bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Instituições de piedade e beneficência do distrito de Coimbra na década de 1870
Authors: Lopes Maria Antónia
Published: September 2016

A portaria de 12 de Junho de 1876 ordenou a execução de um inquérito às instituições de piedade e de beneficência portuguesas, o que se praticou no distrito de Coimbra ao longo dos anos 1876 a 1878. Exploram-se neste artigo os cadastros resultantes do cumprimento da portaria. Com a sua análise, é possível quantificar com exactidão esse universo institucional, traçar a sua distribuição no espaço e estabelecer a sua dimensão humana e o que ela representava no conjunto da população. É possível também determinar (com rigor nos institutos assistenciais e com grande aproximação nos de piedade) a sua situação patrimonial e financeira, aquilatar do cumprimento da lei de desamortização e avaliar o seu papel no socorro às populações.
Estudiantes Universitarias en Salamanca entre 1940 y 1970
Authors: De la Paz Pando Ballesteros María
Published: September 2016

Abundante bibliografia tratou de tornar visível a discriminação que sofreram as mulheres espanholas no âmbito educativo ao longo da ditadura do general Franco. A referida diferenciação foi especialmente relevante no ensino superior, onde parecia que as mulheres esbarravam com um "tecto de vidro" bastante baixo. Menos abundantes do que as obras de carácter geral são os trabalhos que pormenorizam de forma específica a situação da mulher na Universidade espanhola. Não obstante, estes estudos à escala nacional contrastam com a inexistência dos mesmos a nível local, especialmente para o caso salmantino em que vamos centrar a nossa análise. Este artigo trata de atenuar essa lacuna. Por outro lado, o estudo de caso permitir-nos-á comprovar se a realidade descoberta confirma ou desmente as hipóteses interpretativas e os estudos anteriores realizados à escala nacional.
Imagens da Europa no jornal A Bola: entre o isolamento do Estado Novo e a abertura europeia
Authors: Cotrim João Pedro
Published: September 2016

A imprensa periódica desportiva, um caso de sucesso comercial em Portugal, é ainda um objecto estranho enquanto fonte de saber histórico, algo que não sucede noutras ciências. O seu papel social é subvalorizado, ou mesmo ignorado, apesar das suas tiragens superiores a todos os outros jornais e decorrente acesso a um público mais alargado. Este artigo começa por fazer uma defesa desta fonte, avaliando o seu papel na investigação histórica em comparação com a realizada noutras áreas do saber. Segue-se um exemplo de estudo com base na imprensa desportiva sobre assuntos para além do desporto - neste caso, uma amostra de textos do jornal A Bola publicados no período entre 1945 e 1986, onde é analisado o discurso produzido sobre alguns países europeus, tal como presenciadas pelos repórteres do jornal nas suas deslocações fora de Portugal (em acompanhamento dos clubes e da Selecção Nacional de futebol) em períodos distintos, com e sem a presença de mecanismos de censura.
Beirões na Lisboa de D. João V. Contribución al estudio de la movilidad interior de la población de A Beira durante la primera mitad del siglo XVIII
Authors: González Lopo Domingo L.
Published: September 2016

No presente artigo e utilizando como fonte o registo de entrada de doentes no Hospital do Todos-os-Santos de Lisboa, analisamos a mobilidade da população da Beira para a capital e as terras do Vale do Tejo, atendendo aos lugares de origem e aos mecanismos de inserção laboral, procurando distinguir os diferentes modelos migratórios que praticavam.
As práticas de caridade na diocese de Mariana: estímulos devocionais, interditos e protestos anónimos no século XVIII
Authors: Santos Patrícia Ferreira dos
Published: September 2016

Neste artigo analisamos algumas acções da hierarquia eclesiástica e secular na diocese de Mariana no sentido de condicionar a acção dos esmoleres e ermitães e incentivar a caridade institucional. As cartas e atas de visitas pastorais que ali circularam, no século XVIII, estabeleciam penas de prisões e confiscos de cofres aos pedintes sem licenças. Sugerem que o Estado e a Igreja procuraram, a um só tempo, impedir a evasão das contribuições, e reprimir as heterodoxias praticadas por benzedores e curandeiros. Os agentes coloniais apregoavam um discurso em prol da solidariedade pelas vias institucionais. Por outro lado, murmurações e protestos anónimos circularam em diversas freguesias do bispado de Mariana.
Assessing Personal Injury Liabilities in China from National to Provincial Level: An International Comparative Analysis
Authors: Chan Felix W.H. , Chan Wai-Sum , Li Johnny S.H.
Published: September 2016

In a tort-based legal system, when a party is injured as a consequence of another party’s negligence, the party should be provided with sufficient compensation so that he or she may live as fulfilling a life as possible after the injury. The moral objective underlying this supposition is intuitively appealing. It is not surprising, therefore, that this jurisprudential notion is favourably regarded and widely applied in various common law and civilian jurisdictions, despite differences in tradition and culture. Nonetheless, although the two bodies of law share a similar objective in this respect, there are a number of differences in the substantive content of the law and the configuration of the rules. The present authors argue, and provide empirical evidence to support, that there are signs of convergence as both legal systems are in fact applying the same multiplicand-multiplier approach in assessing the quantum of damages. Case studies in mainland China (concerning civil law) and in the United Kingdom and Hong Kong (regarding common law) are adopted as the research methodology to explore the broader implications of this convergence.
The Hong Kong Cantonese language: Current features and future prospects
Authors: Bauer Robert S.
Published: September 2016

As the contemporary Chinese language has evolved into various distinguishable varieties across East and Southeast Asian speech communities, the term pluricentric (i. e. having multiple centers or standards) has appropriately been applied to it. Because the development of the Chinese variety as spoken and written in Hong Kong has been profoundly influenced by a unique congeries of social, economic, political, cultural, environmental, historical, and linguistic factors intrinsically linked to Hong Kong, it systematically differs from those varieties used in mainland China and on Taiwan. Hong Kong’s predominant, most widely-used speech variety is Cantonese: this is to say that 90 % of the ethnic Chinese population of about 6.5 million speak it as their usual, daily language. The Hong Kong Cantonese language has acquired an extraordinary status due to its distinctive vocabulary and indigenous Chinese characters, identifiably colloquial phonetic features, highly conventionalized written form, large inventory of English loanwords borrowed through phonetic transliteration, and tradition of lexicography combined with romanization. Although Cantonese predominates in Hong Kong, however, at the same time, a worrying trend is the increasing number of schools switching their medium of instruction from Cantonese to Putonghua, just one noticeable difference between now and 1997 when Hong Kong, a British Crown Colony since 1841, was returned to China’s sovereignty as a Special Administrative Region. The Hong Kong speech community’s attitudes toward Cantonese are contradictory: some people denigrate it as “a coarse, vulgar relic of China’s feudal past” that should be replaced by Putonghua, the national language, while others praise it for preserving ancient rimes and extol it for expressing social, political, and cultural differences that set Hong Kong apart from mainland China. That Cantonese continues to decline in Guangzhou may be a harbinger of things to come in Hong Kong. Ironically, the Hong Kong government’s recognition of the Cantonese language as intangible cultural heritage which would seem to be a good status for it to have, on the contrary, has made some people fear it could become extinct in the future.
Identity regionalism and English as an ASEAN lingua franca
Authors: Hashim Azirah , Kaur Jagdish , Kuang Tan Siew
Published: September 2016

The ASEAN Charter refers to English as the “working language of ASEAN,” a situation different from the EU that has a multiplicity of official and working languages. It has been argued that English, as a foreign “working language,” does not have an emotive value to it as it has merely a functional role. This, however, may change as many people in ASEAN speak a particular variety of English, especially those from countries such as Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines and Brunei. Even in countries such as Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam, which had not been colonised by the British, many learn English today and see it as vital for survival in many domains and especially with the forming of the ASEAN community and ASEAN integration. This ASEAN English is different from the many varieties in the region in that it does not possess the national and ethnic characteristics that varieties do. ASEAN English appears to possess its own characteristic features, often with an avoidance of features that are found in national varieties to aid mutual understanding between members who come from different ASEAN societies. This paper examines informal interactions between ASEAN speakers from the Asian Corpus of English. It analyses the features that create rapport and illustrates that ELF has an emotive value and does not merely play a functional role in ASEAN.
Teasing in informal contexts in English as an Asian lingua franca
Authors: Walkinshaw Ian
Published: September 2016

This paper explores how speakers of English as a lingua franca (ELF) manage the interactional back-and-forth of teasing, a social action which, being fundamentally ambiguous, is open to interpretation by a target and/or other participants as aggressive in intent. The data reported here draw on the Asian Corpus of English (ACE), and describe some of the more typical teasing practices which occur among Asian ELF speakers in informal, non-task-focused contexts. More specifically, this research explores the interpersonal functions which teasing performs in ACE interactions; the teasing strategies commonly employed to serve these functions; and the responses of recipients to teases targeting them. The data show that teasing is a common practice in interaction among Asian ELF speakers, and is accomplished through a variety of strategies such as jocular mockery, jocular agreement with a target’s negative self-assessment, jocular insult, and banter. Significantly, teasing in ACE appears to be essentially jocular rather than conveying veiled aggression; markers such as laughter, heightened vocal pitch and lexical exaggeration are commonly employed to signpost the non-serious nature of such utterances. Teases are also commonly received as jocular by recipients; there are no instances of offense being expressed by a tease recipient.
Corrosion behaviour of steel CSN 422707.9 in concentrated synthetic bentonite pore water
Authors: Novikova D. , Kouřil M. , Msallamová Š. , Stoulil J. , Strnadová N.
Published: September 2016

Concentrating of pore bentonite water as a result of water evaporation at the hot container surface is expected when the bentonite cover of the permanent nuclear waste container is being gradually saturated. The study assesses the influence of an extent of the pore water enrichment by chloride and sulphate ions up to a multiple of a hundred of their equilibrium concentration. An increase of concentration of these ions does not imply an increase of the electrolyte aggressivity automatically. A minimum of corrosion resistance was observed at triplicate concentration at all temperatures, 40, 70 and 90°C. Even more significant impact on corrosion behaviour was recognized for composition of anoxic atmosphere above the electrolyte. Contrary to nitrogen, the mixture of nitrogen and carbon dioxide remarkably elevates the electrolyte’s corrosion aggressivity.
Effects of nano-SiO2 on mechanical and hygric behaviors of glass fiber reinforced epoxy composites
Authors: Yang Jinshui , Wang Chunqi , Zeng Jingcheng , Jiang Dazhi
Published: September 2016

The unmodified and nano-SiO2 modified glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) composites were prepared by the hot-compression molding process to investigate the effects of nano-SiO2 on the mechanical and hygric properties of the GFRP composites. The results indicate that the nano-SiO2 modification results in an increase of 9.7% and 7.9% in the tensile and flexural strength of the GFRP composites, and a decrease of 10.6% in the interlaminar shear strength (ILSS). The maximum swelling of the unmodified GFRP is 2.6 times as that of the nano-SiO2 modified GFRP. The normalized-ILSS decrease of the nano-SiO2 modified GFRP is only 12% after 138 days aging, while that of the GFRP reaches 31%. After 95-days hygric-aging, the decrease of the normalized flexural strength is 15.3% for the GFRP, while the normalized flexural strength of the nano-SiO2 modified GFRP still maintains an increase of 5.0%. It is concluded that the nano-SiO2 particle could improve the mechanical and hygric properties of the GFRP composites.
Gas Turbine Engine Gas-path Fault Diagnosis Based on Improved SBELM Architecture
Authors: Lu Feng , Jiang Jipeng , Huang Jinquan
Published: September 2016

Various model-based methods are widely used to aircraft engine fault diagnosis, and an accurate engine model is used in these approaches. However, it is difficult to obtain general engine model with high accuracy due to engine individual difference, lifecycle performance deterioration and modeling uncertainty. Recently, data-driven diagnostic approaches for aircraft engine become more popular with the development of machine learning technologies. While these data-driven methods to engine fault diagnosis tend to ignore experimental data sparse and uncertainty, which results in hardly achieve fast fault diagnosis for multiple patterns. This paper presents a novel data-driven diagnostic approach using Sparse Bayesian Extreme Learning Machine (SBELM) for engine fault diagnosis. This methodology addresses fast fault diagnosis without relying on engine model. To enhance the reliability of fast fault diagnosis and enlarge the detectable fault number, a SBELM-based multi-output classifier framework is designed. The reduced sparse topology of ELM is presented and utilized to fault diagnosis extended from single classifier to multi-output classifier. The effects of noise and measurement uncertainty are taken into consideration. Simulation results show the SBELM-based multi-output classifier for engine fault diagnosis is superior to the existing data-driven ones with regards to accuracy and computational efforts.
Effects of Inlet Parameters on Combustion Performance in Gas Turbine Combustor
Authors: Yan Yingwen , Liu Yunpeng , Huang Liang , Li Jinghua
Published: September 2016

The effects of different inlet parameters such as inlet temperature and pressure on combustion performance in a single-head combustor were experimentally investigated in this study. The combustion efficiency, total pressure loss, and CO and NO emissions at the outlet of a single-head rectangular combustor with different types of swirlers were separately measured. The experimental results showed that the inlet parameters had obvious effects on the combustion performance, with critical values of 600 K for the inlet temperature and 3.5 bar for the inlet pressure. The combustion efficiency noticeably increased with an increase in the inlet pressure or temperature below these values; however, when either of the inlet parameters was above the critical value, the combustion efficiency was approximately 100 %; that is, the combustion efficiency changed little with an increase in inlet temperate or pressure. When the inlet temperature or pressure increased, NO emission increased but CO emission decreased. By fitting curves to analyze the experimental data, the empirical relationships between the emissions and the inlet temperature were observed to be
$CO\; \propto \;{e^{ - T}}, NO\; \propto \;{e^T}$, and those between the emissions and the inlet pressure were
$CO\, \propto \,{e^{a + bP + c{P^2}}}, NO\, \propto \,{e^P}$. The total pressure loss increased with the inlet temperature.
Oxidative addition of N-ether-functionalized 2-chlorobenzimidazole to d10 metals
Authors: Branzan Ramona M.C. , Kösters Jutta , Jahnke Mareike C. , Hahn F. Ekkehardt
Published: September 2016

Reaction of 2-chloro-N-(methoxymethyl)benzimidazole 1 with zerovalent group 10 metal complexes in the presence of an additional proton source yielded, via an oxidative addition of the C2–Cl bond, complexes with a protic NH,NR-substituted (R=methoxymethyl) benzimidazolin-2-ylidene ligand. The oxidative addition of 1 to Ni0 and Pd0 complexes proceeded with the exclusive formation of the trans-configured complexes trans-[2]BF4 and trans-[3]BF4, respectively. Contrary to this observation, the reaction of 1 with a more substitution inert Pt0 complex leads, depending on the reaction temperature, to a mixture of cis-/trans-[4]BF4 or exclusively to trans-[4]BF4. The molecular structures of all three trans-configured complexes were determined.
Effects of Inertial Setting on Power, Force, Work, and Eccentric Overload During Flywheel Resistance Exercise in Women and Men
Authors: Martinez-Aranda Luis M. , Fernandez-Gonzalo Rodrigo
Published: September 2016

Martinez-Aranda, LM and Fernandez-Gonzalo, R. Effects of inertial setting on power, force, work and eccentric overload during flywheel resistance exercise in women and men. J Strength Cond Res 31(6): 1653–1661, 2017—Exercise load is a key component in determining end-point adaptations to resistance exercise. Yet, there is no information regarding the use of different inertia (i.e., loads) during isoinertial flywheel resistance exercise, a very popular high-intensity training model. Thus, this study examined power, work, force, and eccentric overload produced during flywheel resistance exercise with different inertial settings in men and women. Twenty-two women (n = 11) and men (n = 11) performed unilateral (in both legs) isolated concentric (CON) and coupled CON and eccentric (ECC) exercise in a flywheel knee extension device employing 6 inertias (0.0125, 0.025, 0.0375, 0.05, 0.075, 0.1 kg·m−2). Power decreased as higher inertias were used, with men showing greater (p ≤ 0.05) decrements than women (−36 vs. −29% from lowest to highest inertia). In contrast, work increased as higher inertias were employed, independent of sex (p ≤ 0.05; ∼48% from lowest to highest inertia). Women increased CON and ECC mean force (46–55%, respectively) more (p ≤ 0.05) than men (34–50%, respectively) from the lowest to the highest inertia evaluated, although the opposite was found for peak force data (i.e., peak force increased more in men than in women as inertia was increased). Men, but not women, increased ECC overload from inertia 0.0125 to 0.0375 kg·m2. Although estimated stretch-shorting cycle use during flywheel exercise was higher (p ≤ 0.05) in men (6.6%) than women (4.9%), values were greater for both sexes when using low-to-medium inertias. The information gained in this study could help athletes and sport and health professionals to better understand the impact of different inertial settings on skeletal muscle responses to flywheel resistance exercise.
Physical Fitness Reference Standards in French Youth: The BOUGE Program
Authors: Vanhelst Jérémy , Labreuche Julien , Béghin Laurent , Drumez Elodie , Fardy Paul S. , Chapelot Didier , Mikulovic Jacques , Ulmer Zékya
Published: September 2016

Vanhelst, J, Julien, JL, Beghin, L, Drumez, E, Fardy, PS, Chapelot, D, Mikulovic, J, and Ulmer, Z. Physical fitness reference standards in French youth: The BOUGE program. J Strength Cond Res 31(6): 1709–1718, 2017—The aim of this study was to establish sex- and age-specific physical fitness percentiles in French youth. A sample of 11,186 children and adolescents (5,546 boys and 5,640 girls), aged between 10 and 15 years, was assessed in the French national BOUGE study. Participants were tested for their cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular endurance, speed, flexibility, and agility using the following tests: 20-m shuttle run tests, curl-ups test, 50-m sprint test, back-saver sit and reach test, and 10 × 5-m shuttle run test. Percentile values were estimated for French youth as a function of age stratified by sex using the generalized additive model for location, scale, and shape (GAMLSS). In general, physical fitness was better in boys than in girls, except for the back-saver sit and reach test, in which girls performed better. Except for the back-saver sit and reach test and 10 × 5-m shuttle run test, physical fitness performance was significantly associated with age. Sex- and age-specific normative values for physical fitness tests in French youth expressed as percentiles from the fifth to the 95th are provided. Reference values provide normative data for French youth. The data are useful in identifying special needs for appropriate intervention programs.
Influence of Muscle Slack on High-Intensity Sport Performance: A Review
Authors: Van Hooren Bas , Bosch Frans
Published: September 2016

RAPID FORCE DEVELOPMENT IS OF PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE FOR MOST SPORTS. AN OFTEN OVERLOOKED PERFORMANCE LIMITING FACTOR IS MUSCLE SLACK, WHICH IS REPRESENTED BY THE DELAY BETWEEN MUSCULAR CONTRACTION AND RECOIL OF THE SERIES ELASTIC ELEMENTS. WE WILL REVIEW ACUTE AND LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF APPLYING COCONTRACTIONS, COUNTERMOVEMENTS (CMs), AND EXTERNAL LOAD ON MUSCLE SLACK. COCONTRACTIONS MAY BE AN EFFECTIVE SOLUTION TO REDUCE THE DEGREE OF MUSCLE SLACK. MOREOVER, CMs AND EXTERNAL LOAD MAY NEGATIVELY INFLUENCE THE CAPABILITY TO DEVELOP COCONTRACTIONS AND HENCE MAY BE DETRIMENTAL TO HIGH-INTENSITY SPORT PERFORMANCE THAT IS USUALLY PERFORMED WITH LITTLE OR NO EXTERNAL LOAD.
Performance Variables of Obstacle Course Racing and Recommendations for Programming in Novice and Intermediate Competitors
Authors: Rawdon Christopher L.
Published: September 2016

OVER THE PAST DECADE, THERE HAS BEEN AN INCREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF ATHLETES WHO PARTICIPATE IN OBSTACLE COURSE RACES (OCR). RACES COMBINE ENDURANCE DISTANCE RUNNING AND INTENSE PHYSICAL OBSTRUCTIONS, INCLUDING RUNNING THROUGH FIRE, CLIMBING OVER WALLS AND CARGO NETS, AND EVEN CRAWLING THROUGH MUD PITS COVERED IN BARBED WIRE. THIS REVIEW WILL ANALYZE PHYSIOLOGICAL ASPECTS RELATED TO OCR, INCLUDING RESEARCH OBSERVING MILITARY OBSTACLE COURSE PERFORMANCE, ENDURANCE RACE PERFORMANCE, LOAD-CARRIAGE TASKS, AND VARIOUS ATHLETIC PROGRAMMING STRATEGIES. A STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING PROGRAM WILL BE RECOMMENDED FOR AN EXAMPLE BEGINNER AND INTERMEDIATE COMPETITOR TO MAXIMIZE PERFORMANCE ADAPTATIONS AND DECREASE OVERALL TIME IN AN OCR.
Necessary Contributions of Human Frontal Lobe Subregions to Reward Learning in a Dynamic, Multidimensional Environment
Authors: Vaidya Avinash R. , Fellows Lesley K.
Published: September 2016

Real-world decisions are typically made between options that vary along multiple dimensions, requiring prioritization of the important dimensions to support optimal choice. Learning in this setting depends on attributing decision outcomes to the dimensions with predictive relevance rather than to dimensions that are irrelevant and nonpredictive. This attribution problem is computationally challenging, and likely requires an interplay between selective attention and reward learning. Both these processes have been separately linked to the prefrontal cortex, but little is known about how they combine to support learning the reward value of multidimensional stimuli. Here, we examined the necessary contributions of frontal lobe subregions in attributing feedback to relevant and irrelevant dimensions on a trial-by-trial basis in humans. Patients with focal frontal lobe damage completed a demanding reward learning task where options varied on three dimensions, only one of which predicted reward. Participants with left lateral frontal lobe damage attributed rewards to irrelevant dimensions, rather than the relevant dimension. Damage to the ventromedial frontal lobe also impaired learning about the relevant dimension, but did not increase reward attribution to irrelevant dimensions. The results argue for distinct roles for these two regions in learning the value of multidimensional decision options under dynamic conditions, with the lateral frontal lobe required for selecting the relevant dimension to associate with reward, and the ventromedial frontal lobe required to learn the reward association itself.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTThe real world is complex and multidimensional; how do we attribute rewards to predictive features when surrounded by competing cues? Here, we tested the critical involvement of human frontal lobe subregions in a probabilistic, multidimensional learning environment, asking whether focal lesions affected trial-by-trial attribution of feedback to relevant and irrelevant dimensions. The left lateral frontal lobe was required for filtering option dimensions to allow appropriate feedback attribution, while the ventromedial frontal lobe was necessary for learning the value of features in the relevant dimension. These findings argue that selective attention and associative learning processes mediated by anatomically distinct frontal lobe subregions are both critical for adaptive choice in more complex, ecologically valid settings.
Eye Can Hear Clearly Now: Inverse Effectiveness in Natural Audiovisual Speech Processing Relies on Long-Term Crossmodal Temporal Integration
Authors: Crosse Michael J. , Di Liberto Giovanni M. , Lalor Edmund C.
Published: September 2016

Speech comprehension is improved by viewing a speaker's face, especially in adverse hearing conditions, a principle known as inverse effectiveness. However, the neural mechanisms that help to optimize how we integrate auditory and visual speech in such suboptimal conversational environments are not yet fully understood. Using human EEG recordings, we examined how visual speech enhances the cortical representation of auditory speech at a signal-to-noise ratio that maximized the perceptual benefit conferred by multisensory processing relative to unisensory processing. We found that the influence of visual input on the neural tracking of the audio speech signal was significantly greater in noisy than in quiet listening conditions, consistent with the principle of inverse effectiveness. Although envelope tracking during audio-only speech was greatly reduced by background noise at an early processing stage, it was markedly restored by the addition of visual speech input. In background noise, multisensory integration occurred at much lower frequencies and was shown to predict the multisensory gain in behavioral performance at a time lag of ∼250 ms. Critically, we demonstrated that inverse effectiveness, in the context of natural audiovisual (AV) speech processing, relies on crossmodal integration over long temporal windows. Our findings suggest that disparate integration mechanisms contribute to the efficient processing of AV speech in background noise.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTThe behavioral benefit of seeing a speaker's face during conversation is especially pronounced in challenging listening environments. However, the neural mechanisms underlying this phenomenon, known as inverse effectiveness, have not yet been established. Here, we examine this in the human brain using natural speech-in-noise stimuli that were designed specifically to maximize the behavioral benefit of audiovisual (AV) speech. We find that this benefit arises from our ability to integrate multimodal information over longer periods of time. Our data also suggest that the addition of visual speech restores early tracking of the acoustic speech signal during excessive background noise. These findings support and extend current mechanistic perspectives on AV speech perception.
Slow Temporal Integration Enables Robust Neural Coding and Perception of a Cue to Sound Source Location
Authors: Brown Andrew D. , Tollin Daniel J.
Published: September 2016

In mammals, localization of sound sources in azimuth depends on sensitivity to interaural differences in sound timing (ITD) and level (ILD). Paradoxically, while typical ILD-sensitive neurons of the auditory brainstem require millisecond synchrony of excitatory and inhibitory inputs for the encoding of ILDs, human and animal behavioral ILD sensitivity is robust to temporal stimulus degradations (e.g., interaural decorrelation due to reverberation), or, in humans, bilateral clinical device processing. Here we demonstrate that behavioral ILD sensitivity is only modestly degraded with even complete decorrelation of left- and right-ear signals, suggesting the existence of a highly integrative ILD-coding mechanism. Correspondingly, we find that a majority of auditory midbrain neurons in the central nucleus of the inferior colliculus (of chinchilla) effectively encode ILDs despite complete decorrelation of left- and right-ear signals. We show that such responses can be accounted for by relatively long windows of bilateral excitatory-inhibitory interaction, which we explicitly measure using trains of narrowband clicks. Neural and behavioral data are compared with the outputs of a simple model of ILD processing with a single free parameter, the duration of excitatory-inhibitory interaction. Behavioral, neural, and modeling data collectively suggest that ILD sensitivity depends on binaural integration of excitation and inhibition within a ≳3 ms temporal window, significantly longer than observed in lower brainstem neurons. This relatively slow integration potentiates a unique role for the ILD system in spatial hearing that may be of particular importance when informative ITD cues are unavailable.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTIn mammalian hearing, interaural differences in the timing (ITD) and level (ILD) of impinging sounds carry critical information about source location. However, natural sounds are often decorrelated between the ears by reverberation and background noise, degrading the fidelity of both ITD and ILD cues. Here we demonstrate that behavioral ILD sensitivity (in humans) and neural ILD sensitivity (in single neurons of the chinchilla auditory midbrain) remain robust under stimulus conditions that render ITD cues undetectable. This result can be explained by “slow” temporal integration arising from several-millisecond-long windows of excitatory-inhibitory interaction evident in midbrain, but not brainstem, neurons. Such integrative coding can account for the preservation of ILD sensitivity despite even extreme temporal degradations in ecological acoustic stimuli.
Optimized Parallel Coding of Second-Order Stimulus Features by Heterogeneous Neural Populations
Authors: Huang Chengjie G. , Chacron Maurice J.
Published: September 2016

Efficient processing of sensory input is essential to ensure an organism's survival in its natural environment. Growing evidence suggests that sensory neurons can optimally encode natural stimuli by ensuring that their tuning opposes stimulus statistics, such that the resulting neuronal response contains equal power at all frequencies (i.e., is “white”). Such temporal decorrelation or whitening has been observed across modalities, but the effects of neural heterogeneities on determining tuning and thus responses to natural stimuli have not been investigated. Here, we investigate how heterogeneities in sensory pyramidal neurons organized in three parallel maps representing the body surface determine responses to second-order electrosensory stimulus features in the weakly electric fishApteronotus leptorhynchus. While some sources of heterogeneities such as ON- and OFF-type responses to first-order did not affect responses to second-order electrosensory stimulus features, other sources of heterogeneity within and across the maps strongly determined responses. We found that these cells effectively performed a fractional differentiation operation on their input with exponents ranging from zero (no differentiation) to 0.4 (strong differentiation). Varying adaptation in a simple model explained these heterogeneities and predicted a strong correlation between fractional differentiation and adaptation. Using natural stimuli, we found that only a small fraction of neurons implemented temporal whitening. Rather, a large fraction of neurons did not perform any significant whitening and thus preserved natural input statistics in their responses. We propose that this information is needed to properly decode optimized information sent in parallel through temporally whitened responses based on context.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTWe demonstrate that heterogeneities in the same sensory neuron type can either have no or significant influence on their responses to second-order stimulus features. While an ON- or OFF-type response to first-order stimulus attributes has no significant influence on responses to second-order stimulus features, we found that only a small fraction of sensory neurons optimally encoded natural stimuli through high-pass filtering, thereby implementing temporal whitening. Surprisingly, a large fraction of sensory neurons performed little if no filtering of stimuli, thereby preserving natural stimulus statistics. We hypothesize that this pathway is necessary to properly decode optimized information contained in temporally whitened responses based on context.
The Nature of the Sensory Input to the Neonatal Rat Barrel Cortex
Authors: Akhmetshina Dinara , Nasretdinov Azat , Zakharov Andrei , Valeeva Guzel , Khazipov Roustem
Published: September 2016

Sensory input plays critical roles in the development of the somatosensory cortex during the neonatal period. This early sensory input may involve: (1) stimulation arising from passive interactions with the mother and littermates and (2) sensory feedback arising from spontaneous infant movements. The relative contributions of these mechanisms under natural conditions remain largely unknown, however. Here, we show that, in the whisker-related barrel cortex of neonatal rats, spontaneous whisker movements and passive stimulation by the littermates cooperate, with comparable efficiency, in driving cortical activity. Both tactile signals arising from the littermate's movements under conditions simulating the littermates' position in the litter, and spontaneous whisker movements efficiently triggered bursts of activity in barrel cortex. Yet, whisker movements with touch were more efficient than free movements. Comparison of the various experimental conditions mimicking the natural environment showed that tactile signals arising from the whisker movements with touch and stimulation by the littermates, support: (1) a twofold higher level of cortical activity than in the isolated animal, and (2) a threefold higher level of activity than in the deafferented animal after the infraorbital nerve cut. Together, these results indicate that endogenous (self-generated movements) and exogenous (stimulation by the littermates) mechanisms cooperate in driving cortical activity in newborn rats and point to the importance of the environment in shaping cortical activity during the neonatal period.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTSensory input plays critical roles in the development of the somatosensory cortex during the neonatal period. However, the origins of sensory input to the neonatal somatosensory cortex in the natural environment remain largely unknown. Here, we show that in the whisker-related barrel cortex of neonatal rats, spontaneous whisker movements and passive stimulation by the littermates cooperate, with comparable efficiency, in driving cortical activity during the critical developmental period.
Interfering with the Chronic Immune Response Rescues Chronic Degeneration After Traumatic Brain Injury
Authors: Ertürk Ali , Mentz Susanne , Stout Erik E. , Hedehus Maj , Dominguez Sara L. , Neumaier Lisa , Krammer Franziska , Llovera Gemma , Srinivasan Karpagam , Hansen David V. , Liesz Arthur , Scearce-Levie Kimberly A. , Sheng Morgan
Published: September 2016

After traumatic brain injury (TBI), neurons surviving the initial insult can undergo chronic (secondary) degeneration via poorly understood mechanisms, resulting in long-term cognitive impairment. Although a neuroinflammatory response is promptly activated after TBI, it is unknown whether it has a significant role in chronic phases of TBI (>1 year after injury). Using a closed-head injury model of TBI in mice, we showed by MRI scans that TBI caused substantial degeneration at the lesion site within a few weeks and these did not expand significantly thereafter. However, chronic alterations in neurons were observed, with reduced dendritic spine density lasting >1 year after injury. In parallel, we found a long-lasting inflammatory response throughout the entire brain. Deletion of one allele of CX3CR1, a chemokine receptor, limited infiltration of peripheral immune cells and largely prevented the chronic degeneration of the injured brain and provided a better functional recovery in female, but not male, mice. Therefore, targeting persistent neuroinflammation presents a new therapeutic option to reduce chronic neurodegeneration.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTTraumatic brain injury (TBI) often causes chronic neurological problems including epilepsy, neuropsychiatric disorders, and dementia through unknown mechanisms. Our study demonstrates that inflammatory cells invading the brain lead to secondary brain damage. Sex-specific amelioration of chronic neuroinflammation rescues the brain degeneration and results in improved motor functions. Therefore, this study pinpoints an effective therapeutic approach to preventing secondary complications after TBI.
Involvement of Spinal IL-6Trans-Signaling in the Induction of Hyperexcitability of Deep Dorsal Horn Neurons by Spinal Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha
Authors: König Christian , Morch Eric , Eitner Annett , Möller Christian , Turnquist Brian , Schaible Hans-Georg , Ebersberger Andrea
Published: September 2016

During peripheral inflammation, both spinal TNF-α and IL-6 are released within the spinal cord and support the generation of inflammation-evoked spinal hyperexcitability. However, whether spinal TNF-α and IL-6 act independently in parallel or in a functionally dependent manner has not been investigated. In extracellular recordings from mechanonociceptive deep dorsal horn neurons of normal ratsin vivo, we found that spinal application of TNF-α increased spinal neuronal responses to mechanical stimulation of knee and ankle joints. This effect was significantly attenuated by either sgp130, which blocks IL-6trans-signaling mediated by IL-6 and its soluble receptor IL-6R (sIL-6R); by an antibody to the IL-6 receptor; or by minocycline, which inhibits the microglia. IL-6 was localized in neurons of the spinal cord and, upon peripheral noxious stimulation in the presence of spinal TNF-α, IL-6 was released spinally. Furthermore, TNF-α recruited microglial cells to provide sIL-6R, which can form complexes with IL-6. Spinal application of IL-6 plus sIL-6R, but not of IL-6 alone, enhanced spinal hyperexcitability similar to TNF-α and the inhibition of TNF-α-induced hyperexcitability by minocycline was overcome by coadministration of sIL-6R, showing that sIL-6R is required. Neither minocycline nor the TNF-α-neutralizing compound etanercept inhibited the induction of hyperexcitability by IL-6 plus sIL-6R. Together, these data show that the induction of hyperexcitability of nociceptive deep dorsal horn neurons by TNF-α largely depends on the formation of IL-6/sIL-6R complexes that are downstream of TNF-α and requires the interactions of neurons and microglia orchestrated by TNF-α.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTBoth spinal TNF-α and IL-6 induce a state of spinal hyperexcitability. We present the novel finding that the full effect of TNF-α on the development of spinal hyperexcitability depends on IL-6trans-signaling acting downstream of TNF-α. IL-6trans-signaling requires the formation of complexes of IL-6 and soluble IL-6 receptor. Spinal TNF-α furthers the release of IL-6 from neurons in the spinal cord during peripheral noxious stimulation and recruits microglial cells to provide soluble IL-6 receptor, which can form complexes with IL-6. Therefore, a specific interaction between neurons and microglia is required for the full development of TNF-α-induced hyperexcitability of nociceptive deep horsal horn neurons.
DDX3 Modulates Neurite Development via Translationally Activating an RNA Regulon Involved in Rac1 Activation
Authors: Chen Hung-Hsi , Yu Hsin-I , Tarn Woan-Yuh
Published: September 2016

The RNA helicase DDX3 is a component of neuronal granules, and its gene mutations are linked to intellectual disability (ID). Here we demonstrate that DDX3 depletion in neurons impairs neurite development by downregulating Rac1 level and activation. Moreover, DDX3 activates the translation of functionally coherent mRNAs involved in Rac1 activation includingRac1. Among the DDX3 regulon,Prkacaencodes the catalytic subunit of PKA, a potential activator of Rac1 in neurons. DDX3-modulated PKAcα and Rac1 expression tunes the strength of PKA–Rac1 signaling and thereby contributes to neurite outgrowth and dendritic spine formation. Inhibition of DDX3 activity or expression in neonatal mice impaired dendritic outgrowth and spine formation of hippocampal neurons, echoing neuronal deficits underling DDX3 mutation-associated ID. Finally, we provide evidence that DDX3 activates local protein synthesis through a 5′ UTR-dependent mechanism in neurons. The novel DDX3 regulon may conduct a spatial and temporal control of Rac1 signaling to regulate neurite development.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTDDX3Xmutations are linked to intellectual disability (ID). We provide first evidence that DDX3 is required for neurite outgrowth and dendritic spine formationin vitroandin vivo. We identified a DDX3 regulon constituting functionally cohesive mRNAs involved in Rac1 signaling, which contributes to DDX3-modulated neurite development. Inhibition or ablation of DDX3in vivoshortened neurite lengths and impaired dendritic spine formation in hippocampal neurons, reflecting the prevalence of ID-associatedDDX3Xmutations in the helicase domain. Mechanistically, DDX3 activates local protein synthesis of mRNAs sharing similar 5′ UTR structures and therefore controls Rac1 signaling strength in neurites.
Long-term chronic stress exposure induces PCO phenotype in rat
Authors: Divyashree S , Yajurvedi H N
Published: September 2016

Thus far the effects of chronic stress on the ovary were studied for shorter durations. However, responses of the ovary may vary with durations of exposure to stress. Hence, we investigated the responses of the ovary following exposure to different durations of chronic stress. Exposure of rats to restraint (1 h) and after a gap of 4 h to forced swimming (15 min) daily for 4 or 8 weeks resulted in significant decreases in the activities of the ovarian antioxidant enzymes, 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and percentage of healthy granulosa cells with concomitant increases in the number of atretic follicles, the percentage of apoptotic granulosa cells and ovarian malondialdehyde concentration. However, the response of the ovary to similar stress regime for 12 weeks was paradoxical as there were increases in the activities of ovarian antioxidant enzymes and 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, the number of healthy antral follicles, and decreases in ovarian malondialdehyde concentration and percentage of apoptotic granulosa cells. These changes were accompanied by hyperglycaemia and an increase in the serum levels of insulin, testosterone and oestradiol. In addition the cystic follicles were found in the ovaries of these rats. However, the number of oestrous cycles and active corpora lutea showed significant decrease in all the durations of stress exposure. The results demonstrate a differential response of ovary to short- and long-term exposure to chronic stress.
The Impact Analysis of Raw Material Price on Firm Survival
Authors: Febriani Sry Rahayu
Published: September 2016

This research examines the effect of input price changes on firm survival. The increasing on import activities in the last decades indicates that manufacturing industry depends on imported raw material. It leads the industry extremely vulnerable to the global economic shocks. Some of the industries that depend on imported raw material is unlikely to survive in the crisis. Using firm level data from the Annual Survey of Manufacturers for the period 2008-2012 and probit estimation with price data of input as main variables, we find that change of input price significantly decreasing the probability of firm survival. Firm size and age as the main determinant of survival consistent with previous studies. DOI: 10.15408/sjie.v5i2.3236
Patterns of Comorbidity Among Girls With ADHD: A Meta-analysis
Authors: Tung Irene , Li James J. , Meza Jocelyn I. , Jezior Kristen L. , Kianmahd Jessica S.V. , Hentschel Patrick G. , O’Neil Paul M. , Lee Steve S.
Published: September 2016

CONTEXT:

Although children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are at elevated risk for comorbid psychopathology, the clinical correlates of ADHD in girls are far less understood relative to boys, despite ADHD being one of the most common childhood disorders in girls.

OBJECTIVE:

To meta-analytically summarize rates of comorbid internalizing (anxiety, depression) and externalizing (oppositional defiant disorder [ODD], conduct disorder [CD]) psychopathology among girls with and without ADHD.

DATA SOURCES:

Literature searches (PubMed, Google Scholar) identified published studies examining comorbid psychopathology in girls with and without ADHD.

STUDY SELECTION:

Eighteen studies (1997 participants) met inclusion criteria and had sufficient data for the meta-analysis.

DATA EXTRACTION:

Odds ratios for each comorbid disorder were calculated from available data. Demographic (eg, age, race/ethnicity) and study characteristics (eg, referral source, diagnostic method) were also coded.

RESULTS:

Compared with girls without ADHD, girls with ADHD were significantly more likely to meet Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition criteria for each comorbid disorder assessed. Relative odds were higher for externalizing (ODD: 5.6×; CD: 9.4×) relative to internalizing disorders (anxiety: 3.2×; depression: 4.2×). Meta-regression revealed larger effect sizes of ADHD on anxiety for studies using multiple diagnostic methods, featuring younger children, and including clinic-referred (versus community-referred) girls; the effect of ADHD on ODD varied based on diagnostic informant.

LIMITATIONS:

Findings were derived from cross-sectional studies, precluding causal inferences.

CONCLUSIONS:

Girls with ADHD frequently exhibit comorbid externalizing and internalizing disorders. We discuss future research priorities and consider intervention implications for ADHD and comorbid psychopathology in girls.
Filsafat Dakwah: Sebuah Upaya Keluar dari Kemelut
Authors: As Enjang
Published: September 2016

Preaching as part of the sacred duty of every Muslim is a human effort to do good and leave the evil and do mischief on the earth by strengthening potential Taqwa inspiration and inspiration fujur thus minimize potential human being in the way of the Lord. Therefore, the call can be regarded as the savior of mankind from the shackles of himself and his neighbor. On the basis of this propaganda is seen as a great work done for his fellow human beings, and are aware of work in order to humanize humans.
Budaya Organisasi dalam Lembaga Islam
Authors: Setiawan Asep Iwan
Published: September 2016

Every organization has a culture that aims to make every member can have a handle in the pursuit of goals. Organizational climate will become less favorable, the relationship between the employee will only be limited to normal relations without guided by the spirit of togetherness that is bound by the same values. Therefore every individual of a very important part of the organization upholding cultural values developed from year to year, which is rooted in strong values that will give birth to the employees believed a strong commitment. If this is ignored it will produce less karayawan commitment, motivation and performance levels of employees who are not satisfactory, which in turn will damage the company itself.