bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Chiari 3 Malformation and a Systemic Review of the Literature
Authors: Young Richard M. , Shafa Justin S. , Myseros John S.
Published: August 2015

Introduction: Chiari type 3 is a rare hindbrain malformation that has been reported in the literature primarily as case reports and case series. Radiological, pathophysiological and surgical definitions of the malformation are inconsistent in the literature and subsequently can be confusing, and outcomes have also been uniformly poor. The definition of this rare malformation will be clarified through a case presentation. Methods: A retrospective review of prior publications in the PubMed and MEDLINE databases was performed looking for reports of ‘Chiari 3 +/- malformation' and ‘occipital encephalocele'. Relevant papers were reviewed and compiled into table format with associated descriptions of a Chiari type 3 malformation. A case illustration is presented with radiological and intraoperative imaging to reinforce and clarify the definition. Results: Upon review of the prior publications in the detail of the descriptions and imaging associated with each article, there is a wide range of variability in the description of what is considered a Chiari 3 malformation. Occipital, occipitocervical and high cervical defects have all been described as Chiari 3 malformation. Our case illustration presents a patient with an occipitocervical encephalocele with neural elements, which is the classic and accepted definition of the Chiari 3 malformation. Conclusion: Chiari type 3 is a rare congenital malformation, and prior publications describing this developmental disorder have not demonstrated a consensus in its definition. In addition, outcomes have traditionally been reported as poor. This case illustration of a Chiari type 3 enforces the definition of an occipitocervical encephalocele with hindbrain herniation, and with proper management not all Chiari 3 malformation patients have bad outcomes.
Prospective Analysis of Various Dosing Methods for Aminoglycosides and Vancomycin Therapy in Chronic Spinal Cord Injury Patients
Authors: Lee Jennifer Pai , Truong Thuy Thu
Published: August 2015

Background/Aim: Several methods have been proposed for the better estimation of creatinine clearance (CLCR) in spinal cord injury (SCI); however, there is no standard method to date. In 2011, Lee-Dang derived an equation to predict CLCR more accurately, although it was limited by problems inherent in any retrospective study of previously collected data. Thus, a prospective investigation was conducted to evaluate the feasibility of clinical implementation and accuracy of the Lee-Dang method against 5 other methods while controlling sources of bias and confounding. Methods: A prospective investigation included 100 patients who met the inclusion criteria, given as follows: a diagnosis of SCI and administration of intravenous aminoglycosides (AG) or vancomycin with their dosing regimen determined by the Lee-Dang equation. The percentage of patients achieving therapeutic goal was determined, and the measured AG and vancomycin drug clearance (mCLDRUG) values were compared with the results that were estimated from 6 equations. Results: The Lee-Dang equation was found to be more accurate, with a smaller magnitude of variance from mCLDRUG and smaller residuals and bias compared with the alternatives. The Lee-Dang method resulted in >90% of patients achieving the steady state serum concentrations within the pre-defined goal for AG and vancomycin. All other predictive methods grossly overestimated CLCR and produced markedly lower frequency (<50%) of achieving the goal for both antimicrobials (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The prospective data shows that the Lee-Dang method for predicting CLCR is more accurate relative to the alternative methods in the study population with SCI, thus recommend using the Lee-Dang method for pharmacokinetic dosing of AG and vancomycin in SCI.
Detecting and Quantifying Insider Trading and Stock Manipulation in Asian Markets
Authors: Dissanaike Gishan , Lim Kim-Hwa
Published: August 2015

This paper focuses on insider trading, where the perpetrators exploit market sensitive information to earn profits or avoid losses. The paper's objectives are as follows. First, we seek to examine whether we can detect possible insider trading and stock manipulation and react in almost real time, even though insider trading activity is intended to be evasive. Second, we also estimate the extent of illicit profits (or loss avoidance) that might have been earned. Finally, we analyze, if detection is possible, the appropriate response for regulators and other market participants. We do not restrict our study to cases where corporate events have materialized, as we hope to capture insider trading surrounding market rumors and failed corporate events. Because insider trading is executed with the aim of being evasive and undetected, it is impossible to conclude with certainty. Nevertheless, using a hypothesized model based on how insiders and stock manipulators trade, we detect price patterns that are consistent with their objective to maximize profits and at the same time be evasive.
Economic Implications of Deeper South Asian–Southeast Asian Integration: A CGE Approach
Authors: Wignaraja Ganeshan , Morgan Peter , Plummer Michael G. , Zhai Fan
Published: August 2015

Using a computable general equilibrium model, this paper estimates the potential gains from deepening integration across South Asia and Southeast Asia. If the two regions succeed in dropping inter-regional tariffs, reducing non-tariff barriers by 50 percent, and decreasing inter-regional trade costs by 15 percent—which the paper suggests are ambitious but nevertheless attainable—welfare in South Asia and Southeast Asia would rise by 8.9 percent and 6.4 percent of GDP, respectively, by 2030. Hence, we conclude that deepening South Asian regional cooperation together with building links to Southeast Asia would pay off rich dividends.
Lessons from Thailand's Fiscal Policy
Authors: Nidhiprabha Bhanupong
Published: August 2015

If rules of fiscal sustainability are observed, available fiscal space permits effective countercyclical fiscal programs. The importance of automatic fiscal stabilizers should not be underestimated. The discretionary impact of increased public spending and tax cuts can be amplified if implemented when consumer confidence investor sentiments are high. There is no evidence to support non-Keynesian effects of fiscal policy in Thailand. Unwarranted fears of unsustainable public debt and ultra-conservative fiscal policy has cost the country a lost opportunity for achieving high growth. After the military coups in 2006 and 2014, the Thai economy experienced the lowest economic growth among ASEAN countries. The budget spent on economic services was diverted into defense, increases in public sector's wages, and income transfer payments. The opportunistic political budget model predicts higher fiscal spending by incumbent democratic governments before an election to gain votes. In the case of Thailand, such spending comes after military coups, akin to a military business cycle spending.
Global Value Chains and East Asian Trade in Value-Added
Authors: Choi Nakgyoon
Published: August 2015

The rise of global value chains (GVCs) has changed the patterns of trade in East Asia. This paper aims to analyze GVCs since the mid 1990s and to investigate the determinants of East Asian trade in value-added. At the world level, export (measured in value-added) is increasingly sensitive to the capital–labor ratio and high-skilled labor productivity. In East Asia, however, the opposite trend is seen. It is also found that free trade agreements do not promote export in East Asia, only export in intermediate goods.
Sectarian Affiliation and Gender Traditionalism
Authors: Acevedo Gabriel A. , Shah Sarah
Published: August 2015

This paper will add to the expanding scholarship in the sociology of Islam and explore the influence of Sunni-Shi’a affiliation on views of gender traditionalism. Using a subset of the World Values Survey, we contrast views towards women’s roles in society held by Sunni and Shi’a respondents in Iran, Iraq, Lebanon and Pakistan (n = 10,799). Our findings suggest that views of gender traditionalism are not solely a function of sectarian affiliation but that educational attainment, income, demographic factors and national culture are stronger and more consistent predictors of gender traditionalism than sectarian affiliation alone. We draw from theories of religious incongruence and discuss the theoretical implications of our findings. These findings suggest the need for additional research that links sociological theories of religion to the empirical study of Islam, as well as a greater emphasis on the role that social context plays in shaping Muslim public opinion.
Al-Qaida in Iraq Beyond Rhetoric
Authors: Guenther Christoph
Published: August 2015

In any contest for power, the multiple actors involved employ various strategies to convey their messages to national and international audiences. The contest for control over the state between the Iraqi government forces and Jihadist groups after 2003 has seen the latter deploy both rhetoric and particular forms of visualization to persuade their audience of the need to establish an ‘Islamic State’ in Iraq and beyond. This article evaluates the extent to which al-Qāʿida in Iraq (aqi) and its successor the ‘Islamic State of Iraq’ (isi) have tried to appeal to supporters by employing specific rhetorical and visual signs. It analyzes the group’s utopian prospects – a vision that is reinforced through rhetoric and images that play on emotions and inspire the adherents of the ‘Islamic State’.
Counting Metaphors: What Does this Reveal about Language and Thought?
Authors: Gibbs Raymond W.
Published: August 2015

Counting metaphors has become quite fashionable in metaphor research. There are numerous attempts to reliably identify metaphors in discourse and count their frequencies. These studies aim to accurately assess the prominence of metaphor in language, but also provide insights into active metaphorical thinking. My evaluation of this research suggests that there may be rough correspondences between the frequency of metaphor and the richness of metaphorical thought. At the same time, even a single verbal metaphor can fundamentally structure an entire discourse, illustrating the power of metaphor to shape how we think about many abstract ideas and events. I also describe instances in which nonmetaphorical language can also enhance metaphorical thinking, and suggest the need for new ways of measuring metaphoricity in language and thought.
Briófitas de uma área de Cerrado no município de Alagoinhas, Bahia, Brasil

Authors: Bôas-Bastos Silvana B. Vilas , Bastos Cid José Passos
Published: August 2015

In A taxonomic survey carried out in cerrado vegetation from Alagoinhas county, State of Bahia, 15 species of Bryophyta, were identified distributed into 12 genera and 9 families, and 12 species of Hepatophyta distributed in 7 genera and 2 families. Cheilolejeunea rigidula (Mont. ) Schust., Diplasiolejeunea cobrensis Gott. ex Steph., Diplasiolejeunea rudolphiana Steph., Frullanoides corticalis (Lehm. & Lindenb.) van Slag., Frullania neesii Lindenb., Lejeunea glaucescens Gott. and Leucolejeunea unciloba (Lindenb.) Evans are mentioned for the first time for Bahia and Harpalejeunea stricta (Lindenb. & Gott.) Steph. is new for Brazil.
A Supplement to the Moss Flora of Paraguay
Authors: Kuc Marian
Published: August 2015

In “A Preliminary List of the Mosses of Paraguay” Buck (1985) commented on the low level of bryological knowledge in this country. He also pointed out the need for muscological studies and encouraged collectors “to gather bryophytes whenever possible”. The present article follows this recommendation.
A Checklist of the Hepatics and Anthocerotes of Panamá
Authors: Stotler Raymond , Allen Noris Salazar , Gradstein S. Rob , McGuinness William , Whittemore Alan , Chung Clementina
Published: August 2015

A brief account of the geography and floristic regions of Panamá is complemented with an historical account of the liverwort studies of this country. This is followed by an annotated checklist of 289 taxa, including 93 new for Panamá. Among these are four hornwort taxa that represent the first anthocerotes reported. Each checklist entry comprises proper taxon citation, collection data and/or bibliographic references.
Additional Contribution to the Bryophyte Flora of Chapada Diamantina National Park, State of Bahia, Brazil

Authors: Bastos Cid José Passos , Stradmann Maria Theresa S. , Bôas-Bastos Brito Vilas
Published: August 2015

This paper represents an additional contribution toward the knowledge of a bryophyte flora of Chapada Diamantina National Park in the State of Bahia, Brazil, in which are reported 27 species of mosses belonging to 22 genera and 14 families, and four species of liverworts belonging to four genera and three families. Most of these species seem to be restricted to this high altitude geomorphological complex area.
Three new synonyms of Pohlia (Bryaceae) from China
Authors: Li Xing-Jiang , Zhang Da-Cheng
Published: August 2015

Three species of Webera and Pohlia described from China were reduced to new synonyms of other species of Pohlia. Webera ciliifera Broth. is a synonym of Pohlia elongata Hedw., W. pygmaea Broth. is a synonym of P. minor Schleich. ex Schwaegr. and P. subflexuosa Broth. is a synonym of P. flexuosa Hook.
A Checklist of the Mosses of Belize
Authors: Townsend Cliff , Allen Bruce
Published: August 2015

A survey of the limited literature on the mosses of Belize and an examination of various taxonomic revisions has been made, together with many recent collections giving rise to a list of 250 species and 13 varieties. Extensive nomenclatural changes have been made since the older contributions came into print, so that the present list will serve as a basis for future recording.
Bryophytes of Uganda. 1. BBS Tropical Bryology Group expeditions, 1996-1998. Introduction and collecting sites.

Authors: Wigginton M. J. , Porley R. D. , Hodgetts N. G.
Published: August 2015

The British Bryological Society Tropical Bryology Group (TBG) undertook three expeditions to Uganda, in Jan-Feb 1996, Jan-Feb 1997 and June-Jul 1998. Collections were made from 134 sites, mainly from national parks and forest reserves in western and southern Uganda
New bryophyte taxon records for tropical countries III
Authors: Müller Frank , Schäfer-Verwimp Alfons
Published: August 2015

New bryophyte taxon records for tropical countries III
Bryophytes of Uganda. 3. Phyllodon truncatulus (Müll. Hal.) Buck is replaced in Africa by Phyllodon truncatus (Welw. & Duby) Buck (Hypnaceae, Bryopsida).

Authors: O’Shea B. J.
Published: August 2015

All specimens in BM labelled Phyllodon truncatus or P. truncatulus have been examined, together with two new Uganda collections, and all African species conform to the type of P. truncatus, and all American species conform to the type of P. truncatulus. Buck’s (1987) assessment of this genus is supported, and it is confirmed that P. truncatulus does not occur in Africa.
Status of Gobiosoma (Teleostei: Gobiidae) from Brazil: description of a new species, redescription of G. hemigymnum, molecular phylogeny of the genus, and key to Atlantic species
Authors: TASSELL JAMES L. VAN , JOYEUX JEAN-CHRISTOPHE , MACIEIRA RAPHAEL MARIANO , TORNABENE LUKE
Published: August 2015

It is unclear how many species of Gobiosoma occur in Brazil and what their geographic distributions are. Here we combine data from a comprehensive morphological survey and a molecular analysis to clarify this uncertain taxonomy and place Brazilian Gobiosoma within a phylogenetic framework. Recent collections in Brazil, from the states of Ceará to Santa Catarina, and in Uruguay yielded two allopatric species of Gobiosoma that are distinct in genetics, meristics, morphometrics, scale pattern and coloration. Comparisons were made with types and specimens of Gobiosoma hemigymnum, Garmannia mediocricula, Gobiosoma spilotum and Gobiosoma parri and all other known species of Gobiosoma. We place G. parri in synonomy with G. hemigymnum with a distribution of Rio de Janeiro to Uruguay and Argentina. The northern species, that extends from the states of Espírito Santo to Ceará, is described as a new species, Gobiosoma alfiei. A key to the Atlantic species of Gobiosoma is provided.
The genus Labania Hedqvist 1963 (Hymenoptera, Braconidae: Doryctinae) with description of a new species from Brazil
Authors: BORTONI MARCO AURÉLIO , CASTRO CLÓVIS SORMUS DE , PENTEADO-DIAS ANGÉLICA MARIA
Published: August 2015

In this paper a new species of doryctine wasp of the small and rarely collected genus Labania Hedqvist (Braconidae: Doryctinae) is described and illustrated from Brazil. Labania carolinae sp.n. is similar to Labania minuta Marsh, but it can be easily distinguished by the head yellow, with stemmaticum black, mesosoma and metasoma yellow, legs whitish yellow, propodeum with distinct areola, fore wing vein 1cu-a interstitial with 1M, and long ovipositor.
A revision of the South American genus Metecia Snellen (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae, Noctuinae)
Authors: NAVARRO FERNANDO R. , BARRIONUEVO M. JOSE , BLAS GERMAN SAN
Published: August 2015

The genus Metecia Snellen (Noctuidae. Noctuinae) from Southern Argentina and Chile is redescribed and three species are recognized: M. cornifrons Snellen, M. lacustris (Köhler) n. comb., and M. hypothetica (Köhler) n. comb. In addition, Euxoa pampeana Köhler is synonymized with Metecia cornifrons. Adults and male and female genitalia are described and illustrated for the first time, and a key to the species is provided.
Wind Measurements from Arc Scans with Doppler Wind Lidar
Authors: Wang H. , Barthelmie R. J. , Clifton A. , Pryor S. C.
Published: August 2015

Defining optimal scanning geometries for scanning lidars for wind energy applications remains an active field of research. This paper evaluates uncertainties associated with arc scan geometries and presents recommendations regarding optimal configurations in the atmospheric boundary layer. The analysis is based on arc scan data from a Doppler wind lidar with one elevation angle and seven azimuth angles spanning 30° and focuses on an estimation of 10-min mean wind speed and direction. When flow is horizontally uniform, this approach can provide accurate wind measurements required for wind resource assessments in part because of its high resampling rate. Retrieved wind velocities at a single range gate exhibit good correlation to data from a sonic anemometer on a nearby meteorological tower, and vertical profiles of horizontal wind speed, though derived from range gates located on a conical surface, match those measured by mast-mounted cup anemometers. Uncertainties in the retrieved wind velocity are related to high turbulent wind fluctuation and an inhomogeneous horizontal wind field. The radial velocity variance is found to be a robust measure of the uncertainty of the retrieved wind speed because of its relationship to turbulence properties. It is further shown that the standard error of wind speed estimates can be minimized by increasing the azimuthal range beyond 30° and using five to seven azimuth angles.
Community Variations in Low-Income Latino Families’ Technology Adoption and Integration
Authors: Katz Vikki S. , Gonzalez Carmen
Published: August 2015

Constrained access to the Internet and new communication technologies is commonly associated with social disparities related to income, education, immigration status, age, and geography. Policymakers in many sectors—and particularly, in education—have placed their bets on increased technology access having the potential to mitigate broader social disparities. In the context of a national digital equity initiative, this study examines how parents and children of low-income Latino families incorporate new technologies into their everyday lives. Through a comparison of three demographically similar communities where discounted broadband is being offered to low-income families with school-age children, we take a bottom-up, communication-centered perspective on a top-down technology policy. Our ecological approach considers the intersection of macro- and meso-level factors that influence Latino families’ perceptions of technology and that shape their consequent adoption and integration decisions.
Localized Use of Information and Communication Technologies in Seoul’s Urban Neighborhoods
Authors: Kim Yong-Chan , Shin Eui-Kyung
Published: August 2015

Theoretically guided by communication infrastructure theory and theory of planned behavior, this study has two aims: to assess the experiences and intentions of Seoul residents with regard to their localized use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) and to identify the factors influencing those experiences and intentions. Online survey data ( n = 901) were collected from adult residents of Seoul in the summer of 2013. The results indicate that various ICT channels (especially websites, online news sites, blogs, online cafés, and smartphone apps) could potentially be customized to serve urban neighborhoods. Positive attitudes and subjective norms related to localized ICT use behavior were significant factors for use of almost all ICT channels considered in the current study. Individuals’ integrated connectedness to community storytelling network was a consistently significant and positive factor in relation to both experience and intention of localized uses of ICTs. Among four community engagement variables included in the current study, community activity participation was associated with the experience (but not with the intention) of localized ICT uses.
Prevalence and risk factors for violent behavior in young people presenting with first-episode psychosis in Hong Kong: A 3-year follow-up study
Authors: Chang Wing Chung , Chan Sherina Suet In , Hui Christy Lai Ming , Chan Sherry Kit Wa , Lee Edwin Ho Ming , Chen Eric Yu Hai
Published: August 2015

Objective:

The aim of the current study was to examine the rates of violence prior to and 3 years following treatment initiation, and predictors of post-treatment violence in Chinese young people presenting with first-episode psychosis (FEP).

Method:

Seven hundred patients aged 15–25 years consecutively enrolled in a territory-wide early intervention program for FEP in Hong Kong from July 2001 to August 2003 were studied. Socio-demographic, pre-treatment, baseline and 3-year follow-up variables were collected via systematic medical file review. Violent behavior was defined as physical aggression towards people and was further categorized at two levels of severity.

Results:

After onset of psychosis, 6.7% ( n = 47) patients exhibited violence before treatment. During 3-year treatment period, 9.4% ( n = 66) committed violent behavior and 4.3% ( n = 30) perpetrated serious violence. Two-fifths (40.4%) of patients who displayed pre-treatment violent behavior engaged in further act of violence after service contact. Multivariate regression analysis showed that previous violence, male gender and lower educational attainment were significantly associated with an increased risk of violence during 3-year follow-up. Comorbid substance, male gender, lower educational level and past history of violence were found to independently predict occurrence of serious violence after commencement of treatment for FEP.

Conclusions:

In a large representative cohort of Chinese young FEP patients, the rates of violent behavior before and after treatment were relatively lower than that reported in the literature. Risk factors for violence identified by the current study were comparable to the findings of previous research conducted in western populations. Close monitoring of patients with history of violence and specific treatments targeting at minimizing substance abuse may facilitate early identification and intervention of high-risk cases to reduce violence risk in the early course of illness.
‘Rural–Urban Alliance’ as a new model for post-disaster social work intervention in community reconstruction: The case in Sichuan, China
Authors: Ku Hok Bun , Ma Yu Na
Published: August 2015

On 12 May 2008, a huge earthquake struck Wenchuan county in Sichuan province, China. Since that time, we have worked together with the local community, implementing an alternative model of community reconstruction. Our ‘rural–urban alliance’ is an action research project devoted to post-disaster community rebuilding, which not only restores local livelihoods but also creates sustainable economic development. This article examines the role of social workers in disaster intervention, the theoretical background of our new model and the history of the intervention itself.
Using arts-based research to help visualize community intervention in international aid
Authors: Huss Ephrat , Kaufman Roni , Avgar Amos , Shouker Eytan
Published: August 2015

This article discusses the advantages of arts-based research specifically for high-context, culturally diverse, power-infused, and chaotic or diffuse research settings as often found in international aid. It points to the ability of arts to concretize abstract concepts and to situate them within specific socio-cultural locations, enabling powerless groups to self-define and to adjust resilience-enhancing interventions to their own perceptions. The arts-based method as an indirect form of communication is shown to be effective in changing stands of power holders and experts, enabling a dialogue that creates culturally sustainable aid. The model used in this article is demonstrated and discussed.
Shielding effectiveness of carbon-filled polypropylene composites
Authors: King Julia A , Pisani William A , Klimek-McDonald Danielle R , Perger Warren F , Odegard Gregory M , Turpeinen Dylan G
Published: August 2015

Adding conductive carbon fillers to insulating thermoplastic resins increases composite shielding effectiveness. In this study, varying amounts of three different carbons (carbon black, synthetic graphite particles, and carbon nanotubes) were added to polypropylene resin. The resulting single filler composites were tested for shielding effectiveness. The effects of single fillers and combinations of two different carbon fillers were studied via a factorial design. At the highest single filler loadings, the following shielding effectiveness results were obtained at 800 MHz: 23.4 dB for 10 wt% carbon black/polypropylene, 34.7 dB for 70 wt% synthetic graphite/polypropylene, and 45.9 dB for 15 wt% carbon nanotubes/polypropylene. The factorial results indicated that for the composites containing only single fillers, carbon nanotubes, carbon black, and synthetic graphite cause a statistically significant increase in composite shielding effectiveness. All composites containing combinations of two different fillers had a statistically significant effect which increased shielding effectiveness. The shielding effectiveness values for the 2.5 wt% carbon black/65 wt% synthetic graphite/polypropylene and 65 wt% synthetic graphite/6 wt% carbon nanotubes/polypropylene composites are >60 dB, which is higher than that of many metals.
Oxidative Stress and IgG Antibody Modify Periodontitis-CRP Association
Authors: Singer R.E. , Moss K. , Kim S.J. , Beck J.D. , Offenbacher S.
Published: August 2015

In a previous report, we demonstrated the inverse association of high serum 8-isoprostane levels, a marker for oxidative stress, with decreased serum IgG antibodies to oral bacteria. The association between increased serum IgG with increased plaque and periodontitis (increased probing depths) was attenuated by high systemic oxidative stress. Other investigations have reported a role for systemic oxidative stress as a stimulus of hepatic C-reactive protein (CRP) response. These observations led us to hypothesize that the reported relationship of periodontitis to elevated serum CRP, a systemic inflammatory marker, may be modified by oxidative stress and that the levels of serum antibodies to oral bacteria might be an intermediary explanatory variable linking the association of systemic oxidative stress, periodontal disease, and levels of CRP. This hypothesis was explored as a secondary analysis of the Dental ARIC (Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities) study using serum levels of CRP, serum IgG levels to 16 oral organisms, serum levels of 8-isoprostane, and periodontal status. The findings indicate periodontitis is associated with high CRP in the presence of elevated oxidative stress that serves to suppress the IgG response. Only within the highest 8-isoprostane quartile was periodontitis (pocket depth) associated with increased serum CRP levels ( P = 0.0003). Increased serum IgG antibody levels to oral bacteria were associated with lowered serum CRP levels. Thus, systemic oxidative stress, which has been demonstrated to be associated with increased levels of CRP in other studies, appears to be associated with the suppression of bacterial-specific IgG levels, which in the presence of periodontal disease can result in an enhanced systemic CRP response. Conversely, individuals with increased serum IgG antibodies to plaque bacteria exhibit lowered serum CRP levels. These 2 factors, oxidative stress and the serum IgG response, appear to function in opposing directions to modify serum levels of CRP and the association with periodontitis.
‘We are very focused on the muffins’: Regulation of and compliance with industrial relations in franchises
Authors: Kellner Ashlea , Peetz David , Townsend Keith , Wilkinson Adrian
Published: August 2015

The highly successful franchising approach contains features of both large and small firms. We develop a ‘diverse accountabilities’ model of franchise organisation of employment relations, acknowledging the limitations of agency theory in explaining differences between franchisors’ treatment of product and employment matters, particularly those associated with compliance with industrial legislation and awards. The model was broadly consistent with existing literature and our own multiple-case study of Australian food franchises. High rates of compliance with industrial relations (IR) standards were unlikely. The involvement of franchisors in franchisees’ IR activities appeared to vary substantially, but was always well below that provided in other human resource management (HRM) or product-related issues. Evaluation and monitoring of franchisee behaviour is often neglected, and instead the consequences of non-compliance, if discovered, are potentially serious for the franchisee. Our approach helps explain the treatment of IR in terms of financial benefits for franchisors of operating a business model with marketing and product management features – and to some extent HRM features – of a large business, but the IR characteristics of small businesses.
Designing for Improvement in Professional Development for Community College Developmental Mathematics Faculty
Authors: Edwards Ann R. , Sandoval Carlos , McNamara Haley
Published: August 2015

More than 60% of the nation’s 14 million community college students are required to complete at least one developmental mathematics class before enrolling in college-credit courses; however, 80% of them do not successfully complete any college-level mathematics course within 3 years. To address this problem, the Community College Pathways initiative was launched in 2009. A core element is the Pathways Faculty Support Program, professional development aimed at supporting faculty to develop knowledge, beliefs, skills, and practices for teaching Pathways courses. In fall 2014, a redesign of the program used improvement science methods to design an infrastructure for responsive, flexible professional development that is sensitive to varying and changing conditions, with mechanisms for identifying, designing, and testing ideas for improvement. Specifically, our team employed a user-centered design process that foregrounds the needs and work processes of Pathways faculty and a measurement system that drives the continuous improvement of the program.
Moving up and moving out: The re-location of elite and middle-class schools from central London to the suburbs
Authors: Gamsu Sol
Published: August 2015

This paper examines the role re-location has played in shaping the status of elite and middle-class schools in and around London. A Bourdieusian lens is applied to understand the institutional trajectories of 51 schools which moved from central London out to the suburbs and beyond between the 1860s and 1970s. It is argued that this strategy served to maintain, reinforce and create institutional prestige within the ‘field’ of schools serving the upper and middle classes. These re-locations have had a lasting effect on London’s school system, pushing key institutions of elite social reproduction outwards and away from the city centre. In discussing the motivations for re-location, Bourdieu’s (1996) theory of field and elite formation is used with specific reference to urban change, thus developing a Bourdieusian-historical approach to understanding the geography of social reproduction (Thiem, 2009). The focus on London also sets these re-locations in the context of broader socio-spatial shifts within the British upper and middle classes, in which new social formations were emerging, with an aristocratic-financial elite concentrated in the south-east of England (Anderson, 1964; Rubinstein, 1977). Re-location formed part of a broader process of urban and socio-economic transformation which created a powerful educational infrastructure for the upper and middle classes in and around London.
Transforming transport planning in the postpolitical era
Authors: Legacy Crystal
Published: August 2015

The aim of this paper is to examine how the postpolitical era of planning has created both binaries and intersections in the reimaging of transport futures and how the latter precipitates a redefinition of democratic transport prioritisation. Focusing particularly on the point in the transport planning process when urban transport priorities are identified, the paper explores how citizens respond to the inherently political, yet not always democratic, aspects of setting transport investment priorities. This relationship is investigated through a single case study of Melbourne, Australia where a six km inner city road tunnel was deemed a ‘done deal’ by elected officials in the lead up to a state election, removing the controversial project from open public scrutiny. Drawing upon ethnographic research and semi-structured interviews with community campaigners opposing the proposed East West Link road tunnel, this analysis reveals how community-based groups and individual residents alike can evolve beyond NIMBY-focused agitation to garner a spatially dispersed re-politicisation of urban transport priorities. While the postpolitical framing of infrastructure delivery introduces a binary between state interventionist planning and citizen opposition, it is the mobilisation of action through the spaces of intersection where new political paradigms for transport planning are created.
Detecting Latent Heterogeneity
Authors: Pearl Judea
Published: August 2015

We address the task of determining, from statistical averages alone, whether a population under study consists of several subpopulations, unknown to the investigator, each responding to a given treatment markedly differently. We show that such determination is feasible in three cases: (1) randomized trials with binary treatments, (2) models where treatment effects can be identified by adjustment for covariates, and (3) models in which treatment effects can be identified by mediating instruments. In each of these cases, we provide an explicit condition which, if confirmed empirically, proves that treatment effect is not uniform but varies appreciably across individuals.
Building a Midwest Cultural Capital
Authors: Engstrom Susannah
Published: August 2015

In the late 1950s and early 1960s, the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul faced an urban crisis similar to that of many American cities, as a growing ring of suburbs attracted residents and businesses out of the cities and increasingly deprived their urban centers of vitality and wealth. In addition to employing traditional urban renewal programs, a coalition of Twin City cultural, business, and political leaders turned to the arts, and in particular a brand new, high-profile theater institution, as a way to reinvigorate the local economy, craft a distinct identity as a “creative” urban center, and contribute to the development of the Upper Midwest region. This article focuses on these leaders’ underlying assumptions regarding the purpose and operation of the arts, particularly their expectations for professionalism and businesslike management, and the effect of this approach on the cultural landscape that resulted.
Student and Instructor Use of the Teacher Behavior Checklist
Authors: Stigall Logan , Blincoe Sarai
Published: August 2015

Despite the demonstrated reliability and validity of the Teacher Behavior Checklist (TBC) as a tool for evaluating postsecondary instructors, research has yet to consider the impact of student, instructor, and course factors on TBC ratings. Additionally, it is unknown whether different evaluation sources converge when the TBC is used. This study examined self- and student ratings of 35 instructors. The same characteristics that affect student ratings using other instrumentation impact student evaluation via the TBC. Further, several course and instructor variables impacted instructor self-evaluations. Instructor self-ratings did not correlate significantly with the ratings provided by the students. The implications of the findings for using the TBC for formative and summative assessment are discussed.
Outcomes of care at ‘Føderiket Midwifery Unit’ 2007–2011, a freestanding midwifery-led unit in Oslo, Norway: A prospective cohort study
Authors: Huitfeldt Anette Schaumburg , Voldner Nanna , Blix Ellen
Published: August 2015

The aim of this study was to provide a description and evaluation of birth outcomes for women who started care at Føderiket Midwifery Unit (FMU), a freestanding midwifery unit in Oslo. FMU opened in 2007 as a five-year project. It was closed in 2011 for economic reasons, and the planned evaluations were never performed. Data from 495 women who started care at FMU were prospectively collected. Socio-demographic characteristics, transfers to hospital, maternal and neonatal outcomes were described. The findings showed that 115 (23%) of the women were primiparous and 380 (77%) multiparous. A total of 408 women (82%) had no complications and no need for additional medical treatment during labour and birth. There were 73 (15%) transfers before birth, and 14 (3%) after birth. Nine women (2%) were delivered by caesarean section and 19 (4%) by vacuum extraction. Thirty women (6%) had postpartum haemorrhage >500 ml and five (1%) received blood transfusions. Five babies (1%) were transferred to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, all were discharged to their homes within a week. There were no cases of deaths, or serious morbidity. Our conclusions are that the results after four years management were comparable to other freestanding midwifery-led units in Western countries.
A Comparison of Preferred Urban Administrative Dispositions Between Constituency Groups
Authors: Pregot Michael
Published: August 2015

This research study analyzes preferred leadership dispositions for teachers, parents, and school leaders. Respondents selected their most preferred dispositions from a list of 20 (Interstate School Leaders Licensure Consortium) leadership standards. Similarities and differences were discerned among the constituent groups. School leaders, teachers, and parents were strongly correlated in their aggregate ranked preferences yet data evidenced unique differences expressed by each group. As a result of the findings, there are inferences suggested for school leaders to consider in their leadership role.
A preliminary study on the variability of blood glucose following meal consumption as it relates to differences in oral glucose tolerance in young adults
Authors: Hopper Mari K , Koch Carynn E , Koch Jenny L
Published: August 2015

Insulin resistance (IR) affects the ability to maintain normal glycemia and places one at greater risk of the development of disease. The aim of this study was to assess IR via the administration of an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and then determine the relationship between IR and postprandial blood glucose levels in young adults 19–24 years of age. Following a 10 hour fast, 10 men and 10 women completed an OGTT and in three subsequent weeks consumed high, medium, and low glycemic load (GL) meals in random order. Fasted and two-hour (2 h) blood glucose levels were determined. Height, weight, and waist circumference were measured and subjects completed a questionnaire recording recent weight gain, family history of diabetes, and physical fitness. Although all fasted blood glucose levels were normal, two subjects classified as impaired glucose tolerant based on 2 h OGTT values >140 mg/dL. OGTT and high glycemic load meal 2 h blood glucose levels were highly significantly correlated ( p = 0.0012). Significantly higher blood glucose levels were also found in women, high BMI, low fitness, and rapid weight gain groups. Although limited by a small sample, these preliminary data suggest that glycemic response to meal ingestion is based on both the GL of the meal and the individual’s level of IR.
Validity theory: Reform policies, accountability testing, and consequences
Authors: Chalhoub-Deville Micheline
Published: August 2015

Educational policies such as Race to the Top in the USA affirm a central role for testing systems in government-driven reform efforts. Such reform policies are often referred to as the global education reform movement (GERM). Changes observed with the GERM style of testing demand socially engaged validity theories that include consequential research. The article revisits the Standards and Kane’s interpretive argument (IA) and argues that the role envisioned for consequences remains impoverished. Guided by theory of action, the article presents a validity framework, which targets policy-driven assessments and incorporates a social role for consequences. The framework proposes a coherent system that makes explicit the interconnections among policy ambitions, testing functions, and the levels/sectors that are affected. The article calls for integrating consequences into technical quality documentation, demands a more realistic delineation of stakeholders and their roles, and compels engagement in policy research.
Behavioral Issues in B2C E-commerce
Authors: Huseynov Farid , Yıldırım Sevgi Özkan
Published: August 2015

B2C e-commerce is one of the fastest growing industries worldwide. A lot of studies were carried out by both scholars and practitioners in order to assess online consumers’ behavioral issues in B2C e-commerce platforms. This paper aims to organize and classify the accumulated literature on B2C e-commerce in order to determine less-researched areas and provide future research directions. For that purpose 208 peer-reviewed articles from 71 journals published between 2005 and 2014 were retrieved and analyzed. The findings of the studies are discussed within the scope of developed framework.
Immunohistochemical Expression of Cyclin D1, Cytokeratin 20, and Uroplakin III in Proliferative Urinary Bladder Lesions Induced by o-Nitroanisole in Fischer 344/N Rats
Authors: Willson C. J. , Flake G. P. , Sills R. C. , Kissling G. E. , Cesta M. F.
Published: August 2015

o-Nitroanisole is an intermediate in the manufacture of azo dyes. In a National Toxicology Program stop-exposure study, o-nitroanisole induced hyperplasia, papillomas, and papillary carcinomas in the urinary bladder of Fischer 344/N rats. o-Nitroanisole was investigated since occupational or environmental exposure to aniline and azo dyes is a risk factor for urinary bladder cancer in humans. The current study describes the morphology of urinary bladder neoplasms seen in rats with respect to those observed in humans. This study also evaluated immunohistochemical expression of the cell cycle–related proteins cyclin D1 and p53 and the differentiation markers cytokeratin 20 and uroplakin III in hyperplastic ( n = 11) and neoplastic ( n = 6 papillomas, n = 11 carcinomas) lesions of the urinary bladder epithelium from rats treated with o-nitroanisole and in normal ( n = 6) urinary bladders from untreated rats. The tumors observed were more similar to the papillary type rather than the muscle-invasive type of urinary bladder cancer in humans. The preneoplastic and neoplastic lesions observed suggest progression from hyperplasia to papilloma to papillary carcinoma. With neoplastic progression (hyperplasia to papilloma to carcinoma), cyclin D1 immunoreactivity progressively increased in intensity, percentage of cells staining, and distribution. Overexpression of p53 was not found. Cytokeratin 20 staining decreased in superficial cells, while uroplakin III staining increased in intermediate and basal cells with progression from hyperplasia to carcinoma. The results are consistent with increased cell cycle dysregulation or proliferation (cyclin D1), decreased differentiation (cytokeratin 20), and abnormal differentiation (uroplakin III) as lesions progress toward malignancy.
A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Yoga and Mindfulness Meditation in Prison
Authors: Auty Katherine M. , Cope Aiden , Liebling Alison
Published: August 2015

This article presents results from a systematic review and two meta-analyses that examine whether prison yoga and meditation programs are significantly related to increased psychological well-being and improvements in the behavioural functioning of prisoners. Comprehensive searches of the empirical literature were conducted up to December 2014. Participants who completed yoga or meditation program in prison experienced a small increase in their psychological well-being (Cohen’s d = 0.46, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [0.39, 0.54]) and a small improvement in their behavioural functioning (Cohen’s d = 0.30, 95% CI = [0.20, 0.40]). Moderator analyses suggested that there was a significant difference in effect sizes for programs of longer duration and less intensity, compared with those that were shorter and more intensive, for psychological well-being. Programs of longer duration had a slightly larger positive effect on behavioural functioning ( d = 0.424), compared with more intensive programs ( d = 0.418). Overall, the evidence suggests that yoga and meditation have favourable effects on prisoners.
Geographies of labour in the third sector: making Hybrid Workforces in Place
Authors: Halford Susan , Leonard Pauline , Bruce Katie
Published: August 2015

This article aims to explore the geographies of labour in the third sector as these are constituted at the intersection of the multiple social, economic and cultural processes that intersect in place. Whilst previous research has examined either geographies of voluntarism or spatial divisions of paid labour in the sector, we draw on ‘the new sociology of work’ to offer a framework that recognises the interdependencies of paid and unpaid work in the sector as these are produced and reproduced in time and place. Taking an organizational lens, we explore the everyday activities of volunteers and paid staff in three very different parts of the UK: a deprived town in the North of England, a Welsh coastal village and the East End of London. Our findings show that (i) understanding the hybrid nature of the third sector workforce, and (ii) as this is made in particular places offers insights to the capacity of the sector ‘on the ground’ that should be taken into account in shaping political and policy ambitions for the sector that are more often articulated at a national scale.