bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Risk communication as an operation meant to produce and share audiences
Authors: Korbas-Magal Daniela
Published: March 2016

In this article, Luhmann's system theory is used as a theoretical framework for analysing the way risk communicators view their social functions. Narrated experiences from risk communicators in practice facilitate an understanding of risk communication as both an external irritation to society and part of the mass communication system. They also aid in clarifying how perceptions of audiences are reflected in the risk-communication strategies. The analysis is based on qualitative data collected from in-depth interviews conducted with 22 risk communicators (scientific professionals, spokespeople and journalists) in Israel. Thematic areas reflected in interviewees' reported strategies embody their perception of audiences. Those themes include: the reduction of complexities; coding and sorting of information; autopoiesis (realisation/non-realisation of the risk); rationality; inherent paradoxes; and schema formation. In sum, the findings suggest that risk communicators play a major role in defining, creating and producing audiences for the mass communication system.
Risk perceptions and public debates on climate change: a conceptualisation based on the theory of a functionally-differentiated society
Authors: Rhomberg Markus
Published: March 2016

Mass media and its mechanisms of production and selection play a crucial role in the definition of climate change risks. Different form of logic in the political, scientific and media systems are vital aspects in the public debate on this issue. A theoretical analysis of these aspects needs a framework in terms of social theory: Luhmann’s concept of a functionally-differentiated society and the mechanisms of structural couplings could help to understand the relations and interplay of these systems in the climate-debate. Based on this framework and various empirical studies, this paper suggests: different logics lead to different climate-definitions in science, politics and mass media. Climate change became interesting, but not until it was located in the political decision-making process. Climate issues become publicly interesting, when they are clear, contentious and can be linked to Elite-Persons. In contrast to scientific communication, news media make great efforts to be clear and definite in their communications.
Interviewing media workers
Authors: Graf Heike
Published: March 2016

The focus of this article is on the use of Niklas Luhmann’s systems theoretical approach in order to analyse interviews conducted with media workers concerning their experiences of ethnic diversity in newsrooms. Applying systems theory means constructing the interview as a social system and seeing the “data” as observations produced by the observer and not as representations of a reality. The first part of the article describes the interview methodology and the second part provides examples, from the current study, of how systems theory can be applied in order to analyse interviews. Using a difference-theoretical approach means looking at the distinctions the informants make when talking about their experiences. These main guiding distinctions can be summarised as immigrant background/competence as well as advantage/competence. Using the guiding distinction of inclusion/exclusion when interpreting the interviewees’ statements, the interdependencies of mechanisms of inclusion and exclusion in newsrooms related to ethnic background can be examined.
Fra massemedier til mediesystem - om kodediskussionen i systemteoretisk medieforskning [From mass media to media system - code discussions in systems theoretical media research]
Authors: Eskjær Mikkel Fugl
Published: March 2016

Systems theoretical media research raises the question whether the mass media constitute a unified institution, or whether the media, due to their internal differences, should be considered individually and independent of each other. By inscribing the media in a general social theory, systems theory conceptualises the media as an autonomous functional system. This intention is most clearly illustrated by the efforts to identify a shared code for the entire media system. Based on the media theory of Niklas Luhmann, this paper offers a critical presentation of the code discussion within systems theoretical media research. The first part of the paper briefly introduces the systems theoretical notion of a code as well as Luhmann’s definition of the media system as organised and regulated by the code of information. The second part presents a number of alternative suggestions and definitions of the media system’s code, which both indicate the scope of systems theoretical media research, but also point to some of the limitations in the systems theoretical approach. In the last part, the paper takes a critical look at the systems theoretical code discussion by arguing that a too narrow focus on code definitions is blocking a more productive investigation of the conditions, evolution, and autonomy of the media system.
Luhmanns massmedieteori och Internet som ett artificiellt intelligent semiotiskt system [Luhmann’s mass-media theory and Internet as an artificial intelligent semiotic system]
Authors: Kåhre Peter
Published: March 2016

The article discusses how a modern form of AI programming, known as Connectionism in a design known as Distributed Artificial Intelligence (DAI), affects the perception Luhmann has on mass media's role concerning second-order observations.

DAI uses nodes to create activity in the systems and not the codes used by the Classic or Symbolic form of AI. Luhmann’s theory can be developed by replacing the systems codes with nodes that change depending on their relations to other nodes. In this way, we can reformulate the concept of communication, so that it includes the systems interactions with the environment. It creates better conditions so that observing opportunities may arise directly from these interactions. Internet and AI-programmed search systems and robots can then act as an artificial semiotic system that creates opportunities for making observations.
Observing icons. A post-luhmannian interpretation
Authors: Jakobsen Kjetil Ansgar
Published: March 2016

Contemporary social reality is so complex that any attempt at representing it would lead to an immediate information overload eliminating any and all perception. Moreover our world is one of insecurity and contingency. Nobody knows what will happen tomorrow and there is no way of knowing it. Yet media discourse achieves the incredible feat of manufacturing a ”world” in real time, from day to day and minute to minute. It has at its hand mechanisms for complexity reduction like the info-code itself and the capacity for storytelling and the establishment of game like structures. But notably media discourse is able to control insecurity and contingency by parasiting the complexity reduction which is already effected by the success media of other systems. Journalism is concerned with the world of politics and law, with that of the economy or with sports, clearly coded areas where the use of symbolic media like power, right, money, property and winning has reduced social complexity greatly. After the primary reduction effected by external success media follows the secondary reduction effected by the info code itself. Entertainment is for its part largely concerned with observing intimacy. This poses peculiar problems. Why is there so much intimacy in media discourse, and in such predictable ways? What are the uses of public intimacy?
Four steps in the history of museum technologies and visitors' digital participation
Authors: Christensen Jørgen Riber
Published: March 2016

The hypothesis of this article is that the authentic and auratic exhibited objects in museums enter into a dialogue with surrounding paratexts. The paratexts anchor and change the meaning of the exhibited object in the museum context. Recent years have indicated a tendency for museum paratexts to grow increasingly allographic, i.e., visitors generate them both in situ and online as a part of Web 2.0 participation. The verification and documentation of this hypothesis are partly empirical, partly historical. The empirical research consists of an examination of the exhibition and display technologies used today in three different museums and galleries: the Bode Museum in Berlin, the Victoria and Albert Museum and Dr. Johnson's House in London.    The historical verification and documentation in this article describe four steps in the development of exhibition technologies: the Boydell Shakespeare Gallery (1789-1805), the post-photographic museum (the 1850s), audio guides, as well as a special focus on how museum paratexts have become independent today in its digital and participatory form. In this way, the article sketches the historical development of curating towards the digital and paratextual participation of visitors and audience. Here the argumentation is based on how the displayed object creates signification in its position between its autonomy and its contexts. The following display technologies are described and analysed: stipple engraving, photography, the audio guide, and the interactive, digital Anota pen and its Internet server.    In conclusion, the article asks where the place of signification or meaning of the exhibited object has moved to in the face of the increased degree of visitor participation. The tentative answer is that the signification generating process has moved away from the historical context of the object and towards the contemporary world of the visitor. The article connects this change in cultural discourse with Karin Sander's archaeological imagination and in a wider sense with the concept of negotiation from new historicism.
Health outcomes among HIV‐positive Latinos initiating antiretroviral therapy in North America versus Central and South America
Authors: Cesar Carina , Koethe John R , Giganti Mark J , Rebeiro Peter , Althoff Keri N , Napravnik Sonia , Mayor Angel , Grinsztejn Beatriz , Wolff Marcelo , Padgett Denis , Sierra‐Madero Juan , Gotuzzo Eduardo , Sterling Timothy R , Willig James , Levison Julie , Kitahata Mari , Rodriguez‐Barradas Maria C , Moore Richard D , McGowan Catherine , Shepherd Bryan E , Cahn Pedro ,   for the Caribbean, Central and South America Network for HIV epidemiology (CCASAnet) and the North American AIDS Cohort Collaboration on Research and Design (NA‐ACCORD)
Published: March 2016

Introduction

Latinos living with HIV in the Americas share a common ethnic and cultural heritage. In North America, Latinos have a relatively high rate of new HIV infections but lower rates of engagement at all stages of the care continuum, whereas in Latin America antiretroviral therapy (ART) services continue to expand to meet treatment needs. In this analysis, we compare HIV treatment outcomes between Latinos receiving ART in North America versus Latin America.

Methods

HIV‐positive adults initiating ART at Caribbean, Central and South America Network for HIV (CCASAnet) sites were compared to Latino patients (based on country of origin or ethnic identity) starting treatment at North American AIDS Cohort Collaboration on Research and Design (NA‐ACCORD) sites in the United States and Canada between 2000 and 2011. Cox proportional hazards models compared mortality, treatment interruption, antiretroviral regimen change, virologic failure and loss to follow‐up between cohorts.

Results

The study included 8400 CCASAnet and 2786 NA‐ACCORD patients initiating ART. CCASAnet patients were younger (median 35 vs. 37 years), more likely to be female (27% vs. 20%) and had lower nadir CD4 count (median 148 vs. 195 cells/µL, p<0.001 for all). In multivariable analyses, CCASAnet patients had a higher risk of mortality after ART initiation (adjusted hazard ratio (AHR) 1.61; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.32 to 1.96), particularly during the first year, but a lower hazard of treatment interruption (AHR: 0.46; 95% CI: 0.42 to 0.50), change to second‐line ART (AHR: 0.56; 95% CI: 0.51 to 0.62) and virologic failure (AHR: 0.52; 95% CI: 0.48 to 0.57).

Conclusions

HIV‐positive Latinos initiating ART in Latin America have greater continuity of treatment but are at higher risk of death than Latinos in North America. Factors underlying these differences, such as HIV testing, linkage and access to care, warrant further investigation.
Development of environmentally friendly piezoelectric polymer film actuator having multilayer structure
Authors: Tajitsu Yoshiro
Published: March 2016

We designed a new soft piezoelectric polymer actuator with a multilayer structure using the environmentally friendly polymer poly(lactic acid) (PLA). PLA is a chiral polymer having two isomers. One is poly(l-lactide) (PLLA) and the other is poly(d-lactide) (PDLA). PLLA and PDLA exhibit piezoelectric constants with opposite signs owing to their chirality. On the basis of their piezoelectric characteristics, we were able to realize a PDLA and PLLA multilayer film (PDLA/PLLA multilayer) with a simple structure. The PDLA/PLLA multilayer film of centimeter-order size exhibited a large piezoelectric resonance and its piezoelectric performance was equivalent to that of a practical piezoelectric ceramic. In this paper, as a first step toward realizing a new film actuator using the PDLA/PLLA multilayer film, we introduce the piezoelectric characteristics of a PLLA film and the concept of an actuation system using a PLLA film. Next, the fabrication process of the PDLA/PLLA multilayer film and its piezoelectric characteristics are summarized. Finally, typical examples of developed piezoelectric polymer actuation systems using a PDLA/PLLA multilayer film are described to demonstrate the potential application of piezoelectric polymer actuation systems.
Edge of polar cap patches
Authors: Hosokawa K. , Taguchi S. , Ogawa Y.
Published: March 2016

On the night of 4 December 2013, a sequence of polar cap patches was captured by an all‐sky airglow imager (ASI) in Longyearbyen, Norway (78.1°N, 15.5°E). The 630.0 nm airglow images from the ASI of 4 second exposure time, oversampled the emission of natural lifetime (with quenching) of at least ∼30 sec, introduce no observational blurring effects. By using such high‐quality ASI images, we succeeded in visualizing an asymmetry in the gradients between the leading/trailing edges of the patches in a 2‐D fashion. The gradient in the leading edge was found to be 2–3 times steeper than that in the trailing edge. We also identified fingerlike structures, appearing only along the trailing edge of the patches, whose horizontal scale size ranged from 55 to 210 km. These fingers are considered to be manifestations of plasma structuring through the gradient‐drift instability (GDI), which is known to occur only along the trailing edge of patches. That is, the current 2‐D observations visualized, for the first time, how GDI stirs the patch plasma and such a mixing process makes the trailing edge more gradual. This result strongly implies a close connection between the GDI‐driven plasma stirring and the asymmetry in the large‐scale shape of patches and then suggests that the fingerlike structures can be used as markers to estimate the fine‐scale structure in the plasma flow within patches.
A revised calibration function and results for the Phoenix mission TECP relative humidity sensor
Authors: Zent A. P. , Hecht M. H. , Hudson T. L. , Wood S. E. , Chevrier V. F.
Published: March 2016

A new calibration function for the humidity sensor in the Thermal and Electrical Conductivity Probe (TECP) on the Phoenix (PHX) Mars mission has been developed. Two changes are incorporated: (1) it is now cast in terms of frost point (Tf) rather than relative humidity (RH), and (2) flight data, taken when the atmosphere is independently known to be saturated, are included in the calibration data set. Daytime (6:00 h–19:00 h) frost points ranged from 194 K to 209 K; the nighttime frost point ranged from 179 K to 206 K. The response of the sensor was smooth and continuous throughout. Daytime humidity exhibited large, high‐frequency variance driven by turbulence, whereas nighttime humidity varied smoothly with the temperature of the atmosphere. Nighttime saturation of the atmosphere begins atLs101°, (Martian solar day (sol) 55), which is earlier than reported by either Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer for Mars (CRISM) or solid‐state imager (SSI). Early mornings are the most humid part of the sol afterLs113° (sol 80), due to sublimation of surface ice that precipitates overnight. H2O is removed from the atmosphere into the regolith, mostly during the late afternoon, although this continues into the evening. The ground ice exposed by Phoenix operations masks the naturally occurring process in the early evening and may cause the atmosphere immediately around the lander to saturate somewhat earlier in the evening than it otherwise would have. The average H2O vapor density is close to the summertime value expected for equilibrium with ground ice. A discrepancy between the H2O column calculated from TECP data and the column measured by CRISM and SSI is likely due to comparable timescales between turbulent mixing through the planetary boundary layer and adsorptive drawdown of H2O. We find that RH is mostly < 5% (daytime) or > 95% (nighttime), and the transition between the two extremes is extremely rapid.
Partitioning of organic carbon among density fractions in surface sediments of Fiordland, New Zealand
Authors: Cui Xingqian , Bianchi Thomas S. , Hutchings Jack A. , Savage Candida , Curtis Jason H.
Published: March 2016

Transport of particles plays a major role in redistributing organic carbon (OC) along coastal regions. In particular, the global importance of fjords as sites of carbon burial has recently been shown to be even more important than previously thought. In this study, we used six surface sediments from Fiordland, New Zealand, to investigate the transport of particles and OC based on density fractionation. Bulk, biomarker, and principle component analysis were applied to density fractions with ranges of <1.6, 1.6–2.0, 2.0–2.5, and >2.5 g cm−3. Our results found various patterns of OC partitioning at different locations along fjords, likely due to selective transport of higher density but smaller size particles along fjord head‐to‐mouth transects. We also found preferential leaching of certain biomarkers (e.g., lignin) over others (e.g., fatty acids) during the density fractionation procedure, which altered lignin‐based degradation indices. Finally, our results indicated various patterns of OC partitioning on density fractions among different coastal systems. We further propose that a combination of particle size‐density fractionation is needed to better understand transport and distribution of particles and OC.
Uppermost mantle structure beneath eastern China and its surroundings from Pn and Sn tomography
Authors: Sun Weijia , Kennett B. L. N.
Published: March 2016

The Pn and Sn residuals from regional events provide strong constraints on the structure and lithological characteristics of the uppermost mantle beneath eastern China and its surroundings. With the dense Chinese Digital Seismic Network in eastern China, separate Pn and Sn tomographic inversions have been exploited to obtain P and S velocities at a resolution of 2° × 2° or better. The patterns of P velocities are quite consistent with the S velocities at depth of 50 and 60 km, but the amplitude of P wave speed anomalies are a little larger than those of S wave speed. The low P wave speed, high S wave speed, and low Vp/Vs ratio beneath the northern part of Ordos Basin are related to upwelling hot material. Abrupt changes in material properties are indicated from the rapid variations in the Vp/Vs ratio.
Single Mothers by Choice in
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pain and the
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nited
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tates
Authors: Hertz Rosanna , Rivas Ana María , Jociles María Isabel Rubio
Published: March 2016

The rise of single‐parent families through nonmarital childbearing and adoption includes a growing number of women who are older and have decided to pursue motherhood on their own. The United States and Spain reflect this trend and offer an interesting comparison. In both countries becoming a mother entails similar experiences, including seeking compatible employment to balance work and family life. However, women in Spain are politically active and want family diversity to be socially acknowledged, whereas single mothers in the United States are not politically active and want to blend in with other middle‐class families.
Emerging Adulthood
Authors: Panagakis Christina
Published: March 2016

Demographic changes in industrial societies have led to young people taking longer to transition from adolescence into adulthood. The psychologist Jeffrey Arnett proposed that the time between adolescence and adulthood be conceptualized as emerging adulthood, a stage of the life course distinct from both adolescence and adulthood. Emerging adulthood is a time of self‐focus and identity exploration in which young people understand their adult status not in terms of demographic markers but instead through feelings of responsibility and maturity. Critics of the theory argue that it ignores the heterogeneity that characterizes this stage in the life course, particularly in relation to race and social class.
Life Expectancy
Authors: Kronenfeld Jennie Jacobs
Published: March 2016

Life expectancy is the average number of years people in a given population can expect to live. Life expectancy is calculated by taking the sum of the ages at death of all individuals in a specific population and then dividing that figure by the number of people in that population. Because life expectancy is an average, it does not predict the specific experience of any one individual. In most countries in the world, life expectancy is higher for females than for males and is often linked to the country's level of development; in less developed countries, female life expectancy is linked to maternal mortality. In developed countries such as the United States, England, France, Sweden, and Japan, for example, women generally live six to eight years longer than men. In contrast, in some developing countries such as India, Egypt, and South Africa, women live only three to five years longer than men. In the United States currently women live longer than men, with the overall life expectancy at birth being 76 years for men and 80.9 years for women. Overall life expectancy at birth is 79 years for whites and 75 years for African Americans.
Cult of Domesticity
Authors: Fehlbaum Amanda
Published: March 2016

As the family economic unit shifted from being a site of production to one of consumption in the nineteenth century, a new gender ideology emerged to sanction the separation of public and private spaces. The cult of domesticity reflected the restructuring of the home as a private, feminine sphere and work as a public, masculine sphere. The middle‐class white women who adhered to the cult of domesticity self‐consciously embraced the idea of true womanhood and its virtues of piety, purity, submissiveness, and domesticity.
Family Finances
Authors: Dew Jeffrey P.
Published: March 2016

The term “family finances” encompasses the many ways in which families earn money, procure goods and services, save, and financially interact within financial infrastructures. The study of family finances is important to both scholars and to family finance practitioners who help families attain their financial goals and enjoy greater financial security. Historically, research on family finances has encompassed such topics as financial literacy, financial well‐being, financial behaviors, and the financial outcomes of these topics. More recently, research has focused on financial capability as well as on the nonfinancial outcomes (e.g., individual health, relationship quality) associated with family finances.
Role Ambiguity
Authors: Carter Michael J. , Harper Heather
Published: March 2016

Role ambiguity occurs when behavioral expectations associated with a role are vague, imprecise, or unclear to a role occupant. Role ambiguity occurs as a dual process of stress that emerges when roles are not clearly understood, and outcomes that emerge as a consequence of such uncertainty (such as anxiety and depression). Role ambiguity often occurs in organizational settings such as the workplace; it also can occur within the family setting.
Intimate Partner Violence Fatalities in the
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nited
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tates
Authors: Hattery Angela J. , Smith Earl
Published: March 2016

Intimate partner violence fatalities refers to the murder of one member of a couple or ex‐couple by the other. Intimate partner violence fatalities may occur among people who are married, cohabiting, simply dating, or ex‐partners. It is the most severe outcome of physical violence: homicide. Intimate partner violence fatalities can be intentional or result from a severe beating that may last minutes or hours and that leaves the victim dead.
Standard
N
orth
A
merican Family
Authors: Grady Rebecca K.
Published: March 2016

The Standard North American Family (SNAF) refers to the dominant family schema in North America. It consists of a heterosexual legally married couple and any children who co‐reside in the same household. The father is a breadwinner and the mother may work for pay but is mainly responsible for care and household labor.
Street Children
Authors: Schmeeckle Maria
Published: March 2016

Street children (also called children in street situations) are an imprecisely defined group of children who are of concern to many worldwide. The term generally refers to children who live and/or work in city streets or are otherwise street‐connected. Recent international focus on these children has affirmed that, while accurate numerical estimates of them are not available on a global scale, techniques for estimating their prevalence are improving at local levels. Regardless of their exact number, street children are recognized as a group whose rights are frequently violated and for whom societal supports are needed. New efforts to bring far‐flung studies and best practices together are underway.
Convenience Marriage in the
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nited
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tates
Authors: Fitzpatrick Jacki , Kostina‐Ritchey Erin
Published: March 2016

The term “convenience marriage” reflects the process whereby individuals are motivated to wed by factors other than romantic love. In contrast to romantic marriage, convenience marriage has been viewed in an ambivalent or disparaging manner. However, the primacy of romantic love as a motivating factor represents a specific view of marriage that has not been true for most of US history and is not relevant for all cultural subgroups within the United States. Thus, the term “convenience marriage” might reflect a broader range of marital situations than previously assumed.
Suicide and Divorce
Authors: Stack Steven
Published: March 2016

Durkheim's social integration perspective on suicide continues to be the basis of much sociological work on the link between family integration and suicide. The ecological perspective has been commonly used to understand suicide. Marital disruption is one of the ecological factors. Suicidogenic conditions such as mental, physical, and economic strains tend to be higher among the divorced than the married. There has been little research on the timing of suicide over the process of divorce. Are suicide rates highest during the often stressful stage of separation or the period around when the divorce is finalized in a courtroom and bonds broken forever, or perhaps even for years thereafter? Future research is needed to carefully unravel the links between divorce and suicide. Individual predispositions toward divorce, such as personality differences including low agreeableness, need to be weighed against social factors, including socioeconomic status, to improve understanding of this long‐standing linkage.
Sexual Orientation
Authors: Charlebois Justin
Published: March 2016

This entry provides an overview of sexual orientation, or an individual's erotic desires and practices, which is frequently referred to as “preference.” Sexual orientation is divided into heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual, and asexual; however, these discrete social categories cannot depict the fluid, heterogeneous, and contradictory nature of sexual orientation. As sexual orientations are unequally valued, heterosexuality occupies a superior and homosexuality an inferior position in contemporary US society. Not all forms of heterosexuality are celebrated but only a certain form of reproductively oriented monogamous heterosexuality. The entry provides examples from empirical research which demonstrate the overall privileged status of stable, monogamous heterosexuality and the inherent fluidity and permeability all forms of sexual orientation.
Sibling Relationships
Authors: Tabor Jaclyn A.
Published: March 2016

Sibling relationships are thought to be one of the most influential and long‐lasting of human relationships. Since the early 1990s there has been rapid growth in the sociological study of sibling relationships. To date, three key areas dominate sociological research on sibling relationships: defining and describing siblings, sibling composition and outcomes, and sibling relationships throughout the life course. The first area draws from siblings' own accounts to understand who constitutes a sibling and what siblings do. The diversity of sibling configurations and variations in the family underscore the impracticalities of identifying universal principles of sibship. The second area focuses on the effects siblings have on a number of status outcomes. Confluence, resource dilution, and siblings‐as‐resources perspectives have been used to explain why some siblings are advantaged vis‐à‐vis others. The third area of research examines how sibling relationships shape and are shaped throughout the life course. Suggestions for future research conclude this entry.
S
outh
A
frica, Families in
Authors: Rabe Marlize
Published: March 2016

South Africa is characterized by a variety of family forms but nuclear families, multigenerational households, and absent biological fathers are commonly found. This variety of family forms is associated with a complex racial history that still affects South African families in the early twenty‐first century. Even though there is legal scope in South Africa for a variety of family forms, intolerance of alternative family forms is commonly found in practice. Poverty, HIV/AIDS, and domestic violence are widespread problems that many South African families have to face on a daily basis. Despite such widespread problems, a strong activist element runs though the fabric of South African society, as can be observed in feminist thinking and marches designed to change society to accommodate alternative family forms.
Sexuality in
I
ran
Authors: Rahbari Ladan
Published: March 2016

In Iranian society, sexuality is regulated by cultural restrictions, prohibitions, taboos, and indirect regulations due to the country's traditional and highly religious culture. Socialization processes are gendered as a consequence of there being different rules of sexual behavior for men and women. Sexual activity such as masturbation, erotic behavior, and cross‐gender associations such as premarital dating relationships are legally and culturally banned. Virginity plays an important role in women's lives because it is a required condition for a girl's marriage. Masturbation is the major form of sexual activity, especially among single youth as an alternative to sexual intercourse. Lack of sexual education until late teenage years has caused a general ignorance about human sexuality and has led to mystification regarding sexual activity.
Family & Community Health
(Journal)
Authors: Beech Bettina M.
Published: March 2016

Family & Community Health
is a peer‐reviewed journal that publishes research on health‐related issues.
Structure and Fluorescent Performance of Waterborne Polyurethane‐Acrylate Based on a Carbazole Derivative
Authors: Wang Huaiwei , Zhang Xingyuan , Li Junpei
Published: March 2016

A purple fluorescent monomer, 2‐[3‐(9‐ethylcarbazole)ureido]ethyl methacrylate (CUMA), was synthesized from 3‐amino‐9‐ethylcarbazole and 2‐isocyanatoethyl methacrylate. A series of fluorescent waterborne polyurethane‐acrylate emulsions (PCUMA‐PUA) were obtained by the step‐growth addition polymerization method. In this method, a polyurethane prepolymer was terminated with C=C first, then reacted with CUMA by free radical polymerization. It was demonstrated that the hydrophobic component in the amphiphilic PCUMA‐PUA is preferentially located on both ends of the copolymer. The molecular structures of the monomer and the copolymer were confirmed with Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and UV–Vis absorption spectra. It was observed that the fluorescence intensity of the PCUMA‐PUA copolymer is higher than CUMA at the same concentration of fluorophores in aqueous solutions. It was also observed that when the mass fraction of CUMA was higher than 2 wt%, self‐quenching behavior became evident. The new composite films were ascertained to have an increased thermal stability with increasing CUMA content.
A general multiview framework for assessing the quality of collaboratively created content on web 2.0
Authors: Dalip Daniel H. , Gonçalves Marcos André , Cristo Marco , Calado Pável
Published: March 2016

User‐generated content is one of the most interesting phenomena of current published media, as users are now able not only to consume, but also to produce content in a much faster and easier manner. However, such freedom also carries concerns about content quality. In this work, we propose an automatic framework to assess the quality of collaboratively generated content. Quality is addressed as a multidimensional concept, modeled as a combination of independent assessments, each regarding different quality dimensions. Accordingly, we adopt a machine‐learning (ML)‐based multiview approach to assess content quality. We perform a thorough analysis of our framework on two different domains: Questions and Answer Forums and Collaborative Encyclopedias. This allowed us to better understand when and how the proposed multiview approach is able to provide accurate quality assessments. Our main contributions are: (a) a general ML multiview framework that takes advantage of different views of quality indicators; (b) the improvement (up to 30%) in quality assessment over the best state‐of‐the‐art baseline methods; (c) a thorough feature and view analysis regarding impact, informativeness, and correlation, based on two distinct domains.
Adaptive Mittag‐Leffler Stabilization of a Class of Fractional Order Uncertain Nonlinear Systems
Authors: Wang Qiao , Zhang Jianliang , Ding Dongsheng , Qi Donglian
Published: March 2016

This paper deals with the stabilization of a class of commensurate fractional order uncertain nonlinear systems. The fractional order system concerned is of the strict‐feedback form with uncertain nonlinearity. An adaptive control scheme combined with fractional order update laws is proposed by extending classical backstepping control to fractional order backstepping scheme. The asymptotic stability of the closed‐loop system is guaranteed under the construction of fractional Lyapunov functions in the sense of generalized Mittag‐Leffler stability. The fractional order nonlinear system investigated can be stabilized asymptotically globally in presence of arbitrary uncertainty. Finally illustrative examples and numerical simulations are performed to verify the effectiveness of the proposed control scheme.
Assessing interrater agreement on binary measurements via intraclass odds ratio
Authors: Locatelli Isabella , Rousson Valentin
Published: March 2016

Interrater agreement on binary measurements is usually assessed via Scott's π or Cohen's κ, which are known to be difficult to interpret. One reason for this difficulty is that these coefficients can be defined as a correlation between two exchangeable measurements made on the same subject, that is as an “intraclass correlation”, a concept originally defined for continuous measurements. To measure an association between two binary variables, it is however more common to calculate an odds ratio rather than a correlation. For assessing interrater agreement on binary measurements, we suggest thus to calculate the odds ratio between two exchangeable measurements made on the same subject, yielding the concept of “intraclass odds ratio”. Since it is interpretable as a ratio of probabilities of (strict) concordance and discordance (between two raters rating two subjects), an intraclass odds ratio might be easier to understand for researchers and clinicians than an intraclass correlation. It might thus be a valuable descriptive measure (summary index) to evaluate the agreement among a set of raters, without having to refer to arbitrary benchmark values. To facilitate its use, an explicit formula to calculate a confidence interval for the intraclass odds ratio is also provided.
Co‐production of acetone and ethanol with molar ratio control enables production of improved gasoline or jet fuel blends
Authors: Baer Zachary C. , Bormann Sebastian , Sreekumar Sanil , Grippo Adam , Toste F. Dean , Blanch Harvey W. , Clark Douglas S.
Published: March 2016

The fermentation of simple sugars to ethanol has been the most successful biofuel process to displace fossil fuel consumption worldwide thus far. However, the physical properties of ethanol and automotive components limit its application in most cases to 10–15 vol% blends with conventional gasoline. Fermentative co‐production of ethanol and acetone coupled with a catalytic alkylation reaction could enable the production of gasoline blendstocks enriched in higher‐chain oxygenates. Here we demonstrate a synthetic pathway for the production of acetone through the mevalonate precursor hydroxymethylglutaryl‐CoA. Expression of this pathway in various strains of Escherichia coli resulted in the co‐production of acetone and ethanol. Metabolic engineering and control of the environmental conditions for microbial growth resulted in controllable acetone and ethanol production with ethanol:acetone molar ratios ranging from 0.7:1 to 10.0:1. Specifically, use of gluconic acid as a substrate increased production of acetone and balanced the redox state of the system, predictively reducing the molar ethanol:acetone ratio. Increases in ethanol production and the molar ethanol:acetone ratio were achieved by co‐expression of the aldehyde/alcohol dehydrogenase (AdhE) from E. coli MG1655 and by co‐expression of pyruvate decarboxylase (Pdc) and alcohol dehydrogenase (AdhB) from Z. mobilis. Controlling the fermentation aeration rate and pH in a bioreactor raised the acetone titer to 5.1 g L−1, similar to that obtained with wild‐type Clostridium acetobutylicum. Optimizing the metabolic pathway, the selection of host strain, and the physiological conditions employed for host growth together improved acetone titers over 35‐fold (0.14–5.1 g/L). Finally, chemical catalysis was used to upgrade the co‐produced ethanol and acetone at both low and high molar ratios to higher‐chain oxygenates for gasoline and jet fuel applications. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2016;113: 2079–2087. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Copper‐catalyzed Decarboxylative Hydroboration: Synthesis of Vinyl Boronic Esters
Authors: Irudayanathan Francis Mariaraj , Raja Gabriel Charles Edwin , Kim Han‐Sung , Na Kyungsu , Lee Sunwoo
Published: March 2016

Vinyl boronic esters were synthesized from aryl alkynyl carboxylic acids and bis(pinacolato)diboron using a copper‐catalyzed decarboxylative reaction. The reaction was conducted with CuI (10 mol%), bis‐[2‐(diphenylphosphino)phenyl]ether(20 mol%), and LiOMe (20 mol%) in DMSO at 50 °C for 16 h. This method provided the desired vinyl boronic esters in good‐to‐moderate yields and showed good functional group tolerance.
A Study of 15 Singlet Rydberg Series of HeH and Their Correlation with the Rydberg Series of Li
Authors: Kim Hyun‐Jin , Lee Chun‐Woo
Published: March 2016

We theoretically study 37 Rydberg states of HeH derivable from the He(1s
2) + H(nl) configuration with n ≤ 5 along with three states with n = 6. The multireference configuration interaction method is used to calculate their electronic energy curves (EECs) for the internuclear distance R from 0 to 28a
0, which are regarded as the united‐atom (UA) and separated‐atoms (SA) limits, respectively. The 15 Rydberg series (nsσ, npσ, ndσ, nfσ, ngσ, ndδ, nfδ, ngδ, ngγ, npπ, ndπ, nfπ, ngπ, nfϕ, and ngϕ) are identified. Bingel's perturbation theory is used to explain the role of the core part and the Rydberg orbitals in the behavior of EECs at small R. Smith's theory of diabatization is directly solved to obtain the diabatic quantum defect curves (QDCs). From the correlations in diabatic QDCs between the UA and SA limits, the following order of orbital energies in the equilibrium region is found: npσ < nsσ < npπ < ndσ < ndπ < nfσ < nfπ < nfδ < nfϕ < ndδ, except 5dδ < 5fϕ. This order is identical to that in one‐electron molecular systems at small R, except for the nsσ and npπ series. The correlation rules are n
UA = n
SA + 1 for the npσ series and n
UA = n
SA for other series; additionally, l
UA = l
SA for all cases except for the 2pσ − σ1s correlation. A reversal of the diabatic dipole moment at avoided crossing points of the nsσ and npσ series is observed, and explained by the behaviors of ns and np wavefunctions of H at small R.
Core–Shell Structured Chitosan–Carbon Nanotube Membrane as a Positively Charged Drug Delivery System: Selective Loading and Releasing Profiles for Bovine Serum Albumin
Authors: Kim Han‐Sem , Shin Ueon Sang
Published: March 2016

Here we present carbon nanotube (CNT) buckypaper with efficient loading and releasing patterns for negatively charged drug. Carbonaceous membrane (Chit–NH2
/CNT) with three‐dimensionally interwoven porous nanostructure and positive surface was prepared by self‐assembly of CNT fibers hybridized with chitosan (Chit–NH2
) in core–shell structure. Transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy images clearly showed that core–shell structured Chit–NH2
/CNT fibers and countless nanosized pores at less than 30 nm in length were formed between positively charged Chit–NH2
/CNT fibers. Based on Brunauer–Emmett–Teller N2
‐adsorption method, the surface area, average pore size, and pore volume were approximately 19.7 m2/g, 9.54 nm, and 0.043 cc/g, respectively. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) loading and releasing profiles of these carbonaceous membrane constructed with positively charged CNT fibers were tested. The maximum entrapment of BSA was at a loading capacity of 0.65 mg/mg for 1.0 mg of Chit–NH2
/CNT hybrid membrane. The maximum release of BSA was about 65% of the entrapped amount for 1.0 mg of Chit–NH2
/CNT hybrid membrane. BSA was almost continuously released over the 11‐day period at a rate of about 0.23 g/day. Chit–NH2
/CNT hybrid membranes showing impressive drug‐loading/‐releasing characteristics could be potentially used as transdermal drug delivery system for negatively charged drugs in the medicinal field and tissue regeneration area.
Solvothermal Synthesis of InOOH Nanospheres with Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity
Authors: Yang Shuang , Xu Cheng‐Yan , Hu Sheng‐Peng , Wang Wen‐Shou , Yu Jing , Zhen Liang
Published: March 2016

Monodispersive indium oxyhydroxide (InOOH) nanospheres were successfully synthesized by an acetic acid‐assisted solvothermal method. The structure and morphology of InOOH nanospheres were characterized by means of X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, and transmission electron microscope. The obtained InOOH nanospheres have a porous structure with diameters of 400–650 nm and a relative large specific surface area of 60.63 m2/g. Introducing a trace amount of acetic acid into the reaction system can effectively adjust the reaction rate, realizing the morphology and phase tuning of InOOH nanospheres. The InOOH nanospheres exhibit excellent photocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine B under UV light irradiation, which is ascribed to the porous structures and high‐Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area of InOOH nanospheres.
Exploration of a New Solvatochromic Dye Bearing the Excited‐State Intramolecular Proton Transfer Functionality
Authors: Koh Moonjee , Kim Won‐Suk , Lee Minyung
Published: March 2016

In an effort to explore a multifunctional dye, we investigated the spectroscopic properties of a benzofuran‐based fluorophore, (
E
)‐3‐(6‐(diethylamino) benzofuran‐2‐yl)‐1‐(2‐hydroxyphenyl)prop‐2‐en‐1‐one (DABP). We found that DABP shows a strong solvatrochromic effect in aprotic solvents and the excited‐state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) in protic solvents. We measured the fluorescence lifetime of DABP in different solvents and discovered that its lifetime decreases dramatically because of strong hydrogen bonding. One remarkable feature of the DABP emission is its high sensitivity to water content. We utilized this property to detect amyloid oligomers and observed that DABP is highly sensitive toward early‐stage amyloid aggregates.
Analytical and semi‐preparative enantioresolution of (RS)‐ketorolac from pharmaceutical formulation and in human plasma by HPLC
Authors: Lal Manohar , Bhushan Ravi
Published: March 2016

An efficient, simple, validated, analytical and semi‐preparative HPLC method has been developed for direct enantioresolution of (RS)‐Ketorolac (Ket) using monochloro‐methylated derivatives of cellulose and amylose, i.e. cellulose (tris‐3‐chloro‐4‐methylphenylcarbamate) and amylose (tris‐5‐chloro‐2‐methylphenylcarbamate) as chiral stationary phases (CSPs) with photo diode array detection at 320 nm. Enantioresolution was carried out in samples of human plasma spiked with (RS)‐Ket under normal and reversed‐phase elution modes with suitable mobile phase compositions. The effect of nature of alcohols (MeOH, EtOH, PrOH and n‐BuOH) and other solvents (MeCN and MeOH) as organic modifiers in the mobile phase was investigated on the separation performance of two CSPs in terms of retention and separation of enantiomers. The best resolution was observed on cellulose‐based CSP using EtOH, while using 2‐PrOH (15%) and amylose‐based CSP obtained the highest retention. Under reversed‐phase elution mode the best enantioseparation was observed using 30% MeCN with ammonium formate buffer. The elution order of enantiomers was ascertained by determining specific rotations. The limit of detection and quantitation values were 5 and 15.5 ng/mL for each enantiomer of (RS)‐Ket, respectively. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Correlation of thyroid dysfunction and cognitive impairments induced by subcortical ischemic vascular disease
Authors: Chen Zongsheng , Liang Xianfa , Zhang Chunxiu , Wang Jinling , Chen Gaiping , Zhang Hong , Sun Zhongwu
Published: March 2016

Background

To date, the relationship between thyroid dysfunction and subcortical ischemic vascular disease (SIVD)‐induced cognitive impairments still remains elusive.

Methods

Cognitive performances were examined in 215 participants, including 54 healthy participants, 52 SIVD patients with no dementia (SIVDND), 55 patients with mild cognitive impairment (SVMCI), and 54 patients with vascular dementia (VD). Serum thyroid‐stimulating hormone (TSH), total triiodothyronine (TT3), free triiodothyronine (FT3), total thyroxine (TT4) and free thyroxine (FT4), thyroglobulin antibody (TGA), and antithyroid peroxidase antibody (TPO‐Abs) were quantified by radioimmunoassay or ELISA.

Results

A close correlation between thyroid status and cognitive dysfunction in SIVD was observed. Serum TT3 and FT3 levels decreased, whereas serum TSH level increased, with the decline in cognitive functions. Furthermore, TT3 levels showed a positive correlation, whereas TSH level showed a negative correlation, with the Mini‐Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores. Our results suggested that thyroid function was associated with cognitive impairments induced by SIVD. Also, thyroid function and thyroid hormone level could be a risk factor in the development of SIVD. Serum TT3 and TSH levels might also be used as biomarkers for cognitive dysfunction.

Conclusions

These findings might contribute to a more accurate clinical diagnosis and differentiation among normal controls, SIVDND, SVMCI, and VD patients, in order to develop appropriate intervention approaches for SIVD therapeutic treatment.