bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Distance education methods are useful for delivering education to palliative caregivers: A single-arm trial of an education package (PalliativE Caregivers Education Package)
Authors: Forbat Liz , Robinson Rowena , Bilton-Simek Rachel , Francois Karemah , Lewis Marsha , Haraldsdottir Erna
Published: June 2017

Background:

Face-to-face/group education for palliative caregivers is successful, but relies on caregivers travelling, being absent from the patient, and rigid timings. This presents inequities for those in rural locations.

Aim:

To design and test an innovative distance-learning educational package (PrECEPt: PalliativE Caregivers Education Package).

Design:

Single-arm mixed-method feasibility proof-of-concept trial (ACTRN12616000601437). The primary outcome was carer self-efficacy, with secondary outcomes focused on caregiver preparedness and carer tasks/needs. Analysis focused on three outcome measures (taken at baseline and 6 weeks) and feasibility/acceptability qualitative data.

Setting and participants:

A single specialist palliative care service. Eligible informal caregivers were those of patients registered with the outpatient or community service, where the patient had a prognosis of ⩾12 weeks, supporting someone with nutrition/hydration and/or pain management needs, proficient in English and no major mental health diagnosis.

Results:

Two modules were developed and tested (nutrition/hydration and pain management) with 18 caregivers. The materials did not have a statistically significant impact on carer self-efficacy. However, statistically significant improvements were observed on the two subsidiary measures of (1) caregiving tasks, consequences and needs ( p = 0.03, confidence interval: 0.72, 9.4) and (2) caregiver preparedness ( p = 0.001, confidence interval: −1.22, −0.46). The study determined that distance learning is acceptable and feasible for both caregivers and healthcare professionals.

Conclusion:

Distance education improves caregiver preparedness and is a feasible and acceptable approach. A two-arm trial would determine whether the materials benefitted caregivers and patients compared to a control group not receiving the materials. Additional modules could be fruitfully developed and offered.
Examining victims and perpetrators in post-conflict Nepal
Authors: Selim Yvette
Published: June 2017

The transitional justice (TJ) agenda in Nepal has been largely circumscribed by TJ experts, brokers and implementers. While participation provides avenues for victims, among others, to be involved in TJ processes, many actors, including victims, will engage in participatory activities according to their own interests. Yet, we must ask, who are considered victims? Who determines whether someone is a victim and what implications, if any, does this determination have and what do victims want? This article examines the ‘victim’ label in Nepal. I argue that victimhood is often connected with state support. I also argue that the way TJ scholars and practitioners identify victims, based on the harm caused, does not always align with the way community members perceive victimhood, which is often based on suffering.
A novel voxel-wise lesion segmentation technique on 3.0-T diffusion MRI of hyperacute focal cerebral ischemia at 1 h after permanent MCAO in rats
Authors: Choi Chi-Hoon , Yi Kyung Sik , Lee Sang-Rae , Lee Youngjeon , Jeon Chang-Yeop , Hwang Jinwoo , Lee Chulhyun , Choi Sung Sik , Lee Hong Jun , Cha Sang-Hoon
Published: June 2017

To assess hyperacute focal cerebral ischemia in rats on 3.0-Tesla diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), we developed a novel voxel-wise lesion segmentation technique that overcomes intra- and inter-subject variation in apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) distribution. Our novel technique involves the following: (1) intensity normalization including determination of the optimal type of region of interest (ROI) and its intra- and inter-subject validation, (2) verification of focal cerebral ischemic lesions at 1 h with gross and high-magnification light microscopy of hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) pathology, (3) voxel-wise segmentation on ADC with various thresholds, and (4) calculation of dice indices (DIs) to compare focal cerebral ischemic lesions at 1 h defined by ADC and matching H&E pathology. The best coefficient of variation was the mode of the left hemisphere after normalization using whole left hemispheric ROI, which showed lower intra- (2.54 ± 0.72%) and inter-subject (2.67 ± 0.70%) values than the original. Focal ischemic lesion at 1 h after middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) was confirmed on both gross and microscopic H&E pathology. The 83 relative threshold of normalized ADC showed the highest mean DI (DI = 0.820 ± 0.075). We could evaluate hyperacute ischemic lesions at 1 h more reliably on 3-Tesla DWI in rat brains.
Citizen-Assisted Performance Measurement? Reassessing Its Viability and Impact
Authors: Ammons David N. , Madej Patrick M.
Published: June 2017

Citizen-assisted performance measurement (CAPM) was a hot topic just a decade or so ago, promoted by enthusiasts as a useful coupling of the performance measurement and citizen participation movements. The idea of engaging citizens in the design of local government performance measures retains some ongoing support today based mostly on normative assumptions and testimonials. A careful review of the premises of CAPM and empirical evidence from CAPM projects, however, reveals weaknesses in the premises and few surviving measures from CAPM projects. The authors’ findings support the view that citizen efforts would more beneficially be directed upstream of performance measurement, with citizens engaged as focus groups to offer views on their local government’s performance objectives and priorities rather than as designers of performance measures.
Geographic information science II: Mesogeography
Authors: Miller Harvey J.
Published: June 2017

The 20th century witnessed the rise of social physics: the application of models and techniques developed for physical processes to social phenomena. Social physics left an enduring legacy in human geography via its stepchildren, spatial analysis and GIS, shifting geography from microgeography (description-seeking) and towards macrogeography (law-seeking). Social physics is back in the 21st century, and its renaissance with a concurrent rise in computational and data-driven approaches to science and policy raises a wide range of concerns, including the claim that this is just macrogeography writ large: a single-minded pursuit of social laws at the cost of treating people as particles and spatial context as abstract and sterile. I argue that this time is different: a more sophisticated social physics, spatial analysis and GIScience are emerging that emphasize heterogeneity and spatial context as key drivers of interesting behavior. I also argue that new social physics suggests another path to geographic knowledge somewhere in the middle: mesogeography – a focus on how processes evolve in spatial context. I discuss GIScience techniques and approaches that can facilitate the quest for mesogeographic knowledge.
Evolution of legal deposit in New Zealand
Authors: Cadavid Jhonny Antonio Pabón
Published: June 2017

The evolution of legal deposit shows changes and challenges in collecting, access to and use of documentary heritage. Legal deposit emerged in New Zealand at the beginning of the 20th century with the aim of preserving print publications mainly for the use of a privileged part of society. In the 21st century legal deposit has evolved to include the safeguarding of electronic resources and providing access to the documentary heritage for all New Zealanders. The National Library of New Zealand has acquired new functions for a proper stewardship of digital heritage. E-deposit and web harvesting are two new mechanisms for collecting New Zealand publications. The article proposes that legal deposit through human rights and multiculturalism should involve different communities of heritage in web curation.
Combinatorial antitumor effects of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase inhibitor NLG919 and paclitaxel in a murine B16-F10 melanoma model
Authors: Meng Xiangjing , Du Guangying , Ye Liang , Sun Shanyue , Liu Qiaofeng , Wang Hongbo , Wang Wenyan , Wu Zimei , Tian Jingwei
Published: June 2017

Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) is involved in tumor immune escape and resistance to chemotherapy, and is clinically correlated with tumor progression. IDO inhibitors show marginal efficacy as single agents; therefore, combinations of these inhibitors with other therapies hold promise for cancer therapy. The aim of this study was to investigate the synergistic antitumor effects of IDO inhibitor NLG919 in combination with different regimens of paclitaxel in a murine B16-F10 melanoma model. NLG919 increased the cytotoxic activity of paclitaxel toward B16-F10 cells in the presence of pretreatment with interferon (IFN)-γ in vitro. In B16-F10 tumor-bearing mice, NLG919 was uniformly distributed throughout tumors and decreased kynurenine levels and kynurenine/tryptophan ratios in tumors and plasma for 6–12 h. NLG919 suppressed tumor growth in a dose-dependent manner and exhibited maximum efficacy at 100 mg/kg. In combination with different regimens of paclitaxel, NLG919 displayed synergistic antitumor effects, and NLG919 did not increase the side effects of paclitaxel. Within the tumors, the percentage of CD3+, CD8+, and CD4+ T cells and secretion of IFN-γ and interleukin-2 were synergistically increased, whereas the percentage of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells was decreased. NLG919 can potentiate the antitumor efficacy of paclitaxel without increasing its side effects, suggesting that the combination of IDO inhibitor-based immunotherapy with chemotherapy could be a potential strategy for cancer treatment.
A Psychopathological Comparison between Delusional Disorder and Schizophrenia
Authors: Muñoz-Negro José Eduardo , Ibáñez-Casas Inmaculada , de Portugal Enrique , Lozano-Gutiérrez Vanessa , Martínez-Leal Rafael , Cervilla Jorge A.
Published: June 2017

Objective:

To contribute to a better differential clinical categorisation of delusional disorder (DD) versus schizophrenia (SZ) and to add and complete evidence from previous clinical studies of DD compared to schizophrenia.

Methods:

A cross-sectional study using a clinical sample of 275 patients (132 patients with DD) was studied. Patients were consecutively attending public clinics located in urban and rural areas in both Andalusia and Catalonia (Spain). All participants met DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for either DD or SZ. Data were gathered on sociodemographics, illness duration, Barona-Index estimation of intelligence quotient (IQ), and global functioning, along with a thorough psychopathological assessment using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). Comparisons between both groups were calculated using χ2, Student t, and multivariate analysis of covariance tests.

Results:

Patients with DD were older (mean [SD], 50.3 [14.6] years vs. 36.6 [11.1] years; t = 8.597; P ≤ 0.0001), were more frequently married (45.4% vs. 10.8%; χ2 = 38.569; P ≤ 0.0001), and had a higher mean estimated premorbid IQ (111.4 vs. 105.4; t = 2.609; P ≤ 0.01). On the other hand, SZ patients were predominantly male (71.4% vs. 48.9%; χ2 = 14.433; P ≤ 0.0001) and had greater work-related disability than DD patients (20.5% vs. 50.3%; χ2 = 19.564; P ≤ 0.001). Overall, the DD group showed a less severe PANSS psychopathology than SZ group. Thus, total mean (SD) PANSS scores for schizophrenia and delusional disorder, respectively, were 76.2 (22.4) versus 54.1 (18.4) ( t = –8.762; P ≤ 0.0001). Moreover, patients with DD showed a better global functioning than those with SZ (62.7 [13.2] vs. 51.9 [16.9]; F = 44.114; P ≤ 0.0001).

Conclusions:

DD is a milder and distinct disorder compared to SZ in terms of psychopathology and global functionality.
What Leads to Player’s Enjoyment and Achievement in a Mobile Learning Game?
Authors: Touati Achraf , Baek Youngkyun
Published: June 2017

This study investigated students’ perceptions of competence and enjoyment of a mobile game within the context of mobile game-based learning. The proposed model showed that perceived competence and game attitude were the main predictors of enjoyment, while no direct relationship was found between perceived competence and gaming achievement. The model simultaneously considered other factors such as prior game experience and intensity of use, and final analysis revealed that these two variables were directly related. Another important finding was the strong impact of prior game experience on perceived competence. Results are interpreted with reference to implications for possible means of improving learning outcomes when using mobile learning games in the academic context.
Moral Identity Among Low–Socioeconomic Status Adolescents: Stressful Events and Family Relationships Considered
Authors: Davis Alexandra N. , Streit Cara
Published: June 2017

The current study aimed to examine themes surrounding the moral identity of adolescents from two low-income communities in the United States using qualitative interviews. Based on previous conceptual models, the authors aimed to examine the co-occurrence of themes of morality, stressors, and family processes. Participants were adolescents from the Northeast and Midwest ( n = 38; mean age = 15.64; 73.7% female; 23.7% Black, 30.6% Latino, and 47.4% White). The results demonstrated that morality was a salient theme among adolescents. In addition, a subset of adolescents discussed stressors and family processes in conjunction with morality. The discussion will focus on the resiliency of youth living in low-income communities.
Whither Compassion?
Authors: Fook Jan
Published: June 2017

This column piece reflects on the seeming lack of public compassion responses to the refugee crisis, and what our role as professionals in higher education can be in addressing this.
Negative Emotions as Risk Factors for Self-Directed Violence and Intimate Partner Violence in Chinese College Students
Authors: Wang Ling , Wu Qinglu , Choi Anna Wai-Man
Published: June 2017

In this study, we examined the unique contributions of negative emotions (i.e., anger, depression, and shame) for two different types of self-directed violence (i.e., nonsuicidal self-injury [NSSI] and suicidality) and three different types of intimate partner violence perpetration (i.e., physical, sexual, and psychological violence) in a college sample. We investigated the moderating role of gender in any link between the negative emotions and the violent behaviors. We also examined an association between self-directed violence and intimate partner violence perpetration. We collected the survey data from a convenience sample of 752 Chinese college students (408 women and 344 men) ranging from 18 to 23 years of age. The questionnaires were filled out during class time. Analyses revealed that anger was associated with increased intimate partner physical, sexual, and psychological violence perpetration but not self-directed violence, underscoring its relevance for engaging in violence directed toward others. Our analyses also showed that, conversely, shame was associated with increased NSSI and suicidality but not intimate partner violence. Depression was associated with increased risk of engaging in self-directed violence as well as intimate partner physical and psychological violence. Moderation analysis showed that gender moderates the relationship of shame with NSSI. Women appear more susceptible to NSSI influenced by shame. Furthermore, the results found self-directed violence and intimate partner physical violence perpetration to be associated. The findings highlight the importance of targeting negative emotions in treatment with high-risk individuals. Integrated violence prevention programs would make it possible to treat co-occurring violence against self and intimate others in a more effective way.
Measured Societal Value and Its Impact on Donations and Perception of Corporate Social Responsibility: An Experimental Approach
Authors: Lee Seung Pil , Babiak Kathy
Published: June 2017

Collaborations between nonprofits and corporations aim to serve both social and commercial goals. This study posits that social sponsorships can increase donations to nonprofits and simultaneously benefit corporations by communicating signals of measured societal value. Studies 1 and 2 provide evidence that communication of measured societal value, endorsed by a credible source, can increase willingness to donate to nonprofits through individuals’ perceptions of corporate social responsibility. Study 3 generalizes these findings, simultaneously showing that communication of measured societal value can reduce perceptions of hypocrisy toward corporations. It also examines the underlying mechanism of these results by investigating the serial mediation effects of corporate social responsibility perception and functional fit in the causal relationships from measured societal value to both increased willingness to donate to nonprofits and reduced perceptions of corporate hypocrisy. Furthermore, the work demonstrates that these effects are due to communication of measurement, not the source of the communication.
A generalized cutting force model for five-axis milling processes
Authors: Song Qinghua , Liu Zhanqiang , Ju Ganggang , Wan Yi
Published: June 2017

A generalized mechanical model is proposed to predict cutting forces for five-axis milling process of sculptured surfaces with generalized milling cutter, which is considered as a revolution around tool axis of an arbitrary section curve composed of variable lines and curves. Solid-analytical-based method is presented and extended to precisely and efficiently identify the cutter–workpiece engagements between the generalized milling cutter and workpiece being machined. And the undeformed chip thickness is calculated with respect to pre-defined tool coordinate system, which is regarded as the transformation form of feed cross–feed normal system by lead and tilt angles. Although only two experimental validations (peripheral milling with cylinder end mill and multi-axis milling with ball end mill) are performed to estimate the robustness and flexibility of the method presented, it can be applied for an arbitrary mill geometry in multi-axis milling as well as three-axis milling, two-and-a-half-axis milling. Finally, a case study of aero-engine impeller five-axis milling with ball end mill is performed to further illustrate the validation of the model.
Telling stories: Credibility and the representation of social actors in Australian asylum appeals
Authors: Smith-Khan Laura
Published: June 2017

To secure protection in the global North, asylum-seekers must overcome restrictive government policies and present a convincing refugee narrative. Their credibility becomes their main asset and must survive the multiple challenges arising from intercultural communication and interactions involving multiple institutional actors. Aiming to explore the impact institutional understandings of refugee narrative creation have on credibility assessment, I present the findings of an analysis of a corpus of documents from the Australian tribunal responsible for the administrative review of asylum decisions. I critically analyse these texts to identify how the tribunal and its agents discursively present the various actors involved in asylum appeals. I argue that despite the cautions of existing scholarship, these texts present the asylum-seeker as the sole author of the final refugee narrative, regardless of the role that decision-makers and other actors, such as lawyers and interpreters, play in its co-construction. Thus, the institution places disproportionate responsibility on the asylum-seeker for communication outcomes, creating significant challenges for their credibility.
DNA methylation and copy number variation analyses of human embryonic stem cell–derived neuroprogenitors after low-dose decabromodiphenyl ether and/or bisphenol A exposure
Authors: Du L , Sun W , Li XM , Li XY , Liu W , Chen D
Published: June 2017

The polybrominated diphenyl ether flame retardants decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209) and bisphenol A (BPA) are environmental contaminants that can cross the placenta and exert toxicity in the developing fetal nervous system. Copy number variants (CNVs) play a role in a number of genetic disorders and may be implicated in BDE-209/BPA teratogenicity. In this study, we found that BDE-209 and/or BPA exposure decreased neural differentiation efficiency of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs), although there was a >90% induction of neuronal progenitor cells (NPCs) from exposed hESCs. However, the mean of CNV numbers in the NPCs with BDE-209 + BPA treatment was significantly higher compared to the other groups, whereas DNA methylation was lower and DNA methyltransferase(DNMT1 and DNMT3A) expression were significantly decreased in all of the BDE-209 and/or BPA treatment groups compared with the control groups. The number of CNVs in chromosomes 3, 4, 11, 22, and X in NPCs with BDE-209 and/or BPA exposure was higher compared to the control group. In addition, CNVs in chromosomes 7, 8, 14, and 16 were stable in hESCs and hESCs-derived NPCs irrespective of BDE-209/BPA exposure, and CNVs in chromosomes 20 q11.21 and 16 p13.11 might be induced by neural differentiation. Thus, BDE-209/BPA exposure emerges as a potential source of CNVs distinct from neural differentiation by itself. BDE-209 and/or BPA exposure may cause genomic instability in cultured stem cells via reduced activity of DNA methyltransferase, suggesting a new mechanism of human embryonic neurodevelopmental toxicity caused by this class of environmental toxins.
Breast cancer in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE): receptor status and treatment
Authors: Chan K , Clarke A E , Ramsey-Goldman R , Foulkes W , Tessier Cloutier B , Urowitz M B , Gladman D , Nived O , Romero-Diaz J , Petri M , Ginzler E , Fortin P R , Bae S C , Wallace D J , Yelin E H , Bernatsky S
Published: June 2017

Objective

There is a decreased risk of breast cancer in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) versus the general population; little is known regarding the receptor status of breast cancers in SLE, or treatment.

Methods

Breast cancer cases occurring after SLE diagnosis were ascertained through linkage with tumor registries. We determined breast cancer positivity for estrogen receptors (ER), progesterone receptors (PR), and/or Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 (HER2), as well as cancer treatment.

Results

We obtained information on ER, PR, and/or HER2 status for 63 SLE patients with breast cancer. Fifty-three had information on ER and/or PR status; 36 of these (69%) were ER positive. Thirty-six of the 63 had information on HER2 status; of these, 26 had complete information on all three receptors. Twenty-one of these 26 (81%) were HER2 negative; seven of 26(27%) were triple negative. All but one patient underwent surgery; 11.5% received both non-tamoxifen chemotherapy and radiotherapy, 16.4% radiotherapy without non-tamoxifen chemotherapy, and 14.7% received non-tamoxifen chemotherapy without radiotherapy.

Conclusion

ER positivity was similar to historical general population figures, with a trend toward a higher proportion of triple-negative breast cancers in SLE (possibly reflecting the relatively young age of our SLE patients).
Dynamics of problem setting and framing in citizen discussions on synthetic biology
Authors: Betten Afke Wieke , Broerse Jacqueline E.W. , Kupper Frank
Published: June 2017

Synthetic biology is an emerging scientific field where engineers and biologists design and build biological systems for various applications. Developing synthetic biology responsibly in the public interest necessitates a meaningful societal dialogue. In this article, we argue that facilitating such a dialogue requires an understanding of how people make sense of synthetic biology. We performed qualitative research to unravel the underlying dynamics of problem setting and framing in citizen discussions on synthetic biology. We found that most people are not inherently for or against synthetic biology as a technology or development in itself, but that their perspectives are framed by core values about our relationships with science and technology and that sensemaking is much dependent on the context and general feelings of (dis)content. Given that there are many assumptions focused on a more binary idea of the public’s view, we emphasize the need for frame awareness and understanding in a meaningful dialogue.
Participatory Research and the Medicalization of Research Ethics Processes
Authors: Noorani Tehseen , Charlesworth Andrew , Kite Alison , McDermont Morag
Published: June 2017

This article illustrates how medicalized epistemologies and methodologies significantly influence the institutional ethical review processes applied to sociolegal research in law schools. It argues this development has elevated particular renderings of mental distress and objectivity to universal definitions, potentially placing a straitjacket on methodological innovation. The authors use two case studies from their experiences as researchers in a UK Law School, alongside a small-scale survey of sociolegal researchers in other UK law schools, to illustrate the problems that can arise in securing ethical approval for sociolegal research, in particular with participatory research designs that mobilize ideas of mental distress and objectivity not premised on conventional medical understandings. The article develops key proposals that the authors feel merit further inquiry. First, there should be a comprehensive evaluation of how the jurisdiction of ethical review for sociolegal research is established. Second, sociolegal scholarship can contribute to debates concerning the discursive, material and procedural constitution of institutional ethics approval processes. Finally, we might rethink the nature of, and relationship between, university-based research ethics committees and National Health Service research ethics committees, by placing both within wider ecologies of capacities for ethical decision-making.
‘Men fall like boiled eggs. Women fall like raw eggs.’ Civilised female bodies and gender relations in British National Hunt racing
Authors: Velija Philippa , Hughes Lucinda
Published: June 2017

This purpose of this article is to contribute to the existing research on the gendered nature of equestrian sports by discussing how power relations continue to position females on the margins of National Hunt (NH) racing. In the UK, NH racing is the most male-dominated form of racing; at the time of writing, 100 males hold a professional jockey licence, compared to just 4 females. In this article we draw on figurational sociology, specifically the concepts of the civilised body, interdependence and habitus to offer a critical analysis of the gendered experiences of eight amateur and professional female jockeys. The experiences of female jockeys cannot be understood without considering their networks of interdependencies with trainers, owners, male jockeys, breeders and the wider racing industry. We argue that early involvement in the figuration through family ties supports the development of a gendered racing habitus that influences the social identities of female jockeys who normalise their own limitations. Civilised female bodies are positioned in the figuration as weaker than males and needing protection from potentially risky horses. We argue that because safe horses are chosen by trainers and owners, these limit the opportunities and number of rides for female jockeys, these (gendered) decisions obscure issues of power that enable male jockeys to dominate in the NH figuration.
Selective damage sensing in multiscale hierarchical composites by tailoring the location of carbon nanotubes
Authors: Ku-Herrera José de Jesús , La Saponara Valeria , Avilés Francis
Published: June 2017

The selectivity in composite damage sensing using the electrical resistance approach is investigated by deliberately placing multiwall carbon nanotubes dispersed within the matrix or deposited onto the fiber surface. To this aim, unidirectional glass fiber/carbon nanotube/vinyl ester specimens with fibers oriented along (0°) and transverse (90°) to the loading direction are subjected to quasi-static tension up to failure. The electrical resistance changes in the composite are correlated to the mechanical strain and acoustic emission events. Using this approach, it is shown that the electrical signal is able to discern between fiber and matrix (or fiber/matrix interface) damage. The electrical resistance of composites with multiwall carbon nanotubes located within the matrix is capable of tracking matrix-dominated damage but is poorly sensitive to fiber breakage. In contrast, the composites with multiwall carbon nanotube–modified fibers exhibit outstanding sensitivity to fiber- and fiber/matrix interface damage.
Family and Social Cognitive Predictors of Southeast Asian American College Students’ Academic Satisfaction
Authors: Truong Nancy N. , Miller Matthew J.
Published: June 2017

Southeast Asian Americans have unique sociopolitical histories compared to other Asian American ethnic groups in the United States. These experiences may distinctly shape their academic experiences. Given the low academic attainment rates in this population, we tested a cultural and social cognitive model of academic satisfaction with a sample of 111 Southeast Asian American college students. Specifically, we examined the degree to which intergenerational family conflict and social cognitive factors (e.g., self-efficacy) related to academic satisfaction. We found that intergenerational family conflict was negatively related to family academic support. Contrary to expectations, family academic support and self-efficacy were not directly linked to academic satisfaction, family academic support was not directly linked to self-efficacy or outcome expectations, and outcome expectations was not linked to goal progress. Other social cognitive predictors were related directly and indirectly to academic satisfaction, consistent with prior research. Limitations and implications for future research and practice are addressed.
The Impact of Partial Factorial Invariance on Cross-Group Comparisons
Authors: Shi Dexin , Song Hairong , Lewis Melanie D.
Published: June 2017

This study explored the impact of partial factorial invariance on cross-group comparisons of latent variables, including latent means, latent variances, structural relations (or correlations) with other constructs, and regression coefficients as predicting external variables. The results indicate that the estimates of factor mean differences are sensitive to violations of invariance on both factor loadings and intercepts. Noninvariant factor loadings were also found to influence the cross-group comparisons of factor variances and regression coefficients (slopes, in the raw metric) with external variables. However, cross-group comparisons of standardized slopes and interfactor correlations were not subject to noninvariance. Under conditions of partial invariance, we further compared the performance of four different model specification strategies. In general, fitting partially invariant models with all noninvariant parameters that were freely estimated yielded more accurate estimates of the parameters of interest. The implications of the major findings of this work, as well as recommendations and guidelines for future empirical researchers, are discussed below.
Strawberry puree processed by thermal, high pressure, or power ultrasound: Process energy requirements and quality modeling during storage
Authors: Sulaiman Alifdalino , Farid Mohammed , Silva Filipa VM
Published: June 2017

Strawberry puree was processed for 15 min using thermal (65 ℃), high-pressure processing (600 MPa, 48 ℃), and ultrasound (24 kHz, 1.3 W/g, 33 ℃). These conditions were selected based on similar polyphenoloxidase inactivation (11%–18%). The specific energies required for the above-mentioned thermal, high-pressure processing, and power ultrasound processes were 240, 291, and 1233 kJ/kg, respectively. Then, the processed strawberry was stored at 3 ℃ and room temperature for 30 days. The constant pH (3.38±0.03) and soluble solids content (9.03 ± 0.25°Brix) during storage indicated a microbiological stability. Polyphenoloxidase did not reactivate during storage. The high-pressure processing and ultrasound treatments retained the antioxidant activity (70%–74%) better than the thermal process (60%), and high-pressure processing was the best treatment after 30 days of ambient storage to preserve antioxidant activity. Puree treated with ultrasound presented more color retention after processing and after ambient storage than the other preservation methods. For the three treatments, the changes of antioxidant activity and total color difference during storage were described by the fractional conversion model with rate constants k ranging between 0.03–0.09 and 0.06–0.22 day − 1, respectively. In resume, high-pressure processing and thermal processes required much less energy than ultrasound for the same polyphenoloxidase inactivation in strawberry. While high-pressure processing retained better the antioxidant activity of the strawberry puree during storage, the ultrasound treatment was better in terms of color retention.
Predictors of Adults’ Knowledge and Awareness of HPV, HPV-Associated Cancers, and the HPV Vaccine: Implications for Health Education
Authors: McBride Kimberly R. , Singh Shipra
Published: June 2017

High human papillomavirus (HPV) prevalence and low HPV vaccine uptake are significant public health concerns. Disparities in HPV-associated cancers and HPV vaccine uptake rates suggest the need for additional research examining factors associated with vaccine acceptance. This study assessed HPV awareness and knowledge and identified sociodemographic characteristics associated with HPV knowledge at the population level. Data from adult men ( n = 1,197) and women ( n = 1,906) who participated in the National Cancer Institute’s 2014 Health Information National Trends Survey were analyzed. Multivariable regression was used to identify predictors of four HPV knowledge categories: (1) general knowledge, (2) cervical cancer knowledge, (3) “other” cancer knowledge (i.e., anal, oral, penile), and (4) vaccine knowledge. Significant gender differences in awareness and knowledge of HPV and the HPV vaccine were revealed. Most participants (>70%) knew that HPV could cause cervical cancer, but fewer (14.9% to 31.5%) knew of the association between HPV and “other” cancers. Women were more likely to report that a health care provider recommended vaccination. Significant predictors of general HPV and HPV vaccine knowledge included gender, education, income, race, and other sociodemographic characteristics. Age and income predicted cervical cancer knowledge. Knowledge of “other” HPV-associated cancers was predicted by having a child under 18 years in the household and relationship status. HPV knowledge appears to be socially patterned. Low HPV knowledge among men and some racial minorities suggests a need for further intervention. Health education should emphasize risks of noncervical HPV-associated cancers. Patient–provider communication that includes education, counseling, and clear recommendations favoring vaccination may improve uptake.
Tana’ Bawang (homeland): cultural safety and the Kelabit land struggle in Borneo
Authors: Blanchet-Cohen Natasha , Urud Mutang
Published: June 2017

This article explores the significance of cultural safety in view of the struggle over ancestral domain and modernity for Kelabit youth and elders in the state of Sarawak in Borneo, Malaysia. Our participatory case study points to the challenges to cultural safety caused by the external pressures of modernization and competing knowledge systems from downriver that are breaking down the leadership and decision-making processes to protect the land. We found that intergenerational community mapping and language revitalization provide a means for supporting cultural safety. Our applied research suggests that cultural safety benefits from being defined locally. Empowering youth and elders to harness, renew, and defend the potential of Kelabit identity and unity is part of recognizing that cultural safety needs to be constantly affirmed by its proponents. It is a process that demands to be actively grappled with and defined by community members at the individual and collective levels.
A Transcriptional Regulatory Role for the Membrane Type-1 Matrix Metalloproteinase in Carcinogen-Induced Inflammasome Gene Expression
Authors: Sheehy Samuel , Annabi Borhane
Published: June 2017

Signal-transducing functions driven by the cytoplasmic domain of membrane type-1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP) are believed to regulate many inflammation-associated cancer cell functions including migration, proliferation, and survival. Aside from upregulation of the inflammation biomarker cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression, MT1-MMP’s role in relaying intracellular signals triggered by extracellular pro-inflammatory cues remains poorly understood. Here, we triggered inflammation in HT1080 fibrosarcoma cells with phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA), an inducer of COX-2 and of MT1-MMP. To assess the global transcriptional regulatory role that MT1-MMP may exert on inflammation biomarkers, we combined gene array screens with a transient MT1-MMP gene silencing strategy. Expression of MT1-MMP was found to exert both stimulatory and repressive transcriptional control of several inflammasome-related biomarkers such as interleukin (IL)-1B, IL-6, IL-12A, and IL-33, as well as of transcription factors such as EGR1, ELK1, and ETS1/2 in PMA-treated cells. Among the signal-transducing pathways explored, the silencing of MT1-MMP prevented PMA from phosphorylating extracellular signal–regulated kinase, inhibitor of κB, and p105 nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) intermediates. We also found a signaling axis linking MT1-MMP to MMP-9 transcriptional regulation. Altogether, our data indicate a significant involvement of MT1-MMP in the transcriptional regulation of inflammatory biomarkers consolidating its contribution to signal transduction functions in addition to its classical hydrolytic activity.
Marketization in Long-Term Care: A Cross-Country Comparison of Large For-Profit Nursing Home Chains
Authors: Harrington Charlene , Jacobsen Frode F , Panos Justin , Pollock Allyson , Sutaria Shailen , Szebehely Marta
Published: June 2017

This article presents cross-country comparisons of trends in for-profit nursing home chains in Canada, Norway, Sweden, United Kingdom, and the United States. Using public and private industry reports, the study describes ownership, corporate strategies, costs, and quality of the 5 largest for-profit chains in each country. The findings show that large for-profit nursing home chains are increasingly owned by private equity investors, have had many ownership changes over time, and have complex organizational structures. Large for-profit nursing home chains increasingly dominate the market and their strategies include the separation of property from operations, diversification, the expansion to many locations, and the use of tax havens. Generally, the chains have large revenues with high profit margins with some documented quality problems. The lack of adequate public information about the ownership, costs, and quality of services provided by nursing home chains is problematic in all the countries. The marketization of nursing home care poses new challenges to governments in collecting and reporting information to control costs as well as to ensure quality and public accountability.
Evaluation of Four Bait Traps for Sampling Wireworm (Coleoptera: Elateridae) Infesting Cereal Crops in Montana
Authors: Morales-Rodriguez Anuar , Ospina Aracely , Wanner Kevin W
Published: June 2017

The basic principles of a reliable integrated pest management program include pest identification, monitoring, and distribution. Selecting the appropriate sampling protocol to monitor wireworm for research or applied entomology depends on the objective, including simply detecting the presence or absence of wireworm, surveying the composition of wireworm assemblages, or estimating spatial and temporal population densities. In this study, the efficacy of pitfall, stocking, pot, and canister traps baited with wheat and barley mixtures was evaluated for monitoring wireworm populations in four commercial cereal fields in Montana. Pitfall and stocking traps collected greater numbers of wireworm (1625 and 1575, respectively) followed by pot-type and canister-type traps (1173 and 725, respectively). The 5098 wireworm collected from four sites included seven species: Aeolus mellillus, Agriotes sp, Dalopius sp, Hypnoidus bicolor, Limonius californicus, Limonius infuscatus, and S. aeripennis.
Texture-induced effects causing reduction of friction in mixed lubrication for twin land oil control rings
Authors: Söderfjäll Markus , Larsson Roland , Marklund Pär , Almqvist Andreas
Published: June 2017

Piston rings are responsible for a major part of the frictional losses in a heavy-duty diesel engine. Such losses can be reduced by applying texture, such as dimples, on the cylinder liner surface. This paper investigates the effect of such texture on the friction between a land of the oil control ring and a textured cylinder liner via numerical simulation. A simulation model considering inertia and mixed lubrication together with a mass-conserving cavitation model is developed. The model is used to determine the dimple parameters that yield the lowest amount of friction for a specific oil control ring of a heavy-duty diesel engine.
Traction and local temperatures measured in an elastohydrodynamic lubrication contact
Authors: Bader Norbert , Wang Ding , Poll Gerhard
Published: June 2017

Traction in highly loaded elastohydrodynamic contacts is of great importance to reduce losses. The calculation of traction in these EHL contacts relies on the rheological models used. In this paper, results from traction experiments, which form an integration over Hertzian contacts with strongly inhomogeneous conditions, are presented. They are compared to data from laboratory measurements with homogeneous conditions. Due to the fact that the integral data do not directly represent local rheological fluid properties, further investigations are presented. Here, thermographic measurements are used to discern the contact temperature locally. Furthermore, a model for the maximum shear stress depending on pressure is proposed and compared to existing models.
Meaningful links between physical stimuli and illness: Semiotic mediation in experiences of “catching the wolf” and “avoiding drafts”
Authors: Mazur Lucas B
Published: June 2017

Physical and physiological experiences greatly differ in the degree to which they become meaningful elements of our narratives. Some experiences, however, are uniquely imbued with the power to evoke, or catalyze, the search for meaningful engagement with the environment. One such area is illness. This study examines differences in meaning-making processes involving commonplace experiences of physical sensations, particularly changes in temperature, and it does so within the uniquely charged context of illness. Semistructured interviews were conducted in two countries (Poland and the US). The data show interesting points of both convergence and divergence on the interpersonal, intergroup, and cross-situational levels. While we are all familiar with the particular physical experiences in question (drafts of air and sitting on a cold, hard surface), they are meaningful, and thus captured in participant narratives, only in some social contexts and/or only in conjunction with certain catalysts (e.g. illness). What is more, in the absence of such meaningful, shared explanatory tools, participants showed confusion as to the source of the illness. This study includes an exploration of the poetic notion of “catching the wolf” (a Polish expression for falling ill after sitting on a cold, hard surface).
Empirical support for the media participation hypothesis: Trends across presidential elections, 1992–2012
Authors: Bucy Erik P , Groshek Jacob
Published: June 2017

This study empirically examines the media participation hypothesis advanced by Bucy, analyzing the influence of traditional and participatory media use across six US presidential elections. Multivariate analyses of American National Elections Study data demonstrate that as participatory media become more prevalent and utilized in an electoral system, corresponding and statistically significant increases in political system efficacy—the perception of governmental responsiveness—can be observed among the heaviest users of participatory media. Enhanced engagement with interactive media in combination with traditional media also translates into more positive assessments of democratic processes than use of traditional media alone. At the same time, increased engagement with participatory media shows a weak and negative association with political trust. Findings for the study uphold the basic tenets of the hypothesis, suggesting the framework provides a useful lens for understanding the tightening relationship between citizenship, use of communication technology, and democratic processes.
Targeting dominant publics: How counterpublic commenters align their efforts with mainstream news
Authors: Toepfl Florian , Piwoni Eunike
Published: June 2017

This study illustrates how the emphasis structure of counterpublic discourses surfacing online can be predicted by that of the dominant publics that these counterpublics—at the argumentative level—so resolutely oppose. Deploying a single common case study design, the article scrutinizes a counterpublic discourse that surfaced in the comment sections of Germany’s opinion-leading news websites in the week after the surprising electoral success of a new anti-Euro party, the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD). Quantitative content analysis identifies 75% of all comments posted ( N = 2955) to all articles about the AfD ( N = 19) as part of an anti-Euro counterpublic. While this counterpublic sharply opposed the editorial lines of Germany’s unanimously pro-common-currency media, it still aligned its efforts closely with this dominant public—albeit at a deeper level. As the findings demonstrate, the frequencies with which commenters adopted six emphasis frames were significantly predicted by the frequencies of these frames in mainstream news.
How People with Dementia and their Carers Adapt their Homes. A Qualitative Study
Authors: Allen Frances , Cain Rebecca , Meyer Caroline
Published: June 2017

The objective was to explore the ways in which people with dementia and their carers adapt their homes, including the barriers and use of available information. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 people with dementia and their informal carer. The collected data were analysed using thematic analysis. Three core themes emerged: Maintaining familiarity and coping with change, Having knowledge and finding knowledge and Meeting challenges through home adaptation. The most significant barriers to making home adaptations were lack of knowledge and maintaining familiarity. Having more information and making home modifications earlier might enable individuals with dementia to adjust to their adapted environment.