bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Brain Natriuretic Peptide and Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy in Patients With Mildly Symptomatic Heart Failure
Authors: Brenyo Andrew , Barsheshet Alon , Rao Mohan , Huang David T. , Zareba Wojciech , McNitt Scott , Hall W. Jackson , Peterson Derick R. , Solomon Scott D. , Moss Arthur J. , Goldenberg Ilan
Published: June 2013

Background—

There are limited data on the prognostic implications of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) assessment in patients with mildly symptomatic heart failure (HF) who receive cardiac resynchronization therapy with a defibrillator (CRT-D).

Methods and Results—

The effect of elevated baseline and 1-year BNP levels (dichotomized at the upper tertile BNP of 120 pg/mL) on the risk of HF or death was assessed among the cohort of 1197 patients with baseline BNP data enrolled in MADIT (Multicenter Automated Defibrillator Implantation Trial)-CRT. Elevated baseline BNP was associated with a significant 68% (
P
=0.007) and 58% (
P
=0.02) increase in the risk of HF or death among MADIT-CRT patients allocated to CRT-D and implantable cardioverter defibrillator-only therapy, respectively. At 1 year of follow-up, patients allocated to CRT-D displayed significantly greater reductions in BNP (26% reduction) levels compared with implantable cardioverter defibrillator-only patients (8% increase;
P
=0.005). Patients with CRT-D in whom 1-year BNP levels were reduced or remained low experienced a significantly lower risk of subsequent HF or death as compared with patients in whom 1-year BNP levels were high. Similarly, the echocardiographic response to CRT-D was highest among those who maintained low BNP levels or in whom BNP level at 1-year was reduced.

Conclusions—

Our findings suggest that assessment of baseline and follow-up BNP provides important prognostic implications in patients with mildly symptomatic HF who receive CRT.

Clinical Trial Registration—

URL:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT00180271.
Transgenic Mice for cGMP Imaging
Authors: Thunemann Martin , Wen Lai , Hillenbrand Matthias , Vachaviolos Angelos , Feil Susanne , Ott Thomas , Han Xiaoxing , Fukumura Dai , Jain Rakesh K. , Russwurm Michael , de Wit Cor , Feil Robert
Published: June 2013

Rationale:

Cyclic GMP (cGMP) is an important intracellular signaling molecule in the cardiovascular system, but its spatiotemporal dynamics in vivo is largely unknown.

Objective:

To generate and characterize transgenic mice expressing the fluorescence resonance energy transfer–based ratiometric cGMP sensor, cGMP indicator with an EC
50
of 500 nmol/L (cGi500), in cardiovascular tissues.

Methods and Results:

Mouse lines with smooth muscle–specific or ubiquitous expression of cGi500 were generated by random transgenesis using an SM22α promoter fragment or by targeted integration of a Cre recombinase–activatable expression cassette driven by the cytomegalovirus early enhancer/chicken β-actin/β-globin promoter into the Rosa26 locus, respectively. Primary smooth muscle cells isolated from aorta, bladder, and colon of cGi500 mice showed strong sensor fluorescence. Basal cGMP concentrations were <100 nmol/L, whereas stimulation with cGMP-elevating agents such as 2-(N,N-diethylamino)-diazenolate-2-oxide diethylammonium salt (DEA/NO) or the natriuretic peptides, atrial natriuretic peptide, and C-type natriuretic peptide evoked fluorescence resonance energy transfer changes corresponding to cGMP peak concentrations of ≈3 µmol/L. However, different types of smooth muscle cells had different sensitivities of their cGMP responses to DEA/NO, atrial natriuretic peptide, and C-type natriuretic peptide. Robust nitric oxide–induced cGMP transients with peak concentrations of ≈1 to >3 µmol/L could also be monitored in blood vessels of the isolated retina and in the cremaster microcirculation of anesthetized mice. Moreover, with the use of a dorsal skinfold chamber model and multiphoton fluorescence resonance energy transfer microscopy, nitric oxide–stimulated vascular cGMP signals associated with vasodilation were detected in vivo in an acutely untouched preparation.

Conclusions:

These cGi500 transgenic mice permit the visualization of cardiovascular cGMP signals in live cells, tissues, and mice under normal and pathological conditions or during pharmacotherapy with cGMP-elevating drugs.
Bone-Derived Stem Cells Repair the Heart After Myocardial Infarction Through Transdifferentiation and Paracrine Signaling Mechanisms
Authors: Duran Jason M. , Makarewich Catherine A. , Sharp Thomas E. , Starosta Timothy , Zhu Fang , Hoffman Nicholas E. , Chiba Yumi , Madesh Muniswamy , Berretta Remus M. , Kubo Hajime , Houser Steven R.
Published: June 2013

Rationale:

Autologous bone marrow–derived or cardiac-derived stem cell therapy for heart disease has demonstrated safety and efficacy in clinical trials, but functional improvements have been limited. Finding the optimal stem cell type best suited for cardiac regeneration is the key toward improving clinical outcomes.

Objective:

To determine the mechanism by which novel bone-derived stem cells support the injured heart.

Methods and Results:

Cortical bone–derived stem cells (CBSCs) and cardiac-derived stem cells were isolated from enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP+) transgenic mice and were shown to express c-kit and Sca-1 as well as 8 paracrine factors involved in cardioprotection, angiogenesis, and stem cell function. Wild-type C57BL/6 mice underwent sham operation (n=21) or myocardial infarction with injection of CBSCs (n=67), cardiac-derived stem cells (n=36), or saline (n=60). Cardiac function was monitored using echocardiography. Only 2/8 paracrine factors were detected in EGFP+ CBSCs in vivo (basic fibroblast growth factor and vascular endothelial growth factor), and this expression was associated with increased neovascularization of the infarct border zone. CBSC therapy improved survival, cardiac function, regional strain, attenuated remodeling, and decreased infarct size relative to cardiac-derived stem cells– or saline-treated myocardial infarction controls. By 6 weeks, EGFP+ cardiomyocytes, vascular smooth muscle, and endothelial cells could be identified in CBSC-treated, but not in cardiac-derived stem cells–treated, animals. EGFP+ CBSC-derived isolated myocytes were smaller and more frequently mononucleated, but were functionally indistinguishable from EGFP− myocytes.

Conclusions:

CBSCs improve survival, cardiac function, and attenuate remodeling through the following 2 mechanisms: (1) secretion of proangiogenic factors that stimulate endogenous neovascularization, and (2) differentiation into functional adult myocytes and vascular cells.
Learning Representations for Weakly Supervised Natural Language Processing Tasks
Authors: Huang Fei , Ahuja Arun , Downey Doug , Yang Yi , Guo Yuhong , Yates Alexander
Published: June 2013

Finding the right representations for words is critical for building accurate NLP systems when domain-specific labeled data for the task is scarce. This article investigates novel techniques for extracting features from n-gram models, Hidden Markov Models, and other statistical language models, including a novel Partial Lattice Markov Random Field model. Experiments on part-of-speech tagging and information extraction, among other tasks, indicate that features taken from statistical language models, in combination with more traditional features, outperform traditional representations alone, and that graphical model representations outperform n-gram models, especially on sparse and polysemous words.
Finland on a Road towards a Modern Legal Biobanking Infrastructure
Authors: Soini Sirpa
Published: June 2013

Abstract

Finland has enacted a Biobank Act that will come into force on 1 September 2013. Finland is regarded as a highly successful environment for medical research using population samples and data for many reasons. One of the rationales behind the new legislation was to solve the problems due to the overly strict informed consent doctrine hindering access to old samples and data and asking for multi-purpose consents. Yet although consent is the primary justification to use biobank samples and data, the Biobank Act allows asking for a consent for several unspecified future research purposes. The guiding principles of the Biobank Act are promotion of trust, equal access to data and samples, protection of privacy, acceleration of innovation activities, and bringing biobank activities under public scrutiny. To the author’s knowledge, this is the first “all purpose” Biobank Act in Europe applied to all biobanks in one country.
Xylem Adjustment in Erica Arborea to Temperature and Moisture Availability in Contrasting Climates
Authors: Gea-Izquierdo G. , Battipaglia G. , Gärtner H. , Cherubini P.
Published: June 2013

Plasticity of xylem architecture can be a species specific strategy to reduce vulnerability to climate change. To study how the evergreen shrub Erica arborea regulates its xylem at different time scales as a response to climatic variability, we compared time series of annual xylem traits such as ring-width (growth), vessel size (hydraulic diameter and mean vessel area), vessel density, and potential conductivity (Kh) at two sites characterized by contrasting Mediterranean climates in Italy and Spain. Shrubs regulated their xylem in response to major differences in climate by modifying mostly their growth and vessel density. The different adjustment of xylem observed at the two sites was partly explained by the nonlinear nature of the relationship between the studied traits and temperature. Xylem development was mostly limited by low winter temperature at the cold and moist site, where plants produced more vessels per unit area of xylem and reduced growth in comparison with the warm and dry site. The responses of vessel size and density to climate were opposite. Vessel size and Kh were similar at the two sites and exhibited less sensitivity to climate than vessel density and growth. Humid conditions in spring increased growth and vessel size but decreased vessel density at the cold site, whereas the effect on xylem adjustment of high temperatures during the vegetation period was generally contrary to that of high moisture availability. These results likely express within species adaptations of the hydraulic function and the safety-efficiency trade-off in response to climate. A decline in growth in response to a recent decrease in precipitation at the dry site could be interpreted as a first sign of vulnerability to increasing drought severity. Similar to other species, climate change may have contrasting effects for E. arborea at its cold and dry distributional limits.
Sequoioxylon Petrified Woods from the Mid to Late Oligocene of Thrace (Turkey)
Authors: Akkemik Ünal , Sakınç Mehmet
Published: June 2013

Newly collected fossil woods from the mid to late Oligocene of Thrace (the European part of Turkey) were identified as Sequoioxylon Torrey, thereby extending the known range of this conifer genus in space and time.
The Families Carditidae and Condylocardiidae in the Magellan and Perú–Chile provinces (Bivalvia: Carditoidea)
Authors: GÜLLER MARINA , ZELAYA DIEGO G.
Published: June 2013

Based on the study of available types and extant collections, this paper provides a systematic revision of the living species of Carditoidea occurring in the Magellan and Perú-Chile Provinces. Out of the 19 nominal species reported for the area, eight species are recognized as valid: Cyclocardia compressa, C. spurca, C. thouarsii, C. velutina, Carditella naviformis,C. semen, C. tegulata and Carditopsis flabellum. Other eight nominal species are regarded as synonyms: Cardita magel­lanica of Cyclocardia velutina; Carditella pallida of C. tegulata; Cardita australis and Actinobolus philippi of Carditella naviformis; Cardium pygmaeum of Carditella semen; Cardita paeteliana of Cyclocardia spurca; Carditella pallida duo­decimcostata of Carditopsis flabellum; and Cardita congelascens of Cyclocardia thouarsii. Furthermore, Cardita malvi­nae and Cardium parvulum are nomina dubia, and the occurrence of Carditella exulata in Magellanic waters is doubtful.
The genus Notophthiracarus of New Zealand (Acari: Oribatida: Phthiracaridae): three new species and a key to 24 described species
Authors: LIU DONG , ZHANG ZHI-QIANG
Published: June 2013

The genus Notophthiracarus (Acari: Oribatida: Phthiracaridae) was represented in New Zealand by 21 species prior to this work. In this paper, three new species of Notophthiracarus from New Zealand are described: Notophthiracarus dugdalei sp. nov. and Notophthiracarus matatatipu sp. nov. from Darran Mts., Tutoko Bench, and Notophthiracarus whakau sp. nov. from the Red Island, Mercury Islands. A key to all known species of Notophthiracarus in New Zealand is also provided.
A new species of Tozzita Kramer (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Neocoelidiinae) and first record of Tozzita ips Kramer from Brazil
Authors: GONÇALVES CLAYTON CORREA , MARQUES-COSTA ANA PAULA , ALE-ROCHA ROSALY
Published: June 2013

A new species of Tozzita Kramer, 1964, Tozzita bifida sp. nov., is described and illustrated. The new species can be dis-tinguished from the other species of the genus by the following characteristics: (1) forewing with commissural brown band; (2) pygofer with dentiform process on ventral margin and apex not spatulate; (3) subgenital plates with macrosetae at apex; (4) style with preapical lobe developed and produced posteriorly; (5) aedeagus symmetrical; (6) anal tube with bifid basal process. Tozzita ips Kramer, 1964 is firstly recorded from Brazil. Additionally, an updated genus description and an identification key to males of the species are provided.s � yh��0��and it is contrasted with the described cases in Anillini. Typhlocharis scrofa n.sp. and T. tetramera n.sp. have club-shaped gono-coxites, reminiscent of the unguiform-like morphology observed in T. quadridentata (Coiffait, 1969), supporting the hy-pothesis of a transitional evolution of the shape of gonocoxites. The structure of the gula is studied within the genus and includes wide, narrow and diffuse morphologies. The implications of these features and data from the new species enable us to propose a reorganization of the systematics of the genus, creating and defining a new group of species, quadridentata group. An identification key for this species group is included. The new species provides more data on syntopic species and abundance rates, brief insights on the ecology of the genus.
Two new species of Proceratophrys Miranda-Ribeiro, 1920 (Anura; Odontophrynidae) from the Atlantic forest, with taxonomic remarks on the genus
Authors: DIAS PEDRO HENRIQUE DOS SANTOS , AMARO RENATA CECÍLIA , DE CARVALHO-E-SILVA ANA MARIA PAULINO TELLES , RODRIGUES MIGUEL TREFAUT
Published: June 2013

We describe two new species of Proceratophrys allied to the P. appendiculata species complex by the presence of single and long palpebral appendages and a triangular rostral appendage. Proceratophrys izecksohni sp. nov. is characterized by having small to medium size (SVL 32.1–54.2 mm in males), elongated hindlimbs (thigh length plus tibia length corre-sponding to more than 90% of snout-vent length), a broad head (head width corresponding to 55% of the snout-vent length), and by the light brown gular region and a cream colored ventral surface with scattered brown dots. Proceratophrys belzebul sp.nov. is characterized by its medium size (SVL 40.5–51.3 mm in males), by the absence of contact between the nasals bones and between the nasals and frontoparietals, by a very reduced iliac projection, by having frontoparietal bones very depressed and broad rostrally, by the smooth surface of the squamosal and nasal, by shallow, inconspicuous ventral pits on the maxillae, and by the females presenting the gular region dark brown. The two new species were previously confused with P. appendiculata for which we provide a new diagnosis. A molecular analysis based on mitochondrial and nuclear genes recovers a monophyletic Proceratophrys with high support, and the two new species in a clade with P. ap-pendiculata and P. tupinamba. The data also reinforce the idea that the species groups presently admitted to the genus are not monophyletic.
Isotomidae (Collembola) of Buryat Republic. II. A revision of the genus Folsomia
Authors: POTAPOV MIKHAIL , GULGENOVA AYUNA
Published: June 2013

Nine new species of the genus Folsomia are described from Buryatia (Russia, East Siberia): F. biparis sp. nov., F. fumosa sp. nov., F. heterothorax sp. nov., F. maximovi sp. nov., F. pseudovtorovi sp. nov., F. sensivillosa sp. nov., F. uniparis sp. nov., F. uniramia sp. nov., and F. vitimica sp. nov. A complete list and a key to species recorded in the Buryatia are given, and their morphology, distribution, and ecology are annotated. The taxonomical groups of species are discussed.
Stegosatyrus, a new genus of Euptychiina from the grasslands of neotropical realm (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Satyrinae)
Authors: ZACCA THAMARA , MIELKE OLAF H. H. , PYRCZ TOMASZ W. , CASAGRANDE MIRNA M. , FREITAS ANDRÉ V. L. , BOYER PIERRE
Published: June 2013

Three species of Pampasatyrus Hayward, 1953 (Satyrinae, Pronophilina) are transferred to Stegosatyrus n. gen. (Eupty-chiina) based on morphological evidence: S. imbrialis (Weeks, 1901) n. comb. from Bolivia (Cochabamba) and northern Argentina; S. ocelloides (Schaus, 1902) n. comb. from Paraguay (Hernandarias and Caaguazú) and Brazil (Midwest, Southeast and South regions); and S. periphas (Godart, [1824]) n. comb. from southern Brazil, northeastern Argentina (Buenos Aires) and Uruguay. A new species is described, Stegosatyrus hemiclara Pyrcz, Boyer & Zacca, n. sp. from the Andes of southern Peru. The neotype of Satyrus periphas Godart, [1824] and the lectotypes of Epinephele imbrialis We-eks, 1901 and Euptychia ocelloides Schaus, 1902 are designated. Redescriptions and illustrations are presented, including information on geographical and temporal distribution, and habitats. The oviposition process, eggs and first instars of S. periphas are published for the first time.
Redescription of Dicranoses capsulifex Kieffer and Jörgensen (Lepidoptera: Cecidosidae) with description of the immature stages and biology
Authors: BLAS GERMAN SAN , DAVIS DONALD R.
Published: June 2013

Dicranoses capsulifex Kieffer and Jörgensen (Lepidoptera: Cecidosidae) is a gall inducing moth associated with Schinus fasciculatus (Griseb.) (Anacardiaceae), with a known distribution restricted to Argentina. It undergoes a one year life cycle (univoltine), with leaf-like galls, and adult with only a half day life span. Male, female, pupa, and gall are redescribed, and the genitalia of both sexes, larva, and life cycle are described herein for the first time using light and scanning electron microscopy. The life cycle is documented from samples consisting of 15 larvae and/or pupae taken every 15 days during the year (from July, 2011, to July, 2012).
Heavy Rainfall Induced by Tropical Cyclones across Northern Taiwan and Associated Intraseasonal Oscillation Modulation
Authors: Chen Jau-Ming , Tan Pei-Hua , Shih Ching-Feng
Published: June 2013

Tropical cyclones (TCs) moving northwestward/westward across northern Taiwan are defined to have a type-2 track. This study aims to analyze heavy rainfall associated with type-2 TCs in Taiwan, focusing on the modulation processes of the intraseasonal oscillation (ISO). During 1958–2011, 21 summer type-2 TCs are separated into three rainfall types: strong, moderate, and weak. For the strong rainfall type, both 30–60-day and 10–24-day ISOs propagate northwestward across Taiwan. During landfall and the ensuing two days, both ISOs exhibit a cyclonic anomaly centering northwest of Taiwan that causes anomalous westerly flows (or enhance seasonal southwesterly flows) from the South China Sea (SCS) onto Taiwan. Persistent moisture supply and strong moisture convergence result in prolonged heavy rainfall on the windward side over western Taiwan. TCs with weak rainfall are accompanied by a northward-propagating 30–60-day ISO from the tropical western Pacific toward Japan and a westward-propagating 10–24-day ISO along 20°N latitude. During the landfall stage both ISOs have a cyclonic anomaly with its center south of Taiwan. Major anomalous westerly flows are displaced southward across the central SCS, leading to a weak moisture supply and rainfall in Taiwan. The moderate rainfall type features a 30–60-day (10–24 day) ISO resembling that of the weak (strong) rainfall type. The amount of rainfall thus ranges between the strong and weak rainfall types. Major processes regulating the rainfall of type-2 TCs relate to the intensity of the moisture supply associated with anomalous westerly flows from the SCS onto Taiwan, which is jointly modulated by 30–60-day and 10–24-day ISOs.
Eddy Shape, Orientation, Propagation, and Mean Flow Feedback in Western Boundary Current Jets
Authors: Waterman Stephanie , Hoskins Brian J.
Published: June 2013

This manuscript revisits a study of eddy–mean flow interactions in an idealized model of a western boundary current extension jet using properties of the horizontal velocity correlation tensor to diagnose characteristics of average eddy shape, orientation, propagation, and mean flow feedback. These eddy characteristics are then used to provide a new description of the eddy–mean flow interactions observed in terms of different ingredients of the eddy motion. The diagnostics show patterns in average eddy shape, orientation, and propagation that are consistent with the signatures of jet instability in the upstream region and wave radiation in the downstream region. Together they give a feedback onto the mean flow that gives the downstream character of the jet and drives the jet's recirculation gyres. A breakdown of the eddy forcing into contributions from individual terms confirms the expected role of cross-jet gradients in meridional eddy tilt in stabilizing the jet to its barotropic instability; however, it also reveals important roles played by the along-jet evolution of eddy zonal–meridional elongation. It is the mean flow forcing derived from these patterns that acts to strengthen and extend the jet downstream and forces the time-mean recirculation gyres. This understanding of the dependence of mean flow forcing on eddy structural properties suggests that failure to adequately resolve eddy elongation could underlie the weakened jet strength, extent, and changed recirculation structure seen in this idealized model for reduced spatial resolutions. Further, it may suggest new ideas for the parameterization of this forcing.
Adjoint-Derived Observation Impact Using WRF in the Western North Pacific
Authors: Jung Byoung-Joo , Kim Hyun Mee , Auligné Thomas , Zhang Xin , Zhang Xiaoyan , Huang Xiang-Yu
Published: June 2013

An increasing number of observations have contributed to the performance of numerical weather prediction systems. Accordingly, it is important to evaluate the impact of these observations on forecast accuracy. While the observing system experiment (OSE) requires considerable computational resources, the adjoint-derived method can evaluate the impact of all observational components at a lower cost. In this study, the effect of observations on forecasts is evaluated by the adjoint-derived method using the Weather Research and Forecasting Model, its adjoint model, and a corresponding three-dimensional variational data assimilation system in East Asia and the western North Pacific for the 2008 typhoon season. Radiance observations had the greatest total impact on forecasts, but conventional wind observations had the greatest impact per observation. For each observation type, the total impact was greatest for radiosonde and each Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit (AMSU)-A satellite, followed by surface synoptic observation from a land station (SYNOP), Quick Scatterometer (QuikSCAT), atmospheric motion vector (AMV) wind from a geostationary satellite (GEOAMV), and aviation routine weather reports (METARs). The fraction of beneficial observations was approximately 60%–70%, which is higher than that reported in previous studies. For several analyses of Typhoons Sinlaku (200813) and Jangmi (200815), dropsonde soundings taken near the typhoon had similar or greater observation impacts than routine radiosonde soundings. The sensitivity to the error covariance parameter indicates that reducing (increasing) observation (background) error covariance helps to reduce forecast error in the current analysis framework. The observation impact from OSEs is qualitatively similar to that from the adjoint method for major observation types. This study confirms that radiosonde observations provide primary information on the atmospheric state as in situ observations and that satellite radiances are an essential component of atmospheric observation systems.
The Impact of Temperature on Major League Baseball
Authors: Koch Brandon Lee D. , Panorska Anna K.
Published: June 2013

Major League Baseball is played from the beginning of April through the end of October each year, encompassing three of the four meteorological seasons: spring, summer, and fall. The 30 teams play in cities across the United States and Canada in many types of weather. This work studies the impact of temperature on a Major League Baseball game by examining the association between temperature and several Major League Baseball game statistics, including runs scored, batting average, slugging percentage, on-base percentage, home runs, walks, strikeouts, hit-batsmen, stolen bases, and errors. Data from 22 215 games, spanning the 2000–11 regular seasons, were studied. Temperature was categorized as “cold,” “average,” and “warm.” Analyses were performed on the following populations: all Major League Baseball games, games played in the National League, games played in the American League, and games played in 23 different stadiums that are currently being used by Major League Baseball teams. Home and away teams' performances were analyzed separately for each population of games. The results of this study show that runs scored, batting average, slugging percentage, on-base percentage, and home runs significantly increase while walks significantly decrease in warm weather compared to cold weather.
China–Iran Relations: Cautious Friendship with America’s Nemesis
Authors: Garver John
Published: June 2013

China views Iran as an important country sharing many interests and views with China, and with whom China may benefit via cooperation in a wide number of areas. China views Iran as an especially reliable oil supplier in the event of a crisis in Sino-American relations, and as a capable and ambitious country defending itself against American aggressiveness. Yet Beijing also views maintaining comity in relations with the United States as vital to the success of China’s long-term development drive. Beijing eschews open challenge to the US over Iran as potentially undermining Sino-US comity precisely because the US drive against Iran is so strategically important to what China views as a US drive to secure control of Persian Gulf oil. Beijing also views cooperation with Washington in the area of nuclear non-proliferation, and thus the Iran nuclear issue, as a factor stabilising Sino-US relations. China’s ties with Iran thus vacillate between cooperation with Iran that often flies in the face of US efforts to sanction Iran, and cooperation with Washington to pressure Tehran over its nuclear programmes.
China–Middle East Relations in Light of Obama’s Pivot to the Pacific
Authors: Bianchi Robert R.
Published: June 2013

As the United States perceives the westward expansion of China’s influence as threatening both regional and worldwide balances of power, it has responded with an understandable but ill-conceived counter-action—the ‘Obama pivot’ from the Middle East to the Western Pacific. The new American thinking aims to divide the intercontinental and transoceanic regions that China and other nations want to integrate, while encouraging an ‘encircle China’ coalition among smaller maritime powers from India and Singapore to Australia and Vietnam and on to the Philippines, Japan and South Korea. The blind spot in the American plan is that all of these countries need China more than they need the United States. None of them wants a military alliance with Washington that will antagonise Beijing because their economic futures pull them inexorably towards greater integration with the mainland’s vast and growing markets. Obama’s eastward focus attempts to stem the powerful current of Islamic countries that have strengthened ties with China while quarrelling with the United States. A growing number of former American allies, including some that were virtual American dependencies, are now hedging their bets with more independent foreign policies that actively court Chinese investment, trade, military cooperation and diplomatic support.
China, Israel and the US: The Problematic Triangle
Authors: Kumaraswamy P. R.
Published: June 2013

Since the normalisation of relations in January 1992, Israel has been unable to pursue its military relations with China as before. This was primarily due to American pressures and its perception of China as its new strategic threat. Given its limited political options, arms sales and other forms of security assistance function as Israel’s principal instrument of promoting its foreign policy interests. The weakening of American economic power and hence political influence, emergence of China as the second-largest economy in the world and China’s growing strategic relations with the Middle East is likely to result in Israel re-examining its no-arms policy towards China.
Violence Against Civilians in the Second Intifada
Authors: Manekin Devorah
Published: June 2013

Patterns of military violence against civilians vary considerably, between conflicts and within them. This article explores why some combatants are more likely than others to engage in violence against civilians, focusing on a particular subset of such violence, violence that is not planned or authorized by military superiors, termed opportunistic violence. In a sample of Israeli combat soldiers from the Second Intifada, opportunistic violence was found to be strongly associated with duration of deployment among civilians. Long deployments erode social and moral norms, raising the likelihood that combatants will act opportunistically. However, the relationship between deployment duration and opportunistic violence was moderated by unit structure, such that long deployments were more likely to cause opportunistic violence in units with weak command structures. These findings suggest that the deleterious effects of long deployments are not inevitable but can be limited to a large extent through well-functioning structures of command and discipline.
Mental health of Latin Americans in Canada: A literature review
Authors: Ginieniewicz Jorge , McKenzie Kwame
Published: June 2013

Background:

Latin Americans represent one of the fastest-growing immigrant populations in Canada. But very little is known about their mental health.

Aims:

This paper reviews the literature on the mental health of Latin American immigrants to Canada. The paper also identifies potential areas to expand the research agenda.

Method:

Twenty-five papers were identified by a comprehensive electronic search undertaken in medical- and humanities-related databases.

Results:

Results are reported in three sections: (1) the rates of mental illness; (2) the risk factors that affect mental health; and (3) the access and barriers to care and services. Findings indicate that despite the diversity of immigration from Latin America to Canada, much of the information on mental health focuses on Central American refugees. The most frequently examined risk factor is displacement as a consequence of political persecution and torture in the home country. Access to mental health services in this population seems to be limited by cultural differences and language barriers.

Conclusion:

New research on this topic should reflect the growing diversity and heterogeneity of the Latin American population in Canada.
Overcoming the Biases of Microfoundationalism
Authors: Kaidesoja Tuukka
Published: June 2013

The article makes four interrelated claims: (1) The mechanism approach to social explanation does not presuppose a commitment to the individual-level microfoundationalism. (2) The microfoundationalist requirement that explanatory social mechanisms should always consists of interacting individuals has given rise to problematic methodological biases in social research. (3) It is possible to specify a number of plausible candidates for social macro-mechanisms where interacting collective agents (e.g. formal organizations) form the core actors. (4) The distributed cognition perspective combined with organization studies could provide us with explanatory understanding of the emergent cognitive capacities of collective agents.
Identification and output tracking control of Hammerstein systems through wireless networks
Authors: Deng Weihua , Li Kang , Fei Minrui
Published: June 2013

This paper investigates the identification and output tracking control of a class of Hammerstein systems through a wireless network within an integrated framework and the statistic characteristics of the wireless network are modelled using the inverse Gaussian cumulative distribution function. In the proposed framework, a new networked identification algorithm is proposed to compensate for the influence of the wireless network delays so as to acquire the more precise Hammerstein system model. Then, the identified model together with the model-based approach is used to design an output tracking controller. Mean square stability conditions are given using linear matrix inequalities (LMIs) and the optimal controller gains can be obtained by solving the corresponding optimization problem expressed using LMIs. Illustrative numerical simulation examples are given to demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed method.
Implementing patient-reported outcome measures in palliative care clinical practice: A systematic review of facilitators and barriers
Authors: Antunes Bárbara , Harding Richard , Higginson Irene J ,   on behalf of EUROIMPACT
Published: June 2013

Background:

Many patient-reported outcome measures have been developed in the past two decades, playing an increasingly important role in palliative care. However, their routine use in practice has been slow and difficult to implement.

Aim:

To systematically identify facilitators and barriers to the implementation of patient-reported outcome measures in different palliative care settings for routine practice, and to generate evidence-based recommendations, to inform the implementation process in clinical practice.

Design:

Systematic literature review and narrative synthesis.

Data Sources:

Medline, PsycInfo, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Embase and British Nursing Index were systematically searched from 1985. Hand searching of reference lists for all included articles and relevant review articles was performed.

Results:

A total of 3863 articles were screened. Of these, 31 articles met the inclusion criteria. First, data were integrated in the main themes: facilitators, barriers and lessons learned. Second, each main theme was grouped into either five or six categories. Finally, recommendations for implementation on outcome measures at management, health-care professional and patient levels were generated for three different points in time: preparation, implementation and assessment/improvement.

Conclusions:

Successful implementation of patient-reported outcome measures should be tailored by identifying and addressing potential barriers according to setting. Having a coordinator throughout the implementation process seems to be key. Ongoing cognitive and emotional processes of each individual should be taken into consideration during changes. The educational component prior to the implementation is crucial. This could promote ownership and correct use of the measure by clinicians, potentially improving practice and the quality of care provided through patient-reported outcome measure data use in clinical decision-making.
An Exploratory Study on the Junior Brixton Spatial Rule Attainment Test in 6- to 8-Year-Olds
Authors: Senturk Nilay , Yeniceri Nur , Alp I. Ercan , Altan-Atalay Ayse
Published: June 2013

This study explored the Junior Brixton Test (JBT), an executive function (EF) measure for children, in comparison to the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) in a sample of 6- to 8-year-olds, all attending the first 2 years of elementary school. Factor analyses indicated two main domains in both measures, namely concept formation and cognitive flexibility. However, within the cognitive flexibility domain of the JBT, perseveration scores reflected qualitatively different perseverative errors. More specifically, perseveration of previous rule and same stimulus scores loaded on the same subcomponent, whereas perseveration of same response loaded on another. The latter score was also negatively correlated both with a measure of general reasoning ability and a memory span task. The authors argue that the JBT is a promising tool to explore individual variations behind seemingly one type of executive function error, namely perseveration.
Responsibility for financial management in primary schools
Authors: Fitzgerald Sarah , Drake Julie
Published: June 2013

Financial management in primary schools has changed in the UK with the introduction of the Schools Financial Value Standard (SFVS). There is increasing delegation of financial responsibility to the management team in the school, increasing the role of the head teacher and the governing body as part of overall responsibility for the strategic direction of the school. This article draws on contemporary research from three case studies within one local authority based on interviews with three stakeholders: the head teacher; a member of the finance sub-committee of the governing body; and a local authority finance officer. Evidence is presented of how financial management responsibility is discharged and on the relationship between the three parties. It is found that financial management is increasingly being prescribed without clear guidelines. The article presents some implications and recommendations for governance arrangements, including consideration of how financial management might be made more effective.
Appreciating the contribution of senior managers to further education college governance in England
Authors: Hill Ron , James Ian
Published: June 2013

This article starts from the recognition that senior staff contribute to the operation of further education college governance through working time, professional insight and public performance. The theoretical underpinning for the article draws upon social identity theory, governance accountability and the psychological contract for senior staff as employees of the governing body. The article reports the findings from a research study seeking to gain a greater understanding of the ways in which senior staff contribute to further education college governance and their perceptions of their role and performance in relation to college governance. 102 senior staff responded to a questionnaire, and three case examples of further education colleges in England were involved in this study. The article concludes with three recommendations to college governing bodies as to how they might improve senior staff contributions to effective governing of colleges.
The challenges facing school governing bodies in England
Authors: James Chris , Brammer Steve , Connolly Michael , Spicer David Eddy , James Jane , Jones Jeff
Published: June 2013

The governing bodies of publicly funded schools in England are currently facing a number of substantive challenges of various kinds. Many of the challenges are long-standing, while others relate to the current context for governing wrought by recent education policy developments initiated by central government. A number of the challenges are immediate and intense, and may well develop over time. The challenges result from both policy imperatives and the challenge of governing effectively – procedural imperatives. The intention of this article is to analyse the challenges facing governing bodies in England. We argue that the challenges interact and synergize and could develop into ‘a perfect storm’, which could have significant implications for the security and stability of the education system and for society generally. Our thinking is shaped by the notion of interactive governance (Kooiman, 2003), which posits that the workings of the school governance network, of which school governing is a part, is best understood in terms of interactions. Following this introduction, we provide some background information for those not familiar with the school governing system in England. We then very briefly describe the three research projects in which we have been involved that form the empirical base for the article (Balarin et al., 2008; James et al., 2010, 2012, 2013). The challenges facing governing bodies are considered under the headings: school governing’s low profile; the institution and the environment; accountability; and the role and the responsibility of school governing bodies. The way these different challenges interconnect and add together is discussed in the penultimate section. In the final section, we make some concluding comments.
Historical use of x-rays
Authors: Calabrese EJ , Dhawan G
Published: June 2013

Purpose:

This article provides an historical assessment of the role of radiotherapy in the treatment of inner ear infections.

Materials and methods:

The research utilized a literature-based evaluation of the use of x-rays during the first half of the 20th century on the treatment of otitis media (OM), mastoiditis, and cervical adenitis and their impact on the occurrence of deafness.

Results:

X-Rays were consistently found to be effective as a treatment modality at relatively low doses, in the range of 10–20% of the skin erythema dose, rapidly reducing inflammation, and accelerating the healing process. The mechanistic basis of the clinical successes, while addressed by contemporary researchers, is evaluated in the present article in light of current molecular biology advances, which indicate that clinically effective low doses of ionizing radiation act via the creation of an anti-inflammatory phenotype in highly inflamed tissue.

Conclusions:

X-Ray treatment of OM, mastoiditis, and cervical adenitis was widely accepted in the first half of the 20th century by clinicians as an effective treatment when administered within an appropriate dosage range.
The Influence of Tree Allocation and Tree Transpiration on the Urban Microclimate: An Analysis of a Subtropical Urban Park
Authors: Jan Feng-Chun , Hsieh Chun-Ming , Ishikawa Mikiko , Sun Yin-Hsuan
Published: June 2013

Recently, because of the growing importance of issues such as global warming and the heat island effect, maintenance of trees and the design of planting on green land have become increasingly significant. This article focuses on variation in sap flow in, and transpiration of, Araucaria heterophylla in Tainan Park. In order to understand the relationship between the allocation of plantings and the physiological functions of trees, the influence of cover conditions and meteorological conditions related to insolation were taken into consideration. First, under the same allocating conditions, the amount of transpiration was affected by differences on the ground (grassy and sandy). The differences in cover conditions have a lot to do with the water physiology of the tree. In addition, other factors such as insolation and changes in the speed of sap flow during a day are positively correlated. The results of this study are the main factors for evaluating the allocation and density of tree plantings and also for analysing the relationship between microclimatic environments and the physiological characteristics of trees.

[Formula: see text]
Street Vendors, their Contested Spaces, and the Policy Environment: A View from Caloócan, Metro Manila
Authors: Recio Redento B. , Gomez José Edgardo A
Published: June 2013

In developing states of Southeast Asia, street vendors play a significant but frequently unappreciated role in both the vibrancy of public spaces as well as the informal economy. Yet, they are subject to indiscriminate purges from sidewalks and other contested territories, which they occupy for lack of provision of spaces in which they could otherwise do business. But such occurrences, and the conflicts that may follow, can be addressed by revisiting policies, which seem anti-vendor or which fail to comprehend their presence and needs. This research studied street vendors of one of the active commuter interchanges of Metro Manila, the Monumento Station area in Caloócan City, framing their needs, issues and aspirations against existing laws. Simultaneously examined were typical uses of shifting, often contested stretches of roads, corners, and easements where hawkers, among other users, daily negotiate a claim to the city’s space.

[Formula: see text]
Funding Support for School-Wide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Support Implementation and Scale-Up
Authors: Gage Nicholas A. , Freeman Jennifer , Horner Robert H. , Sugai George , Lewis Timothy J. , Strickland-Cohen Kathleen
Published: June 2013

The process of selecting, implementing, and scaling-up evidence-based practices is a major focus and difficult accomplishment for states. Renewed commitment to improving student outcomes has led directly to the need for effective practices implemented at scale. The funding decisions made at state, regional, and district levels remain a key to large-scale implementation of effective practices. In this article, we summarize the funding decisions of nine states that implemented School-Wide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (SWPBIS) across at least 500 schools or 30% of the schools in the state. A survey about funding sources, funding levels, and funding decisions was completed by the key implementers in each state, and a follow-up interview was used to clarify and confirm initial information. The results indicate that different states used different funding approaches, but in general, funding of SWPBIS was provided predominantly through special education sources and that initial demonstrations led to larger scale implementation when state policy makers developed creative procedures for using multiple funding sources within a unified implementation effort. Implications for funding the scaling of evidence-based practices are discussed.
Performance of a zero stiffness isolator under shock excitations
Authors: Xingtian Liu , Xiuchang Huang , Hongxing Hua
Published: June 2013

The characteristic of a zero stiffness isolator is given first and the stiffness difference between the zero stiffness isolator and a linear one is discussed. Three different types of displacement shock excitations are applied to the base of the zero stiffness isolator and the linear isolator. Three indices are defined to analyze the characteristics and evaluate the performance of the nonlinear isolator. The absolute displacement shock responses in time domain and the maximum absolute displacement ratio for the undamped linear and nonlinear systems are presented for different shock severity parameters. The performance of the damped nonlinear isolator is studied and compared with that of the linear isolator. Results show that the performances of the nonlinear isolator are related to the parameters of the nonlinear isolator and the type of the shock excitation. It is beneficial to introduce a zero stiffness isolator for shock excitations, but the performance is limited by certain conditions. Some useful conclusions which can be used to design this kind of isolator for considering shock isolation are given.