bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A developing context: Evaluation and FedNor's evolving institutional context
Authors: Sharaput Markus 
Published: November 2016

AbstractContext matters when understanding evaluation. This case study illustrates how the internal dynamics of the Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario (FedNor) since 2008 were affected by evaluation priorities. Recent changes meant evaluation of FedNor programs focused on indicators of short‐term growth. This prompted a range of adaptive responses by actors within FedNor concerned with securing its developmental mandate, while meeting the requirements of evaluation.
Impact of North Carolina's Early Childhood Programs and Policies on Educational Outcomes in Elementary School
Authors: Dodge Kenneth A. , Bai Yu , Ladd Helen F. , Muschkin Clara G. 
Published: November 2016

North Carolina's Smart Start and More at Four (MAF) early childhood programs were evaluated through the end of elementary school (age 11) by estimating the impact of state funding allocations to programs in each of 100 counties across 13 consecutive years on outcomes for all children in each county‐year group (n = 1,004,571; 49% female; 61% non‐Latinx White, 30% African American, 4% Latinx, 5% other). Student‐level regression models with county and year fixed effects indicated significant positive impacts of each program on reading and math test scores and reductions in special education and grade retention in each grade. Effect sizes grew or held steady across years. Positive effects held for both high‐ and low‐poverty families, suggesting spillover of effects to nonparticipating peers.
Patterns and risk factors of birth defects in rural areas of south‐eastern Gabon
Authors: Mombo Landry‐Erik , Yangawagou‐Eyeghe Leslie‐Monica , Mickala Patrick , Moutélé Jean , Bah Thierno‐Souleymane , Tchelougou Damehan , Bisseye Cyrille 
Published: November 2016

AbstractWithin the context of high neonatal mortality in sub‐Saharan Africa, a retrospective study was conducted on the prevalence of congenital malformations and the association between maternal risk factors and birth defects in rural populations of south‐eastern Gabon. Two populations were studied: a group of 3500 births recorded in rural area (Koula‐Moutou) and a second group of 4212 births in a semi‐rural area (Franceville) in Gabon. Our data showed an increasing prevalence in congenital anomalies from rural to urban areas (P < 0.001). Maternal risk factors such as age > 35 years, multiparity and employment status were significantly associated with the levels of stillbirth. Together with abortions and stillbirths, congenital malformations require strong monitoring in rural and urban areas of sub‐Saharan Africa.
Heterogeneous Consumer Preferences for Turfgrass Attributes in the United States and Canada
Authors: Yue Chengyan , Wang Jingjing , Watkins Eric , Bonos Stacy A. , Nelson Kristen C. , Murphy James A. , Meyer William A. , Horgan Brian P. 
Published: November 2016

This study investigates U.S. and Canadian consumer preferences and willingness to pay for turfgrass attributes and potential consumer market segments. Most studies focus on consumers’ preferences for low‐input turfgrasses at a state or regional level, but none have examined consumer preferences at a national or international level. In addition, we explore possible consumer preference heterogeneity and market segments. We find that one of the most influential turfgrass attributes for both U.S. and Canadian consumers is the ability to withstand foot traffic. Consumers’ preferences are greatly affected by maintenance attributes. Low mowing frequency, followed by water usage and fertilizer requirements, are considered the most important attributes for consumers. Generally speaking, many consumers are willing to pay high premiums for turfgrasses with lower maintenance requirements. Three consumer segments are identified based on participants’ heterogeneity in their preferences for turfgrass attributes: Balanced Consumers, Low‐input Conscious Consumers, and Appearance Conscious Consumers. Our results imply that breeding and promotion of low‐input turfgrasses species, which could benefit consumers and the environment, should receive greater attention from the turfgrass seed industry.Cette étude se penche sur les préférences des consommateurs américains et canadiens et leur volonté de payer pour des attributs du gazon, et les potentiels segments de marché grand public. La majorité des études se penche sur les préférences des consommateurs pour des gazons à faibles intrants au niveau de l′état ou régional. Aucune n'a encore examiné les préférences du consommateur au niveau national ou international. De plus, nous explorons l'hétérogénéité des préférences des consommateurs ainsi que les segments de marché. L'on constate que l'attribut du gazon ayant la plus grande influence sur les consommateurs américains et canadiens était la capacité de résister à la circulation piétonnière. Les préférences des consommateurs sont énormément influencées par les attributs d'entretien. La faible fréquence de tonte et les besoins en eau et en engrais représentent pour les consommateurs les plus importants attributs. En général, de nombreux consommateurs sont prêts à débourser plus pour des gazons qui nécessitent peu d'entretien. Trois groupes de consommateurs sont identifiés en fonction de l'hétérogénéité de leurs préférences pour les attributs du gazon: les consommateurs équilibrés, les consommateurs préoccupés par les faibles intrants et les consommateurs préoccupés par l'apparence. Les résultats suggèrent que la production et la promotion d'espèces de gazons à faibles intrants, bénéfiques pour le consommateur et l'environnement, devraient se trouver dans la mire de l'industrie semencière.
Does the Body Survive Death? Cultural Variation in Beliefs About Life Everlasting
Authors: Watson‐Jones Rachel E. , Busch Justin T. A. , Harris Paul L. , Legare Cristine H. 
Published: November 2016

AbstractMounting evidence suggests that endorsement of psychological continuity and the afterlife increases with age. This developmental change raises questions about the cognitive biases, social representations, and cultural input that may support afterlife beliefs. To what extent is there similarity versus diversity across cultures in how people reason about what happens after death? The objective of this study was to compare beliefs about the continuation of biological and psychological functions after death in Tanna, Vanuatu (a Melanesian archipelago), and the United States (Austin, Texas). Children, adolescents, and adults were primed with a story that contained either natural (non‐theistic) or supernatural (theistic) cues. Participants were then asked whether or not different biological and psychological processes continue to function after death. We predicted that across cultures individuals would be more likely to endorse the continuation of psychological processes over biological processes (dualism) and that a theistic prime would increase continuation responses regarding both types of process. Results largely supported predictions; U.S. participants provided more continuation responses for psychological than biological processes following both the theistic and non‐theistic primes. Participants in Vanuatu, however, provided more continuation responses for biological than psychological processes following the theistic prime. The data provide evidence for both cultural similarity and variability in afterlife beliefs and demonstrate that individuals use both natural and supernatural explanations to interpret the same events.
My Heart Made Me Do It: Children's Essentialist Beliefs About Heart Transplants
Authors: Meyer Meredith , Gelman Susan A. , Roberts Steven O. , Leslie Sarah‐Jane 
Published: November 2016

AbstractPsychological essentialism is a folk theory characterized by the belief that a causal internal essence or force gives rise to the common outward behaviors or attributes of a category's members. In two studies, we investigated whether 4‐ to 7‐year‐old children evidenced essentialist reasoning about heart transplants by asking them to predict whether trading hearts with an individual would cause them to take on the donor's attributes. Control conditions asked children to consider the effects of trading money with an individual. Results indicated that children reasoned according to essentialism, predicting more transfer of attributes in the transplant condition versus the non‐bodily money control. Children also endorsed essentialist transfer of attributes even when they did not believe that a transplant would change the recipient's category membership (e.g., endorsing the idea that a recipient of a pig's heart would act pig‐like, but denying that the recipient would become a pig). This finding runs counter to predictions from a strong interpretation of the “minimalist” position, an alternative to essentialism.
Embodied Simulations Are Modulated by Sentential Perspective
Authors: van Dam Wessel O. , Desai Rutvik H. 
Published: November 2016

AbstractThere is considerable evidence that language comprehenders derive lexical‐semantic meaning by mentally simulating perceptual and motor attributes of described events. However, the nature of these simulations—including the level of detail that is incorporated and contexts under which simulations occur—is not well understood. Here, we examine the effects of first‐ versus third‐person perspective on mental simulations during sentence comprehension. First‐person sentences describing physical transfer towards or away from the body (e.g., “You threw the microphone,” “You caught the microphone”) modulated response latencies when responses were made along a front‐back axis, consistent with the action‐sentence compatibility effect (ACE). This effect was not observed for third‐person sentences (“He threw the microphone,” “He caught the microphone”). The ACE was observed when making responses along a left‐right axis for third‐person, but not first‐person sentences. Abstract sentences (e.g., “He heard the message”) did not show an ACE along either axis. These results show that perspective is a detail that is simulated during action sentence comprehension, and that motoric activations are flexible and affected by the pronominal perspective used in the sentence.
Generative Inferences Based on Learned Relations
Authors: Chen Dawn , Lu Hongjing , Holyoak Keith J. 
Published: November 2016

AbstractA key property of relational representations is theirgenerativity: From partial descriptions of relations between entities, additional inferences can be drawn about other entities. A major theoretical challenge is to demonstrate how the capacity to make generative inferences could arise as a result of learning relations from non‐relational inputs. In the present paper, we show that a bottom‐up model of relation learning, initially developed to discriminate between positive and negative examples of comparative relations (e.g., deciding whether a sheep is larger than a rabbit), can be extended to make generative inferences. The model is able to make quasi‐deductive transitive inferences (e.g., “IfAis larger thanBandBis larger thanC, thenAis larger thanC”) and to qualitatively account for human responses to generative questions such as “What is an animal that is smaller than a dog?” These results provide evidence that relational models based on bottom‐up learning mechanisms are capable of supporting generative inferences.
Dual Character Concepts in Social Cognition: Commitments and the Normative Dimension of Conceptual Representation
Authors: Del Pinal Guillermo , Reuter Kevin 
Published: November 2016

AbstractThe concepts expressed by social role terms such as artist and scientist are unique in that they seem to allow two independent criteria for categorization, one of which is inherently normative (Knobe, Prasada, & Newman, 2013). This study presents and tests an account of the content and structure of the normative dimension of these “dual character concepts.” Experiment 1 suggests that the normative dimension of a social role concept represents the commitment to fulfill the idealized basic function associated with the role. Background information can affect which basic function is associated with each social role. However, Experiment 2 indicates that the normative dimension always represents the relevant commitment as an end in itself. We argue that social role concepts represent the commitments to basic functions because that information is crucial to predict the future social roles and role‐dependent behavior of others.
Does Environmental Experience Shape Spatial Cognition? Frames of Reference Among Ancash Quechua Speakers (Peru)
Authors: Shapero Joshua A. 
Published: November 2016

AbstractPrevious studies have shown that language contributes to humans' ability to orient using landmarks and shapes their use of frames of reference (FoRs) for memory. However, the role of environmental experience in shaping spatial cognition has not been investigated. This study addresses such a possibility by examining the use of FoRs in a nonverbal spatial memory task among residents of an Andean community in Peru. Participants consisted of 97 individuals from Ancash Quechua‐speaking households (8–77 years of age) who spoke Quechua and/or Spanish and varied considerably with respect to the extent of their experience in the surrounding landscape. The results demonstrated that environmental experience was the only factor significantly related to the preference for allocentric FoRs. The study thus shows that environmental experience can play a role alongside language in shaping habits of spatial representation, and it suggests a new direction of inquiry into the relationships among language, thought, and experience.
Practical usefulness of atypical endometrial cell categories within the new classification of endometrial cytology when applied to conventional smears
Authors: Munakata S. , Sasaki S. , Takase M. , Okatake R. , Suzuki Y. , Yamamoto T. , Yanoh K. 
Published: November 2016

ObjectiveEndometrial cytology has been widely used as a screening tool in Japan. Traditionally, a three‐tier reporting system, consisting of ‘negative’, ‘suspicious’ and ‘positive’ categories, has been used. However, a more descriptive system, the New Terminology in Endometrial Cytology (NTEMC), which is based on the Bethesda System for uterine cervical cytology, was introduced recently. The objective of this study was to validate the NTEMC criteria.MethodsEndometrial cytology specimens that had been categorised as ‘suspicious’ were collected in our hospital between 2003 and 2013, and from these, 106 specimens with corresponding histological results, were re‐evaluated according to the NTEMC criteria. Diagnostic categories were assigned based on that chosen by the majority of the examining members.ResultsNegative, atypical endometrial cells, of undetermined significance (ATEC‐US), atypical endometrial cells for which atypical endometrial hyperplasia or worse cannot be excluded (ATEC‐A), endometrial hyperplasia, atypical endometrial hyperplasia and malignancy were selected as the diagnostic categories for 9 (8.5%), 34 (32.1%), 17 (16%), 34 (32.1%), 5 (4.7%) and 7 (6.6%) specimens, respectively. Corresponding histological categories of benign, endometrial hyperplasia, atypical endometrial hyperplasia and malignancy were established in 28 (82.4%), 1 (2.9%), 2 (5.9%) and 3 (8.8%) ATEC‐US specimens, respectively, and in 6 (35.3%), 3 (17.6%), 2 (11.8%) and 6 (35.3%) ATEC‐A specimens, respectively. The histological category distribution differed significantly (P = 0.001), and there was a significant correlation between corresponding cytological and histological categories (P = 0.005).ConclusionThe ATEC category of NTEMC system works well in a practical setting and resembles the Bethesda reporting system ASC (atypical squamous cells) category for cervical cytology.
Analysis of the learning curve for peroral endoscopic myotomy for esophageal achalasia: Single‐center, two‐operator experience
Authors: Lv Houning , Zhao Ningning , Zheng Zhongqing , Wang Tao , Yang Fang , Jiang Xihui , Lin Lin , Sun Chao , Wang Bangmao 
Published: November 2016

Background and AimPeroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) has emerged as an advanced technique for the treatment of achalasia, and defining the learning curve is mandatory.MethodsFrom August 2011 to June 2014, two operators in our institution (A&B) carried out POEM on 35 and 33 consecutive patients, respectively. Moving average and cumulative sum (CUSUM) methods were used to analyze the POEM learning curve for corrected operative time (cOT), referring to duration of per centimeter myotomy. Additionally, perioperative outcomes were compared among distinct learning curve phases.ResultsUsing the moving average method, cOT reached a plateau at the 29th case and at the 24th case for operators A and B, respectively. CUSUM analysis identified three phases: initial learning period (Phase 1), efficiency period (Phase 2) and mastery period (Phase 3). The relatively smooth state in the CUSUM graph occurred at the 26th case and at the 24th case for operators A and B, respectively. Mean cOT of distinct phases for operator A were 8.32, 5.20 and 3.97 min, whereas they were 5.99, 3.06 and 3.75 min for operator B, respectively. Eckardt score and lower esophageal sphincter pressure significantly decreased during the 1‐year follow‐up period. Data were comparable regarding patient characteristics and perioperative outcomes.ConclusionThis single‐center study demonstrated that expert endoscopists with experience in esophageal endoscopic submucosal dissection reached a plateau in learning of POEM after approximately 25 cases.
Effect of one week of CPAP treatment of obstructive sleep apnoea on 24‐hour profiles of glucose, insulin and counter‐regulatory hormones in type 2 diabetes
Authors: Mokhlesi Babak , Grimaldi Daniela , Beccuti Guglielmo , Van Cauter Eve 
Published: November 2016

Studies examining the impact of CPAP treatment on glycaemic control have yielded conflicting results, partly because of insufficient nightly CPAP use. We examined the 24‐hour profiles of glucose, insulin and counter‐regulatory hormones in 12 subjects with type 2 diabetes and OSA before and after 1 week of effective in‐laboratory CPAP therapy over an entire 8‐hour night thus ensuring optimal CPAP compliance. Blood samples were collected every 15 to 30 minutes for 24 hours under controlled conditions. The 24‐hour mean glucose decreased from 153.2 ± 33.0 to 139.7 ± 24.2 mg/dL with CPAP (−13.5 ± 13.5 mg/dL; P = .005) without change in insulin levels. Morning fasting glucose levels decreased by 14.6 ± 3 mg/dL (P = .001) and the dawn phenomenon decreased by 7.8 ± 9.8 mg/dL (P = .019). CPAP treatment decreased norepinephrine levels while the 24‐hour profiles of growth hormone and cortisol remained unchanged. In conclusion, 1 week of effective treatment of OSA over an entire 8‐hour night results in a clinically significant improvement in glycaemic control via an amelioration of evening fasting glucose metabolism and a reduction in the dawn phenomenon, a late‐night glucose increase that is not adequately treated by oral medications.Clinical Trials Information: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01136785.
The perception of affective touch in Parkinson's disease and its relation to small fibre neuropathy
Authors: Kass‐Iliyya Lewis , Leung Matthew , Marshall Andrew , Trotter Paula , Kobylecki Christopher , Walker Susannah , Gosal David , Jeziorska Maria , Malik Rayaz A. , McGlone Francis , Silverdale Monty A. 
Published: November 2016

AbstractAffective touch sensation is conducted by a sub‐class of C‐fibres in hairy skin known as C‐Tactile (CT) afferents. CT afferents respond maximally to gentle skin stroking at velocities between 1 and 10 cm/s. Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterised by markedly reduced cutaneous C‐fibres. It is not known if affective touch perception is influenced by C‐fibre density and if affective touch is impaired in PD compared to healthy controls. We predicted that perceived pleasantness to gentle stroking in PD would correlate with C‐afferent density and that affective touch perception would be impaired in PD compared to healthy controls. Twenty‐four PD patients and 27 control subjects rated the pleasantness of brush stroking at an optimum CT stimulation velocity (3 cm/s) and two sub‐optimal velocities (0.3 and 30 cm/s). PD patients underwent quantification of C‐fibre density using skin biopsies and corneal confocal microscopy. All participants rated a stroking velocity of 3 cm/s as the most pleasant with significantly lower ratings for 0.3 and 30 cm/s. There was a significant positive correlation between C‐fibre density and pleasantness ratings at 3 and 30 cm/s but not 0.3 cm/s. Mean pleasantness ratings were consistently higher in PD patients compared to control subjects across all three velocities. This study shows that perceived pleasantness to gentle touch correlates significantly with C‐fibre density in PD. The higher perceived pleasantness in PD patients compared to controls suggests central sensitisation to peripheral inputs, which may have been enhanced by dopamine therapy.
Oral administration of transgenic barley expressing a Culicoides allergen induces specific antibody response
Authors: Jonsdottir S. , Svansson V. , Stefansdottir S. B. , Mäntylä E. , Marti E. , Torsteinsdottir S. 
Published: November 2016

SummaryBackgroundInsect bite hypersensitivity is an immunoglobulin (Ig)E‐mediated dermatitis of horses initiated by bites of midges of the genus Culicoides. Culicoides spp. are not indigenous to Iceland and the prevalence of insect bite hypersensitivity is much higher in horses born in Iceland and exported as compared to Icelandic horses born in a Culicoides rich environment. Immunotherapy is therefore needed.ObjectivesThe aim of the study was to express an allergen from Culicoides in barley grain and investigate whether an immune response could be obtained in healthy Icelandic horses by oral treatment with transgenic barley expressing the allergen.Study designIn vivo experiment.MethodsThe allergen was expressed in barley grain with the Orfeus technique. A device was developed to treat horses orally with barley flour. Four Icelandic horses were treated with transgenic barley and 3 with control barley, in total 500 g in 7 feedings. Serum and saliva samples were collected for measuring specific antibodies.ResultsThe allergen Cul n 2, a hyaluronidase originating from the salivary gland of Culicoides nubeculosus, was expressed in barley. Horses treated with the transgenic barley mounted a Cul n 2 specific IgG1 and IgG4/7 response in serum and saliva. The serum response was significantly different between the transgenic and control barley treated horses for both subclasses and the saliva response for IgG1. The induced serum antibodies bound to the corresponding allergen from Culicoides obsoletus, rCul o 2 and were able to partially block binding of Cul n 2 as well as Cul o 2 specific IgE from insect bite hypersensitivity affected horses.Main limitationsSmall number of horses.ConclusionThis study shows that specific antibody response can be induced in horses not exposed to Culicoides, using oral treatment with transgenic barley expressing an allergen. Further studies will determine whether this approach is a useful alternative for prevention and treatment of equine insect bite hypersensitivity.