Explanation For Inconsistency Research Articles

Innovation and industrial renewal in Sweden, 1970–2007

ABSTRACTThis study explores the question of whether the Swedish innovation output of the 1970s and 1980s (and the following decades) indicates structural lock-in or renewal. It is motivated by inconsistent explanations in the current literature about the relation between the economic slowdown and subsequent industrial renewal, as well as a lack of research focusing, in this context, on the primary driver of economic growth and structural change: innovation. By observing the number and type of innovations as they hit the market, the data in this paper tell a real time story about micro level innovation activity during the time that the economic crisis unfolds. The analysis considers Swedish innovation output between 1970 and 2007, characterising the number of significant innovations, their novelty, and their origin (including size of firm and industry sector). Three central findings emerge, defined by both the time period and the character of innovations. First, the magnitude of innovation activity peaks in the late 1970s to early 1980s. Second, starting in the late 1970s, small firms begin to outperform large firms in terms of both innovation quantity and quality (i.e. world market novelties). Third, the 1980s saw a distinct shift in the industrial origin of innovations, with software and telecom becoming the leaders in innovation output. The findings suggest that the observed industrial renewal is more nuanced than what has emerged from previous research.

Who gets better when? An investigation of change patterns in group cognitive behavioral therapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder

Many studies attest to the efficacy of exposure-based cognitive-behavioral therapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), yet there is little research assessing varying patterns of change throughout the course of this treatment. Given recent research showing that change patterns during cognitive-behavioral treatment predict long-term maintenance of gains, identifying different patterns of OCD symptom change is important. In the present investigation, we conducted a cluster analysis on session-by-session measures of OCD symptom severity from 54 clients who completed group exposure-based cognitive-behavioral therapy. Four distinct change patterns emerged that showed noticeable differences in both the pace of symptom reduction and the extent of overall treatment response. Among two clusters with relatively higher initial severity, one cluster experienced more noticeable early symptom reduction as well as superior response by post-treatment. We found this same pattern among the other two clusters with initially lower OCD severity. We also saw differential treatment response in relation to depressive severity. Similar cluster patterns emerged across symptom types; however, obsessions appeared to benefit least from exposure-based CBT. The present findings offer possible explanations for previous inconsistencies in the literature on the effect of OCD and depression severity on treatment outcomes for OCD.

Post-adoption depression: Parental classes of depressive symptoms across time

BackgroundApproximately 10–15% of birth mothers and fathers experience postpartum depression, but reports of depressive symptoms in adoptive parents are more variable. Findings from investigators range from 10% to 32%, which may mask the experiences of distinct groups of adoptive parents from pre-to post-placement of a child. MethodsWe performed latent class growth analysis using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression scores of 129 primarily heterosexual, adoptive parents (50% females) for three time points: 4–6 weeks pre-placement of the child, 4–6 weeks post-placement, and 5–6 months post-placement. Mixed effects models by parent depressive trajectories were also conducted for three types of variables: interpersonal, psychological symptoms, and life orientation. ResultsFive classes of depressive symptom trajectories were found. The majority of parents (71%) belonged to a class with low levels of depressive symptoms across time. However, two classes of parents were above the threshold for depressive symptoms at placement, and three classes of parents were above the threshold at 6 months post-placement. The majority of interpersonal, psychological symptom, and life orientation variables were significant across classes and by time. LimitationsThe homogeneity of the sample calls for replication of study findings. ConclusionsAn explanation for inconsistencies in the range of adoptive parent depressive symptoms may be explained by different subgroups of parents who vary by their trajectory of depressive symptoms before and after placement of the child. Adoption and mental health professionals should be aware that select adoptive parents may struggle pre-and post-placement of a child.

Auger and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy on lithiated HOPG

This work deals with the investigation of lithiated graphitic anodes by Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) using highly ordered pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) as a model system. We show that the detection of intercalated lithium is very sensitive to effects during the AES measurement that are related to electron beam damage, Ar sputtering effects and the influence of the ultra‐high vacuum conditions. An explanation of inconsistencies arising from different interpretations of the same system is given. We do so by comparing two different ways of surface preparation used to remove the solid electrolyte interphase on top of electrochemically charged HOPG, namely simple Ar+ sputtering, as it is commonly used in Auger depth profiles and in situ cleaving of the sample surface. A strong influence of the sputtering on the final result is evidenced by applying X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and AES on these surfaces. Furthermore, the presence of a metallic lithium peak in AES that depends on the AES measuring parameters, the surface preparation and measuring time is presented in order to help people to avoid misinterpretation of their results. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Pollen-detected altitudinal migration of forests during the Holocene in the mountainous forest–steppe ecotone in northern China

Distributed on the margin of the influence of the Asian monsoon, the forest–steppe ecotone in northern China is sensitive to climate change. Previous paleovegetation reconstructions in this region have led to inconsistent explanations of paleovegetation dynamics across sites. We hypothesized that the patterns observed are related to altitudinal migration of forests across mountains in this region. We combined eight lake sediment pollen records to explain how three forest types dominated by the tree genera Pinus, Quercus, and Betula changed in response to temporal and spatial monsoon changes within the forest–steppe ecotone during the Holocene. Modern pollen assemblages showed that areas with large altitude range could support more forests, which was further confirmed by the spatial patterns of late-Holocene forest distribution under dry climate. Our results confirmed that altitudinal migration of forests might exist in this region. This kind of altitudinal migration of forests under different altitudinal ranges could help to explain the inconsistent patterns observed in arboreal pollen across sediment cores as well as the non-linear response of horizontal forest distribution in relation to climate change.

Color, Temperature and Heat: Exploring University Students Mental Thoughts

Color, temperature and heat are among the concepts in science that are interconnected. These concepts are introduced to learners even before they enter the basic education. On the other hand, in school, it is formally introduced to them not only in science but also in the humanities. The foregoing study attempted to explore the mental thoughts of university students on color, temperature and heat using everyday circumstances that involved the said concepts. The situations in question form were administered to 50 3 rd year Bachelor of Secondary Education majoring Physical Science and 3 rd year Bachelor in Elementary Education majoring Content. Data gathered and collected were subjected to simple Collaizi method of data analysis to which themes and patterns were sought from the responses. Results were presented using percentages and simple frequency. The study revealed that university students possess a gap in their understanding of the above-mentioned concepts as greater majority of them possesses contradicting and inconsistent explanations. This implies that science curriculum both in the basic education and higher education needs revisiting. Likewise, an effective teaching sequence related to these concepts may be developed and used to improve students' conceptions.

Inside the Green House "Black Box": Opportunities for High-Quality Clinical Decision Making.

To develop a conceptual model that explained common and divergent care processes in Green House (GH) nursing homes with high and low hospital transfer rates. Eighty-four face-to-face, semistructured interviews were conducted with direct care, professional, and administrative staff with knowledge of care processes in six GH organizations in six states. The qualitative grounded theory method was used for data collection and analysis. Data were analyzed using open, axial, and selective coding. Data collection and analysis occurred iteratively. Elements of the GH model created significant opportunities to identify, communicate, and respond to early changes in resident condition. Staff in GH homes with lower hospital transfer rates employed care processes that maximized these opportunities. Staff in GH homes with higher transfer rates failed to maximize, or actively undermined, these opportunities. Variations in how the GH model was implemented across GH homes suggest possible explanations for inconsistencies found in past research on the care outcomes, including hospital transfer rates, in culture change models. The findings further suggest that the details of culture change implementation are important considerations in model replication and policies that create incentives for care improvements.

CD133 Expression Is Not Synonymous to Immunoreactivity for AC133 and Fluctuates throughout the Cell Cycle in Glioma Stem-Like Cells.

A transmembrane protein CD133 has been implicated as a marker of stem-like glioma cells and predictor for therapeutic response in malignant brain tumours. CD133 expression is commonly evaluated by using antibodies specific for the AC133 epitope located in one of the extracellular domains of membrane-bound CD133. There is conflicting evidence regarding the significance of the AC133 epitope as a marker for identifying stem-like glioma cells and predicting the degree of malignancy in glioma cells. The reasons for discrepant results between different studies addressing the role of CD133/AC133 in gliomas are unclear. A possible source for controversies about CD133/AC133 is the widespread assumption that expression patterns of the AC133 epitope reflect linearly those of the CD133 protein. Consequently, the readouts from AC133 assessments are often interpreted in terms of the CD133 protein. The purpose of this study is to determine whether and to what extent do the readouts obtained with anti-AC133 antibody correspond to the level of CD133 protein expressed in stem-like glioma cells. Our study reveals for the first time that CD133 expressed on the surface of glioma cells is poorly immunoreactive for AC133. Furthermore, we provide evidence that the level of CD133 occupancy on the surface of glioma cells fluctuates during the cell cycle. Our results offer a new explanation for numerous inconsistencies regarding the biological and clinical significance of CD133/AC133 in human gliomas and call for caution in interpreting the lack or presence of AC133 epitope in glioma cells.

Understanding forearm fractures in young children: Abuse or not abuse?

This retrospective study describes the characteristics and mechanisms of forearm fractures in children <18 months adding to the evidence-base about forearm fractures. It also examines which features of forearm fractures in young children may help discriminate between abusive and noninflicted injuries. Electronic medical records were reviewed for eligible patients evaluated between September 1, 2007 and January 1, 2012 at two children's hospitals in Chicago, IL. The main outcome measures were the type of fracture and the etiology of the fracture (abuse versus not abuse). The 135 included patients sustained 216 forearm fractures. Most were buckle (57%) or transverse (26%). Child protection teams evaluated 47 (35%) of the patients and diagnosed 11 (23%) as having fractures caused by abuse. Children with abusive versus non-inflicted injuries had significant differences in age (median age 7 versus 12 months), race, and presence of additional injuries. Children with abusive forearm fractures often presented without an explanation or a changing history for the injury. Children with non-inflicted forearm fractures often presented after a fall. No particular type of forearm fracture was specific for child abuse. Any forearm fracture in a young child should be evaluated with special attention to the details of the history and the presence of other injuries. Young age, additional injuries, and an absent or inconsistent explanation should increase concern that the fracture was caused by child abuse.

Selenium speciation in human serum and its implications for epidemiologic research: a cross-sectional study

Observational studies addressing the relation between selenium and human health, particularly cancer risk, yielded inconsistent results, while most recent randomized trials showed a fairly consistent pattern suggesting null or adverse effects of the metalloid. One of the most plausible explanations for such inconsistencies is inadequate exposure assessment in observational studies, commonly carried out by measuring total Se content without taking into account the specific exposure to the individual chemical forms of the metalloid, whose toxic and nutritional properties may vary greatly. Data on the distribution of these species in human blood and their correlation with overall selenium levels are very limited.The concentrations of organic and inorganic selenium species were analyzed in serum of fifty subjects sampled from the general population of the municipality of Modena, northern Italy, aged from 35 to 70 years. Samples were collected during a 30-month period, and determinations of selenium species were carried out using high pressure liquid chromatography coupled with inductively coupled plasma dynamic reaction cell mass spectrometry.The majority of selenium was found to be present as organic species, but the inorganic forms showed higher levels than expected. These species showed limited correlations with age, sex and body mass index, while the organic forms increased in subjects consuming selenium-containing dietary supplements and decreased in smokers. The length of the sample storage period strongly influenced the distribution of selenium compounds, with a clear tendency towards higher inorganic and lower organic selenium levels over time. In multivariate analysis adjusting for potential confounders, total serum selenium correlated with human serum albumin-bound selenium and, in males, with two organic species of the metalloid (selenocysteine and glutathione peroxidase-bound selenium), while little association existed with the other organic forms and the inorganic ones.These findings highlight the potential for exposure misclassification of observational epidemiologic investigations based on overall selenium content in blood and possibly other tissues, and the critical role of the storage conditions for speciation analysis.

Finding explanations of inconsistency in multi-context systems

Interlinking knowledge sources to enable information exchange is basic means to build enriched knowledge-based systems, which gains importance with the spread of the Internet. Inconsistency, however, arises easily in such systems, which is not least due to their heterogeneity, but also due to their independent design. This makes developing methods for consistency management of such systems a pressing issue. An important aspect is that in many relevant cases, the information at individual sources may not be amenable to change in order to resolve inconsistency, like in case of autonomous management of the sources. We thus aim at analyzing inconsistency of a system by means of the interlinking of sources and changes thereof. More concretely, we consider the powerful framework of Multi-Context Systems, in which decentralized and heterogeneous system parts interact via (possibly nonmonotonic) bridge rules for information exchange. Nonmonotonicity and potential cyclic dependencies pose additional challenges that call for suitable methods of inconsistency analysis. We thus provide two approaches for explaining inconsistency, which both characterize inconsistency in terms of bridge rules, but in different ways: by pointing out rules which need to be altered for restoring consistency, and by finding combinations of rules which cause inconsistency. We show duality and modularity properties of these notions, give precise complexity characterizations, and provide algorithms for their computation, which have been implemented in a prototype, by means of so-called hex-programs. Our results provide a basis for inconsistency management in heterogeneous knowledge systems which, different from and orthogonal to other works, explicitly addresses the knowledge interlinks in order to restore consistency.

Changing the marketplace one behavior at a time: Perceived marketplace influence and sustainable consumption

This study introduces the construct of Perceived Marketplace Influence (PMI) and investigates its role in mediating the relationship between environmental concern and sustainable consumption behavior. A nationwide survey shows that Perceived Marketplace Influence plays an important role in mediating the relationship between concern and behavior, providing an explanation for prior inconsistencies in this relationship. Accordingly, Perceived Marketplace Influence plays a purposeful role in transforming environmental concern into behavior. This project extends previous research on the relationship between values, beliefs, and behavior by showing that one's perception of influence on the marketplace behavior of others significantly influences one's own marketplace behavior. Improved understanding of this relationship provides updated guidance to firms and policymakers for projecting and encouraging sustainable consumption behavior.

Vote Recall: A Panel Study on the Mechanisms That Explain Vote Recall Inconsistency

Voters’ recall of past behavior is known to be inaccurate. Yet, owing to data limitations, the precise mechanisms behind recall inconsistency have not yet been pulled apart empirically. We analyze the Dutch 1VOP panel data set (29,955 respondents, 53 waves) to simultaneously test four explanations of recall inconsistency. We conclude that vote recall is explained by forgetfulness, nonattitudes, and cognitive bias, but find no evidence for measurement bias. Recall consistency is affected by current party preference and by volatility in party preferences. Both effects become stronger with longer time intervals between recalls. We discuss the implications for (cross-national) survey research methodology and for substantive research on electoral volatility and offer tentative solutions against the resulting validity, reliability, and equivalence issues.

Feeding Injury to Cotton Caused byLygus hesperus(Hemiptera: Miridae) Nymphs and Prereproductive Adults

Despite numerous studies examining feeding injury to cotton (Gossypium spp.) caused by different stages of Lygus hesperus Knight, no consistent trends are apparent. One explanation for inconsistencies among previous results is failure to account for important sources of biological variation. Because it was only recently recognized that feeding behavior and injury differed among adults of different physiological ages, this source of variance was not controlled in earlier studies of Lygus stage-dependent injury. We incorporated this knowledge into video assays and greenhouse experiments to compare feeding behaviors, within-plant distributions, and injury to cotton plants among L. hesperus nymphs and prereproductive adults. Laboratory behavior assays indicated third instars exhibited more stylet-probes, but of shorter duration, compared with prereproductive adults. Numbers and duration of stylet-probes by fifth instars were intermediate to those of third instars and adults. Total time spent stylet-probing was similar among the insect age-classes. On whole plants, third instars tended to reside within the bracts of squares (flower buds) >3 mm in diameter, whereas fifth instars and adults tended to frequent the plant terminals. Adults were more likely than third or fifth instars to be located off the plants at any given observation. Plants exposed to fifth instars exhibited more square abscission and retained fewer squares 3-6 mm in diameter than did plants exposed to third instars or adults. Our results indicated that fifth instars were more injurious to cotton than third instars or prereproductive adults, and that differences in feeding injury corresponded with within-plant distributions exhibited by different L. hesperus age-classes.

Data Truncation Bias and the Mismeasurement of Corporate Tax Avoidance

This study examines the use of the cash effective tax rate (Cash ETR) as a measure of corporate tax avoidance. The Cash ETR normalizes cash taxes paid by pre-tax book income. Empirical studies of the Cash ETR delete or winsorize many observations for which the measure is not meaningful. In addition, high pre-tax book income in the denominator biases the Cash ETR towards the statutory rate. We propose an alternative measure that is meaningful for all observations. Whereas Cash ETR studies suggest that the average corporation is tax-favored, our measure indicates that the opposite is true. In addition, our study suggests an explanation for inconsistencies in the extant literature regarding the relation between pre-tax profitability and tax avoidance. Our measure shows that that more profitable firms engage in greater levels of tax avoidance.

Neither time nor number of context-shock pairings affect long-term dependence of memory on hippocampus

There are still basic uncertainties concerning the role of the hippocampus (HPC) in maintaining long-term context memories. All experiments examining the effects of extensive HPC damage on context memory for a single learning episode find that damage soon after learning results in robust retrograde amnesia. Some experiments find that if the learning-to-damage interval is extended, remote context memories are spared. In contrast, other experiments fail to find spared remote context memory. One possible explanation for inconsistency might be the potency of the context memory conditioning procedure, as the experiments showing spared remote memory used a greater number of context-shock pairings, likely creating a stronger context fear memory. We designed an experiment to directly test the question: does increasing the number of context-shock pairings result in sparing of remote context memory after HPC damage? Six independent groups of rats received either 3 or 12 context-shock pairings during a single conditioning session and then either received extensive HPC damage or Control surgery at 1-week, 2-months, or 4-months after conditioning. 10days after surgery rats were tested for memory of the shock context. Consistent with all relevant studies, HPC damage at the shortest training-surgery interval produced robust retrograde amnesia for both 3- and 12-shock groups whereas the Control rats expressed significantly high levels of memory. At the longer training-surgery interval, HPC damage produced similarly robust retrograde amnesia in the rats in both the 3- and 12-shock groups. These results clearly demonstrate that increasing the number of context-shock pairings within a single learning session does not change the dependence of the memory on the HPC. Current evidence from our group on retrograde amnesia has now shown that partial damage, dorsal vs. ventral damage, discrete cue+context conditioning, time after training, and number of context-shock pairings do not affect HPC dependence of context fear memories. When taken together, the evidence strongly supports a permanent role of the HPC in context memory.

Explanations of inconsistencies in capacitance–voltage profiles of normal and inverted heterostructures

The carrier distributions, obtained from capacitance–voltage measurements on semiconductor heterojunctions, are widely different, depending on whether the Schottky barrier is on the higher band gap semiconductor or on the lower band gap semiconductor. The actual carrier distributions as calculated in both cases are quite dissimilar from the measured distributions. Explanations for such observations have been sought through rigorous studies based on self-consistent solutions of Schrödinger and Poisson equations applied to the widely used GaAs/AlGaAs heterojunctions. It emerges that the nature of the carrier distributions is mostly dependent on the effects of the Debye smearing on the two dimensional and three dimensional components of the capacitances at the heterostructures. The applied electric field, necessary for measurements does not have a significant effect on the carrier distribution.

North-American norms for name disagreement: pictorial stimuli naming discrepancies.

Pictorial stimuli are commonly used by scientists to explore central processes; including memory, attention, and language. Pictures that have been collected and put into sets for these purposes often contain visual ambiguities that lead to name disagreement amongst subjects. In the present work, we propose new norms which reflect these sources of name disagreement, and we apply this method to two sets of pictures: the Snodgrass and Vanderwart (S&V) set and the Bank of Standardized Stimuli (BOSS). Naming responses of the presented pictures were classified within response categories based on whether they were correct, incorrect, or equivocal. To characterize the naming strategy where an alternative name was being used, responses were further divided into different sub-categories that reflected various sources of name disagreement. Naming strategies were also compared across the two sets of stimuli. Results showed that the pictures of the S&V set and the BOSS were more likely to elicit alternative specific and equivocal names, respectively. It was also found that the use of incorrect names was not significantly different across stimulus sets but that errors were more likely caused by visual ambiguity in the S&V set and by a misuse of names in the BOSS. Norms for name disagreement presented in this paper are useful for subsequent research for their categorization and elucidation of name disagreement that occurs when choosing visual stimuli from one or both stimulus sets. The sources of disagreement should be examined carefully as they help to provide an explanation of errors and inconsistencies of many concepts during picture naming tasks.

Driving experience and situation awareness in hazard detection

How does driving experience help in the development of situation awareness? A comparison of detection rates of roadway hazards that involved other road users by inexperienced and experienced car drivers and experienced motorcycle riders with car driving experience was conducted under laboratory conditions. Motorcycle rider-drivers, due to their greater breadth of road experiences, were predicted to have an advantage over other road users in the detection of hazards. Two types of hazards abrupt-onset events and gradual-onset hazards were examined. Abrupt-onset events capture attention by virtue of sudden movement and risk of impending collision, as when a pedestrian runs into the roadway for example. It was expected that these hazards would be detected regardless of experience or situation awareness. Gradual-onset hazards require the anticipation of unfolding events as recognition of the danger from children playing on the footpath, and as such are a test of advanced situation awareness. The results showed no inexperienced–experienced driver differences in the detection of either type of hazard, eliminating hazard-type as an explanation of previous inconsistencies. However, motorcycle rider-drivers detected gradual-onset hazards faster than car drivers and they also perceived more hazards in relatively safe sections of roadway, that is, they showed a higher level of situation awareness.

The concept of sublimation – iodine as an example

Sublimation is a process that is defined unequally in different textbooks and in various chemistry sources. Inexactness in defining basic concepts in chemistry can lead to alternative meanings for different people. Inconsistent explanations, then, can serve as a basis for developing misconceptions and preconceptions in latter students' education. Thus, the notion that upon heating iodine only sublimes, but does not melt is present in many chemistry textbooks, teachers lectures and, therefore, in students minds and may be considered as one of the widespread misconceptions in chemistry teaching. In this paper we offer a lecture demonstration showing the existence of all three states of iodine, supported by a short video-clip, hoping to give a contribution to the correction of misbelieves about the process of sublimation and the examples of subliming substances.