions of search space. In a simple case study we investigate the practical implications of these findings and point to options for transferring the idea of self-organizing SPTD in AEs to the domain of ER.
Cell-Division Behavior in a Heterogeneous Swarm Environment
Authors: Erskine Adam , Herrmann J. Michael
Published: November 2015

We present a system of virtual particles that interact using simple kinetic rules. It is known that heterogeneous mixtures of particles can produce particularly interesting behaviors. Here we present a two-species three-dimensional swarm in which a behavior emerges that resembles cell division. We show that the dividing behavior exists across a narrow but finite band of parameters and for a wide range of population sizes. When executed in a two-dimensional environment the swarm's characteristics and dynamism manifest differently. In further experiments we show that repeated divisions can occur if the system is extended by a biased equilibrium process to control the split of populations. We propose that this repeated division behavior provides a simple model for cell-division mechanisms and is of interest for the formation of morphological structure and to swarm robotics.
Text as Sliding Signifier
Authors: Arthos John
Published: November 2015

In the 1980s Ricoeur conceptualized metaphoricity and narrativity as twin ends of a discursive field governed by the productive imagination. A decade earlier Ricoeur was working at a significantly different proposition. He wanted to establish a parallel, in fact a strong homology, between metaphor and text. In both cases Ricoeur articulated a complex criteriology to establish the parallelism between the terms. Should we regard the earlier parallel as a first and less precise version of the later? a distinct thesis? a reconcilable claim? a category error? Was the rejection and return an evolution, a clarification, or simply a different topic? The thesis of this close reading of Ricoeur’s middle period writings on metaphor is that the shift of analogical relations is actually a migration from the first to the second homology, and that the second homology is the correct one.
Regulating Human Trafficking by Prostitution Policy?
Authors: Zeegers Nicolle , Althoff Martina
Published: November 2015

Is the Nordic model of combating the trafficking of women for sexual purposes to be followed by all member states of the eu? At the moment, the member states still differ considerably in their legislative approaches towards prostitution and the extent to which this is linked to the combat against sex trafficking. In this article the differences between the Nordic and the legalisation model as well as their effects on forced prostitution, human trafficking and women’s right to self-determination will be a central focus. The authors will discuss and compare the approaches and effects as found in Sweden and the Netherlands. By this comparison they will establish whether the Nordic model indeed should be endorsed.
Lectotypification of the Linnaean name Smilax china (Smilacaceae)
Authors: Altınordu Fahim
Published: November 2015

The genus Smilax Linnaeus (1753: 1028) consists of over 200 species which was widely distributed in tropical and temperate regions, especially in East Asia and North America (Qi et al. 2012, Xu et al. 2013, Qi et al. 2013). Linnaeus (1753) published 13 names under Smilax and the name Smilax china Linnaeus (1753: 1029) appears to be as yet untypified and is investigated here.
A multiple gene genealogy reveals the phylogenetic placement of Iodosphaeria tongrenensis sp. nov. in Iodosphaeriaceae (Xylariales)
Authors: Li Qirui , KANG JI-CHUAN , HYDE KEVIN D.
Published: November 2015

During collections of Sordariomycetes in Guizhou Province, China, we collected Iodosphaeria tongrenensis sp. nov.. It is unique in the genus because of its ellipsoidal ascospores (18.5–22.5 × 6.5–8.5 μm) with a slimy sheath covering the whole spore, and J+, wedge-shaped, ascal apical apparatus. Iodosphaeria is a monotypic genus in Iodosphaeriaceae and phylogenetic analyses of combined LSU, ITS and SSU sequence data indicate that it is a distinct family in the order Xylariales.
Evaluating the Sensitivity of Agricultural Model Performance to Different Climate Inputs
Authors: Glotter Michael J. , Moyer Elisabeth J. , Ruane Alex C. , Elliott Joshua W.
Published: November 2015

Projections of future food production necessarily rely on models, which must themselves be validated through historical assessments comparing modeled and observed yields. Reliable historical validation requires both accurate agricultural models and accurate climate inputs. Problems with either may compromise the validation exercise. Previous studies have compared the effects of different climate inputs on agricultural projections but either incompletely or without a ground truth of observed yields that would allow distinguishing errors due to climate inputs from those intrinsic to the crop model. This study is a systematic evaluation of the reliability of a widely used crop model for simulating U.S. maize yields when driven by multiple observational data products. The parallelized Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer (pDSSAT) is driven with climate inputs from multiple sources—reanalysis, reanalysis that is bias corrected with observed climate, and a control dataset—and compared with observed historical yields. The simulations show that model output is more accurate when driven by any observation-based precipitation product than when driven by non-bias-corrected reanalysis. The simulations also suggest, in contrast to previous studies, that biased precipitation distribution is significant for yields only in arid regions. Some issues persist for all choices of climate inputs: crop yields appear to be oversensitive to precipitation fluctuations but undersensitive to floods and heat waves. These results suggest that the most important issue for agricultural projections may be not climate inputs but structural limitations in the crop models themselves.
Antarctic Sea Ice Response to Weather and Climate Modes of Variability*
Authors: Kohyama Tsubasa , Hartmann Dennis L.
Published: November 2015

The relationship between climate modes and Antarctic sea ice is explored by separating the variability into intraseasonal, interannual, and decadal time scales. Cross-spectral analysis shows that geopotential height and Antarctic sea ice extent are most coherent at periods between about 20 and 40 days (the intraseasonal time scale). In this period range, where the atmospheric circulation and the sea ice extent are most tightly coupled, sea ice variability responds strongly to Rossby waves with the structure of the Pacific–South American (PSA) pattern. The PSA pattern in this time scale is not directly related to El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) or the southern annular mode (SAM), which have received much attention for explaining Antarctic sea ice variability. On the interannual time scale, ENSO and SAM are important, but a large fraction of sea ice variance can also be explained by Rossby wave–like structures in the Drake Passage region. After regressing out the sea ice extent variability associated with ENSO, the observed positive sea ice trends in Ross Sea and Indian Ocean during the satellite era become statistically insignificant. Regressing out SAM makes the sea ice trend in the Indian Ocean insignificant. Thus, the positive trends in sea ice in the Ross Sea and the Indian Ocean sectors may be explained by the variability and decadal trends of known interannual climate modes.
The Challenge of Using Future SWOT Data for Oceanic Field Reconstruction
Authors: Gaultier Lucile , Ubelmann Clément , Fu Lee-Lueng
Published: November 2015

Conventional altimetry measures a one-dimensional profile of sea surface height (SSH) along the satellite track. Two-dimensional SSH can be reconstructed using mapping techniques; however, the spatial resolution is quite coarse even when data from several altimeters are analyzed. A new satellite mission based on radar interferometry is scheduled to be launched in 2020. This mission, called Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT), will measure SSH at high resolution along a wide swath, thus providing two-dimensional images of the ocean surface topography. This new capability will provide a large amount of data even though they are contaminated with instrument noise and geophysical errors. This paper presents a tool that simulates synthetic observations of SSH from the future SWOT mission using SSH from any ocean general circulation model (OGCM). SWOT-like data have been generated from a high-resolution model and analyzed to investigate the sampling and accuracy characteristics of the future SWOT data. This tool will help explore new ideas and methods for optimizing the retrieval of information from future SWOT missions.
On Estimating Achievement Dynamic Models from Repeated Cross Sections
Authors: Contini Dalit , Grand Elisa
Published: November 2015

Despite the increasing spread of standardized assessments of student learning, longitudinal data on achievement data are still lacking in many countries. This article raises the following question: Can we exploit cross-sectional assessments held at different schooling stages to evaluate how achievement inequalities related to individual-ascribed characteristics develop over time? This is a highly policy relevant issue, as achievement inequalities may develop in substantially different ways across educational systems. We discuss the issues involved in estimating dynamic models from repeated cross-sectional surveys in this context; consistently with a simple learning accumulation model, we propose an imputed regression strategy that allows to “link” two surveys and deliver consistent estimates of the parameters of interest. We then apply the method to Italian achievement data of fifth and sixth graders and investigate how inequalities develop between primary and lower secondary school.
Influence of microstructure in nitrile polymer on curing characteristics and mechanical properties of carbon black-filled rubber composite for seal applications
Authors: Lee Young Seok , Park Seong Hwan , Lee Jong Cheol , Ha KiRyong
Published: November 2015

Acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) is widely used in seal applications due to its excellent oil resistance. In this article, carbon black-filled NBR composites, which differed in their acrylonitrile (ACN) and butadiene content ratios, were prepared and their curing characteristics and mechanical properties were investigated. Curing characteristics were investigated by measuring chemical kinetics and onset temperature of cross-linking reaction. Cross-linking density was measured by the volume swelling test. Mechanical properties, oil resistance, and compression set (CS) tests were also conducted. From these results, it was found that the microstructure in NBR polymer is closely connected to the curing characteristics and mechanical properties of the composite. On increasing the ACN content, Shore A hardness, tensile strength at break, elongation at break, oil resistance, and CS were raised, while, on the other hand cross-linking density, kinetics of cross-linking reaction, and bound rubber content were decreased.
Leveling Mountains
Authors: Burrow Anthony L. , Hill Patrick L. , Sumner Rachel
Published: November 2015

People tend to overestimate the steepness of slopes, especially when they appraise the effort necessary to ascend them as greater. Recent studies, however, suggest the way individuals perceive visual stimuli may rely heavily on their personal motivations. In four studies ( N = 517), purpose in life was tested as a motivational framework influencing how appraised effort relates to slope perception. Studies 1 and 2 found the amount of effort participants appraised necessary to ascend several virtual slopes was related to greater overestimation of their steepness. Yet, this relationship was attenuated by purpose assessed both as a disposition and experimental manipulation. Studies 3 and 4 replicated these findings using actual hills, again showing links between the amount of effort thought required to ascend them and their perceived angle were diminished by greater purpose. The discussion addresses implications of purpose as a broad motivational framework that shapes how individuals see their environment.
The construction of meaning among Norwegian Afghanistan veterans
Authors: Gustavsen Elin
Published: November 2015

This article examines the construction of meaning among a group of Norwegian Afghanistan veterans. On the basis of interview data, three frameworks of interpretation are identified that were consistently used by the participating veterans to communicate the meaning of their deployment: (1) a military framework, which generated meaning from the military- and job-related aspects of their service; (2) a societal framework, which allowed them to emphasize the societal value of the endeavour; and (3) a personal framework, for conveying the personal impact of their experience. These meaning making strategies are analysed from a cultural perspective, in particular the lack of a shared war experience that characterizes Norwegian society. The collective arena does not provide a settled manner for how to interpret such an experience, so the construction of meaning has to take place outside the societal realm.
Combined Subscapularis Tears in Massive Posterosuperior Rotator Cuff Tears
Authors: Park Jin-Young , Chung Seok Won , Lee Seoung-Joon , Cho Hyoung-Weon , Lee Jae Hyung , Lee Jun-Hee , Oh Kyung-Soo
Published: November 2015

Background:

Previous studies on massive rotator cuff tears have not addressed the outcomes of tears extending to the subscapularis tendon.

Hypothesis:

The retear rate in patients with a massive posterosuperior rotator cuff tear combined with a subscapularis tear is higher than that in patients with a massive posterosuperior rotator cuff tear with an intact subscapularis tendon.

Study Design:

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

Data were collected and analyzed from 92 consecutive patients who underwent arthroscopic repair of a massive posterosuperior rotator cuff tear. Patients were divided into 3 groups according to the status of the subscapularis tendon: intact subscapularis tendon (I-massive tear; n = 42), tear involving half or less than half of the subscapularis tendon (S-massive tear; n = 22), and tear involving more than half of the subscapularis tendon (L-massive tear; n = 28). The integrity of the rotator cuff was determined by ultrasonography at 4.5 and 12 months or later after surgery. Clinical evaluations were performed using the visual analog scale (VAS) pain score, the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, the Constant score, and active shoulder range of motion. Data were collected on the day before surgery and at final follow-up (at least 24 months postoperatively).

Results:

A total of 25 retears (27%) were identified based on an ultrasonographic evaluation. Although statistical significance was not found, there was a trend toward a higher retear rate in patients with an L-massive tear (43%) compared with those with an S-massive tear (18%; P = .050) or I-massive tear (21%; P = .059) at final follow-up. The subclassification of retears according to the involved tendons revealed that subsequent retears of the subscapularis tendon were noted only in patients with an L-massive tear. In patients with an L-massive tear, postoperative data comparison between patients with intact subscapularis tendons and those with failed subscapularis tendons revealed that a significant difference was noted in the VAS (1.1 vs 3.8, respectively) and ASES (90.6 vs 58.5, respectively) scores. The improvement in clinical scores after repair was statistically significant in all groups but not different between the groups.

Conclusion:

The arthroscopic repair of massive tears results in substantial improvements in shoulder function, regardless of the presence of combined subscapularis tears. However, this study showed a trend toward a high failure rate for the repair of massive posterosuperior rotator cuff tears extending over half of the subscapularis tendon. Therefore, other treatment options should also be considered for this type of rotator cuff tear.
The Coracohumeral Distance in Shoulders With Traumatic and Degenerative Subscapularis Tendon Tears
Authors: Balke Maurice , Banerjee Marc , Greshake Oliver , Hoeher Juergen , Bouillon Bertil , Liem Dennis
Published: November 2015

Background:

A reduced coracohumeral distance (CHD) is thought to be responsible for subcoracoid impingement. This only accounts for degenerative tendon tears. In traumatic tears, the subcoracoid space should be normal.

Hypothesis:

The CHD in patients with traumatic subscapularis tendon tears is larger than that in patients with degenerative tears and does not differ from patients with an intact subscapularis tendon.

Study Design:

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

A total of 83 patients with arthroscopically certified subscapularis tendon tears were included in the study. Forty-four patients had degenerative causes (group 1), and 39 had traumatic causes (group 2). The control group consisted of 20 patients with traumatic supraspinatus tendon tears and arthroscopically proven, intact subscapularis tendons (group 3). On preoperative axial magnetic resonance imaging, the distance between the CHD was measured, and the values of the 3 groups were compared using the t test.

Results:

The mean (±SD) CHD in patients with degenerative subscapularis tendon tears was 8.6 ± 2.0 mm (range, 4.0-13.2 mm) and was significantly ( P = .0003) smaller than that in patients with traumatic tears (10.2 ± 2.0 mm; range, 6.6-16.2 mm) or controls (10.4 ± 1.8 mm; range, 6.8-14.0 mm). The CHD of controls and patients with traumatic tears did not differ significantly ( P = .7875). A CHD of less than 6 mm only occurred in patients with degenerative subscapularis tendon tears.

Conclusion:

The hypothesis that the CHD in patients with degenerative subscapularis tendon tears is significantly smaller than that in patients with traumatic tears or intact subscapularis tendons was confirmed. The CHD in patients with traumatic tears does not differ from that in controls. A CHD of less than 6 mm only occurs in patients with degenerative subscapularis tendon tears.
Reduced early Holocene moisture availability inferred from δD values of sedimentary n-alkanes in Zigetang Co, Central Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Jin Chuanfang , Günther Franziska , Li Shijie , Jia Guodong , Peng Ping’an , Gleixner Gerd
Published: November 2015

An 885-cm-long laminated sediment core was retrieved from Zigetang Co, a non-glacial meltwater-fed lake in the central Tibetan Plateau, and analyzed for n-alkanes as well as their hydrogen isotopes to trace the regional climatic and environmental history spanning the last 13.8 cal. ka BP. The short-chain n-alkanes C15/16/17, likely derived from aquatic algae, plankton, and photosynthetic bacteria, dominate the n-alkane composition in this lake. This unusual distribution pattern might be attributed to the meromictic lake system that is characterized by a rapid salinity increase and an abrupt decrease in dissolved oxygen in the lake water with depth, as well as anoxic conditions at the bottom. n-Alkane indicator ratios (e.g. carbon preference index (CPI), average chain length (ACL), and aquatic/terrigenous ratio (ATR)) and δD values reveal that higher effective moisture availability at Zigetang Co occurred in the middle (5.8–2.7 cal. ka BP) rather than the early Holocene. This contradicts palaeoclimate records from neighboring lakes (e.g. Nam Co, Siling Co, and Paru Co). We suggest that in the Zigetang Co catchment where glacial meltwaters are not available, the temperature-induced evaporation would outweigh the monsoonal precipitation and, therefore, result in lower effective moisture displayed by the increasing δD values during the early Holocene. The local recycling of air masses could also have an important impact on the lake level and moisture availability and cannot be excluded. Our record provides further evidence for the complex relationship of insolation-induced temperature, evaporation, and precipitation affecting the regional climate changes on the Tibetan Plateau.
Trade union membership and power in comparative perspective
Authors: Kelly John
Published: November 2015

The trade union movement around the world remains in the throes of a prolonged and deep decline, whether measured by membership and density, bargaining power in relation to employers or political influence over the ubiquitous neoliberal narrative that underpins the policies of many governments. Decline has not been arrested or reversed by the many strategic initiatives undertaken in recent years such as organising campaigns or coalition building, although it is possible that the state of the unions would be even more parlous if these initiatives had not been pursued. Against this bleak backcloth, there are some positive signs: unions representing specific occupations, such as school teachers, nurses and airline pilots, have retained high levels of density; and union confederations in many parts of Europe have launched successful general strikes against unpopular government reforms to pensions and welfare benefits. Unions need to position themselves as agencies that can help deal with the growing problems of wage stagnation, low wages, income inequality and insufficient economic demand. That in turn requires a coherent challenge to the dominant neoliberal narrative.
Trauma-Informed Care in the Massachusetts Child Trauma Project
Authors: Bartlett Jessica Dym , Barto Beth , Griffin Jessica L. , Fraser Jenifer Goldman , Hodgdon Hilary , Bodian Ruth
Published: November 2015

Child maltreatment is a serious public health concern, and its detrimental effects can be compounded by traumatic experiences associated with the child welfare (CW) system. Trauma-informed care (TIC) is a promising strategy for addressing traumatized children’s needs, but research on the impact of TIC in CW is limited. This study examines initial findings of the Massachusetts Child Trauma Project, a statewide TIC initiative in the CW system and mental health network. After 1 year of implementation, Trauma-Informed Leadership Teams in CW offices emerged as key structures for TIC systems integration, and mental health providers’ participation in evidence-based treatment (EBT) learning collaboratives was linked to improvements in trauma-informed individual and agency practices. After approximately 6 months of EBT treatment, children had fewer posttraumatic symptoms and behavior problems compared to baseline. Barriers to TIC that emerged included scarce resources for trauma-related work in the CW agency and few mental providers providing EBTs to young children. Future research might explore variations in TIC across service system components as well as the potential for differential effects across EBT models disseminated through TIC.
Bridging the Sciences of Mindfulness and Romantic Relationships
Authors: Karremans Johan C. , Schellekens Melanie P. J. , Kappen Gesa
Published: November 2015

Research on mindfulness, defined as paying conscious and non-judgmental attention to present-moment experiences, has increased rapidly in the past decade but has focused almost entirely on the benefits of mindfulness for individual well-being. This article considers the role of mindfulness in romantic relationships. Although strong claims have been made about the potentially powerful role of mindfulness in creating better relationships, it is less clear whether, when, and how this may occur. This article integrates the literatures on mindfulness and romantic relationship science, and sketches a theory-driven model and future research agenda to test possible pathways of when and how mindfulness may affect romantic relationship functioning. We review some initial direct and indirect evidence relevant to the proposed model. Finally, we discuss the implications of how studying mindfulness may further our understanding of romantic relationship (dys)functioning, and how mindfulness may be a promising and effective tool in couple interventions.
Health Promotion, Governmentality and the Challenges of Theorizing Pleasure and Desire
Authors: Karlsen Mads Peter , Villadsen Kaspar
Published: November 2015

The relationship between pleasure and asceticism has been at the core of debates on western subjectivity at least since Nietzsche. Addressing this theme, this article explores the emergence of ‘non-authoritarian’ health campaigns, which do not propagate abstention from harmful substances but intend to foster a ‘well-balanced subject’ straddling pleasure and asceticism. The article seeks to develop the Foucauldian analytical framework by foregrounding a strategy of subjectivation that integrates desire, pleasure and enjoyment into health promotion. The point of departure is the overwhelming emphasis in the governmentality literature on ‘prudence’, ‘self-responsibility’ or ‘risk calculation’, such that pleasure and desire remain largely absent from the framework. Some insights from Žižek’s work are introduced to help us obtain a firmer grasp on the problematic of ‘the well-balanced subject’. The article argues that, in order to analyse the transformation of interpellation in recent health promotion, we must recognize the mechanism of self-distance or dis-identification as an integral part of the procedure of subjectification.
The struggle to improve schools
Authors: Msila Vuyisile
Published: November 2015

There have been constant debates on how to improve school leadership in South Africa. This has emanated from numerous research findings locally and internationally that demonstrate that schools will be as effective as the people who are at their helm. The national Zenex/Advanced Certificate in Education research findings have also claimed that mentoring of school leaders has great potential to sustain effective schools. The idea of formal mentoring is fairly new in South African schools but its popularity is growing widely.

This qualitative study focused on the experiences of five mentors who mentored five principals. There was only one historically white school in the study. Two of these principals are principals in historically black schools, one from a rural school and one from a farm school – all these schools are situated in KwaZulu-Natal Province in South Africa. The results demonstrate that whilst the mentors highlighted room for improvement in the current incipient practice of formal mentoring, they displayed optimism for the future of schools whose leaders are mentored. They also maintained that effective mentoring builds confidence and commitment among school leaders.
Cognitive Bias for Learning Speech Sounds From a Continuous Signal Space Seems Nonlinguistic
Authors: van der Ham Sabine , de Boer Bart
Published: November 2015

When learning language, humans have a tendency to produce more extreme distributions of speech sounds than those observed most frequently: In rapid, casual speech, vowel sounds are centralized, yet cross-linguistically, peripheral vowels occur almost universally. We investigate whether adults’ generalization behavior reveals selective pressure for communication when they learn skewed distributions of speech-like sounds from a continuous signal space. The domain-specific hypothesis predicts that the emergence of sound categories is driven by a cognitive bias to make these categories maximally distinct, resulting in more skewed distributions in participants’ reproductions. However, our participants showed more centered distributions, which goes against this hypothesis, indicating that there are no strong innate linguistic biases that affect learning these speech-like sounds. The centralization behavior can be explained by a lack of communicative pressure to maintain categories.
Local Solid Shape
Authors: Koenderink Jan , van Doorn Andrea , Wagemans Johan
Published: November 2015

Local solid shape applies to the surface curvature of small surface patches—essentially regions of approximately constant curvatures—of volumetric objects that are smooth volumetric regions in Euclidean 3-space. This should be distinguished from local shape in pictorial space. The difference is categorical. Although local solid shape has naturally been explored in haptics, results in vision are not forthcoming. We describe a simple experiment in which observers judge shape quality and magnitude of cinematographic presentations. Without prior training, observers readily use continuous shape index and Casorati curvature scales with reasonable resolution.
The Perspective Structure of Visual Space
Authors: Erkelens Casper J
Published: November 2015

Luneburg’s model has been the reference for experimental studies of visual space for almost seventy years. His claim for a curved visual space has been a source of inspiration for visual scientists as well as philosophers. The conclusion of many experimental studies has been that Luneburg’s model does not describe visual space in various tasks and conditions. Remarkably, no alternative model has been suggested. The current study explores perspective transformations of Euclidean space as a model for visual space. Computations show that the geometry of perspective spaces is considerably different from that of Euclidean space. Collinearity but not parallelism is preserved in perspective space and angles are not invariant under translation and rotation. Similar relationships have shown to be properties of visual space. Alley experiments performed early in the nineteenth century have been instrumental in hypothesizing curved visual spaces. Alleys were computed in perspective space and compared with reconstructed alleys of Blumenfeld. Parallel alleys were accurately described by perspective geometry. Accurate distance alleys were derived from parallel alleys by adjusting the interstimulus distances according to the size-distance invariance hypothesis. Agreement between computed and experimental alleys and accommodation of experimental results that rejected Luneburg’s model show that perspective space is an appropriate model for how we perceive orientations and angles. The model is also appropriate for perceived distance ratios between stimuli but fails to predict perceived distances.
Reconsidering Visual Search
Authors: Kristjánsson Árni
Published: November 2015

The visual search paradigm has had an enormous impact in many fields. A theme running through this literature has been the distinction between preattentive and attentive processing, which I refer to as the two-stage assumption. Under this assumption, slopes of set-size and response time are used to determine whether attention is needed for a given task or not. Even though a lot of findings question this two-stage assumption, it still has enormous influence, determining decisions on whether papers are published or research funded. The results described here show that the two-stage assumption leads to very different conclusions about the operation of attention for identical search tasks based only on changes in response (presence/absence versus Go/No-go responses). Slopes are therefore an ambiguous measure of attentional involvement. Overall, the results suggest that the two-stage model cannot explain all findings on visual search, and they highlight how slopes of response time and set-size should only be used with caution.
The Emotional Guardianship of Foreign-Born and Native-Born Hispanic Youth and Its Effect on Violent Victimization
Authors: Eggers Amy S. , Mitchell Ojmarrh
Published: November 2015

Despite numerous tests of routine activities theory, attempts to explain the relationship between Hispanic immigration and victimization are quite minimal. As such, this study seeks to determine whether differences in violent victimization between native-born Hispanic and foreign-born Hispanic youth are attributable to variations in target suitability and emotional guardianship. This study expands routine activities theory’s concept of capable guardianship by basing its operationalization on measures related to family ties and is thus termed emotional guardianship. Using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health), the results show native-born Hispanic youth were more likely to be violently victimized than their foreign-born Hispanic counterparts. However, once components of routine activities theory and neighborhood safety were entered into the model, the Hispanic youth’s birth status was no longer significant. Prior delinquency also had the strongest direct effect on violent victimization and served to mediate the relationship between emotional guardianship and violent victimization.
Perceptions of Supervision Among Injured and Non-Injured Teens Working in the Retail or Service Industry
Authors: Zierold Kristina M.
Published: November 2015

According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), a teen is injured every 9 minutes at work. Workplace supervision may affect whether teens are injured on the job. Because research on workplace supervision among teens is limited, the objectives of this study were to characterize the perceptions of supervision among injured and non-injured teen workers and assess the characteristics and perceptions of supervisors that may be associated with work-related injuries. In 2011, a cross-sectional survey was conducted among high school students. Teens who worked in retail or service industries ( n = 270) were included in the sample. Non-injured teens were more likely to have reported that their supervisors cared about their safety, were helpful, listened well, and ensured that teen workers understood workplace safety. Most teens (70%) did not feel comfortable talking about safety issues with their supervisors. The importance of supervision and how supervisors are perceived in the workplace may be significant in creating a safety culture that leaves a lasting impression.
ATR inhibition induces synthetic lethality and overcomes chemoresistance in TP53- or ATM-defective chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells
Authors: Kwok Marwan , Davies Nicholas , Agathanggelou Angelo , Smith Edward , Oldreive Ceri , Petermann Eva , Stewart Grant , Brown Jeff , Lau Alan , Pratt Guy , Parry Helen , Taylor Malcolm , Moss Paul , Hillmen Peter , Stankovic Tatjana
Published: November 2015

Key Points

ATR inhibition is synthetically lethal to TP53- or ATM-defective CLL cells. ATR targeting induces selective cytotoxicity and chemosensitization in TP53- or ATM-defective CLL cells in vitro and in vivo.
Umbilical cord blood–derived T regulatory cells to prevent GVHD: kinetics, toxicity profile, and clinical effect
Authors: Brunstein Claudio G. , Miller Jeffrey S. , McKenna David H. , Hippen Keli L. , DeFor Todd E. , Sumstad Darin , Curtsinger Julie , Verneris Michael R. , MacMillan Margaret L. , Levine Bruce L. , Riley James L. , June Carl H. , Le Chap , Weisdorf Daniel J. , McGlave Philip B. , Blazar Bruce R. , Wagner John E.
Published: November 2015

Key Points

KT64/86 artificial antigen–presenting cells culture stimulation provides marked expansion of Tregs. In the context of sirolimus, mycophenolate mofetil immunosuppression, adoptive transfer of Tregs resulted in low risk of acute GVHD.
The causal effect of the great recession on childlessness of white American women
Authors: Comolli Chiara Ludovica , Bernardi Fabrizio
Published: November 2015

Many studies have documented a negative association between macroeconomic indicators and fertility in times of economic crisis. These studies are based on research designs that do not allow for excluding that the observed association is driven by confounders. The aim of the present paper is to estimate the causal effect of the Great Recession on cohorts’ childlessness in the United States. We apply a difference-in-difference approach to the probability of childlessness in two pseudo-cohorts of white women who entered the age of 34–36 years old being childless before the crisis, in 2004, and at the onset of the crisis, in 2007. Our identification strategy relies on the assumption that these two adjacent cohorts of women differ only because the latter cohort lived some critical years of reproductive life during the Great Recession period. We then study how many childless women aged 34–36 had a child when they were 37–39, between the years 2004 and 2007 for the control group and between the years 2007 and 2010 for the treatment group. We argue that an increase of childlessness at the age 37–39 is likely to lead to an increase in permanent childlessness, since major catch-up processes are unlikely after age 40. We replicate the analysis on two datasets: the American Community Survey and the Fertility Supplement of the Current Population Survey. Our findings suggest that the Great Recession has had a positive, though mild, effect on childlessness of white women at about the age of 40 in the US.

JEL codes:Z0, J1, J110, J130, C21*
Reducing Time to Antibiotic Administration for Febrile Neutropenia in the Emergency Department
Authors: Keng Michael K. , Thallner Elaine A. , Elson Paul , Ajon Christine , Sekeres Jennifer , Wenzell Candice M. , Seastone David J. , Gallagher Erika M. , Weber Catherine M. , Earl Marc A. , Mukherjee Sudipto , Pohlman Brad , Cober Eric , Foster Virginia B. , Yuhas Joy , Kalaycio Matt E. , Bolwell Brian J. , Sekeres Mikkael A.
Published: November 2015

The Emergency Department (ED) Febrile Neutropenia Pathway quality initiative demonstrated value by decreasing time to antibiotic administration in patients with cancer presenting to the ED compared with historical and direct admissions controls.
Breast Cancer Experience of the Molecular Tumor Board at the University of California, San Diego Moores Cancer Center
Authors: Parker Barbara A. , Schwaederlé Maria , Scur Michael D. , Boles Sarah G. , Helsten Teresa , Subramanian Rupa , Schwab Richard B. , Kurzrock Razelle
Published: November 2015

Multidisciplinary molecular tumor boards may help optimize the management of patients with advanced, heavily pretreated breast cancer who have undergone genomic testing.
Numerical Study on Seismic Performance of Cold Formed Steel Sheathed Shear Walls
Authors: Zeynalian M.
Published: November 2015

This paper presents a non-linear finite element analyses in order to investigate the seismic performances of steel sheathed cold formed shear walls. The numerical models presented here are verified based on experimental tests considering different structural characteristics including: material nonlinearity, geometrical imperfection, residual stresses and perforations. A comparison between the numerical simulations and the test results shows a good agreement proves that the finite element analysis can be used effectively to predict the ultimate capacity of steel sheathed CFS shear panels. A total of 15 models with different structural parameters are investigated. Of particular interests were the specimens' maximum lateral load capacity and deformation behaviour in addition to a rational estimation of the seismic response modification factor. Preliminary conclusions presented in this paper, refer to the seismic characteristics of steel sheathed CFS shear walls and the corresponding dimensions and configuration.
Full-Scale Application of Stochastic DLV Method for Highway Bridge Health Monitoring
Authors: Jang Shinae , Dahal Sushil
Published: November 2015

Structural health monitoring (SHM) has drawn significant attention lately for public safety as well as efficient infrastructure asset management. Over three decades, numerous SHM algorithms have been developed for bridge health monitoring. Research on full-scale damage detection on in-service bridges under operational loads is challenging and limited. In this paper, a practical application of a flexibility-based damage detection algorithm, the stochastic damage locating vector (SDLV) method, is developed and implemented for full-scale health monitoring of an in-service highway bridge. The test bed is a curved box-girder bridge in Connecticut. Based on long-term acceleration and temperature data measured for 5 years, statistical modal analysis has been conducted. During the measurement period, a permanent tilt was reported possibly by expansion joint misalignment due to permanent tilts of the pier. Potential damage locations are determined using the SDLV method with a sparse array of sensors before and after the permanent tilt event.
Analysis of Design and Construction Integration of Rigid Bracing Dome
Authors: Gao Zhanyuan , Xue Suduo , He Yongfa
Published: November 2015

Rigid bracing dome is a new type of pre-stressed space structure, which of upper part is a cable net system, and the lower part is a rigid rod supporting system. The rigid rods of lower part are high-strength steel tie rods except the brace rods. From the perspective of engineering application, the analysis method and steps of design and construction integration are given, which of key problems are pointed out. The key parameters for determining the geometric shape are span, rise, the sublevel number of radial direction, the subsection number of circumferential direction and nodes coordinates. The parameters shall be determined by the concrete requirements of engineering practice, relevant specifications and high-strength steel tie rod materials. The formula of original cable length is deduced, which of correctness and feasibility is validated by numerical example. A new node of brace rod and method for determining its key parameters are given. The construction method, that is node-by-node assembling and then integral tensioning and lifting, and its concrete installation steps are provided. Simulation analysis is conducted on the construction process with finite element dynamic relaxation (FEDR) method. The research results provide necessary theoretical reference for design and construction of rigid bracing dome.
Η Ιερά Μονή του Τιμίου Προδρόμου παρά τας Σέρρας
Authors: ΣΤΡΑΤΗΣ Ευάγγελος Γ.
Published: November 2015

no abstract
Αι παλαιαί εκκλησίαι Τρικκάλων και οι δύο Βησσαρίωνες Λαρίσης
Authors: ΓΙΑΝΝΟΠΟΥΛΟΣ Νικόλαος Ι.
Published: November 2015

no abstract
Βυζαντιακά γράμματα της εν Άθω Ιεράς Μονής Βατοπεδίου. Ορισμός του δεσπότου Δημητρίου του Παλαιολόγου. Απολυθείς κατά μήνα Ιούλιον της Ι' ινδικτιώνος του 6970=1462 έτους
Authors: ΓΟΥΔΑΣ Μιχαήλ
Published: November 2015

no abstract
Περί της μη τελέσεως γάμων τον Μάϊον
Authors: ΕΥΣΤΡΑΤΙΑΔΗΣ Μιχαήλ Π.
Published: November 2015

no abstract
Βιβλιογραφία
Authors: ΧΡΙΣΤΙΑΝΙΚΗ ΑΡΧΑΙΟΛΟΓΙΚΗ ΕΤΑΙΡΕΙΑ (ΧΑΕ)
Published: November 2015

no abstract
†Η αείμνηστος βασίλισσα Όλγα
Authors: ΧΡΙΣΤΙΑΝΙΚΗ ΑΡΧΑΙΟΛΟΓΙΚΗ ΕΤΑΙΡΕΙΑ (ΧΑΕ)
Published: November 2015

no abstract
Ανασκαφαί Νικοπόλεως (1921-1926). Χριστιανικόν Ίδρυμα Αλκίσωνος
Authors: ΦΙΛΑΔΕΛΦΕΥΣ Αλέξανδρος
Published: November 2015

no abstract
The Impact of Privacy Regulation and Technology Incentives: The Case of Health Information Exchanges
Authors: Adjerid Idris , Acquisti Alessandro , Telang Rahul , Padman Rema , Adler-Milstein Julia
Published: November 2015

Health information exchanges (HIEs) are healthcare information technology efforts designed to foster coordination of patient care across the fragmented U.S. healthcare system. Their purpose is to improve efficiency and quality of care through enhanced sharing of patient data. Across the United States, numerous states have enacted laws that provide various forms of incentives for HIEs and address growing privacy concerns associated with the sharing of patient data. We investigate the impact on the emergence of HIEs of state laws that incentivize HIE efforts and state laws that include different types of privacy requirements for sharing healthcare data, focusing on the impact of laws that include requirements for patient consent. Although we observe that privacy regulation alone can result in a decrease in planning and operational HIEs, we also find that, when coupled with incentives, privacy regulation with requirements for patient consent can actually positively impact the development of HIE efforts. Among all states with laws creating HIE incentives, only states that combined incentives with consent requirements saw a net increase in operational HIEs; HIEs in those states also reported decreased levels of privacy concern relative to HIEs in states with other legislative approaches. Our results contribute to the burgeoning literature on health information technology and the debate on the impact of privacy regulation on technology innovation. In particular, they show that the impact of privacy regulation on the success of information technology efforts is heterogeneous: both positive and negative effects can arise from regulation, depending on the specific attributes of privacy laws.

This paper was accepted by Anandhi Bharadwaj, information systems.