bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A measure of Chinese language learning anxiety: Scale development and preliminary validation
Authors: Luo Han 
Published: October 2014

AbstractAs the Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Scale (FLCAS), the most widely used measure for foreign language anxiety, is a generic instrument that mainly addresses speaking anxiety and does not take into consideration of the characteristics of target languages, this study attempts to develop a Chinese Language Learning Anxiety Scale reflective of anxieties associated with the four skills. The initial pool of items approved by five experts were administered to 447 Chinese language learners from two large public universities in the U.S. Exploratory factor analyses yielded a three-factor solution of the scale, i.e., Speaking Anxiety, Listening Anxiety, and Reading & Writing Anxiety, lending support to the construct validity of the scale. Results of reliability analysis and correlation analyses indicated that the Chinese Language Learning Anxiety Scale and its three sub-scales have good internal consistency reliability, convergent and discriminant validity, and criterion-related validity.
The interactional achievements of repair and correction in a Mandarin language classroom
Authors: Cheng Tsui-Ping 
Published: October 2014

AbstractThis study examines the different interactional achievements of repair and correction in a Mandarin language classroom from a conversation analysis perspective. The sequential analysis of teacher-initiated repair and correction shows that while repair indicates participants' relative epistemic stance and makes visible the contingent process of securing intersubjectivity, correction serves to monitor students' language production and accomplish teaching. By means of various repair practices, teacher and students are able to maintain and restore a shared understanding of the instructional activity that they are doing together. This intersubjectivity is the foundation upon which a space for teaching and learning is created, maintained, and defended. In correction sequences, the practices of repetition and overlap underscore teacher and students' alignment with a pedagogical focus of linguistic accuracy and make relevant their situated institutional identities. Regardless of the distinctive achievements in interaction, repair and correction are both practical resources that enable and sustain classroom instruction.
Primitive ideals, twisting functors and star actions for classical Lie superalgebras
Authors: Coulembier Kevin , Mazorchuk Volodymyr 
Published: October 2014

Abstract
We study three related topics in representation theory of classical Lie superalgebras. The first one is
classification of primitive ideals, i.e. annihilator ideals of simple modules, and inclusions between
them. The second topic concerns Arkhipov’s twisting functors on the BGG category

𝒪

{\mathcal{O}}

. The third
topic addresses deformed orbits of the Weyl group. These take over the role of the usual Weyl group orbits
for Lie algebras, in the study of primitive ideals and twisting functors for Lie superalgebras.
Terrorism, Armed Conflict and Foreign Aid
Authors: Lis Piotr 
Published: October 2014

AbstractArmed conflict, and to a lesser extent terrorism, have detrimental effect on economic and social development through destruction of human and physical capital and ensuing disruption to economic activity. There is also likely to be an indirect effect of political instability through its impact on foreign aid. The net effect is not obvious; violence may discourage aid donors and hence lead to a fall in received aid on the one hand, but it may well lead to an increase in foreign aid as donors offer reimbursement for counterterrorism efforts on the other hand. This paper uses a panel of countries to identify the net effect of armed conflict and terrorism, both domestic and international, on aid receipts. It shows that armed conflict has a negative effect on the amounts of both bilateral and multilateral aid. It also finds that terrorism tends to increase foreign assistance. The effect is stronger for bilateral aid; this is consistent with the expectation that they are likely to use foreign aid to directly or indirectly assist governments fighting terrorism. Nonetheless, these results do not hold for Muslim countries which do not receive increased aid when suffering from terrorism.
Synthesis and characterization of mullite-type (Al1-xGax)4B2O9
Authors: Hoffmann Kristin , Murshed M. Mangir , Fischer Reinhard X. , Schneider Hartmut , Gesing Thorsten M. 
Published: October 2014

Abstract
Mullite-type (Al1-xGax)4B2O9 compounds were synthesized using the glycerine method. The end members Al4B2O9 and Ga4B2O9 were produced at different temperatures. Starting from the Al4B2O9 composition the incorporation limit of Ga ranges between 60 and 70 mol-%, while starting from Ga4B2O9 the Al incorporation limit is 70 mol-% in the Ga4B2O9 structure. The crystal structures were refined from the X-ray powder diffraction data and analyzed by the Rietveld method. The positions of B atoms were determined by distance least squares modeling. The temperature-dependent investigations demonstrate that the stability of a given member is a function of Al/Ga ratio in the structure. The incorporation of Ga in the Al4B2O9 structures leads to a successive decrease of the decomposition temperatures. Pure Al4B2O9 decomposes above 1323 K, whereas pure Ga4B2O9 is stable up to 1073 K. The thermal expansions of the lattice parameters were fit using extended Grüneisen first-order approximation for the zero-pressure equation of state. Changes of the internal energy of the crystal were calculated by the Debye-Einstein-Anharmonicity model. The thermal stability of each member has been explained in terms of the obtained Debye temperature.
Gcn5 and PCAF negatively regulate interferon‐β production through HAT‐independent inhibition of TBK1
Authors: Jin Qihuang , Zhuang Lenan , Lai Binbin , Wang Chaochen , Li Wenqian , Dolan Brian , Lu Yue , Wang Zhibin , Zhao Keji , Peng Weiqun , Dent Sharon YR , Ge Kai 
Published: October 2014

AbstractViral infection triggers innate immune signaling, which in turn induces interferon‐β (IFN‐β) production to establish innate antiviral immunity. Previous studies showed that Gcn5 (Kat2a), a histone acetyltransferase (HAT) with partial functional redundancy with PCAF (Kat2b), and Gcn5/PCAF‐mediated histone H3K9 acetylation (H3K9ac) are enriched on the active IFNB gene promoter. However, whether Gcn5/PCAF and H3K9ac regulate IFN‐β production is unknown. Here, we show that Gcn5/PCAF‐mediated H3K9ac correlates well with, but is surprisingly dispensable for, the expression of endogenous IFNB and the vast majority of active genes in fibroblasts. Instead, Gcn5/PCAF repress IFN‐β production and innate antiviral immunity in several cell types in a HAT‐independent and non‐transcriptional manner: by inhibiting the innate immune signaling kinase TBK1 in the cytoplasm. Our results thus identify Gcn5 and PCAF as negative regulators of IFN‐β production and innate immune signaling.
R‐flurbiprofen attenuates experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in mice
Authors: Schmitz Katja , de Bruin Natasja , Bishay Philipp , Männich Julia , Häussler Annett , Altmann Christine , Ferreirós Nerea , Lötsch Jörn , Ultsch Alfred , Parnham Michael J , Geisslinger Gerd , Tegeder Irmgard 
Published: October 2014

AbstractR‐flurbiprofen is the non‐cyclooxygenase inhibiting R‐enantiomer of the non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drug flurbiprofen, which was assessed as a remedy for Alzheimer's disease. Because of its anti‐inflammatory, endocannabinoid‐modulating and antioxidative properties, combined with low toxicity, the present study assessed R‐flurbiprofen in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) models of multiple sclerosis in mice. Oral R‐flurbiprofen prevented and attenuated primary progressive EAE in C57BL6/J mice and relapsing‐remitting EAE in SJL mice, even if the treatment was initiated on or after the first flare of the disease. R‐flurbiprofen reduced immune cell infiltration and microglia activation and inflammation in the spinal cord, brain and optic nerve and attenuated myelin destruction and EAE‐evoked hyperalgesia. R‐flurbiprofen treatment increased CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ regulatory T cells, CTLA4+ inhibitory T cells and interleukin‐10, whereas the EAE‐evoked upregulation of pro‐inflammatory genes in the spinal cord was strongly reduced. The effects were associated with an increase of plasma and cortical endocannabinoids but decreased spinal prostaglandins, the latter likely due to R to S inversion. The promising results suggest potential efficacy of R‐flurbiprofen in human MS, and its low toxicity may justify a clinical trial.
Mapping eQTL Networks with Mixed Graphical Markov Models
Authors: Tur Inma , Roverato Alberto , Castelo Robert 
Published: October 2014

AbstractExpression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) mapping constitutes a challenging problem due to, among other reasons, the high-dimensional multivariate nature of gene-expression traits. Next to the expression heterogeneity produced by confounding factors and other sources of unwanted variation, indirect effects spread throughout genes as a result of genetic, molecular, and environmental perturbations. From a multivariate perspective one would like to adjust for the effect of all of these factors to end up with a network of direct associations connecting the path from genotype to phenotype. In this article we approach this challenge with mixed graphical Markov models, higher-order conditional independences, and q-order correlation graphs. These models show that additive genetic effects propagate through the network as function of gene–gene correlations. Our estimation of the eQTL network underlying a well-studied yeast data set leads to a sparse structure with more direct genetic and regulatory associations that enable a straightforward comparison of the genetic control of gene expression across chromosomes. Interestingly, it also reveals that eQTLs explain most of the expression variability of network hub genes.
A Mouse Geneticist’s Practical Guide to CRISPR Applications
Authors: Singh Priti , Schimenti John C , Bolcun-Filas Ewelina 
Published: October 2014

AbstractCRISPR/Cas9 system of RNA-guided genome editing is revolutionizing genetics research in a wide spectrum of organisms. Even for the laboratory mouse, a model that has thrived under the benefits of embryonic stem (ES) cell knockout capabilities for nearly three decades, CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats)/Cas9 technology enables one to manipulate the genome with unprecedented simplicity and speed. It allows generation of null, conditional, precisely mutated, reporter, or tagged alleles in mice. Moreover, it holds promise for other applications beyond genome editing. The crux of this system is the efficient and targeted introduction of DNA breaks that are repaired by any of several pathways in a predictable but not entirely controllable manner. Thus, further optimizations and improvements are being developed. Here, we summarize current applications and provide a practical guide to use the CRISPR/Cas9 system for mouse mutagenesis, based on published reports and our own experiences. We discuss critical points and suggest technical improvements to increase efficiency of RNA-guided genome editing in mouse embryos and address practical problems such as mosaicism in founders, which complicates genotyping and phenotyping. We describe a next-generation sequencing strategy for simultaneous characterization of on- and off-target editing in mice derived from multiple CRISPR experiments. Additionally, we report evidence that elevated frequency of precise, homology-directed editing can be achieved by transient inhibition of the Ligase IV-dependent nonhomologous end-joining pathway in one-celled mouse embryos.
Abundance and Distribution of the Invasive Ant,Solenopsis invicta(Hymenoptera: Formicidae), in Cypress Savannas of North Carolina
Authors: Kelly L , Sellers J 
Published: October 2014

AbstractThe ecological effects of invasive ants on ecosystems will depend largely on ant abundance. Cypress savannas of the southeastern United States have high conservation worth, supporting diverse and rare assemblages of species. Distance sampling was used to determine the abundance and distribution of colonies of the invasive ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren, in cypress savannas of two Carolina bays. Colonies were distributed throughout the savannas, save for areas of dense tree or shrub cover. Colony densities were much less than those reported for disturbed habitats and were similar between bays. Free-standing mounds were more common in the historically less flooded bay, and they had significantly greater volume and colony biomass as compared with these mounds in the other bay. Unlike previous studies, reporting only monogyne colonies for intact habitats of the southeast, both monogyne and polygyne colonies were present in the cypress savannas; &lt;60% of the colonies were monogyne. Cypress savannas join a growing list of habitats, having wet sandy or loamy soils and little canopy, that have become invaded by S. invicta in the absence of anthropogenic soil disturbances. Cypress savannas resemble invaded longleaf pine savannas in vegetation physiognomy, history of fire, and dense herbaceous ground cover. While fires are critical for biodiversity, the resulting dense herbaceous ground cover may favor S. invicta. As generalist consumers and likely the most abundant ant species in these habitats, S. invicta could have important direct and indirect effects on the native communities.
Performance of Self‐Reported Measures for Periodontitis in Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteoarthritis
Authors: Coburn Brian W. , Sayles Harlan R. , Payne Jeffrey B. , Redman Robert S. , Markt Jeffery C. , Beatty Mark W. , Griffiths Garth R. , McGowan David J. , Mikuls Ted R. 
Published: October 2014

Background: This study evaluates the performance of self‐report against the reference standard of clinically defined periodontitis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA) after accounting for factors associated with periodontitis.Methods: Six self‐report periodontitis questions were evaluated in patients with RA and OA. Questions were validated against a reference standard of severe and moderate‐to‐severe periodontitis based on full‐mouth examination. Multivariable logistic regression was used to evaluate the performance of: 1) self‐report alone; 2) age, sex, education, and smoking status; and 3) a combination of the above. Model performance was assessed using the c‐statistic. Convergent validity of self‐reported “bone loss/deep pockets” and “loose teeth” was assessed; associations of self‐report with RA disease characteristics were explored.Results: Self‐report performed similarly in RA and OA, with individual question specificity for periodontitis ≥68% and sensitivity from 9.8% to 45%. Question‐only models yielded c‐statistics of 0.66 to 0.72, whereas risk factor–only models yielded c‐statistics of 0.74 to 0.79. The highest‐performing models incorporated both self‐report questions and periodontitis risk factors, with c‐statistics ≥0.79. Greater radiographic alveolar bone loss was observed among participants reporting “bone loss/deep pockets” (P <0.001) and “loose teeth” (P <0.001). Among patients with RA, “loose teeth,” but not other self‐report items, was associated with rheumatoid factor positivity (P = 0.047) and higher disease activity (P <0.001).Conclusions: Patient self‐report, when combined with other risk factors, performs well in identifying periodontitis among patients with RA and OA. Self‐report questions related to alveolar bone loss exhibit excellent convergent validity in these patient subsets.
A Cross‐Sectional Assessment of Biomarker Levels Around Implants Versus Natural Teeth in Periodontal Maintenance Patients
Authors: Recker Erica N. , Avila‐Ortiz Gustavo , Fischer Carol L. , Pagan‐Rivera Keyla , Brogden Kim A. , Dawson Deborah V. , Elangovan Satheesh 
Published: October 2014

Background: Recent studies point to the clinical utility of using peri‐implant sulcular fluid (PISF) as a valuable diagnostic aid for monitoring peri‐implant tissue health. The objectives of this study are to determine the levels of key biomarkers in PISF in periodontal maintenance participants and compare them with their corresponding levels in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) obtained from the same participants.Methods: PISF and GCF were collected from an implant and a contralateral natural tooth after the clinical examination of 73 participants. The levels of interleukin (IL)‐1α, IL‐1β, IL‐6, IL‐8, IL‐10, IL‐12, IL‐17A, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α, C‐reactive protein, osteoprotegerin, leptin, and adiponectin were determined using multiplex proteomic immunoassays. The correlation of biomarker concentrations between GCF versus PISF, within GCF or PISF, and with several covariates (age, brushing frequency, days since professional cleaning, probing depth [PD], and plaque index) were also determined.Results: Significantly higher levels of IL‐17A (P = 0.02) and TNF‐α (P = 0.03) were noted in PISF when compared with their levels in GCF. Significant positive correlations were noted between the concentrations of cytokines in PISF versus their levels in GCF. Among the covariates, a significant positive correlation was noted between mean PDs around implants and levels of IL‐1β (P <0.05) and IL‐8 (P <0.05) in PISF.Conclusion: The results of this study point to the differential expression of specific biomarkers in GCF versus their levels in PISF in periodontal maintenance patients, which is critical information before establishing PISF as a diagnostic fluid to monitor peri‐implant health.
Delegating Disclosure and Production Choices
Authors: Bagnoli Mark , Watts Susan G. 
Published: October 2014

ABSTRACT
We study how joint delegation of production and disclosure choices alters the incentives that firm owners offer to their managers. Our first set of results shows how the incentive weights that owners place on revenues are affected by firm characteristics and by whether their manager chooses ex ante voluntary disclosure. This arises because the owners choose how sensitive the manager's compensation is to her production choice and, because this sensitivity is naturally greater if the manager opts to disclose, owners substitute disclosure for direct contractual incentives. Owners also substitute a rival firm's disclosures for direct incentives. Finally, we show that joint delegation alters the information environment for competing firms by creating incentives to provide more information about the less aggressive competitor and less information about the more aggressive competitor. All of these effects are exacerbated in industries with less product differentiation.
How Do People With Diabetes Describe Their Experiences in Primary Care? Evidence From 85,760 Patients With Self-reported Diabetes From the English General Practice Patient Survey
Authors: Paddison Charlotte A.M. , Saunders Catherine L. , Abel Gary A. , Payne Rupert A. , Adler Amanda I. , Graffy Jonathan P. , Roland Martin O. 
Published: October 2014

OBJECTIVE
Developing primary care is an important current health policy goal in the U.S. and England. Information on patients’ experience can help to improve the care of people with diabetes. We describe the experiences of people with diabetes in primary care and examine how these experiences vary with increasing comorbidity.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS
Using data from 906,578 responders to the 2012 General Practice Patient Survey (England), including 85,760 with self-reported diabetes, we used logistic regressions controlling for age, sex, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status to analyze patient experience using seven items covering three domains of primary care: access, continuity, and communication.

RESULTS
People with diabetes were significantly more likely to report better experience on six out of seven primary care items than people without diabetes after adjusting for age, sex, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status (adjusted differences 0.88–3.20%; odds ratios [ORs] 1.07–1.18; P &lt; 0.001). Those with diabetes and additional comorbid long-term conditions were more likely to report worse experiences, particularly for access to primary care appointments (patients with diabetes alone compared with patients without diabetes: OR 1.22 [95% CI 1.17–1.28] and patients with diabetes plus three or more conditions compared with patients without diabetes: OR 0.87 [95% CI 0.83–0.91]).

CONCLUSIONS
People with diabetes in England report primary care experiences that are at least as good as those without diabetes for most domains of care. However, improvements in primary care are needed for diabetes patients with comorbid long-term conditions, including better access to appointments and improved communication.
Truncation of the series expressions in the advanced ENZ-theory of diffraction integrals
Authors: van Haver S. , Janssen A. J. E. M. 
Published: October 2014

The point-spread function (PSF) is used in optics for design and assessment of the imaging capabilities of an optical system. It is therefore of vital importance that this PSF can be calculated fast and accurately. In the past 12 years, the Extended Nijboer-Zernike (ENZ) approach has been developed for the purpose of semi-analytic evaluation of the PSF, for circularly symmetric optical systems, in the focal region. In the earliest ENZ-years, the Debye approximation of the diffraction integral, by which the PSF is given, was considered for the very basic situation of a low-NA optical system and relatively small defocus values, so that a scalar treatment was allowed with a focal factor comprising a quadratic function in the exponential. At present, the ENZ-method allows calculation of the PSF in low- and high-NA cases, in scalar form and for vector fields (including polarization), for large wave-front aberrations, including amplitude non-uniformities, using a quasi-spherical phase focal factor in a virtually unlimited focal range around the focal plane, and no limitations in the off-axis direction. Additionally, the application range of the method has been broadened and generalized to the calculation of aerial images of extended objects by including the finite distance of the object to the entrance pupil. Also imaging into a multi-layer is now possible by accounting for both forward and backward propagation in the layers.
In the advanced ENZ-approach, the generalized, complex-valued pupil function is developed into a series of Zernike circle polynomials, with exponential azimuthal dependence (having cosine/sine azimuthal dependence as special cases). For each Zernike term, the diffraction integral reduces after azimuthal integration to an integral that can be expressed as an infinite double series involving spherical Bessel functions, accounting for the parameters of the optical system and the defocus value, and Jinc functions comprising the radial off-axis value. The contribution of the present paper is the formulation of truncation rules for these double series expressions, with a general rule valid for all circle polynomials at the same time, and a dedicated rule that takes into account the degree and the azimuthal order of the involved circle polynomials to significantly reduce computational cost in specific cases. The truncation rules are based on effective bounds and asymptotics (of the Debye type) for the mentioned spherical Bessel functions and Jinc functions, and show feasibility of computation of practically all diffraction integrals that one encounters in the ENZ-practice. Thus it can be said that the advanced ENZ-theory is more or less completed from the computational point of view by the achievements of the present paper.