bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Kinetic Monte Carlo simulation of nanostructural evolution under post‐irradiation annealing in dilute FeMnNi
Authors: Chiapetto M. , Becquart C. S. , Domain C. , Malerba L.
Published: October 2014

Post‐irradiation annealing experiments are often used to obtain clearer information on the nature of defects produced by irradiation. However, their interpretation is not always straightforward without the support of physical models. We apply here a physically‐based set of parameters for object kinetic Monte Carlo (OKMC) simulations of the nanostructural evolution of FeMnNi alloys under irradiation to the simulation of their post‐irradiation isochronal annealing, from 290 to 600 °C. The model adopts a “grey alloy” scheme, i.e. the solute atoms are not introduced explicitly, only their effect on the properties of point‐defect clusters is. Namely, it is assumed that both vacancy and SIA clusters are significantly slowed down by the solutes. The slowing down increases with size until the clusters become immobile. Specifically, the slowing down of SIA clusters by Mn and Ni can be justified in terms of the interaction between these atoms and crowdions in Fe. The results of the model compare quantitatively well with post‐irradiation isochronal annealing experimental data, providing clear insight into the mechanisms that determine the disappearance or re‐arrangement of defects as functions of annealing time and temperature. (© 2015 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Thermodynamic analysis of defect formation in BiFeO3
Authors: Tchelidze T. , Gagnidze T. , Shengelaya A.
Published: October 2014

In this paper the thermodynamic analysis of equilibrium concentration of defects for the system BiFeO3(solid)‐O2 (gas) is carried out. The analysis is performed by the Kroger method of quasi‐chemical equations. The concentration of defects and free carriers vs. oxygen partial pressure in surrounding atmosphere at definite temperature are obtained. The calculations were carried out for 3 nm BiFeO3 nanowires too. When the defects ionization energies and material band gap are increased in nanowires, the picture of defects thermodynamics is changed. In 3 nm nanowire the area of self‐compensation is significantly broadened. (© 2015 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
The Paradox of Visual and Material Cultures in Mack Walker's German Home Towns
Authors: Mintzker Yair
Published: October 2014

As far as visuality and materiality are concerned, Mack Walker's German Home Towns is a paradoxical work. In more than 400 pages of dense text about society, politics, and law in and around German towns from 1648 to 1871, the author devoted almost no space to the home towns' visual and material aspects. One would look in vain in this book for detailed descriptions of burghers' private and communal buildings; the layout of fortifications, streets, and public spaces; the location of civic and religious institutions; or the outward appearance of the townspeople, their fairs, rituals, and processions. Early in the book, Walker set the tone for his approach by dismissing as intellectually lazy the most common definition for a town in early modern central Europe—a settlement surrounded by physical walls—and in the entire book he included only one image of a German home town (and even that only on page 222).
Protecting Unborn Life in the Secular Age: The Catholic Church and the West German Abortion Debate, 1969–1989
Authors: Tichenor Kimba Allie
Published: October 2014

In 1969, the newly elected coalition government of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) and Free Democratic Party (FDP) in West Germany announced plans to reform Paragraph 218, the law that regulated women's access to abortion. This announcement prompted a public debate in West Germany on the state's obligation to protect unborn life—a debate that continues today in reunified Germany. Through an analysis of key events in that debate between 1969 and 1989, this article makes a twofold argument. First it argues that despite West Germany's increasingly secular orientation, the Catholic Church exercised significant political influence with respect to abortion policy throughout the history of the Federal Republic. Second, it argues that the West German Church's participation in these debates exposed deep rifts within the Catholic community, which, in turn, contributed to the formation of a smaller, more activist, and conservative Church. This smaller Church has achieved a remarkable degree of political success in reunified Germany by mobilizing its conservative core constituency, embracing new arguments, and pursuing issue-specific alliances.
Hulton's Jibbali word-list from 1836
Authors: Rubin Aaron D.
Published: October 2014

In 1836, a British naval surgeon named J.G. Hulton collected lexical data on the Jibbali language spoken on the Omani island of Al-Ḥallaniya (Khuriya Muriya). This is the earliest Jibbali data known to have been collected by a European, and remains today the only published data on the dialect of that island. Wolf Leslau analysed this data (BSOASXII, 1947, pp. 5–19) but Hulton's valuable material can now be reconsidered thanks to recent advances in our understanding of Jibbali and the other Modern South Arabian languages.
The impact of BRD: the current dairy experience
Authors: Guterbock Walter M.
Published: October 2014

The primary source of data on bovine respiratory disease (BRD) prevalence in US adult dairy cattle is producer surveys, which estimate that 2.4–2.9% of cattle are affected. This estimate appears low when compared to calculations based on limited data regarding on-farm deaths due to BRD and the number of carcasses at slaughter with severe BRD. These calculations indicate that approximately 3% of dairy cows die on farm or go to slaughter with severe BRD. Not included in these data are cows that are treated for BRD and retained. The primary manifestation of BRD on dairy farms is in calves. Nationwide surveys have estimated that 12.4–16.4% of preweaned dairy heifer calves are affected with BRD, and 5.9–11% of calves are affected after weaning. More detailed prevalence studies have generally included a limited number of small farms, with limited calf age range studied. All studies relied on producer diagnosis. Prevalence in these studies ranged from 0 to 52%, with many cases occurring before weaning, and with BRD being associated with increased calf death rates. BRD affects heifer growth. It appears to have a small effect on age at first calving, and some studies have shown small effects on performance and herd life after calving. First lactation performance of heifers depends on many factors that can obscure the effects of calfhood BRD.
Field epidemiology to manage BRD risk in beef cattle production systems
Authors: Smith David R.
Published: October 2014

Field disease investigations can help to identify patterns of disease that lead to causal hypotheses and, hopefully, effective disease risk management strategies. The most common way of doing this would be to characterize the outbreak by subject, time, and space. One of the perplexing animal health problems on some beef cattle ranches is the occurrence of pneumonia in calves prior to weaning in conditions of little stress and relative isolation. Field investigation of outbreaks of pneumonia in ranch calves prior to weaning has revealed patterns of sporadic illness in calves less than 30 days of age, and rapidly occurring outbreaks in calves 90–150 days of age. We speculate that the causes of these two patterns may be failure of passive transfer resulting in more sporadic cases in very young calves, or a large proportion of the population losing maternal antibody protection (i.e. losing herd immunity) resulting in rapid and widespread onset of pneumonia in older calves.
Seed treatment with iron pyrite (FeS2) nanoparticles increases the production of spinach
Authors: Srivastava Gaurav , Das Chinmaya Kumar , Das Anubhav , Singh Satish Kumar , Roy Manas , Kim Hansung , Sethy Niroj , Kumar Ashok , Sharma Raj Kishore , Singh Sushil Kumar , Philip Deepu , Das Mainak
Published: October 2014

Certain nano-materials are known to have plant growth promoting effects, which could find applications in agriculture.
Novel organic–inorganic hybrid composite membranes for nanofiltration of acid and alkaline media
Authors: Zhang Yang , Guo Min , Yan Hao , Pan Guoyuan , Xu Jian , Shi Yuanteng , Liu Yiqun
Published: October 2014

Novel NF membranes have been fabricated by a simple and environmentally friendly process for treating wastewater with extreme pH values.
‘Ring-expansion addition’ of epoxides using applied potential: an investigation of catalysts for atmospheric pressure carbon dioxide utilization
Authors: Buckley Benjamin R. , Patel Anish P. , Wijayantha K. G. Upul
Published: October 2014

An investigation of catalysts for atmospheric pressure carbon dioxide insertion into epoxides under electrosynthetic conditions is reported. Careful selection of electrode materials, enabled a catalyst free system to be developed.
Living cationic ring-opening polymerization of 2-oxazolines initiated by rare-earth metal triflates
Authors: Hu Fangyu , Xie Shoulei , Jiang Liming , Shen Zhiquan
Published: October 2014

Lewis acidic rare-earth metal triflates were found to efficiently initiate the cationic ring-opening polymerization of 2-oxazolines in a multi-site propagating fashion.
Laser beat wave excitation of terahertz radiation in a plasma slab
Authors: Chauhan Santosh , Parashar Jetendra
Published: October 2014

Terahertz (THz) radiation generation by nonlinear mixing of lasers, obliquely incident on a plasma slab is investigated. Two cases are considered: (i) electron density profile is parabolic but density peak is below the critical density corresponding to the beat frequency, (ii) plasma boundaries are sharp and density is uniform. In both cases, nonlinearity arises through the ponderomotive force that gives rise to electron drift at the beat frequency. In the case of inhomogeneous plasma, non zero curl of the nonlinear current density gives rise to electromagnetic THz generation. In case of uniform plasma, the sharp density variation at the plasma boundaries leads to radiation generation. In a slab width of less than a terahertz wavelength, plasma density one fourth of terahertz critical density, laser intensities ∼1017 W/cm2 at 1 μm, one obtains the THz intensity ∼1 GW/cm2 at 3 THz radiation frequency.
Enhanced 1.8 µm emission in Cr3+/Tm3+ co-doped fluorogermanate glasses for a multi-wavelength pumped near-infrared lasers
Authors: Wang W. C. , Yuan J. , Chen D. D. , Zhang J. J. , Xu S. Q. , Zhang Q. Y.
Published: October 2014

Cr3+/Tm3+ co-doped fluorogermanate glasses were prepared by melt-quenching technique, and their luminescent properties were investigated under excitation of Xenon lamp and 808 nm laser diode, respectively. Through strong sensitization of Cr3+, an enhanced 1.8 µm emission band of Tm3+: 3F4→3H6 can be achieved in an extremely extended excitation band of 380-900 nm. The possible energy transfer mechanism between Cr3+ and Tm3+ is rationally discussed. On the basis of experimental data, the highest energy transfer efficiency is up to 91.70%. Our results suggest this efficient Cr3+/Tm3+ co-doping system provides a selective pump mechanism for obtaining 1.8 µm laser and thus shows attractive applications in near-infrared fiber lasers and amplifiers.
Dysphagia After Occipitothoracic Fusion is Caused by Direct Compression of Oropharyngeal Space Due to Anterior Protrusion of Mid-cervical Spine
Authors: Kaneyama Shuichi , Sumi Masatoshi , Kasahara Koichi , Kanemura Aritetsu , Takabatake Masato , Yano Tomonori
Published: October 2014

Study design:

This was a retrospective study.

Objective:

To investigate the relationship among the craniocervical alignment, the oropharyngeal space, and the incidence of dysphagia after occipitothoracic fusion (OTF).

Summary of Background Data:

Craniocervical malalignment after OTF is one of a trigger of dysphagia. However, there has been no logical explanation for the etiology yet.

Methods:

A total of 32 patients who underwent OTF (5 male, 27 female) were reviewed. Following 4 parameters on the lateral cervical radiogram, pharyngeal tilt angle (PTA); the angle between the McGregor’s line and the line that links the center of C2 pedicle and the center of vertebral body at the apex of cervical sagittal curvature, diameter of oropharyngeal airway space (dPS), O–C2 angle, and C2–C7 angle were measured at follow-up and then the relationship of these parameters and their influence to the incidence of dysphagia were analyzed.

Results:

Six of 32 cases (18.8%) exhibited postoperative dysphagia. ROC curves showed that PTA and dPS had moderate accuracy for the predictor of the dysphagia after OTF with the area under the curve (AUC) of 0.76 and 0.86 respectively, whereas O–C2 angle had low accuracy with AUC of 0.69 and C2–C7 angle was almost useless for prediction of postoperative dysphagia with AUC of 0.51. A multiple linear regression analysis showed that only PTA was significantly correlated with dPS (β=0.822, P=0.014), whereas the O–C2 angle (β=0.101, P=0.779) and C2–C7 angle (β=0.352, P=0.157) had negligibly small influence on dPS.

Conclusions:

Our results demonstrated strong relationships between PTA and the value of dPS, and the incidence of dysphagia. As PTA reflects anterior protrusion of mid-cervical spine, these results indicated that dysphagia after OTF is caused by narrowing of oropharyngeal space due to direct compression from anteirorly protruded mid-cervical spine.
Inter-genomic sexual conflict drives antagonistic coevolution in harvester ants
Authors: Herrmann Michael , Cahan Sara Helms
Published: October 2014

The reproductive interests of males and females are not always aligned, leading to sexual conflict over parental investment, rate of reproduction and mate choice. Traits that increase the genetic interests of one sex often occur at the expense of the other, selecting for counter-adaptations leading to antagonistic coevolution. Reproductive conflict is not limited to intraspecific interactions; interspecific hybridization can produce pronounced sexual conflict between males and females of different species, but it is unclear whether such conflict can drive sexually antagonistic coevolution between reproductively isolated genomes. We tested for hybridization-driven sexually antagonistic adaptations in queens and males of the socially hybridogenetic ‘J’ lineages of
Pogonomyrmex
harvester ants, whose mating system promotes hybridization in queens but selects against it in males. We conducted no-choice mating assays to compare patterns of mating behaviour and sperm transfer between inter- and intra-lineage pairings. There was no evidence for mate discrimination on the basis of pair type, and the total quantity of sperm transferred did not differ between intra- and inter-lineage pairs; however, further dissection of the sperm transfer process into distinct mechanistic components revealed significant, and opposing, cryptic manipulation of copulatory investment by both sexes. Males of both lineages increased their rate of sperm transfer to high-fitness intra-lineage mates, with a stronger response in the rarer lineage for whom mating mistakes are the most likely. By contrast, the total duration of copulation for intra-lineage mating pairs was significantly shorter than for inter-lineage crosses, suggesting that queens respond to prevent excessive sperm loading by prematurely terminating copulation. These findings demonstrate that sexual conflict can lead to antagonistic coevolution in both intra-genomic and inter-genomic contexts. Indeed, the resolution of sexual conflict may be a key determinant of the long-term evolutionary potential of host-dependent reproductive strategies, counteracting the inherent instabilities arising from such systems.
Intraspecific sperm competition genes enforce post-mating species barriers inDrosophila
Authors: Castillo Dean M. , Moyle Leonie C.
Published: October 2014

Sexual selection and sexual conflict are considered important drivers of speciation, based on both theoretical models and empirical correlations between sexually selected traits and diversification. However, whether reproductive isolation between species evolves directly as a consequence of intrapopulation sexual dynamics remains empirically unresolved, in part because knowledge of the genetic mechanisms (if any) connecting these processes is limited. Here, we provide evidence of a direct mechanistic link between intraspecies sexual selection and reproductive isolation. We examined genes with known roles in intraspecific sperm competition (ISC) inD. melanogasterand assayed their impact on conspecific sperm precedence (CSP). We found that two such genes (Acp36DEandCG9997) contribute to both offensive sperm competition and CSP; null/knockdown lines both had lower competitive ability againstD. melanogasterconspecifics and were no longer able to displace heterospecificD. simulanssperm in competitive matings. In comparison,Sex Peptide(Acp70A)—another locus essential for ISC—does not contribute to CSP. These data indicate that two loci important for sperm competitive interactions have an additional role in similar interactions that enforce post-mating reproductive isolation between species, and show that sexual selection and sexual isolation can act on the same molecular targets in a gene-specific manner.
Supervised learning sets benchmark for robust spike rate inference from calcium imaging signals
Authors: Theis Lucas , Berens Philipp , Froudarakis Emmanouil , Reimer Jacob , Rosón Miroslav Román , Baden Tom , Euler Thomas , Tolias Andreas , Bethge Matthias
Published: October 2014

A fundamental challenge in calcium imaging has been to infer spike rates of neurons from the measured noisy calcium fluorescence traces. We systematically evaluate a range of spike inference algorithms on a large benchmark dataset (>100.000 spikes) recorded from varying neural tissue (V1 and retina) using different calcium indicators (OGB-1 and GCaMP6). We introduce a new algorithm based on supervised learning in flexible probabilistic models and show that it outperforms all previously published techniques. Importantly, it even performs better than other algorithms when applied to entirely new datasets for which no simultaneously recorded data is available. Future data acquired in new experimental conditions can easily be used to further improve its spike prediction accuracy and generalization performance. Finally, we show that comparing algorithms on artificial data is not informative about performance on real data, suggesting that benchmark datasets such as the one we provide may greatly facilitate future algorithmic developments.
Learning Study – the dual process of developing theory and practice
Authors: Yuk Ko Po
Published: October 2014

Purpose

– Variation Theory has been used as a source of guiding principles for pedagogical design, lesson analysis and improvement in Learning Study (LS). The purpose of this paper is to argue that the LS approach provides an important opportunity for teachers and researchers not only to improve the teaching strategies together but also refine the Variation Theory in action.

Design/methodology/approach

– A case study of teaching writing in Chinese at Primary 4 level of a LS project is selected using analysis of covariance to identify lessons that had significant differences in student learning outcomes. Analysis focuses on examining one of the major claims in Variation Theory which is that “contrast should precede generalization” in order to explore if this argument is able to provide a possible answer to the difference in student performance in the two classes of students of similar ability learning the same topic. Teachers’ contribution to the discussion of the application of the theory is analysed to explain the different teaching strategies chosen.

Findings

– The case study shows that in a LS platform, teachers’ teaching act and their interaction with theorists contributed to a dual process of developing the practice as well as the theory itself. The results of students’ learning serve as evidences for the claim that “contrast should precede generalization” as the theory suggested.

Originality/value

– Most of the lesson study and LS projects emphasize teachers’ learning through the participation in the process. This paper illustrates that in conducting LS approach, when there is conscious effort to direct discussion toward how to handle the content in terms of Variation Theory explicitly, the result could contribute to the development of the theory itself. Hence, the LS provides an important opportunity for teachers and researchers to refine strategies as well as theories of teaching and learning together.
Comparative analysis of Medicare discharges following an acute inpatient hospitalization under MS-DRG 207
Authors: Frank Jared , Haider Muhiuddin
Published: October 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this study is to conduct a comparative analysis of the Medicare patients discharged to a long-term (acute) care hospitals (LTCH), skilled nursing facility (SNF) or inpatient rehabilitation facility (IRF) following an acute inpatient hospitalization under Medicare-severity diagnosis-related group (MS-DRG) 207. The likelihood of discharge by provider type was also examined to determine criteria informing patient discharge to a LTCH, SNF or IRF for treatment.

Design/methodology/approach

– Retrospective cohort study, based on secondary data analysis, utilizing Medicare Provider Analysis and Review (MedPAR) File data collected by Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for fiscal year 2011, October 1, 2010, through September 30, 2011.

Findings

– Numerous analyses were conducted upon those patients discharged to a LTCH, SNF or IRF following an acute inpatient hospitalization under MS-DRG 207. Concerning those patients discharged to LTCHs, patients were not significantly older, did not have the highest length of stay and had comparable diagnoses and diagnosis counts to those discharged to SNFs or IRFs. However, costs were significantly higher among discharges to LTCHs. Multinomial logistic regression analyses also indicated numerous associations between certain variables and discharge location.

Originality/value

– With the aging of the US population and increasing costs of rendering services, both the Medicare population and Medicare expenditures, already at their highest levels in the history of the program, are projected to rise going forward (The Boards of Trustees, 2012). As such, recent research has focused on Part A hospitals/facilities and the variations in costs submitted and payments received for treatment/services provided. This study aims to address whether patients discharged to LTCHs, which receive higher payment(s) as a result of serving a higher proportion of medically complex beneficiaries, are more medically complex than those discharged to SNFs/IRFs.
Extended results of Norwegian password security survey
Authors: Helkala Kirsi , Hoddø Bakås Tone
Published: October 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to extend the results of a Norwegian password security survey. Research, especially in the early 21st century, has shown that education is needed to change people’s behaviour regarding password generation, management and storage. As our daily routines and duties have become more dependent on electronic services in the last decade, one could think that qualitative education is nowadays given to users. This survey is to verify that assumption.

Methodology

– A nation-wide demographic survey among employees in Norway with a sample of 1,003 respondents at the ages of 18-64 years was conducted in October 2012.

Findings

– The results show that the education or proper guidance seldom is given leading to the outdated users’ behaviour.

Research limitations

– The results of the study are limited to the employed only and they do not explain behaviour of students, teenagers or children.

Social implications

– During the current year, the results of the study have been discussed several times in national media and, hopefully, have an impact to employees’ behaviour. The results have also been used in the National Security Month campaign in October 2013.

Originality/value

– The questionnaire itself is not unique. However, the large amount of respondents gives higher value to the results.
Balanced scorecard and controllability at the level of middle managers – the case of unintended breaches
Authors: Jakobsen Morten , Lueg Rainer
Published: October 2014

Purpose

– This paper aims to analyse how the inherent design of the Balanced Scorecard (BSC) violates the controllability principle. The management control literature provides convincing examples of actors who breach controllability without intention. This discussion was extended by the example of the BSC. This paper focusses on the breaches that occur when actors lack the awareness or the skills to re-enforce controllability.

Design/methodology/approach

– Taking a pragmatic-constructivist position, analytical and empirical evidence was included on controllability to analyse the normative literature on the BSC.

Findings

– It was found that the BSC causes several unintended breaches of the controllability principle at the level of middle managers, both ex ante (control rationale) and ex post (fairness rationale). These breaches are not only situational or induced by how managers in the field design a BSC. They appear to be inherent in the BSC due to the way Kaplan and Norton have conceptualised it.

Practical implications

– Practitioners are alerted that the intuitive appeal of popular management fashions such as the BSC covers their conceptual flaws. It was also proposed that failed implementations and dysfunctional applications can be due to the inherent characteristics of the concepts themselves.

Originality/value

– This paper contributes by uncovering the unintended violations of the controllability principle by the inherent characteristics. The authors suggest using our conceptual contribution to conduct empirical research on the issues of controllability and management control systems in general. Thereby, the theory-based discussion on the BSC is advanced (Nørreklit, 2000, 2003; Nørreklitet al., 2012a).
Income generation in public libraries: potentials and pitfalls
Authors: Pautz Hartwig
Published: October 2014

Purpose

– The aim of this paper is to discuss the literature on income generation methods in the context of the “public library ethos”. As public libraries are struggling with cuts to public spending almost everywhere, the topic of “income generation” to supplement public funding is highly relevant.

Design/methodology/approach

– The article is a review of existing literature about income generation methods and public library ethos.

Findings

– The literature review reports on a large variety of income generation methods – some of them are country-specific and only applicable in particular political, legal and cultural environments, others could be applied by librarians across borders. The review makes clear that income generation is difficult and requires skill. It also clearly outlines the potential incompatibilities between some income generation methods and the public library ethos.

Practical implications

– The article raises important issues with regards to how practitioners should go about funding existing or new services. It becomes clear that librarians need a clear ethical position regarding how services can be provided and under which conditions services cannot be provided on the basis of principled reasoning.

Originality/value

– A broad range of literature on income generation and public library ethos from various countries is reviewed and questions regarding how public librarians, on a practical level, can improve their institutions’ funding situation are discussed. This praxis-oriented discussion is connected to important ethical considerations that should come into play when devising an income generation strategy.
Cocaine Influences Alcohol‐Seeking Behavior and Relapse Drinking in Alcohol‐Preferring (P) Rats
Authors: Hauser Sheketha R. , Wilden Jessica A. , Deehan Gerald A. , McBride William J. , Rodd Zachary A.
Published: October 2014

Background

The results of several studies suggest that there may be common neurocircuits regulating drug‐seeking behaviors. Common biological pathways regulating drug‐seeking would explain the phenomenon that seeking for 1 drug can be enhanced by exposure to another drug of abuse. The objective of this study was to assess the time course effects of acute cocaine administration on ethanol (EtOH) seeking and relapse.

Methods

Alcohol‐preferring (P) rats were allowed to self‐administer 15% EtOH and water. EtOH‐seeking was assessed through the use of the Pavlovian spontaneous recovery (PSR) model, while EtOH‐relapse drinking was assessed through the use of the alcohol‐deprivation effect.

Results

Cocaine (0, 1, or 10 mg/kg), injected immediately, 30 minutes, or 4 hours prior to the first PSR testing session, dose‐dependently increased responding on the EtOH lever compared to extinction responses and responding by saline controls. Under relapse conditions, cocaine given immediately prior to the relapse session had no effect (1 mg/kg) or reduced responding (10 mg/kg). In contrast, cocaine given 4 hours prior to the relapse session markedly enhanced EtOH responding compared to saline.

Conclusions

The enhanced expression of EtOH‐seeking and EtOH‐relapse behaviors may be a result of a priming effect of cocaine on neuronal circuits mediating these behaviors. The effect of cocaine on EtOH‐relapse drinking is indicative of the complex interactions that can occur between drugs of abuse; production of conflicting behaviors (immediate), and priming of relapse/seeking (4‐hour delay).
A note on assessing the relation between CEO characteristics and stock performance: Alpha Above Replacement
Authors: Olsen Brett C. , Sisodiya Sanjay R. , Swisher Judith
Published: October 2014

Many studies examine the relation between stock performance and CEO characteristics. We approach the topic in a different way, using the alphas generated by the Fama‐French three‐factor model as the dependent variable in a CEO characteristic model. We find several traits are significantly related to alpha. CEOs who are younger, own a larger fraction of firm equity and hold a graduate degree provide greater alphas. CEOs who are also the founder of the firm deliver larger alphas. Our results provide useful information for boards assessing the performance of CEOs and considering CEO succession.
Variations in the stimulus salience of cocaine reward influences drug‐associated contextual memory
Authors: Liddie Shervin , Itzhak Yossef
Published: October 2014

Drugs of abuse act as reinforcers because they influence learning and memory processes resulting in long‐term memory of drug reward. We have previously shown that mice conditioned by fixed daily dose of cocaine (Fix‐C) or daily escalating doses of cocaine (Esc‐C) resulted in short‐ and long‐term persistence of drug memory, respectively, suggesting different mechanisms in acquisition of cocaine memory. The present study was undertaken to investigate the differential contribution of N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate receptor (NMDAR) subunits in the formation of Fix‐C and Esc‐C memory in C57BL/6J mice. Training by Esc‐C resulted in marked elevation in hippocampal expression of Grin2b mRNA and NR2B protein levels compared with training by Fix‐C. The NR2B‐containing NMDAR antagonist ifenprodil had similar attenuating effects on acquisition and reconsolidation of Fix‐C and Esc‐C memory. However, the NMDAR antagonist MK‐801 had differential effects: (1) higher doses of MK‐801 were required for post‐retrieval disruption of reconsolidation of Esc‐C memory than Fix‐C memory; and (2) pre‐retrieval MK‐801 inhibited extinction of Fix‐C memory but it had no effect on Esc‐C memory. In addition, blockade of NMDAR downstream signaling pathways also showed differential regulation of Fix‐C and Esc‐C memory. Inhibition of neuronal nitric oxide synthase attenuated acquisition and disrupted reconsolidation of Fix‐C but not Esc‐C memory. In contrast, the mitogen‐activating extracellular kinase inhibitor SL327 attenuated reconsolidation of Esc‐C but not Fix‐C memory. These results suggest that NMDAR downstream signaling molecules associated with consolidation and reconsolidation of cocaine‐associated memory may vary upon changes in the salience of cocaine reward during conditioning.
Antenatal management of at‐risk pregnancies from a distance
Authors: Ivey Tesa L. , Hughes Dawn , Dajani Nafisa K. , Magann Everett F.
Published: October 2014

This study was undertaken to determine whether antenatal care can be achieved in women with at‐risk pregnancies residing in rural areas with limited access to antenatal care and maternal fetal medicine (MFM) specialists. Over a period of 15 months, 156 women with high‐risk pregnancies (diabetes, hypertensive disorders, suspected fetal anomalies, prior caesarean complications) from six different healthcare units had 350 visits managed by telemedicine.
EUCAST breakpoints can be used to interpret direct susceptibility testing of Enterobacteriaceae from urine samples
Authors: Sundqvist Martin , Olafsson Jonas , Matuschek Erika
Published: October 2014

Increasing resistance calls for rapid antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST). This study validated the use of EUCAST breakpoints for AST using disk diffusion directly from urine samples. Two hundred and thirty‐three urine samples with growth of varying amounts of Enterobacteriaceae were included and susceptibility testing (disk diffusion) was performed on Mueller–Hinton agar with overnight incubation directly from urine samples in parallel with disk diffusion according to EUCAST methodology. Confluent growth was obtained in 188 of 233 urine samples and used as criteria for zone measurements. Only 15 discrepancies (3 very major errors, 5 major errors and 7 minor errors) were observed in a total of 855 tests showing the safety of this approach. Direct susceptibility testing from urine samples can be interpreted using EUCAST clinical breakpoints and can thus safely be used to achieve more rapid AST result.
Interaction of Bordetella pertussis filamentous hemagglutinin with human TLR2: identification of the TLR2‐binding domain
Authors: Asgarian‐Omran Hossein , Amirzargar Ali Akbar , Zeerleder Sacha , Mahdavi Marzieh , van Mierlo Gerard , Solati Shabnam , Jeddi‐Tehrani Mahmood , Rabbani Hodjatallah , Aarden Leucien , Shokri Fazel
Published: October 2014

Filamentous hemagglutinin (FHA) is a major adhesion and virulence factor of Bordetella pertussis and also a main component of acellular pertussis vaccines. Interaction of FHA with different receptors on human epithelial and immune cells facilitates entrance and colonization of bacteria as well as immunomodulation of the host immune response. Three overlapping segments of the FHA gene were cloned in a prokaryotic expression vector and the recombinant proteins were purified. These recombinant fragments along with the native FHA protein were employed to assess their potential Toll‐like receptor (TLR) stimulatory effects and to localize the TLR binding region. TLR stimulation was monitored by applying HEK293‐Blue cell lines cotransfected with TLR2, 4, or 5 and a NF‐κB reporter gene. Culture supernatants were checked for secretion of the reporter gene product and IL‐8 as indicators of TLR stimulation. Native FHA was found to strongly stimulate TLR2, but not TLR4 or TLR5 transfected cells. Among recombinant FHA fragments only the fragment spanning amino acid residues 1544–1917 was able to exhibit the TLR2 stimulating property of FHA. Interaction of FHA with TLR2 suggests its involvement in induction of the innate immune system against Bordetella pertussis. The TLR2‐binding domain of FHA may contribute to immunoprotection against pertussis infection.
Long‐term outcomes of early gastric cancer diagnosed as mixed adenocarcinoma after endoscopic submucosal dissection
Authors: Han Jae Pil , Hong Su Jin , Kim Hee Kyung
Published: October 2014

Background and Aims

The clinical significance and prognosis of mixed adenocarcinoma in early gastric cancer (EGC) are incompletely understood. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinicopathological characteristics and long‐term outcomes of mixed adenocarcinoma diagnosed as EGC after endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD).

Methods

There were 430 EGCs histologically proven by ESD in 395 patients. The clinicopathological characteristics and long‐term outcomes, including the rates of local recurrence, were evaluated according to histological type in EGC treated with ESD.

Results

In total, 430 EGCs were classified as 362 (84.4%) tubular adenocarcinomas, 41 (9.5%) poorly cohesive carcinomas (PCCs), 26 (6.0%) mixed adenocarcinomas, and 1 (0.2%) papillary adenocarcinoma according to the World Health Organization classification. Although the en bloc resection rate was acceptable (92.3%) for mixed adenocarcinoma, the complete resection rate was lower (53.8%) than those in other types (P < 0.01). Local recurrence occurred in 5 (19.2%) of 26 mixed adenocarcinomas after ESD. In a multivariate analysis, mixed adenocarcinoma was an independent risk factor predicting local recurrence after ESD for EGC (hazard ratio, 7.039; P < 0.01).

Conclusion

Mixed adenocarcinoma is more aggressive than other histological types of EGC based on clinical outcomes. Moreover, it is an independent prognostic factor for local recurrence after ESD for EGC.
A proposed method to reconstruct the three‐dimensional dispersion profile of polymeric fibres based on variable wavelength interferometry
Authors: HAMZA A.A. , SOKKAR T.Z.N. , EL‐FARAHATY K.A. , RASLAN M.I.
Published: October 2014

In this paper, we suggest a modification to the conventional variable wavelength interferometry. This modification allowed us to calculate the dispersion curve of each point inside polymeric fibres instead of calculating the mean dispersion of these fibres. This modified mathematical treatment was used to calculate the three‐dimensional dispersion profile of isotactic polypropylene fibres suffering from necking deformation. The different steps of calculating the three‐dimensional dispersion profile of the fibre were demonstrated. The application of this modified method revealed the variation of the fibre material dispersion before, inside and after the necking region. In addition, the birefringence profile of the necked isotactic polypropylene was determined using the proposed mathematical treatment. This allowed us to diagnose the interaction of the incident waves with necked polypropylene fibres, which gives extensive information on the orientation of the molecular chains during the formation of the necking phenomenon.
Drought‐induced xylem cavitation and hydraulic deterioration: risk factors for urban trees under climate change?
Authors: Savi Tadeja , Bertuzzi Stefano , Branca Salvatore , Tretiach Mauro , Nardini Andrea
Published: October 2014

Urban trees help towns to cope with climate warming by cooling both air and surfaces. The challenges imposed by the urban environment, with special reference to low water availability due to the presence of extensive pavements, result in high rates of mortality of street trees, that can be increased by climatic extremes.

We investigated the water relations and xylem hydraulic safety/efficiency of Quercus ilex trees growing at urban sites with different percentages of surrounding impervious pavements. Seasonal changes of plant water potential and gas exchange, vulnerability to cavitation and embolism level, and morpho‐anatomical traits were measured.

We found patterns of increasing water stress and vulnerability to drought at increasing percentages of impervious pavement cover, with a consequent reduction in gas exchange rates, decreased safety margins toward embolism development, and increased vulnerability to cavitation, suggesting the occurrence of stress‐induced hydraulic deterioration.

The amount of impermeable surface and chronic exposure to water stress influence the site‐specific risk of drought‐induced dieback of urban trees under extreme drought. Besides providing directions for management of green spaces in towns, our data suggest that xylem hydraulics is key to a full understanding of the responses of urban trees to global change.
Fabrication and Performance of La0.6Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3−δ Infiltrated-Yttria-Stabilized Zirconia Cathode on Anode-Supported Solid Oxide Fuel Cell
Authors: Tang Dan , Han Min-Fang , Zheng Zi-Wei
Published: October 2014

The three layers with porous yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) backbone/dense YSZ/porous NiO–YSZ were fabricated by tape-casting process, respectively, then laminated together and co-fired at 1300 °C for 5 h. The cathode material La0.6Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3−δ (LSCF) was loaded by infiltrating the precursor of metal ions into porous YSZ backbone. As a result, LSCF nanoparticles with the size of 60–100 nm were uniformly distributed on YSZ backbone. The power density was 1.046 W cm−2 and the polarization resistance was 0.17 Ω cm2 at 800 °C in humidified H2 (3 vol.% H2O). But the stability was not good enough, especially in early operating stage, e.g., 20 h. After that, it showed good stability for the following 70 h operating under a constant voltage of 0.7 V at 750 °C. This is due to the growth and agglomeration of LSCF nanoparticles at early steps, which reduced the three phase boundaries (TPBs).
Human Cytomegalovirus-Encoded pUL7 Is a Novel CEACAM1-Like Molecule Responsible for Promotion of Angiogenesis
Authors: MacManiman Jason D. , Meuser Andrew , Botto Sara , Smith Patricia P. , Liu Fenyong , Jarvis Michael A. , Nelson Jay A. , Caposio Patrizia
Published: October 2014

Persistent human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection has been linked to several diseases, including atherosclerosis, transplant vascular sclerosis (TVS), restenosis, and glioblastoma. We have previously shown that factors secreted from HCMV-infected cells induce angiogenesis and that this process is due, at least in part, to increased secretion of interleukin-6 (IL-6). In order to identify the HCMV gene(s) responsible for angiogenesis promotion, we constructed a large panel of replication-competent HCMV recombinants. One HCMV recombinant deleted for UL1 to UL10 was unable to induce secretion of factors necessary for angiogenesis. Fine mapping using additional HCMV recombinants identified UL7 as a viral gene required for production of angiogenic factors from HCMV-infected cells. Transient expression of pUL7 induced phosphorylation of STAT3 and ERK1/2 MAP kinases and production of proangiogenic factors, including IL-6. Addition of recombinant pUL7 to cells was sufficient for angiogenesis and was again associated with increased IL-6 expression. Analysis of the UL7 structure revealed a conserved domain similar to the immunoglobulin superfamily domain and related to the N-terminal V-like domain of carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule 1 (CEACAM1). Our report therefore identifies UL7 as a novel HCMV-encoded molecule that is both structurally and functionally related to cellular CEACAM1, a proangiogenic factor highly expressed during vasculogenesis.

IMPORTANCE
A hallmark of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is its ability to modulate the host cellular machinery, resulting in the secretion of factors associated with long-term diseases such as vascular disorders and cancer. We previously demonstrated that HCMV infection alters the types and quantities of bioactive proteins released from cells (designated the HCMV secretome) that are involved in the promotion of angiogenesis and wound healing. A key proangiogenic and antiapoptotic factor identified from a proteomic-based approach was IL-6. In the present report, we show for the first time that HCMV UL7 encodes a soluble molecule that is a structural and functional homologue of the CEACAM1 proangiogenic cellular factor. This report thereby identifies a critical component of the HCMV secretome that may be responsible, at least in part, for the vascular dysregulation associated with persistent HCMV infection.
VA OpenNotes: exploring the experiences of early patient adopters with access to clinical notes
Authors: Nazi Kim M , Turvey Carolyn L , Klein Dawn M , Hogan Timothy P , Woods Susan S
Published: October 2014

Objective To explore the experience of early patient adopters who accessed their clinical notes online using the Blue Button feature of the My HealtheVet portal.

Methods A web-based survey of VA patient portal users from June 22 to September 15, 2013.

Results 33.5% of respondents knew that clinical notes could be viewed, and nearly one in four (23.5%) said that they had viewed their notes at least once. The majority of VA Notes users agreed that accessing their notes will help them to do a better job of taking medications as prescribed (80.1%) and be better prepared for clinic visits (88.6%). Nine out of 10 users agreed that use of visit notes will help them understand their conditions better (91.8%), and better remember the plan for their care (91.9%). In contrast, 87% disagreed that VA Notes will make them worry more, and 88.4% disagreed that access to VA Notes will be more confusing than helpful. Users who had either contacted their provider or healthcare team (11.9%) or planned to (13.5%) primarily wanted to learn more about a health issue, medication, or test results (53.7%).

Conclusions Initial assessment of the patient experience within the first 9 months of availability provides evidence that patients both value and benefit from online access to clinical notes. These findings are congruent with OpenNotes study findings on a broader scale. Additional outreach and education is needed to enhance patient awareness. Healthcare professionals should author notes keeping in mind the opportunity patient access presents for enhanced communication.
Transfundal stent placement for treatment of complex basilar tip aneurysm: technical note
Authors: Vasquez Ciro , Hubbard Molly , Jagadeesan Bharathi Dasan , Tummala Ramachandra Prasad
Published: October 2014

We describe a case where a complex unruptured basilar tip aneurysm was treated with a unique method of stent-assisted coil embolization. The aneurysm was considered to have a complex anatomy since both the left posterior cerebral artery and left superior cerebellar artery originated from the dome of the aneurysm. Also, the right posterior cerebral artery was incorporated in the aneurysm neck and needed to be protected prior to coil embolization. This case describes placement of a stent across the span of the aneurysm fundus in order to preserve the two branches arising from it, and the aneurysm dome was coiled without any complication. Using modifications of existing strategies for stent-assisted coil embolization, the aneurysm was treated without any complications and all of the vessels at risk were preserved.
Large time behavior of averaged kinetic models on networks
Authors: Herty Michael , Ringhofer Christian
Published: October 2014

We are interested in flows on general networks and derive a kinetic equation describing general production, social or transportation networks. Corresponding macroscopic transport equations for large time and homogenized behavior are obtained and studied numerically. This work continues a recent discussion [Averaged kinetic models for flows on unstructured networks, Kinetic Related Models 4 (2011) 1081–1096] and provides additionally explicit equilibrium solutions, second-order macroscopic approximations as well as numerical simulations on a large scale homogenized network.