bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
AlmostSignificant: Simplifying quality control of high-throughput sequencing data
Authors: Ward Joseph , Cole Christian , Febrer Melanie , Barton Geoffrey
Published: May 2016

Motivation

The current generation of DNA sequencing technologies produce a large amount of data quickly. All of these data need to pass some form of quality control processing and checking before they can be used for any analysis. The large number of samples that are run through Illumina sequencing machines makes the process of quality control an onerous and time-consuming task that requires multiple pieces of information from several sources.

Results

AlmostSignificant is an open-source platform for aggregating multiple sources of quality metrics as well as meta-data associated with DNA sequencing runs from Illumina sequencing machines. AlmostSignificant is a graphical platform to streamline the quality control of DNA sequencing data, to collect and store these data for future reference and to collect extra meta-data associated with the sequencing runs to check for errors and monitor the volume of data produced by the associated machines. AlmostSignificant has been used to track the quality of over 80 sequencing runs covering over 2500 samples produced over the last three years.

Availability

The code and documentation for AlmostSignificant is freely available athttps://github.com/bartongroup/AlmostSignificant.

Contact

c.cole@dundee.ac.uk,g.j.barton@dundee.ac.uk
“A balancing act”: host leadership as a model for the police force
Authors: McKergow Mark , Miller Chris
Published: May 2016

Purpose

This paper aims to explore a new way of thinking about leadership within the police force, moving away from the metaphor of the “hero” and focusing on the idea of a “host” leader.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses the College of Policing Leadership Review (2015) to examine current approaches to leadership within the police force and considers how host leadership methods could benefit police at all levels.

Findings

There is a long-term challenge for the police force, as initial selection tends to test for heroic skills, whereas engagement and consensus building then become more important. As the need for more team-based, engaging approaches continues to drive leadership thinking in the UK’s police service, populating the service with individuals who are adept at drawing out the best in their teams, without treating them as foot soldiers, is crucial.

Originality/value

This paper is an original piece of research from Dr McKergow and Mr Miller.
Free convection in a square porous cavity filled with a nanofluid using thermal non equilibrium and Buongiorno models
Authors: Pop Ioan , Ghalambaz Mohammad , Sheremet Mikhail
Published: May 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to theoretically analysis the steady-state natural convection flow and heat transfer of nanofluids in a square enclosure filled with a porous medium saturated with a nanofluid considering local thermal non-equilibrium (LTNE) effects. Different local temperatures for the solid phase of the nanoparticles, the solid phase of porous matrix and the liquid phase of the base fluid are taken into account.

Design/methodology/approach

– The Buongiorno’s model, incorporating the Brownian motion and thermophoresis effects, is utilized to take into account the migration of nanoparticles. Using appropriate non-dimensional variables, the governing equations are transformed into the non-dimensional form, and the finite element method is utilized to solve the governing equations.

Findings

– The results show that the increase of buoyancy ratio parameter (Nr) decreases the magnitude of average Nusselt number. The increase of the nanoparticles-fluid interface heat transfer parameter (Nhp) increases the average Nusselt number for nanoparticles and decreases the average Nusselt number for the base fluid. The nanofluid and porous matrix with large values of modified thermal capacity ratios (γ
p
and γ
s
) are of interest for heat transfer applications.

Originality/value

– The three phases of nanoparticles, base fluid and the porous matrix are in the LTNE. The effect of mass transfer of nanoparticles due to the Brownian motion and thermophoresis effects are also taken into account.
Nonlinear eigenvalue problem in the integral transforms solution of convection-diffusion with nonlinear boundary conditions
Authors: Cotta Renato M , Naveira-Cotta Carolina Palma , Knupp Diego C.
Published: May 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to propose the generalized integral transform technique (GITT) to the solution of convection-diffusion problems with nonlinear boundary conditions by employing the corresponding nonlinear eigenvalue problem in the construction of the expansion basis.

Design/methodology/approach

– The original nonlinear boundary condition coefficients in the problem formulation are all incorporated into the adopted eigenvalue problem, which may be itself integral transformed through a representative linear auxiliary problem, yielding a nonlinear algebraic eigenvalue problem for the associated eigenvalues and eigenvectors, to be solved along with the transformed ordinary differential system. The nonlinear eigenvalues computation may also be accomplished by rewriting the corresponding transcendental equation as an ordinary differential system for the eigenvalues, which is then simultaneously solved with the transformed potentials.

Findings

– An application on one-dimensional transient diffusion with nonlinear boundary condition coefficients is selected for illustrating some important computational aspects and the convergence behavior of the proposed eigenfunction expansions. For comparison purposes, an alternative solution with a linear eigenvalue problem basis is also presented and implemented.

Originality/value

– This novel approach can be further extended to various classes of nonlinear convection-diffusion problems, either already solved by the GITT with a linear coefficients basis, or new challenging applications with more involved nonlinearities.
Analysis of entropy generation in an inclined channel flow containing two immiscible micropolar fluids using HAM
Authors: Srinivas J. , Murthy J.V. Ramana , Chamkha Ali J
Published: May 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the flow, heat transfer and entropy generation characteristics for an inclined channel of two immiscible micropolar fluids.

Design/methodology/approach

– The flow region consists of two zones, the flow of the heavier fluid taking place in the lower zone. The flow is assumed to be governed by Eringen’s micropolar fluid flow equation. The resulting governing equations are then solved using the homotopy analysis method.

Findings

– The following findings are concluded: first, the entropy generation rate is more near the plates in both the zones as compared to that of the interface. This indicates that the friction due to surface on the fluids increases entropy generation rate. Second, the entropy generation rate is more near the plate in Zone I than that of Zone II. This may be due to the fact that the fluid in Zone I is more viscous. This indicates the more the viscosity of the fluid is, the more the entropy generation. Third, Bejan number is the maximum at the interface of the fluids. This indicates that the amount of exergy (available energy) is maximum and irreversibility is minimized at the interface between the fluids. Fourth, as micropolarity increases, entropy generation rate near the plates decreases and irreversibility decreases. This indicates an important industrial application for micropolar fluids to use them as a good lubricant.

Originality/value

– The problem is original as no work has been reported on entropy generation in an inclined channel with two immiscible micropolar fluids.
Multi-scale thermal modeling of glass interposer for mobile electronics application
Authors: Cho Sangbeom , Sundaram Venky , Tummala Rao , Joshi Yogendra
Published: May 2016

Purpose

– The functionality of personal mobile electronics continues to increase, in turn driving the demand for higher logic-to-memory bandwidth. However, the number of inputs/outputs supported by the current packaging technology is limited by the smallest achievable electrical line spacing, and the associated noise performance. Also, a growing trend in mobile systems is for the memory chips to be stacked to address the growing demand for memory bandwidth, which in turn gives rise to heat removal challenges. The glass interposer substrate is a promising packaging technology to address these emerging demands, because of its many advantages over the traditional organic substrate technology. However, glass has a fundamental limitation, namely low thermal conductivity (∼1 W/m K). The purpose of this paper is to quantify the thermal performance of glass interposer-based electronic packages by solving a multi-scale heat transfer problem for an interposer structure. Also, this paper studies the possible improvement in thermal performance by integrating a fluidic heat spreader or vapor chamber within the interposer.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper illustrates the multi-scale modeling approach applied for different components of the interposer, including Through Package Vias (TPVs) and copper traces. For geometrically intricate and repeating structures, such as interconnects and TPVs, the unit cell effective thermal conductivity approach was used. For non-repeating patterns, such as copper traces in redistribution layer, CAD drawing-based thermal resistance network analysis was used. At the end, the thermal performance of vapor chamber integrated within a glass interposer was estimated by using an enhanced effective thermal conductivity, calculated from the published thermal resistance data, in conjunction with the analytical expression for thermal resistance for a given geometry of the vapor chamber.

Findings

– The limitations arising from the low thermal conductivity of glass can be addressed by using copper structures and vapor chamber technology.

Originality/value

– A few reports can be found on thermal performance of glass interposers. However thermal characteristics of glass interposer with advanced cooling technology have not been reported.
CFD simulations of transport phenomena during transcritical flow of real fluid (CO2) within ejector
Authors: Nowak Andrzej J , Palacz Michal , Smolka Jacek , Banasiak Krzysztof , Bulinski Zbigniew , Fic Adam , Hafner Armin
Published: May 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to overview successful approaches to the computational simulation of real fluid (R744 – carbon dioxide (CO2)) flow within an ejector is presented. Important issues such as the ejector geometry and its optimisation, the adapted equations of state and the proposed models of the process, fluid parameters, etc., are examined and critically discussed. Whenever possible, the discussed models are experimentally validated. In the conclusion, some trends in future research are pointed out.

Design/methodology/approach

– Flow within CO2 ejector is generally transcritical and compressible. Models existing in the literature are shortly described and critically compared. Whenever possible, those models were validated against the experimental data. In a model validation process, the primary and secondary mass flow rates as well as the pressures at the selected points in the mixing section and diffuser were compared, showing a satisfactory agreement between experimental and computational results.

Findings

– Developed CO2 ejector flow models are tested in few industrial applications. All these initiatives bring solutions which are interesting and very promising from technological point of view.

Originality/value

– This is an extensive overview of successful approaches to computational simulation of the real fluid (R744 – CO2) flow within ejector. It brings many useful information.
Improving a conjugate-heat-transfer immersed-boundary method
Authors: De Marinis Dario , de Tullio Marco Donato , Napolitano Michele , Pascazio Giuseppe
Published: May 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to provide the current state of the art in the development of a computer code combining an immersed boundary method with a conjugate heat transfer (CHT) approach, including some new findings. In particular, various treatments of the fluid-solid-interface conditions are compared in order to determine the most accurate one. Most importantly, the method is capable of computing a challenging three dimensional compressible turbulent flow past an air cooled turbine vane.

Design/methodology/approach

– The unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (URANS) equations are solved within the fluid domain, whereas the heat conduction equation is solved within the solid one, using the same spatial discretization and time-marching scheme. At the interface boundary, the temperatures and heat fluxes within the fluid and the solid are set to be equal using three different approximations.

Findings

– This work provides an accurate and efficient code for solving three dimensional CHT problems, such as the flow through an air cooled gas turbine cascade, using a coupled immersed boundary (IB) CHT methodology. A one-to-one comparison of three different interface-condition approximations has shown that the two multidimensional ones are slightly superior to the early treatment based on a single direction and that the one based on a least square reconstruction of the solution near the IB minimizes the oscillations caused by the Cartesian grid. This last reconstruction is then used to compute a compressible turbulent flow of industrial interest, namely, that through an air cooled gas turbine cascade. Another interesting finding is that the very promising approach based on wall functions does not combine favourably with the interface conditions for the temperature and the heat flux. Therefore, current and future work aims at developing and testing appropriate temperature wall functions, in order to further improve the accuracy – for a given grid – or the efficiency – for a given accuracy – of the proposed methodology.

Originality/value

– An accurate and efficient IB CHT method, using a state of the art URANS parallel solver, has been developed and tested. In particular, a detailed study has elucidated the influence of different interface treatments of the fluid-solid boundary upon the accuracy of the computations. Last but not least, the method has been applied with success to solve the well-known CHT problem of compressible turbulent flow past the C3X turbine guide vane.
Comparison of heat transfer characteristics of aviation kerosene flowing in smooth and enhanced mini tubes at supercritical pressures
Authors: Sunden Bengt Ake , Wu Zan , Huang Dan
Published: May 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to numerically investigate the heat transfer performance of aviation kerosene flowing in smooth and enhanced tubes with asymmetric fins at supercritical pressures and to reveal the effects of several key parameters, such as mass flow rate, heat flux, pressure and inlet temperature on the heat transfer.

Design/methodology/approach

– A CFD approach is taken and the strong variations of the thermo-physical properties as the critical point is passed are taken into account. The RNG k-ε model is applied for simulating turbulent flow conditions.

Findings

– The numerical results reveal that the heat transfer coefficient increases with increasing mass flow rate and inlet temperature. The effect of heat flux on heat transfer is more complicated, while the effect of pressure on heat transfer is insignificant. The considered asymmetric fins have a small effect on the fluid temperature, but the wall temperature is reduced significantly by the asymmetric fins compared to that of the corresponding smooth tube. As a result, the asymmetric finned tube leads to a significant heat transfer enhancement (an increase in the heat transfer coefficient about 23-41 percent). The enhancement might be caused by the re-development of velocity and temperature boundary layers in the enhanced tubes. With the asymmetric fins, the pressure loss in the enhanced tubes is slightly larger than that in the smooth tube. A thermal performance factor is applied for combined evaluation of heat transfer enhancement and pressure loss.

Research limitations/implications

– The asymmetric fins also caused an increased pressure loss. A thermal performance factor ? was used for combined evaluation of heat transfer enhancement and pressure loss. Results show that the two enhanced tubes perform better than the smooth tube. The enhanced tube 2 gave better overall heat transfer performance than the enhanced tube 1. It is suggested that the geometric parameters of the asymmetric fins should be optimized to further improve the thermal performance and also various structures need to be investigated.

Practical implications

– The asymmetric fins increased the pressure loss. The evaluation of heat transfer enhancement and pressure loss Results showed that the two enhanced tubes perform better than the smooth tube. It is suggested that the geometric parameters of the asymmetric fins should be optimized to further improve the thermal performance and also various structures need to be investigated to make the results more engineering useful.

Originality/value

– The paper presents unique solutions for thermal performance of a fluid at near critical state in smooth and enhanced tubes. The findings are of relevance for design and thermal optimization particularly in aerospace applications.
Sports lottery game prediction system development and evaluation on social networks
Authors: Wen Yean-Fu , Hung Ko-Yu , Hwang Yi-Ting , Lin Yeong-Sung Frank
Published: May 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to establish a social-network sp.orts lottery system to support users in predicting and simulating sports lottery betting. The community data were generated to support user decision and featured instant game records and odds data synchronisation. Furthermore, the next development cycle were evaluated through a questionnaire.

Design/methodology/approach

– An extended prototype website development methodology was applied to develop the system. An online sample was collected to evaluate the function, interface, operation, and prediction designs. The χ2 test and variance analysis were used to determine the association between facets and basic demographics. Finally, the regression model was used to identify the potentially essential predictors that influence the measurement facets.

Findings

– The high frequency of Facebook users, sports lottery purchases, and sports game viewers prefer the ability to predict the results of future sports games as advanced decision-making functions. However, the agent-based virtual gift presentation function was the least preferred function.

Research limitations/implications

– The study sample was limited only to users: who used PTT and Facebook; were of uneven age, education, and gender; and none segment groups. The study sample primarily comprised Taiwanese respondents. These differences might influence the practicality and prediction bias of the designed website and related models.

Practical implications

– The proposed method integrates social-network messages with real-time data access by using APIs, crawler schemes, and prediction mechanisms that enable developers to devise strategies for obtaining high system satisfaction. The system can be improved by adding the results of future sports games and excluding authorised Facebook message posts.

Originality/value

– A social-network-based sports lottery and prediction prototyping website was evaluated through a user-preference survey regarding design functions. The measurement results indicated that users share their opinions, predictions, and personal betting results and interact with their friends.
Factors influencing pro-social consumer behavior through non-profit organizations
Authors: Cano Murillo Daniel Edgardo , Kang Juyoung , Yoon Sora
Published: May 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to analyze the major factors in the intention to adopt pro-social behavior through the internet by dividing them into personal factors and internet factors.

Design/methodology/approach

– This research uses an empirical model to determine which personal and internet features are significant to consumers’ pro-social concerns. Internet factors may also affect pro-social behavior in addition to personal factors that many psychological studies have found to be influential. Through internet survey of 150 responses, the research model was analyzed with the partial least squares method.

Findings

– The findings indicate that social influence (SI) and specific internet characteristics generate perceived reciprocity and perceived ease of use of the internet in customers that encourages pro-social behavior.

Practical implications

– The findings provide non-profits with a theoretical foundation for their marketing. Many agencies and media reports have pointed out the importance of the internet in social causes. This study offers a thorough model revealing the influential factors in pro-social activities.

Social implications

– This study has discovered the influential factors that non-profit organizations must consider in order to persuade their population targets. Organizations striving to capture consumers’ attention and purchase behavior (in the form of a social contribution) must facilitate SI and ease of use, as these are highly influential.

Originality/value

– Pro-social behavior and internet adoption have been widely studied separately but rarely together. This study analyzes the major factors in the intention to adopt pro-social behavior through the internet by dividing them into personal factors and internet factors.
Trust in online futures market: a study of Malaysia
Authors: Eslami Maryam , Imomoh Eboshogwe
Published: May 2016

Purpose

Nowadays with the rapid growth of futures market, trust issues are increasing, especially, for individual traders because of the existing risks. However, to date there is no study that focuses on trust issues within online futures market and risks that threaten individual traders. This paper aims to understand trust issues in online futures market.

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopts an in-depth qualitative approach of online futures market in Malaysia through 30 interviews include senior managers, managers and individual traders who involve in futures online trading from three brokerage firms. Using agency theory, a new scale model, this study provides understanding on trust issues for traders in online futures market.

Findings

The paper provides empirical insights about trust issues that will occur as a result of information, risk and goal asymmetries between traders and brokers in online futures market. It suggests licensed and registered broker, platform familiarity, platform accessibility and usability, flexible contract size and leverage, providing segregated account and appropriate devices as key elements to overcome the mentioned asymmetries.

Originality/value

This is the first paper to investigate existing risk in online futures market and provide valuable implications for both traders and brokers to reduce the risk and increase the traders’ trust.
Shari’ah issues, challenges, and prospects for Islamic derivatives: a qualitative study
Authors: Sakti Muhammad Rizky Prima , Syahid Ahmad , Tareq Mohammad Ali , Mohd Mahdzir Akbariah
Published: May 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate shari’ah scholars’ views and experiences pertaining the shari’ah issues, challenges and prospects in Islamic derivatives. Specifically, this paper critically examines the criticisms toward conventional derivative instruments and the controversies surrounding underlying contracts and current Islamic derivative products.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses qualitative methods to form a deeper understanding of shari’ah scholars’ perception and experience on Islamic derivatives. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with five shari’ah scholars who are currently working in Islamic financial institutions in Malaysia and Singapore. This study used phenomenological techniques for its data analysis.

Findings

This study has found that shari’ah scholars are aware of the shari’ah issues surrounding Islamic derivatives and have provided comprehensive insight on the solution to these issues. It was found that it is important to take into account the derivatives instruments in Islamic financial industry because of the need for hedging and risk mitigation within Islamic financial institutions. Nonetheless, the study has also found that the use of wa’ad contracts to structure Islamic profit rate swaps and foreign currency exchanges are problematic because of it having features of bay’ al-kali’ bil-kali (the sale of one debt for another).

Originality/value

This study is one of few studies that highlight the shari’ah issues of Islamic derivatives in Islamic banking and finance industry. This paper is of value in discussing risk management and Islamic derivatives in Islamic financial institutions and how there are many issues under the investigation process, particularly issues related to controversial underlying contracts and products.
Credit Rating Agencies: An Analysis Through the Lenses of Industrial Organization, Finance and Regulation
Authors: White Lawrence J.
Published: May 2016

This article uses insights from the disciplines of industrial organization and of finance, and the understanding that has developed within both disciplines with respect to regulation, for an analysis of the credit rating industry.
Novel applications of thermocyclers for phenotyping invertebrate thermal responses
Authors: Kong Jacinta D. , Axford Jason K. , Hoffmann Ary A. , Kearney Michael R.
Published: May 2016

High‐throughput genomic methods are increasingly used to investigate invertebrate thermal responses with greater dimensionality and resolution than previously achieved. However, corresponding methods for characterizing invertebrate phenotypes are still lacking. To scale up the characterization of invertebrate thermal responses, we propose a novel use of thermocyclers as temperature‐controlled incubators.

Here, we tested the performance of thermocyclers as incubators and demonstrated the application of this method to efficiently characterize the thermal responses of model and non‐model invertebrates.

We found the thermocyclers performed with high precision, accuracy and resolution under various and fluctuating ambient conditions. We were able to successfully characterize the temperature‐dependent development of grasshopper eggs (Warramaba virgo), as well as the effects of fluctuating temperature cycles on the survival of mosquito eggs (Aedes aegypti) and developmental success ofDrosophila simulanslarvae, all with similar survival rates to conventional methods.

Thermocyclers are a general and transferrable means to scale up current methods of incubating small invertebrates. They permit rapid characterization of high‐dimensional physiological responses to natural thermal regimes. When combined with existing approaches in thermal and evolutionary biology, these methods will advance our understanding of, and ability to predict, biological adaptations and responses to environmental changes.
A critical review of complementary and alternative medicine use by women with cyclic perimenstrual pain and discomfort: a focus upon prevalence, patterns and applications of use and users' motivations, information seeking and self‐perceived efficacy
Authors: Fisher Carole , Sibbritt David , Hickman Louise , Adams Jon
Published: May 2016

Introduction

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is used for treating cyclic perimenstrual pain and discomfort. This critical review examines women's reported CAM use, its perceived effectiveness and information relating to women's attitudes, behaviors, motivations and patterns of CAM use in its treatment.

Material and methods

An extensive search of the main medical databases EBSCO, CINAHL, Medline, AMED and SCOPUS, as well as additional hand searches, was conducted. Papers included were confined to those that had been peer‐reviewed, written in English and that contained original research into CAM use for cyclic perimenstrual pain and discomfort among adult women.

Results

CAM, particularly herbal medicine, nutritional supplements and massage, is widely used for a range of cyclic perimenstrual pain and discomfort symptoms. A large number of CAM modalities are adopted, often simultaneously and with little professional oversight. Women's assessment of efficacy of different CAM modalities is positive, though the majority of users are self‐prescribing apparently without professional guidance. Although the uptake of CAM for cyclic perimenstrual pain and discomfort is widespread, few empirical data are available regarding which women are using CAM, their motivations for doing so and, importantly, the sources through which women receive information about CAM.

Conclusions

This review highlights the extensive use of (often self‐prescribed) CAM in a number of countries to alleviate the widespread symptoms of cyclic perimenstrual pain and discomfort. An understanding of all health care use by women with perimenstrual pain and discomfort is vital to help ensure safe, effective and coordinated health care that can lead to optimal patient outcomes.
Is Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation of Living Tissue‐Engineered Valves Feasible? An In Vitro Evaluation Utilizing a Decellularized and Reseeded Biohybrid Valve
Authors: Koenig Fabian , Lee Jang‐Sun , Akra Bassil , Hollweck Trixi , Wintermantel Erich , Hagl Christian , Thierfelder Nikolaus
Published: May 2016

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is a fast‐growing, exciting field of invasive therapy. During the last years many innovations significantly improved this technique. However, the prostheses are still associated with drawbacks. The aim of this study was to create cell‐seeded biohybrid aortic valves (BAVs) as an ideal implant by combination of assets of biological and artificial materials. Furthermore, the influence of TAVI procedure on tissue‐engineered BAV was investigated. BAV (n=6) were designed with decellularized homograft cusps and polyurethane walls. They were seeded with fibroblasts and endothelial cells isolated from saphenous veins. Consecutively, BAV were conditioned under low pulsatile flow (500 mL/min) for 5 days in a specialized bioreactor. After conditioning, TAVI‐simulation was performed. The procedure was concluded with re‐perfusion of the BAV for 2 days at an increased pulsatile flow (1100 mL/min). Functionality was assessed by video‐documentation. Samples were taken after each processing step and evaluated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), immunohistochemical staining (IHC), and Live/Dead‐assays. The designed BAV were fully functioning and displayed physiologic behavior. After cell seeding, static cultivation and first conditioning, confluent cell layers were observed in SEM. Additionally, IHC indicated the presence of endothelial cells and fibroblasts. A significant construction of extracellular matrix was detected after the conditioning phase. However, a large number of lethal cells were observed after crimping by Live/Dead staining. Analysis revealed that the cells while still being present directly after crimping were removed in subsequent perfusion. Extensive regions of damaged cell‐layers were detected by SEM‐analysis substantiating these findings. Furthermore, increased ICAM expression was detected after re‐perfusion as manifestation of inflammatory reaction. The approach to generate biohybrid valves is promising. However, damages inflicted during the crimping process seem not to be immediately detectable. Due to severe impacts on seeded cells, the strategy of living TE valves for TAVI should be reconsidered.
2 The Limits of Experience: Suffering, Nazi Forced Labor Camps, and Archaeology
Authors: Pollock Susan , Bernbeck Reinhard
Published: May 2016

As Adorno argued, one of the most fundamentally human experiences is suffering. However, a comparative archaeology of human experience that focuses on suffering raises troubling ethical issues. We draw on our excavations of World War II Nazi‐run forced labor camps at the Tempelhof airfield in Berlin to demonstrate the need to confront suffering archaeologically and, at the same time, the ultimate impossibility of speaking for and about the suffering of others. We argue that thematizing the ambivalence of suffering and the material remains associated with it allows us to draw attention to this paradox and open a space that acknowledges the suffering of people in the past.
Self‐Employment among Same‐Sex and Opposite‐Sex Couples in Canada
Authors: Waite Sean , Denier Nicole
Published: May 2016

This study presents novel evidence on the relationship between sexual orientation and self‐employment. Using data from the 2001 and 2006 Census of Canada and the 2011 Canadian National Household Survey, we explore the propensity for self‐employment among same‐ and opposite‐sex couples. We examine the demographic, human capital, and family characteristics of coupled gay men and lesbians relative to their coupled heterosexual counterparts to offer potential mechanisms generating differences in rates of self‐employment. Our analysis further considers occupational variability in the likelihood of self‐employment. We find that gay men are less likely and lesbians more likely than heterosexuals to be self‐employed; however, there is significant variation across occupations. Gay men are more likely to be self‐employed in arts and culture, sales and service, and natural and applied sciences, but less likely in business, finance, and health‐related occupations. Lesbians are much more likely to be self‐employed in health‐related occupations, natural and applied sciences, and arts and culture. Marriage and having children are significant predictors of self‐employment for coupled heterosexual women but not lesbians.

Cette étude présente des évidences empiriques concernant la relation entre l'orientation sexuelle et le travail indépendant. Utilisant des données provenant du Recensement du Canada de 2001 et de 2006, ainsi que l'Enquête nationale auprès des ménages (ENM) de 2011, nous explorons la tendance du travail indépendant parmi les couples de même sexe et ceux de sexe opposé. Ainsi, nous examinons les caractéristiques démographiques, du capital humain et familiales des couples gais et lesbiens par rapport à leurs homologues hétérosexuels, afin de démontrer une corrélation entre l'orientation sexuelle et la probabilité d’être travailleur indépendant – une causation qui nous semble évident et que nous analysons plus en profondeur. Nous concluons d'ailleurs que les hommes gais sont moins probables – et les lesbiennes plus probables – d’être travailleurs indépendants que les hétérosexuels. Cependant, il existe des variantes significatives entre les différentes occupations. Les hommes homosexuels tendent plutôt à être travailleurs indépendants dans les domaines des arts et de la culture, la vente et les services, ainsi que les sciences pures et les sciences naturelles. Par contre, ils le sont moins dans les domaines des affaires, de la finance et des domaines reliés à la santé. De leur côté, les femmes homosexuelles tendent plutôt à être travailleuses indépendantes dans les domaines reliés à la santé, aux sciences pures et aux sciences naturelles, ainsi qu'aux arts et la culture. Finalement, le fait d’être marié et d'avoir des enfants sont des indicateurs significatifs du travail indépendant pour les femmes en couples hétérosexuels, mais pas pour les lesbiennes.
Legitimizing Security in the Ivory Tower: Canadian University Corporate Security Services’ Public Quest for Legitimacy
Authors: Wilkinson Blair
Published: May 2016

This article examines how university corporate security (UCS) services engage in legitimation work in their attempts to make their university communities (i.e., faculty, staff, students) and political masters (i.e., university administrators, boards of governors, senators) believe that they are honest, trustworthy, and caring and have authority that should be deferred to. This is accomplished through the analysis of interview and observational data collected as part of a research project exploring UCS services at five Canadian universities and an examination of how UCS services at 14 Canadian universities communicate using the social media service Twitter. These UCS services were found to primarily use Twitter for the purposes of soliciting or requesting information and for networking. In communicating through Twitter, UCS services engage in public legitimation work in which they make claims about and attempt to demonstrate their expertise, authority, and accountability. This article argues that both UCS services’ particular legitimacy problem (i.e., their possession of both private and public attributes) and the interactive nature of public legitimation work create tensions that may serve to disrupt UCS services’ ability to attain legitimacy.

Cet article examine la manière dont les services de sécurité d'entreprise à l'université (SEU) s'engagent à légitimer leurs tentatives de persuader leurs communautés universitaires (c'est‐à‐dire le corps professoral, le personnel et les étudiants) ainsi que la haute administration (c'est‐à‐dire les administrateurs de l'université, le conseil des gouverneurs et les sénateurs) qu'ils sont honnêtes, attentifs, dignes de confiance, et qu'ils possèdent un niveau d'autorité auquel quiconque devrait se référer. Ceci sera accompli en analysant un corpus d'entrevues et d'observations dans le cadre d'un projet de recherche examinant les services de type SEU dans cinq universités canadiennes, ainsi qu'une étude sur la manière dont les services de SEU dans quatorze universités canadiennes gèrent leurs communications sur le réseau de médias sociaux Twitter. Il a été établi que ces services de SEU utilisent principalement Twitter pour la sollicitation ou la demande d'informations, et pour le réseautage. En communiquant par Twitter, les services de SEU s'engagent dans un processus de légitimation par lequel ils revendiquent et tentent de démontrer leur expertise, autorité, transparence et responsabilité. Cet article propose l'argument suivant: la question de la légitimité particulière des services de SEU (c'est‐à‐dire leur possession d'attributs à la fois privés et publics) combinée avec la nature interactive du processus de légitimation publique crée des tensions qui peuvent en fin de compte perturber la capacité des services de SEU à atteindre réellement cette légitimité.
INEQUALITY: COMMENTS, QUESTIONS, AND ANSWERS
Authors: Diamond Peter A. , Mirrlees James A. , Ng Yew‐Kwang , Kumar Ravi
Published: May 2016

Comments, questions and answers about inequality. (JEL D3)
Gender and Off‐farm Employment: Evidence from Rural China
Authors: Wang Xiaobing , Han Linghui , Huang Jikun , Zhang Linxiu , Rozelle Scott
Published: May 2016

The goal of the present paper is to examine how the expansion of the economy from 2000 has affected rural off‐farm labor market participation. Specifically, we seek to determine whether off‐farm labor increased after 2000, what forms of employment are driving trends in off‐farm labor and whether gender differences can be observed in off‐farm employment trends. Using a nationally representative dataset that consist of two waves of surveys conducted in 2000 and 2008 in six provinces, this paper finds that off‐farm labor market participation continued to rise steadily in the early 2000s. However, there is a clear difference in the trends associated with occupational choice before and after 2000. In addition, we find that rural off‐farm employment trends are different for men and women. Our analysis also shows that the rise of wage‐earning employment corresponds with an increasing unskilled wage for both men and women.
To Board or Not to Board: Evidence from Nutrition, Health and Education Outcomes of Students in Rural China
Authors: Wang Aiqin , Medina Alexis , Luo Renfu , Shi Yaojiang , Yue Ai
Published: May 2016

The debate over whether boarding school is beneficial for students still exists in both developing and developed countries. In rural China, as a result of a national school merger program that began in 2001, the number of boarding students has increased dramatically. Little research has been done, however, to measure how boarding status may be correlated with nutrition, health and educational outcomes. In this paper, we compare the outcomes of boarding to those of non‐boarding students using a large, aggregate dataset that includes 59 rural counties across five provinces in China. We find that for all outcomes boarding students perform worse than non‐boarding students. Despite these differences, the absolute levels of all outcomes are low for both boarding and non‐boarding students, indicating a need for new policies that will target all rural students regardless of their boarding status.
Implementation of Teacher Training in China and Its Policy Implications
Authors: Liu Hongyan , Liu Chengfang , Chang Fang , Loyalka Prashant
Published: May 2016

This study describes the current teacher training system in China, including the prevalence of teacher training, the types of training, training content and the ways that training is delivered. The paper presents subjective evaluations of training for principals and teachers using four diverse datasets. The results show that the National Teacher Training Project (NTTP) deviates from official policy objectives in several respects. The subjects of training programs and training content are not fully compliant with policy objectives. In addition, training opportunities are offered to a smaller proportion of rural teachers than urban teachers. It is found that the proportion of teachers and principals satisfied with the NTTP is lower than that for other types of training. Therefore, measures should be taken to increase training opportunities for rural teachers and to ensure the quality of training for all teachers.
ADAM12‐deficient zebrafish exhibit retardation in body growth at the juvenile stage without developmental defects
Authors: Tokumasu Yudai , Iida Atsuo , Wang Zi , Ansai Satoshi , Kinoshita Masato , Sehara‐Fujisawa Atsuko
Published: May 2016

ADAM (a disintegrin and metalloprotease) constitutes a family of multi‐domain proteins that are involved in development, homeostasis, and disease. ADAM12 plays important roles in myogenesis and adipogenesis in mice; however, the precise physiological mechanisms are not known, and the function of this gene in other vertebrates has not been examined. In this study, we used a simple model vertebrate, the zebrafish, to investigate the functions of ADAM12 during development. Zebrafish adam12 is conserved with those of mammals in the synteny and the amino‐acid sequence. We examined adam12 expression in zebrafish embryos by whole mount in situ hybridization and the promoter activity of the adam12 upstream sequence. We found that adam12 is strongly expressed in the cardiovascular system, erythroid progenitors, brain, and jaw cartilage during zebrafish development, and adam12‐knockout zebrafish exhibited reduced body size in the juvenile stage without apparent morphological defects. Taken together, these results suggest that adam12 plays a significant role in the regulation of body growth during juvenile stage in zebrafish, although the precise molecular mechanisms await further study.
Making Up Your Mind: How Language Enables Self‐Knowledge, Self‐Knowability and Personhood
Authors: Pettit Philip
Published: May 2016

If language is to serve the basic purpose of communicating our attitudes, we must be constructed so as to form beliefs in those propositions that we truthfully assert on the basis of careful assent. Thus, other things being equal, I can rely on believing those things to which I give my careful assent. And so my ability to assent or dissent amounts to an ability to make up my mind about what I believe. This capacity, in tandem with a similar capacity in respect of other attitudes, supports three important lessons. It means that I can know what I believe by seeing what commands my assent, that I can put aside the possibility of error in committing myself to holding such a belief, and that I can therefore perform as a person: I can organize my mind around commitments to which others are invited to hold me.
GR gene polymorphism is associated with inter‐subject variability in response to glucocorticoids in patients with myasthenia gravis
Authors: Xie Y. , Meng Y. , Li H.‐F. , Hong Y. , Sun L. , Zhu X. , Yue Y.‐X. , Gao X. , Wang S. , Li Y. , Kusner L. L. , Kaminski H. J.
Published: May 2016

Background and purpose

Glucocorticoids (GCs) are the mainstay treatment of myasthenia gravis (MG). However, wide inter‐individual variability exists in the response to GCs.

Methods

A Chinese cohort of 257 MG patients treated with GCs was evaluated for the association between 19 single nucleotide polymorphisms in the GR gene and clinical response to the initial 3 month GC therapy. A quantitative MG score decreasing by ≥3 units or becoming zero was defined as sensitivity to GCs.

Results

The rs17209237* G allele was less frequent in the GC insensitive group compared with the GC sensitive group [P = 0.013, odds ratio (OR) 0.119]. The rs9324921* A allele was more frequent in the GC insensitive group than in the GC sensitive group (P = 0.046, OR 1.94). Carriers of the rs17209237 G allele were less frequent in the GC insensitive group than in the GC sensitive group (dominant model, P = 0.009). Carriers of the rs9324921 A allele were more frequent in the GC insensitive group than in the GC sensitive group (dominant model, P = 0.037). Multivariate logistic regression revealed that the rs17209237 G allele carrier (P = 0.037, OR 0.12) and disease duration before GC treatment (P = 0.011, OR 3.45) were independent factors that contributed to GC efficacy.

Conclusion

rs17209237 in the GR gene was identified as an independent factor that contributes to GC efficacy in MG patients. The genetic variations of the GR gene may play a role in predicting response to GC treatment.
Effect of temperature on high‐cycle fatigue and very high cycle fatigue behaviours of a low‐strength Cr–Ni–Mo–V steel welded joint
Authors: Wu W. , Zhu M.‐L. , Liu X. , Xuan F.‐Z.
Published: May 2016

Axially push–pull fatigue tests of a low‐strength Cr–Ni–Mo–V steel welded joint were conducted up to very high cycle fatigue regime at room temperature and 370 °C. The S–N curve at room temperature shows a duplex shape, while the S–N curve at 370 °C is continuously decreasing with lower fatigue strength. The welds at 370 °C undergoes dynamic strain ageing and has an enhanced load–defects interaction, leading to equal distribution of failures among different parts of the welds. The Z parameter model, with micro‐defect location incorporated, having sound physical representation, is life‐controlling of the welds at high temperature.