bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Improving inflammatory arthritis management through tighter monitoring of patients and the use of innovative electronic tools
Authors: van Riel Piet , Alten Rieke , Combe Bernard , Abdulganieva Diana , Bousquet Paola , Courtenay Molly , Curiale Cinzia , Gómez-Centeno Antonio , Haugeberg Glenn , Leeb Burkhard , Puolakka Kari , Ravelli Angelo , Rintelen Bernhard , Sarzi-Puttini Piercarlo
Published: November 2016

Treating to target by monitoring disease activity and adjusting therapy to attain remission or low disease activity has been shown to lead to improved outcomes in chronic rheumatic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and spondyloarthritis. Patient-reported outcomes, used in conjunction with clinical measures, add an important perspective of disease activity as perceived by the patient. Several validated PROs are available for inflammatory arthritis, and advances in electronic patient monitoring tools are helping patients with chronic diseases to self-monitor and assess their symptoms and health. Frequent patient monitoring could potentially lead to the early identification of disease flares or adverse events, early intervention for patients who may require treatment adaptation, and possibly reduced appointment frequency for those with stable disease. A literature search was conducted to evaluate the potential role of patient self-monitoring and innovative monitoring of tools in optimising disease control in inflammatory arthritis. Experience from the treatment of congestive heart failure, diabetes and hypertension shows improved outcomes with remote electronic self-monitoring by patients. In inflammatory arthritis, electronic self-monitoring has been shown to be feasible in patients despite manual disability and to be acceptable to older patients. Patients' self-assessment of disease activity using such methods correlates well with disease activity assessed by rheumatologists. This review also describes several remote monitoring tools that are being developed and used in inflammatory arthritis, offering the potential to improve disease management and reduce pressure on specialists.
Tracking the relative concentration between Bacteroidales DNA markers and culturable Escherichia coli in fecally polluted subtropical seawater: potential use in differentiating fresh and aged pollution
Authors: Liu Rulong , Yeung Leo T.C. , Ho Pui-Hei , Lau Stanley C.K.
Published: November 2016

Routine water quality monitoring practices based on the enumeration of culturable Escherichia coli provides no information about the source or age of fecal pollution. An emerging strategy is to use culturable E. coli and the DNA markers of Bacteroidales complementarily for microbial source tracking. In this study, we consistently observed in seawater microcosms of 3 different conditions that culturable E. coli decayed faster (T99 = 1.14 – 4.29 days) than Bacteroidales DNA markers did (T99 = 1.81 – 200.23 days). Concomitantly, the relative concentration between Bacteroidales DNA markers and culturable E. coli increased over time in all treatments. Particularly, the increase during the early stage of the experiments (before T99 of E. coli was reached) was faster than during the later stage (after T99 of E. coli was attained). We propose that the tracking of the relative concentration between Bacteroidales DNA markers and culturable E. coli provides an opportunity to differentiate a pollution that is relatively fresh from one that has aged. This method, upon further investigation and validation, could be useful in episodic pollution events where the surge of E. coli concentration causes noncompliance to the single sample maximum criterion that mandates high frequency follow-up monitoring.
Thermodynamic properties of graphene using the static fluctuation approximation (SFA)
Authors: Hawamdeh Mustafa M. , Al-Sugheir Mohamed K. , Sandouqa Ayman S. , Ghassib Humam B.
Published: November 2016

The thermodynamic properties of two-dimensional graphene nanosystems are investigated using the static fluctuation approximation (SFA). These properties are analyzed using both extensive and nonextensive statistical mechanics. It is found that these properties are less sensitive to temperature when using nonextensive — in contrast to extensive — statistical mechanics. It is also noted that the mean internal energy and the specific heat behave as a power law, Tα, at T < 8 eV; whereas they go to the classical limit for the two-dimensional ideal gas at T > 8 eV. The results are presented in a set of figures and one table. The roles played by the number of particles and the entropy parameter q are underlined. Whenever possible, comparisons are made to previous studies. It is concluded that Boltzmann–Gibbs statistics are not valid for some cases, and that SFA results are in good agreement with those obtained within other formalisms.
A Safe-Region Approach to a Moving k-RNN Queries in a Directed Road Network
Authors: Zeberga Kamil , Jin Rize , Cho Hyung-Ju , Chung Tae-Sun
Published: November 2016

In road networks, [Formula: see text]-range nearest neighbor ([Formula: see text]-RNN) queries locate the [Formula: see text]-closest neighbors for every point on the road segments, within a given query region defined by the user, based on the network distance. This is an important task because the user's location information may be inaccurate; furthermore, users may be unwilling to reveal their exact location for privacy reasons. Therefore, under this type of specific situation, the server returns candidate objects for every point on the road segments and the client evaluates and chooses exact [Formula: see text] nearest objects from the candidate objects. Evaluating the query results at each timestamp to keep the freshness of the query answer, while the query object is moving, will create significant computation burden for the client. We therefore propose an efficient approach called a safe-region-based approach (SRA) for computing a safe segment region and the safe exit points of a moving nearest neighbor (NN) query in a road network. SRA avoids evaluation of candidate answers returned by the location-based server since it will have high computation cost in the query side. Additionally, we applied SRA for a directed road network, where each road network has a particular orientation and the network distances are not symmetric. Our experimental results demonstrate that SRA significantly outperforms a conventional solution in terms of both computational and communication costs.
On finite Taylor algebras
Authors: Wires Alexander
Published: November 2016

We establish a new hereditary characterization of finite idempotent Taylor algebras. This generalizes the algebraic constructions which figured in the recent successful characterization of the correctness of the bounded width algorithm for constraint satisfaction problems by finite idempotent algebras generating congruence meet-semidistributive varieties. We introduce the cyclic reduct of a finite Taylor algebra and prove a collapse of Mal’cev conditions.
Geometric vulnerability of democratic institutions against lobbying: A sociophysics approach
Authors: Galam Serge
Published: November 2016

An alternative voting scheme is proposed to fill the democratic gap between a pre-sident elected democratically via universal suffrage (deterministic outcome, the actual majority decides), and a president elected by one person randomly selected from the population (probabilistic outcome depending on respective supports). Indeed, moving from one voting agent to a group of [Formula: see text] randomly selected voting agents reduces the probabilistic character of the outcome. Accordingly, building [Formula: see text] such groups, each one electing its president (elementary bricks), to constitute a group of the groups with the [Formula: see text] local presidents electing a higher-level president, does reduce further the outcome probabilistic aspect. The process is then repeated [Formula: see text] times to reach a bottom-up pyramidal structure with [Formula: see text] levels, [Formula: see text] elementary bricks at the bottom and a president at the top. Agents at the bottom are randomly selected but higher-level presidents are all designated according to the respective local majorities within the groups which elect them. At the top of the hierarchy the president is still elected with a probability but the distance from a deterministic outcome reduces quickly with increasing [Formula: see text]. At a critical value [Formula: see text] the outcome turns deterministic recovering the same result a universal suffrage would yield. This alternative hierarchical scheme introduces several social advantages like the distribution of local power to the competing minority, which thus makes the structure more resilient, yet preserving the presidency allocation to the actual majority. It also produces an area around 50% for which the president is elected with an almost-equiprobability slightly biased in favor of the actual majority. However, our results reveal the existence of a severe geometric vulnerability to lobbying. It is shown that a tiny lobbying group is able to kill the democratic balance by seizing the presidency democratically. It is sufficient to complete a correlated distribution of a few agents at the hierarchy bottom. Moreover, at the present stage, identifying an actual killing distribution is not feasible, which sheds a disturbing light on the devastating effect geometric lobbying can have on democratic hierarchical institutions.
A consensus-based model for global optimization and its mean-field limit
Authors: Pinnau René , Totzeck Claudia , Tse Oliver , Martin Stephan
Published: November 2016

We introduce a novel first-order stochastic swarm intelligence (SI) model in the spirit of consensus formation models, namely a consensus-based optimization (CBO) algorithm, which may be used for the global optimization of a function in multiple dimensions. The CBO algorithm allows for passage to the mean-field limit, which results in a nonstandard, nonlocal, degenerate parabolic partial differential equation (PDE). Exploiting tools from PDE analysis we provide convergence results that help to understand the asymptotic behavior of the SI model. We further present numerical investigations underlining the feasibility of our approach.
Optimal pumping strength for BBM92 key distribution protocol
Authors: Czub Janusz , Veynar Ryszard , Laskowski Wiesław , Pawłowski Marcin
Published: November 2016

In a typical, entanglement-based quantum key distribution (QKD) protocols the maximally entangled, singlet states are used. The standard way to generate them is to use parametric down conversion with low intensity laser beams. This way the probability to produce two or more entangled pairs is negligible. However, one obtains it at a cost of a large likelihood of producing no particles at all. In this work, we ask the question if this approach is the optimal one from the point of view of key generation rate. For a case study, we take BBM 92 protocol and find the optimal intensity of the beam. We show optimal intensities are much higher than the ones typically used. Our results can be generalized to other protocols based on singlet states.
Cytomorphological Features Useful to Prevent Errors in the Diagnosis of Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma by Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology
Authors: Chi Zhikai , Wu Howard H. , Cramer Harvey , Lin Jingmei , Chen Shaoxiong
Published: November 2016

Objectives: Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (FNA) is now widely used as a primary tool to diagnose pancreatic neoplasms. However, criteria that can reduce the risk of overdiagnosing pancreatic adenocarcinoma by FNA have not been adequately defined in the literature. This study aims to identify characteristic cytomorphological features that are helpful in distinguishing pancreatic adenocarcinoma from its mimics. Study Design: Five false-positive FNA cases (group A) diagnosed as adenocarcinoma (4 cases) and suspicious for adenocarcinoma (1 case) by FNA, were identified by searching our laboratory information system. Cytomorphological features of group A cases were compared to 12 true-positive, histologically confirmed FNA cases (group B). Results: Subsequent histological follow-ups of 5 misdiagnosed FNA cases showed 2 cases of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm with focal high-grade dysplasia, 1 case attributed to tumor contamination from a gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma, and 2 cases of pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN1/reactive change and PanIN2, respectively). Cytomorphological features present in both groups A and B included nuclear enlargement/overlapping, mild to moderate anisonucleosis, granular chromatin and prominent nucleoli. However, 1 or more of these 4 characteristic morphological features such as 3-dimensional cluster with cell disorientation, isolated malignant cells, irregular nuclear contour/nuclear grooves/notches (>5% atypical cell population), and marked nuclear size variation 1:4 or higher was mainly present in adenocarcinoma. Conclusions: A combination of at least 2 of these 4 characteristic cytomorphological features needs to be present before rendering an unequivocal diagnosis of adenocarcinoma. Using these strict cytological criteria would have eliminated these false-positive diagnoses.
Serous Cystadenoma of the Pancreas: Potentials and Pitfalls of a Preoperative Cytopathologic Diagnosis
Authors: Lilo Mohammed T. , VandenBussche Christopher J. , Allison Derek B. , Lennon Anne Marie , Younes Bouchra K. , Hruban Ralph H. , Wolfgang Christopher L. , Ali Syed Z.
Published: November 2016

Objectives: Pancreatic serous cystadenomas (SCAs) are benign tumors. Technological advances in imaging have led to increased recognition of asymptomatic pancreatic cysts, consequently increasing the demand for cytomorphologic evaluations of cyst fluid. Study Design: A retrospective search through the pathology archives over an 11-year period was performed to identify SCAs from pancreatectomy specimens with a presurgical pancreatic EUS-guided fine-needle aspiration (FNA). Results: Fifty-one FNAs were identified. The average patient age was 59.9 years and 34 (67%) were female. Thirty-five (69%) of the SCAs were located in the body or tail of the pancreas. SCAs ranged in size from 1.3 to 8.0 cm (mean 4.9). On imaging, features suggestive of SCA were seen in 7 (14%) cases. The cytologic diagnoses were as follows: SCA in 5 (10%) cases, suspicious for mucin-producing neoplastic cyst in 4 (8%), pseudocyst in 4 (8%), and benign ductal and/or acinar epithelium, not otherwise specified in 24 (47%). Additionally, 14 (27%) cases were deemed nondiagnostic. Conclusions: A cytopathologic diagnosis of SCA on FNA is extremely difficult. The salient cytomorphologic features for identifying SCAs included scant cellularity, a mostly clear background, absence of extracellular mucin, hemosiderin-laden macrophages, and loose fragments of cuboidal cells with a notable absence of necrosis, atypia, and mitoses.
Vitamin D Receptor TaqI Gene Polymorphism and Dental Caries in Czech Children
Authors: Izakovicova Holla Lydie , Borilova Linhartova Petra , Kastovsky Jakub , Bartosova Michaela , Musilova Kristina , Kukla Lubomir , Kukletova Martina
Published: November 2016

Aim: We analyzed the VDR TaqI (rs731236) gene polymorphism in children with and those without dental caries. Methods: A total of 388 subjects, 153 caries-free (with decayed/missing/filled teeth [DMFT] = 0) and 235 children with dental caries (DMFT ≥1), were genotyped by the TaqMan method. Results: Although no significant differences in VDR TaqI allele and genotype frequencies between caries-free and caries-affected children were detected, a significant association between this polymorphism and gingivitis was found (p < 0.05). Conclusions: In contrast to previous studies from China and Turkey, the VDR TaqI gene variant cannot be used as a marker for identification of Czech children with increased dental caries risk.
Ductal Adenocarcinoma of the Prostate: A Case Report
Authors: Hayashi Yutaro , Kawahara Takashi , Iwashita Hiromichi , Shimokihara Kota , Tsutsumi Sohgo , Takamoto Daiji , Mochizuki Taku , Hattori Yusuke , Teranishi Jun-ichi , Miyoshi Yasuhide , Yumura Yasushi , Yao Masahiro , Inayama Yoshiaki , Uemura Hiroji
Published: November 2016

Ductal adenocarcinoma is an unusual variant of adenocarcinoma of the prostate. A 73-year-old male was referred to our hospital for the further examination of an elevated prostate-specific antigen level of 23.4 ng/mL. Radical prostatectomy (RP) was performed based on the diagnosis obtained by a prostate needle biopsy. The RP specimen revealed ductal adenocarcinoma of the prostate with positive capsular penetration. We herein report a rare case of ductal adenocarcinoma of the prostate.
Avaliação da eficácia do sal de cozinha na redução da permeabilidade e hiperestesia dentinária: estudo ultra-estrutural
Authors: Vieira Graciene de Fátima , Zocratto Keli Bahia Felicíssimo , Clemente Graziella Trindade
Published: November 2016

Numerosos agentes dessensibilizantes têm sido utilizados para alívio da dor decorrente da hiperestesia dentinária. Estudo in vivo comprova que o sal de cozinha pode ser utilizado como agente dessensibilizante da dentina. Entretanto, não se conhece quais os possíveis mecanismos que justificariam sua eficiência como agente anti-hiperestésico. Assim, com objetivo de investigar o possível efeito da solução a base de NaCl (sal de cozinha) na redução do diâmetro dos túbulos dentinários, realizou-se um estudo in vitro no qual se mensurou o diâmetro dos túbulos dentinários de discos de dentina submetidos à solução a base de NaCl. Selecionou-se cinco terceiros molares humanos hígidos, não irrompidos, extraídos de pacientes jovens, com idade entre 19(dezenove) e 25(vinte e cinco) anos, provenientes de consultórios particulares do município de Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais. Discos de dentina foram obtidos pela secção transversal da coroa dentária em duas regiões, de forma a constituírem discos de aproximadamente 1(um) milímetro de espessura. O grupo controle foi tratado com ácido fosfórico a 37% por quinze segundos e, em seguida, lavado com água destilada durante trinta segundos. Os grupos experimentais receberam o mesmo tratamento com ácido e, em seguida, um grupo foi imerso em solução à base de NaCl por dois minutos, e o outro imerso por quatro minutos na mesma solução. Os espécimes foram então analisados ao MEV(Microscópio Eletrônico de Varredura). O grupo tratado com NaCl - dois minutos, não apresentou obliteração dos túbulos dentinários. Já o grupo tratado com NaCl - quatro minutos, apresentou redução significativa do diâmetro na maioria dos túbulos dentinários, sendo que, alguns apresentaram obliteração total.
Comparison of p16ink4a immunostaining in benign and malignant HPV-related lesion
Authors: Castro Ana Paula Oliveira , Tobouti Priscila Lie , Sousa Suzana Cantanhede Orsini Machado
Published: November 2016

Objective: We aim to analyze the difference between p16inka immunostaining in normal epithelium, two benign HPV-related lesions (papilloma and condyloma acuminatum) and one malignant HPV-related lesion (oropharynx carcinoma).Methods: Five normal oral mucosas, fifteen papiloma, fifteen condyloma acuminatum and fifteen HPV-positive OSCC were included in the present study. Histological sections were stained anti-p16ink4a by immunohistochemistry. For the positive stain, score was based on a scale of - to 3+, as follows: - negative stain; 1+ less than 25% of positivity and focal distribution; 2+ 26-50% positivity and focal distribution; and 3+ 50-75% of positive cells and diffuse distribution. As for the evaluation of the intensity score was based on: - negative; 1- low intensity; 2- moderate intensity; 3- intensive.Results: The results showed no significant differences between the scores (positive x intensity) of p16ink4a in normal epithelium, papilloma and condyloma acuminatum. All these 3 lesions showed significant differences when compared with the oropharynx squamous cell carcinoma.Relevance: There are differences in the expression of p16ink4a between benign HPV-lesions and malignant HPV-lesions. Also, it is not possible to identify the presence of HPV by the detection of p16ink4a using IHC in benign lesions, as has been used in OSCC.
Extended distribution of Dipcadi concanense (Dalzell) Baker - a highly threatened plant taxon of the family Asparagaceae
Authors: Deshpande Anup S. , Mirgal Amit , Krishnan S. , Narkhede Satish , Janarthanam Malapati K.
Published: November 2016

Dipcadi concanense (Dalzell) Baker a highly threatened species is endemic to the Konkan region of Maharashtra State, India.  Now, it is recorded from a new locality in Goa State, extending its distribution further southwards.  A total of 10 patches of a large population were identified in the new locality with an area of occupancy of about 14,400sq.m.
A comparison of the effectiveness of methods of deterring pteropodid bats from feeding on commercial fruit in Madagascar
Authors: Raharimihaja Tatamo E.A. , Rakotoarison Jo L.M. , Racey Paul A. , Andrianaivoarivelo Radosoa A.
Published: November 2016

We compared the effectiveness of methods of deterring Pteropus rufus from feeding on commercial fruit in east central and southeastern Madagascar in 2012–2013 during the Litchi chinensis harvest. Two of the three methods used, installing plastic flags and ringing bells in the trees, were derived from those used by litchi growers in the southeast.  We improved and standardized these methods and compared their effectiveness with an organic product made from dried blood and vegetable oil (Plantskydd®) with a taste and odour aimed at deterring mammal feeding.  The bats damaged from 440–7,040 g of litchi fruits per tree and two of the three methods reduced the fruit lost to bats: the plastic flags and the organic deterrent.  There were significant differences in the damage levels between the study sites and between our three methods of deterrence.  The plastic flags and bell ringing methods were significantly less effective in reducing the fruit bat damage compared to the taste deterrent.  The latter was most effective when it had enough time to dry and adhere to the fruits after spraying and before rain.  Its effectiveness was further demonstrated in flight cage experiments during which Rousettus madagascariensis avoided litchis treated with Plantskydd®.  Analysis of bat faecal samples revealed no feeding preference but the collected samples contained large numbers of Ficus seeds, suggesting that the bats feed extensively on Ficus fruits rather than on fruit of economic importance.  Apart from fruit ripeness, tree productivity or other phenological factors did not affect the amount of fruit eaten by the bats.   More fruits were damaged by birds than bats at both study sites.
Acanthocladus dichromus, a new combination for a South American Polygalaceae
Authors: PASTORE JOSÉ FLORIANO B.
Published: November 2016

The effort to revise all Neotropical Polygala names has revealed the oldest valid epithet for the species known as Acanthocladus albicans to be Polygala dichroma Steudel, which has been overlooked for more than 175 years. This name was published as a replacement for the illegitimate name Polygala bicolor [Arrab.] Vellozo non Kunth. A new combination  Acanthocladus dichromus, is provided here as well as the typification of the all names involved.
A new synonymy in Thalictrum (Ranunculaceae)
Authors: LI JIN-YU , LIU HUI-JIE , WANG YU-ZHU , XIE LEI
Published: November 2016

Thalictrum xingshanicum was considered to be different from its close ally T. fargesii by the leaf size and number of carpels. In the present study, it reveals that morphological variation of T. fargesii had been misunderstood by previous authors. Here, we clarify the variations of T. fargesii and propose T. xingshanicum as its new synonym. A lectotype of T. pallidum Franch. is also designated.
New species and new records of Cumacea (Crustacea: Peracarida: Cumacea) from mesophotic reefs of Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands, Caribbean Sea
Authors: PETRESCU IORGU , CHATTERJEE TAPAS , SCHIZAS NIKOLAOS V.
Published: November 2016

The cumacean fauna of the Caribbean mesophotic reefs is remarkably rich but understudied. Herein, we present the description of 22 new species of the family Nannastacidae, including one from shallow reefs, 20 of them belonging to Cumella (Cumella) and two new species belonging to the subgenus Cumewingia. We have also included range extensions and new locations for ten previously known species of Cumella, two species in the genus Vaunthompsonia (family Bodotriidae) and one species in the genus Cubanocuma (family Nannastacidae). Taxonomic keys are provided for the western tropical Atlantic species of Cumella (Cumella) and Cumella (Cumewingia), separately for the adult males and females. Large sampling efforts and careful systematic studies, even in relatively well-characterized regions such as the Caribbean, can yield a surprising number of new discoveries. Our current findings emphasize our previous assertion that the mesophotic reefs are treasure troves of undiscovered benthic fauna and might be qualified as biodiversity hotspots.
Routine Activities and Delinquency: The Significance of Bonds to Society and Peer Context
Authors: Crawford Lizabeth A. , Novak Katherine B. , Foston Amia K.
Published: November 2016

This article extends prior research on routine activities and youth deviance by focusing on a broader range of routine activity patterns (RAPs) and on how their effects are conditioned by bonds to society and peer context. As hypothesized, the RAPs with the most consistent effects on delinquency were those lowest, or highest, in both structure and visibility. However, the relationship between school-related activities and delinquency was complex and varied across levels of the moderators in unexpected ways, given the structure and visibility of this RAP. Other RAPs, including unstructured peer interaction, affected delinquency independent of adolescents’ social relations, suggesting that neither social bonding nor external social control, via peer group norms, shapes the effects of situationally based opportunities for deviance on adolescents’ behaviors in a consistent manner.
Global patterns in the publishing of academic knowledge: Global North, global South
Authors: Collyer Fran M
Published: November 2016

Much is made of the persistent structures of inequality that determine the production and distribution of goods and services across the world, but less is known about the inequalities of global academic knowledge production, and even a smaller amount about the nature of the publication industry upon which this production process depends. Reflecting on an international study of academic publishing that has been framed within the lens of Southern theory, this article explores some of the issues facing those who work and publish in the global South, and offers an analysis of several of the mechanisms that assist to maintain the inequalities of the knowledge system. The focus then moves to an examination of some recent developments in academic publishing which challenge the dominance of the global North: the building of alternative transnational circuits of publishing that provide effective pathways for the distribution of academic knowledge from ‘inside the global South’.
Book Review: Vasudha Dalmia and Munis D. Faruqui, eds, Religious Interactions in Mughal India
Authors: Balachandran Jyoti Gulati
Published: November 2016

Vasudha Dalmia and Munis D. Faruqui, eds, Religious Interactions in Mughal India, New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2014, 391 pp.
“Togetherness in Difference”: Perceived Personal Discrimination and Acculturation Preferences among Internal Migrants in a Poor Urban Community in Accra
Authors: Tutu Raymond Asare , Boateng John , Ameyaw Edmund Essah , Busingye Janice Desire
Published: November 2016

This paper assesses the relative effects of acculturation preferences (assimilation, separation, integration, and marginalization) on migrants’ perception of acceptability in James Town, a traditional urban neighborhood in Accra, Ghana. There is a paucity of academic work on the relationship between migrants’ acculturation inclinations and their assessment of the hosts’ attitude towards them in Ghana. Cognizant of the fluidity of acculturation strategies, the study focuses on individual inclinations towards acculturation. To examine migrants’ perception of acceptability by the host, we use perceived personal discrimination. We utilize results from a semi-structured questionnaire administered to 301 migrant individuals from different migrant households in James Town. Our findings suggest that migrants with assimilation preferences are less likely to have a higher rating on the extent to which they are discriminated against by the host population. Such an exploratory study is pertinent to understanding relationships (conflicts or “togetherness in difference”) in poor multi-ethnic settings.
Cultural Threats in Culturally Mixed Encounters Hamper Creative Performance for Individuals With Lower Openness to Experience
Authors: Chen Xia , Leung Angela K.-y. , Yang Daniel Y.-J. , Chiu Chi-yue , Li Zhong-quan , Cheng Shirley Y. Y.
Published: November 2016

Past research has examined independently how openness to experience, as a personality trait, and the situational threat triggered by a foreign cultural encounter affect the emergence of creative benefits from a culture-mixing experience. The present research provides the first evidence for the interactive effect of openness to experience and cultural threat following culturally mixed encounters on creative performance. In Study 1, under heightened perceptions of cultural threat, exposing to the mixing of Chinese and American cultures (vs. a non-mixed situation) made close-minded Chinese participants to perform more poorly in a creative generation task. In Study 2, inducing cultural threat by having a foreign cultural icon spatially intrude a sacred space of the local culture caused Chinese participants with lower levels of openness to perform less creatively when the foreign icon was deemed highly symbolic of the foreign culture. These patterns of effects did not emerge among open-minded participants. These findings suggest that trait openness acts as a buffer against foreign cultural threat to sustain the creative benefits of culture mixing.
Cultural Symbolism and Spatial Separation
Authors: Yang Daniel Y.-J. , Chen Xia , Xu Jing , Preston Jesse L. , Chiu Chi-yue
Published: November 2016

When and why do local communities display negative or exclusionary responses to mixing and blending of local and foreign cultural symbols in the same space or percept? Results from three experiments showed that the local community reacted most negatively to culture mixing when both objects were perceived to be icons or symbols of their culture of origin (Experiments 1-3). Experiment 3 further shows that concern about cultural contamination underlies exclusionary responses to culture mixing. We also identified two conditions that can deactivate such responses. First, even when the cultural symbols were presented simultaneously, keeping a distance between them assuages the concern over cultural contamination (Experiment 3) and reduces the perceivers’ negativity to culture mixing (Experiments 1-3). Second, not attributing cultural symbolism to either cultural object also makes exclusionary responses less likely (Experiments 1-3). These effects were observed among Americans (Experiments 1 and 2) and Chinese (Experiment 3) and across three different examples of culture mixing.
Extending the Global Acculturation Model to Untangle the Culture Mixing Puzzle
Authors: Harush Raveh , Lisak Alon , Erez Miriam
Published: November 2016

Today’s globalized environment exposes people to culture mixing—mixing of iconic symbols of different cultures in the same space at the same time. Findings on individuals’ exposure to culture mixing provide evidence for both exclusionary and inclusionary responses. In this article, we focus on the growing phenomenon of culture mixing of global and local symbols and artifacts. We generate a conceptual model to identify who is likely to respond in what way to the mixed cultural environment and why. To answer these questions, we build on the global acculturation model, which aims to explain individuals’ adaptation to the global environment by considering the relative strength of their local and global identities. We extend this model by considering not only the two entities’ relative strength but also their balance—the degree of symmetry between the identities’ strength. We propose that individuals with dominant (unbalanced) identity types (global or local) will exhibit negative and exclusionary responses to culture mixing, whereas individuals with balanced identity types (glocal or marginal) will exhibit positive and inclusionary responses to culture mixing. We also incorporate the concept of bicultural identity integration (BII) to suggest that individuals with high identification with both cultures (glocals) and with high BII will exhibit more inclusive responses than glocals with low BII. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
Romantic Forecasts in Later Life: Older Single Women’s Perspectives on Family and Kin Relationships
Authors: McCann Brandy Renee , Allen Katherine R.
Published: November 2016

This study examines the ways in which family and cultural context influence the romantic prospects of rural women in later life. Using a feminist life course perspective, we interviewed 14 single women over the age of 50 years who lived in rural Appalachia. Grounded theory methods were used to analyze in-depth interview data. Contextualized romantic forecasts of midlife and older rural women are presented. We found that women who were highly integrated into an extended family network, typically their own family of origin, had little if any interest in romance in later life. Women who were not highly integrated into a kin network were most hopeful about finding a romantic or marriage partner. We conclude that place-based kin networks mattered in the romantic forecasts of midlife and older single women, and discuss implications for future research.
The Relationship Between Religiosity and Health-Promoting Behaviors in Pregnant Women
Authors: Cyphers Natalie A. , Clements Andrea D. , Lindseth Glenda
Published: November 2016

Pender’s health promotion model guided this descriptive/correlational study exploring the relationship between religiosity and health-promoting behaviors of pregnant women at Pregnancy Resource Centers (PRCs). A consecutive sample included women who knew they were pregnant at least 2 months, could read/write English, and visited PRCs in eastern Pennsylvania. Participants completed self-report surveys that examined religiosity, demographics, pregnancy-related variables, services received at PRCs, and health-promoting behaviors. Women reported they “sometimes” or “often” engaged in health-promoting behaviors, Hispanic women reported fewer health-promoting behaviors than non-Hispanic women, and women who attended classes at the centers reported more frequent health-promoting behaviors than those who did not attend classes. In separate multiple linear regressions, organized, non-organized, and intrinsic religiosity and satisfaction with surrender to God explained additional variance in health-promoting behaviors above and beyond what Hispanic ethnicity and attending classes at the PRCs explained in pregnant women at PRCs.
A systematic review of clinical prediction scores for deep vein thrombosis
Authors: Kafeza Marina , Shalhoub Joseph , Salooja Nina , Bingham Lucy , Spagou Konstantina , Davies Alun H
Published: November 2016

Objective

Diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis remains a challenging problem. Various clinical prediction rules have been developed in order to improve diagnosis and decision making in relation to deep vein thrombosis. The purpose of this review is to summarise the available clinical scores and describe their applicability and limitations.

Methods

A systematic search of PubMed, MEDLINE and EMBASE databases was conducted in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidance using the keywords: clinical score, clinical prediction rule, risk assessment, clinical probability, pretest probability, diagnostic score and medical Subject Heading terms: ‘Venous Thromboembolism/diagnosis’ OR ‘Venous Thrombosis/diagnosis’. Both development and validation studies were eligible for inclusion.

Results

The search strategy returned a total of 2036 articles, of which 102 articles met a priori criteria for inclusion. Eight different diagnostic scores were identified. The development of these scores differs in respect of the population included (hospital inpatients, hospital outpatients or primary care patients), the exclusion criteria, the inclusion of distal deep vein thrombosis and the use of D-dimer. The reliability and applicability of the scores in the context of specific subgroups (inpatients, cancer patients, elderly patients and those with recurrent deep vein thrombosis) remains controversial.

Conclusion

Detailed knowledge of the development of the various clinical prediction scores for deep vein thrombosis is essential in understanding the power, generalisability and limitations of these clinical tools.
The “Open Government Reform” Movement
Authors: Piotrowski Suzanne J.
Published: November 2016

Open government initiatives, which include not only transparency but also participation and collaboration policies, have become a major administrative reform. As such, these initiatives are gaining cohesiveness in literature. President Obama supported open government through a range of policies including the Open Government Partnership (OGP), a multinational initiative. The OGP requires member organizations to develop open government national action plans, which are used as the basis for my analysis. To frame this paper, I use and expand upon David Heald’s directions and varieties of transparency framework. A content analysis of the 62 commitments in the US Second Open Government National Action Plan was conducted. The analysis provides two findings of note: First, the traditional view of transparency was indeed the most prevalent in the policies proposed. In that respect, not much has changed, even with the OGP’s emphasis on a range of approaches. Second, openness among and between agencies played a larger than expected role. While the OGP pushed an array of administrative reforms, the initiative had limited impact on the type of policies that were proposed and enacted. In sum, the OGP is an administrative reform that was launched with great fanfare, but limited influence in the US context. More research needs to be conducted to determine if the “open government reform” movement as a whole suffers from such problems in implementation.
Development and application of a fluorescence protein microarray for detecting serum alpha-fetoprotein in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Zhang Aiying , Yin Chengzeng , Wang Zhenshun , Zhang Yonghong , Zhao Yuanshun , Li Ang , Sun Huanqin , Lin Dongdong , Li Ning
Published: November 2016

Objective

To develop a simple, effective, time-saving and low-cost fluorescence protein microarray method for detecting serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Method

Non-contact piezoelectric print techniques were applied to fluorescence protein microarray to reduce the cost of prey antibody. Serum samples from patients with HCC and healthy control subjects were collected and evaluated for the presence of AFP using a novel fluorescence protein microarray. To validate the fluorescence protein microarray, serum samples were tested for AFP using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Results

A total of 110 serum samples from patients with HCC ( n = 65) and healthy control subjects ( n = 45) were analysed. When the AFP cut-off value was set at 20 ng/ml, the fluorescence protein microarray had a sensitivity of 91.67% and a specificity of 93.24% for detecting serum AFP. Serum AFP quantified via fluorescence protein microarray had a similar diagnostic performance compared with ELISA in distinguishing patients with HCC from healthy control subjects (area under receiver operating characteristic curve: 0.906 for fluorescence protein microarray; 0.880 for ELISA).

Conclusion

A fluorescence protein microarray method was developed for detecting serum AFP in patients with HCC.
Development of musical abilities: Cross-sectional computer-based assessments in educational contexts
Authors: Asztalos Kata , Csapó Benő
Published: November 2016

Online diagnostic measurement of musical abilities in a school environment is a new way to enhance pedagogic effectiveness. In our study we developed a technology-based musical perception test which examines basic musical hearing abilities among 1st to 11th graders in Hungarian schools ( N = 2961). The instrument was composed of tasks measuring the discrimination of rhythm, tempo, melody, pitch, harmony, timbre and dynamics, and we also tested the connection between auditory and visual modality. The results indicated an increasing developmental tendency during the period under examination. Students who attend classes with a special music curriculum achieved better results, except in the first years of school. A weak relationship was found between socio-economic background variables and test achievement; however, parents’ educational attainment and students’ school marks have a stronger relationship. Similarly to previous research findings, no significant gender differences were found.
Does Your Body Know Who You Know? Multiple Roles of Network Members’ Socioeconomic Status for Body Weight Ratings
Authors: Song Lijun , Pettis Philip J. , Piya Bhumika
Published: November 2016

Combining the theory of social capital with work on three social factors, respectively, socioeconomic status (SES), gender, and lifestyle, this study examines four roles of accessed SES (network members’ SES) for body weight ratings: direct association, indirect association through lifestyle, mediating role in the relationship between SES and body weight ratings, and interaction with gender. Analyzing data from the 2004 U.S. General Social Survey, this study measures body weight ratings (visually evaluated by interviewers) and two indicators of accessed SES on the educational dimension (network members’ average education and proportion of network members with some college education or more). The results show evidence not for the direct role of accessed education but rather for its three other roles. More educated adults of both genders have access to more educated network members; those with more educated network members have a stronger athletic identity (a proximate indicator of lifestyle); and those with a more solid athletic identity have lower body weight ratings. Also, men with more educated network members have higher body weight ratings, but the opposite pattern applies to women. This study refines social capital theory and advances our understanding of network, socioeconomic, lifestyle, and gender disparities in body weight.
Characterisation of ultraviolet-absorbing recalcitrant organics in landfill leachate for treatment process optimisation
Authors: Keen Olya S
Published: November 2016

Organics in leachate from municipal solid waste landfills are notoriously difficult to treat by biological processes. These organics have high ultraviolet absorbance and can interfere with the ultraviolet disinfection process at the wastewater treatment plant that receives leachate if the leachate flow contribution is large enough. With more wastewater treatment plants switching to ultraviolet disinfection, landfills face increased pressure to treat leachate further. This study used size exclusion chromatography, fluorescence spectroscopy and ultraviolet/Vis spectrophotometry to characterise the bulk organic matter in raw landfill leachate and the biorecalcitrant organic matter in biologically treated leachate from the same site. The results indicate that biorecalcitrant organics have the polyphenolic absorbance peak at 280 nm, fluorescence peak at 280 nm excitation and 315 nm emission, and molecular size range of 1000–7000 Da, all of which are consistent with lignin. The lignin-like nature of biorecalcitrant leachate organics is supported by the fact that 30%–50% of municipal solid waste consists of plant debris and paper products. These findings shed light on the nature of biorecalcitrant organics in leachate and will be useful for the design of leachate treatment processes and further research on leachate treatment methods.
Personal and Classroom Achievement Goals: Their Structures and Relationships
Authors: Alivernini Fabio , Manganelli Sara , Lucidi Fabio
Published: November 2016

This study examines the factor structures of Personal and Classroom Achievement Goals and the relationships between them. Multilevel structural equation modeling was used to examine data from a sample of 3,544 Italian 10th-grade students (184 classrooms) who completed the Patterns of Adaptive Learning Scales (PALS). Findings about the factor structure of personal goals were consistent with studies in other cultural contexts. The scales showed measurement invariance both across gender and across various immigrant backgrounds. Boys showed lower levels of mastery and higher levels of performance-approach than girls. Immigrant students scored higher than the native students on all Performance scales. At the group level, a measurement model including mastery and performance-approach goal structures showed good fit indices. In classrooms more oriented toward mastery, students’ personal goals tend to be in the same direction. Classroom performance-approach goal structures were related to performance-avoidance personal orientations but not to performance-approach personal orientations.
A methodology for estimating the volume of Baltic timber to Spain using the Sound Toll Registers: 1670–1806
Authors: Gallagher Nathan
Published: November 2016

The Sound Toll Registers Online project has opened a trove of information for historians, but calculating the actual volume of the trade it represents remains a challenge. Attempts have been made for products that were measured in weight or volume, but timber products were usually recorded by the number of pieces in a ship’s cargo. Different timber products varied greatly in size, so the amount of pieces is not useful for determining the volume of timber. Here I propose an approach for estimating the volume of Baltic timber trade using Spain as a case study. Such an estimate can be made by dividing distinct products and assigning them predictable dimensions. First, the process of converting the amount of timber pieces into volume is discussed. I then discuss the possibilities and problems with estimating tonnage. The article concludes with a discussion of the problems and limitations of this methodology.
English naval expansion under the French threat, 1555–1564
Authors: Redding Benjamin W. D.
Published: November 2016

In the autumn of 1555, after almost a decade of decay, the Marian regime decided to rebuild the English navy. With the encouragement of her Spanish husband, Queen Mary supported the new construction of three large carracks that would assist in the kingdom’s war against the substantial maritime forces of Henri II of France. Even with the potential insurance of Spanish military reinforcements from her husband, the French navy had expanded unprecedentedly under Henri II, forcing England’s maritime resources to their limits. This article will argue that it was these conflicts with France between 1557 and 1564 that forced the Marian and early Elizabethan institutions to endorse a policy of naval expansion.