bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ceramide Changes the Mediator of Flow-Induced Vasodilation From Nitric Oxide to Hydrogen Peroxide in the Human Microcirculation
Authors: Freed Julie K. , Beyer Andreas M. , LoGiudice John A. , Hockenberry Joseph C. , Gutterman David D.
Published: June 2014

Rationale
:

Mitochondrial-derived hydrogen peroxide (H
2
O
2
) regulates flow-induced dilation (FID) in microvessels from patients with coronary artery disease. The relationship between ceramide, an independent risk factor for coronary artery disease and a known inducer of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species, and FID is unknown.

Objective
:

We examined the hypothesis that exogenous ceramide induces a switch in the mediator of FID from nitric oxide to H
2
O
2
.

Methods and Results
:

Internal diameter changes of resistance arterioles from human adipose and atrial tissue were measured by video microscopy. Mitochondrial H
2
O
2
production was assayed in arterioles using mito peroxy yellow 1. Polyethylene glycol–catalase, rotenone, and Mito-TEMPO impaired FID in healthy adipose arterioles pretreated with ceramide, whereas
N
ω
-nitro-
l
-arginine methyl ester had no effect. Mitochondrial H
2
O
2
production was induced in response to flow in healthy adipose vessels pretreated with ceramide, and this was abolished in the presence of polyethylene glycol–catalase. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated ceramide accumulation in arterioles from both healthy patients and patients with coronary artery disease.
N
ω
-nitro-
l
-arginine methyl ester reduced vasodilation to flow in adipose as well as atrial vessels from patients with coronary artery disease incubated with GW4869, a neutral sphingomyelinase inhibitor, whereas polyethylene glycol–catalase had no effect.

Conclusions
:

Our data indicate that ceramide has an integral role in the transition of the mediator of FID from nitric oxide to mitochondrial-derived H
2
O
2
and that inhibition of ceramide production can revert the mechanism of dilation back to nitric oxide. Ceramide may be an important target for preventing and treating vascular dysfunction associated with atherosclerosis.
Fibroblast Growth Factor-23 and Incident Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: Mathew Jehu S. , Sachs Michael C. , Katz Ronit , Patton Kristen K. , Heckbert Susan R. , Hoofnagle Andrew N. , Alonso Alvaro , Chonchol Michel , Deo Rajat , Ix Joachim H. , Siscovick David S. , Kestenbaum Bryan , de Boer Ian H.
Published: June 2014

Background—

Fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF-23) is a hormone that promotes urinary phosphate excretion and regulates vitamin D metabolism. Circulating FGF-23 concentrations increase markedly in chronic kidney disease and are associated with increased risk of clinical cardiovascular events. FGF-23 may promote atrial fibrillation (AF) by inducing left ventricular hypertrophy and diastolic and left atrial dysfunction.

Methods and Results—

We tested the associations of circulating FGF-23 concentration with incident AF among 6398 participants in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) and 1350 participants in the Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS), all free of clinical cardiovascular disease at baseline. Over a median of 7.7 and 8.0 years of follow-up, we observed 291 and 229 incident AF events in MESA and CHS, respectively. In multivariable Cox proportional hazards models, each 2-fold-higher FGF-23 concentration was associated with a 41% higher risk of incident AF in MESA (hazard ratio, 1.41; 95% confidence interval, 1.13–1.76;
P
=0.003) and a 30% higher risk of incident AF in CHS (hazard ratio, 1.30; 95% confidence interval, 1.05–1.61;
P
=0.016) after adjustment for potential confounding characteristics, including kidney disease. Serum phosphate concentration was significantly associated with incident AF in MESA (hazard ratio, 1.15 per 0.5 mg/dL; 95% confidence interval, 1.02–1.31;
P
=0.023) but not CHS. In MESA, an association of low estimated glomerular filtration rate with incident AF was partially attenuated by adjustment for FGF-23.

Conclusion—

Higher circulating FGF-23 concentration is associated with incident AF and may, in part, explain the link between chronic kidney disease and AF.
Influence of External Inputs and Asymmetry of Connections on Information-Geometric Measures Involving Up to Ten Neuronal Interactions
Authors: Nie Yimin , Fellous Jean-Marc , Tatsuno Masami
Published: June 2014

The investigation of neural interactions is crucial for understanding information processing in the brain. Recently an analysis method based on information geometry (IG) has gained increased attention, and the property of the pairwise IG measure has been studied extensively in relation to the two-neuron interaction. However, little is known about the property of IG measures involving more neuronal interactions. In this study, we systematically investigated the influence of external inputs and the asymmetry of connections on the IG measures in cases ranging from 1-neuron to 10-neuron interactions. First, the analytical relationship between the IG measures and external inputs was derived for a network of 10 neurons with uniform connections. Our results confirmed that the single and pairwise IG measures were good estimators of the mean background input and of the sum of the connection weights, respectively. For the IG measures involving 3 to 10 neuronal interactions, we found that the influence of external inputs was highly nonlinear. Second, by computer simulation, we extended our analytical results to asymmetric connections. For a network of 10 neurons, the simulation showed that the behavior of the IG measures in relation to external inputs was similar to the analytical solution obtained for a uniformly connected network. When the network size was increased to 1000 neurons, the influence of external inputs almost disappeared. This result suggests that all IG measures from 1-neuron to 10-neuron interactions are robust against the influence of external inputs. In addition, we investigated how the strength of asymmetry influenced the IG measures. Computer simulation of a 1000-neuron network showed that all the IG measures were robust against the modulation of the asymmetry of connections. Our results provide further support for an information-geometric approach and will provide useful insights when these IG measures are applied to real experimental spike data.
Proceedings of the 12th International Symposium on Aquatic Oligochaeta
Authors: PINDER ADRIAN , ARSLAN NAIME , WETZEL MARK
Published: June 2014

This volume is the proceedings for the 12th International Symposium on Aquatic Oligochaeta (ISAO), held in Fremantle Western Australia from the 10th to the 13th of September 2012. This was the latest in a series of triennial symposia that began in May 1979 when 31 researchers met for four days in Sidney, British Columbia, Canada, hosted by Ralph Brinkhurst, then of the Institute of Ocean Sciences who has played a pivotal role in the field of oligochaete research for many decades. That first meeting set the scene for regular collegiate gatherings of oligochaetologists that have spawned many collaborations and scientific advances over the past 35 years. Continuity in the oligochaete research community is shown by the fact that four of the researchers that attended the 1979 symposium joined us in Fremantle.
Effects of sodium fluoride on the gametogenesis of the tubificid oligochaete Branchiura sowerbyi Beddard
Authors: CASELLATO SANDRA , COVRE VALERIA , DEL PIERO STEFANIA
Published: June 2014

Fluoride concentration is significantly increasing in many aquatic ecosystems because of human activities (agrochemical, pharmaceutical, refrigerant, pesticide and surfactant compounds). This study aims to examine the effects of fluorides on gametogenesis by exposing Branchiura sowerbyi (Oligochaeta) to sodium fluoride concentrations 50 to 100 times above normal ones in freshwater (0.1–0.3 mg/L) and observing the effects over time. Because non-toxic concentrations determined in short-term experiments could induce effects as exposure times increase, B. sowerbyi were exposed to sodium fluoride from the end of February 2012 to the end of July 2012. They were continuously monitored until the cocoon deposition stage to investigate any possible effects. Weekly observations were conducted on treated and untreated specimens to monitor gamete maturation in both male and female germinal lines. The results revealed temporal differences in the gametogenesis phases of treated specimens, such as incomplete spermatozoa maturation. At the end of the experiment, the exposed animals were thinner and shorter than the controls and cocoon deposition did not occur.
Branchiura sowerbyi Beddard, 1892 (Oligochaeta: Naididae) as a test species in ecotoxicology bioassays: a review
Authors: LOBO HAROLDO , ESPINDOLA EVALDO L. G.
Published: June 2014

Branchiura sowerbyi (Oligochaeta; Naididae; Rhyacodrilinae) is an oligochaete with great potential to be used as a test-species in toxicology bioassays. Since 1950, its life cycle has been studied and nowadays it is well described in the literature. B. sowerbyi has a cosmopolitan distribution and can be found in places where Tubifex tubifex (normally used in toxicity bioassays) does not occur, especially in tropical regions. Due to its high individual biomass, B. sowerbyi is suitable for use in bioaccumulation bioassays. The present study reviews papers that have used this species in toxicology bioassays and were published between 1950 and the first semester of 2012. In the first part, a brief overview is provided of the biology and the life-cycle parameters of B. sowerbyi. In the second part, the bioassays are presented and discussed, and in the third and last part, conclusions about research to date and perspectives about future studies are presented. Throughout the investigation, it was possible to find a total of 30 papers that tested approximately 65 different substances (insecticides, metals, industrial chemicals and others). The majority of the bioassays run are 96-h acute water-only tests, only five were chronic bioassays and two involved bioaccumulation. The lack of research and the small number of tested substances in comparison with the standardized T. tubifex species (i.e. approximately 9 and 44 tested metals for B. sowerbyi and T. tubifex, respectively) can be explained by the absence of a bioassay protocol for B. sowerbyi, causing researchers to choose other species. It is necessary to undertake more methodological research in order to find a better and common methodology for bioassays.
First record of achaetous Marionina Michaelsen, 1890 (Annelida: Clitellata: Enchytraeidae) in the southern Atlantic
Authors: PRANTONI ALESSANDRO L. , DOMENICO MAIKON DI , LANA PAULO C.
Published: June 2014

Marionina Michaelsen, 1890 is a polyphyletic enchytraeid genus represented by about 100 nominal species (Rota et al., 2008). When the genus was originally described in 1889, it got a preoccupied name, Marionia, which was corrected into Marionina one year later by Michaelsen himself. According to the ICZN (1999: Art. 60.3), a new replacement name has its own author and date. Thus, the correct nomenclature of the genus should be Marionina Michaelsen, 1890 (Rota et al., 2008).
Toxicity and bioaccumulation of fluoride ion on Branchiura sowerbyi, Beddard, (Oligochaeta, Tubificidae)
Authors: DEL PIERO STEFANIA , MASIERO LUCIANO , CASELLATO SANDRA
Published: June 2014

Fluoride concentrations are increasing significantly in many aquatic ecosystems as a consequence of human activities (agrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, refrigerants, pesticides, surfactant compounds). Several investigations have revealed that sensitivity to fluorides and safe concentrations vary greatly within classes, families and genera. Aquatic oligochaetes have often been used for pollution assessment and accumulation testing, but no information has been given about tolerance to fluoride ion. Among endobenthic tubificids Branchiura sowerbyi is easily identifiable (evident posterior gills, large size) and particularly useful for tissue requirements in chemical analysis. The purpose of this study was to examine the tolerance of this tubificid to fluoride ion and its bioaccumulation capacity by performing short (LC50 96h) and long-term (18 day) experiments at different temperatures (17°C and 22 °C). LC50 values (91.3 and 61.7 mg/L for 17°C and 22°C respectively), especially in the presence of sediment (267.6 and 80.1 mg/L for 17°C and 22°C respectively) showed that B. sowerbyi is more resistant to fluoride than other freshwater invertebrates. Fluoride became more toxic with increased temperature, demonstrating that seasonal temperature changes could influence the sensitivity of this freshwater tubificid. Bioaccumulation was lower when the organisms were exposed to sodium fluoride in the absence of sediment, indicating that this animal also accumulates fluoride by ingesting sediment.
Review of the Philippine taxa formerly assigned to the genus Amphicnemis Selys, II. Genus Sangabasis with descriptions of eight new species (Odonata: Coenagrionidae)
Authors: VILLANUEVA R. J.T. , DOW R. A.
Published: June 2014

The Philippine genus Sangabasis Villanueva is reviewed. Eight new species are described: S. bukid sp. nov., S. bulba sp. nov., S. cahilogi sp. nov., S. carmelae sp. nov., S. feliculoi sp. nov., S. hamis sp. nov., S. janvantoli sp. nov., and S. zamboanga sp. nov.
Taxonomic study of Central Asian species of the genus Macropsis Lewis, 1836 (Homoptera: Auchenorrhyncha: Cicadellidae: Macropsinae). II: Redescriptions of poorly known species, new synonyms, and description of a new
willow-dwelling species
Authors: TISHECHKIN DMITRI YU.
Published: June 2014

Macropsis validiuscula Dubovsky, 1966, M. vicina (Horvath, 1897) = M. populicola Dubovsky, 1966 = M. albinata Dubovsky, 1966, syn. n. = M. albidula Dubovsky, 1966, syn. n., M. iliensis Mityaev, 1971 and M. elaeagnicola Dubovsky, 1966 are redescribed and illustrated based on material from Tien Shan Mts. (Kyrgyzstan) and Ferghana Valley (Uzbekistan), M. tienschanica Tishetshkin sp. n. from West Tien Shan Mts. (Kyrgyzstan) is described. M. iliensis Mityaev, 1971 is recorded from Kyrgyzstan for the first time. Data on host plants and male vibrational calling signals for all species considered are provided.
Regional Model Simulations of the 2008 Drought in Southern South America Using a Consistent Set of Land Surface Properties
Authors: Müller Omar V. , Berbery Ernesto Hugo , Alcaraz-Segura Domingo , Ek Michael B.
Published: June 2014

This work discusses the land surface–atmosphere interactions during the severe drought of 2008 in southern South America, which was among the most severe in the last 50 years in terms of both intensity and extent. Once precipitation returned to normal values, it took about two months for the soil moisture content and vegetation to recover. The land surface effects were examined by contrasting long-term simulations using a consistent set of satellite-derived annually varying land surface biophysical properties against simulations using the conventional land-cover types in the Weather Research and Forecasting Model–Noah land surface model (WRF–Noah). The new land-cover dataset is based on ecosystem functional properties that capture changes in vegetation status due to climate anomalies and land-use changes.

The results show that the use of realistic information of vegetation states enhances the model performance, reducing the precipitation biases over the drought region and over areas of excessive precipitation. The precipitation bias reductions are attributed to the corresponding changes in greenness fraction, leaf area index, stomatal resistance, and surface roughness. The temperature simulation shows a generalized increase, which is attributable to a lower vegetation greenness and a doubling of the stomatal resistance that reduces the evapotranspiration rate. The increase of temperature has a beneficial effect toward the eastern part of the domain with a notable reduction of the bias, but not over the central region where the bias is increased. The overall results suggest that an improved representation of the surface processes may contribute to improving the predictive skill of the model system.
A Study of the Role of Daytime Land–Atmosphere Interactions on Nocturnal Convective Activity in the Southern Great Plains during CLASIC
Authors: Erlingis Jessica M. , Barros Ana P.
Published: June 2014

This study examines whether and how land–atmosphere interactions can have an impact on nocturnal convection over the southern Great Plains (SGP) through numerical simulations of an intense nocturnal mesoscale convective system (MCS) on 19–20 June 2007 with the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model. High-resolution nested simulations were conducted using realistic and idealized land surfaces and two planetary boundary layer (PBL) parameterizations (PBLp): Yonsei University (YSU) and Mellor–Yamada–Janjić (MYJ). Differences in timing and amount of MCS precipitation among observations and model results were examined in the light of daytime land–atmosphere interactions, nocturnal prestorm environment, and cold pool strength. At the meso-γ scale, land cover and soil type have as much of an effect on the simulated prestorm environment as the choice of PBLp: MYJ simulations exhibit strong sensitivity to changes in the land surface in contrast to negligible impact in the case of YSU. At the end of the afternoon, as the boundary layer collapses, a more homogeneous and deeper PBL (and stronger low-level shear) is evident for YSU as compared to MYJ when initial conditions and land surface properties are the same. At the meso-β scale, propagation speed is faster and organization (bow echo morphology) and cold pool strength are enhanced when nocturnal PBL heights are higher, and there is stronger low-level shear in the prestorm environment independent of the boundary layer parameterization for different land surface conditions. A comparison of one- and two-way nested MYJ results demonstrates how daytime land–atmosphere interactions modify the prestorm environment remotely through advection of low-level thermodynamic features. This remote feedback strongly impacts the MCS development phase as well as its spatial organization and propagation velocity and, consequently, nocturnal rainfall. These results indicate that synoptic- and meso-α-scale dynamics can play an important role in determining the spatial and temporal scales over which precipitation feedbacks of land–atmosphere interactions emerge regionally. Finally, this study demonstrates the high degree of uncertainty in defining the spatial and temporal scales of land–atmosphere interactions where and when organized convection is dominant.
Police Arrests in a Time of Uncertainty
Authors: Donato Katharine M. , Rodríguez Leslie Ann
Published: June 2014

Using a novel data set created from police narratives between 2005 and 2010, this article examines whether and how police reporting varies before and after the implementation of 287(g), a local enforcement program located in Nashville’s Davidson County, a new immigrant gateway city. We examine patterns of symbolic language used by police officers related to arrests of immigrants and U.S. natives, and examine whether differences emerge before and after May 2007, when the 287(g) program began. Results show significant shifts in the reasons given for arrests before and after implementation of 287(g), and characteristics about foreignness such as country of origin, language use, and legal status that became more salient after 287(g). We argue that the 287(g) program—coupled with the political climate in which it was embedded—bestowed salience on traits that, in the past, were not relevant. That is, our findings suggest that anti-immigrant laws, such as 287(g), play an important role in the social construction of legal status among police officers.
Cartoons and Collaboration in Wartime China
Authors: Taylor Jeremy E.
Published: June 2014

The work of Chinese cartoonists who published their illustrations in the popular press in occupied China from 1937 to 1945 has largely escaped the attention of scholars of both the occupation itself and the broader field of cartoon history. This article seeks to fill this gap in the literature by analyzing how the very nature of the occupation, together with efforts undertaken by collaborationist governments such as that of Wang Jingwei, created a context in which a particular body of artists could continue to draw. In so doing, the article raises questions about the place of “collaborationist” cartoonists in the broader development of art and propaganda in China and about the very nature of collaboration in the Chinese context.
Commutativity of cascade connected discrete-time linear time-varying systems
Authors: Koksal Muhammet , Koksal Mehmet Emir
Published: June 2014

After summarizing the commutativity results for analogue linear time-varying systems, the commutativity of cascade connected discrete-time linear time-varying systems is introduced. Some general open questions on the subject are stated and new results are presented, intended to answer some of them. Two examples are given to reinforce the concept and to show up its possible benefits in engineering to reduce noise effects and design robust systems.
Consensus analysis for a class of mixed-order multi-agent systems with nonlinear consensus protocols
Authors: Feng Yuanzhen , Tu Xiaoming
Published: June 2014

The consensus problem for a class of mixed-order multi-agent systems is investigated in this paper, where the multi-agent system is composed of first- and second-order dynamic agents. Firstly, consensus protocols are proposed for solving the finite-time consensus problem for mixed-order multi-agent systems. By employing the finite-time stability theory and LaSalle’s invariance principle, some sufficient conditions for finite-time consensus are given for multi-agent systems with directed communication topologies. Then, a class of nonlinear consensus protocols are given to solve the asymptotic consensus problem for mixed-order multi-agent systems. In addition, an invariant quantity is introduced to specify the expressions of the final consensus states when asymptotic consensus is reached. Finally, a simulation example is provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the theoretical results.
Semi-global finite-time stabilization of uncertain nonholonomic systems via output feedback
Authors: Gao Fangzheng , Wu Yuqiang , Yuan Fushun
Published: June 2014

This paper investigates the problem of semi-global finite-time stabilization by output feedback for a class of nonholonomic systems with both high-order and low-order nonlinearities. By using the homogeneous domination approach, a constructive design procedure for output feedback control is given. Together with a switching control scheme, the designed controller renders that the states of a closed-loop system are semi-globally regulated to zero in a finite time. A simulation example is provided to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Sliding mode control design for robust regulation of time-delay processes
Authors: Musmade BB , Patre BM
Published: June 2014

This paper presents a new method for the robust control of time-delay processes using sliding mode control. In this approach an identified second-order-plus-deadtime model and state predictor are used for the sliding mode controller synthesis. To ensure the stability, the tuning parameters of switching control law are derived from the reachability condition. To test the applicability of the proposed approach, it was verified on processes having varying dynamics with deadtime. Simulations show that the proposed method is able to provide promising results compared to existing methods.
An online optimal linear state feedback controller based on MLS approximations and a novel straightforward PSO algorithm
Authors: Mahmoodabadi Mohammad Javad , Bisheban Mahdis
Published: June 2014

Selection of control parameters is an important issue in the field of control design. This selection depends on the initial condition of the systems. On the other hand, controller parameters should be adjusted under all initial conditions to reach the optimal performance. To overcome this problem, in this paper, an online optimal linear state feedback control is introduced. Firstly, a straightforward particle swarm optimization is used to optimize the state feedback control parameters under some certain initial conditions. Then, in order to adapt the optimal controller to different initial conditions, the moving least squares approximation is used. The proposed technique is applied to an inverted pendulum system. The feasibility and efficiency of the proposed controller are assessed in simulation results.
Public administration education in Europe
Authors: Hajnal Gyorgy
Published: June 2014

The article explores the changing patterns of disciplinary orientation in European public administration (PA) education. The study builds on an earlier research, which defined three distinct clusters of countries, based on their specific PA education tradition. It asks whether countries’ movement away from the Legalist paradigm has continued since then and if yes, what were the factors triggering the shift and towards which cluster: corporate or public. The empirical basis of the article is a small-scale expert survey involving ten European countries. The key finding of the research is that since the early 2000s the geographical scope of Legalism in PA teaching has shrunk further with a number of formerly more Legalist-based countries having moved towards at least one of the two alternative clusters. These changes can be attributed to the demonstration effect of the international PA education field and a shift in actual needs triggered by domestic reforms. However, some countries in the response set – notably, Germany and Hungary – seem to remain largely unaffected by these trends and continue on an overwhelmingly Legalist PA education path.
Relationship Between Triglyceride Tolerance, Body Mass Index, and Fat Depots in Hospitalized Patients Receiving Parenteral Nutrition
Authors: Frazee Erin N. , Nystrom Erin M. , McMahon M. Molly , Williamson Eric E. , Miles John M.
Published: June 2014

Background: Hypertriglyceridemia has been associated with adverse outcomes in patients receiving intravenous fat emulsions (IVFEs), but little is known about its prevalence and causes. Materials and Methods: The study investigated whether a relationship exists between body mass index (BMI) and triglyceride tolerance in parenterally fed patients. We conducted a retrospective analysis of 287 adults receiving parenteral nutrition to determine whether patients with very low BMI (VLBMI, <16 kg/m2) tolerate IVFEs better than do patients with low BMI (LBMI, 16–18.4 kg/m2), normal‐weight patients (NBMI, 18.5–24.9 kg/m2), and overweight/obese patients (HBMI, ≥25 kg/m2). Results: The median triglyceride concentration during IVFE was significantly lower in VLBMI patients at 107 mg/dL compared with 124 mg/dL in non‐VLBMI patients (P = .016), despite higher lipid infusion rates in the VLBMI group. There was a significant association between triglycerides and BMI in the aggregate cohort (R = 0.2375, P < .0001), with the highest frequency of hypertriglyceridemia occurring in HBMI patients despite relatively lower lipid and energy supply. In a subset of VLBMI patients (n = 36) who had an abdominal computed tomography scan, there was 25‐ to 100‐fold variability in the size of the abdominal adipose tissue depots. In this subgroup, triglyceride concentrations correlated with visceral fat but not subcutaneous abdominal fat. Conclusions: In summary, patients with VLBMI have lower triglyceride concentrations during IVFEs than do other individuals, but there is considerable variability in triglycerides and body fat in this group. Caution should be employed with the use of IVFEs, especially in HBMI patients.
An empirical study on the evaluation of interlinking tools on the Web of Data
Authors: Rajabi Enayat , Sicilia Miguel-Angel , Sanchez-Alonso Salvador
Published: June 2014

The rise and widespread use of Linked Data has encouraged data providers to publish and link their content in order to classify and organize information in a useful fashion. Interlinking between datasets enhances data navigation and facilitates searching. As a result, the use of interlinking tools as a way of connecting data items to the Linked Open Data cloud has become more prevalent. In this paper, we examine the results obtained by three interlinking tools used to link a large educational collection to the Linked Open Data datasets. The generated output by the interlinking tools, which was later assessed by human experts, illustrates that data publishers can rely on current interlinking approaches and thus adopt them to connect their resources to the Web of Data. Our findings also provide evidence that two of these tools, namely Silk and LIMES, can be considered as the most promising.
Exploring the determinants of cross-boundary information sharing in the public sector: An e-Government case study in Taiwan
Authors: Yang Tung-Mou , Wu Yi-Jung
Published: June 2014

This paper explores the complexity of cross-boundary information sharing in the public sector. In particular, determinants influencing interagency information sharing are investigated and discussed, and a case study of Taiwan e-Government is employed. Four perspectives, including technology, organization, legislation and policy, and environment, are used to conduct this exploratory inquiry. Legislation and policy is found to be the most influential factor among government agencies participating in information-sharing initiatives. Organizational factors are also found to be significant, but less so than legislation and policy. Technological factors are considered relatively more easily addressed when compared with legislation and policy and organizational factors. Finally, situational factors are also found to have respective impacts on interagency information sharing. In addition to factors that are discussed in the current literature, newly identified factors are illustrated to provide insights. Moreover, in order to better conceptualize how identified factors determine agencies’ intentions towards cross-boundary information sharing, theory of planned behaviour is used to form a theoretical discussion by integrating the identified factors of the study. Practical implications are also provided to address how cross-boundary information sharing among government agencies can be better achieved. Lastly, the conclusion outlines the contributions and limitations of this research and suggests future studies related to the current work.
ADM-LDA: An aspect detection model based on topic modelling using the structure of review sentences
Authors: Bagheri Ayoub , Saraee Mohamad , de Jong Franciska
Published: June 2014

Probabilistic topic models are statistical methods whose aim is to discover the latent structure in a large collection of documents. The intuition behind topic models is that, by generating documents by latent topics, the word distribution for each topic can be modelled and the prior distribution over the topic learned. In this paper we propose to apply this concept by modelling the topics of sentences for the aspect detection problem in review documents in order to improve sentiment analysis systems. Aspect detection in sentiment analysis helps customers effectively navigate into detailed information about their features of interest. The proposed approach assumes that the aspects of words in a sentence form a Markov chain. The novelty of the model is the extraction of multiword aspects from text data while relaxing the bag-of-words assumption. Experimental results show that the model is indeed able to perform the task significantly better when compared with standard topic models.
In defense of transcendental institutionalism
Authors: Gledhill James
Published: June 2014

What do we want from a theory of justice? Amartya Sen argues that what we should not want is to follow the social contract approach revived by John Rawls, or transcendental institutionalism, in its preoccupation with perfectly just institutions. Sen makes an effective case against approaches, such as G. A. Cohen’s, concerned with transcendent, fact-independent principles of justice, but not against Rawls’ constructivist approach to justice when this is properly interpreted as making a weak transcendental argument. Situating Rawls’ approach within the tradition of the liberalism of freedom provides a basis for interpreting his Kantian constructivism as a form of transcendental institutionalism, and for revealing the affinities between Rawls’ idea of reflective equilibrium and Jürgen Habermas’ method of rational reconstruction. Such a Kantian conception of justice, concerned with constituting relations of equal liberty between free and equal citizens, remains essential for orienting our pursuit of justice.
Impacts of an in-service education program on promoting language development in young children: A pilot study with early childhood educators
Authors: Scarinci Nerina , Rose Tanya , Pee Jerrine , Webb Kylie
Published: June 2014

Early childhood educators (ECEs) play an important role in fostering language development in young children. In-service education, led by speech-language pathologists (SLPs), has a potential role in educating ECEs about language development. In this pilot study, 42 ECEs attended an in-service education program and completed pre- and post-questionnaires to explore their perceptions of the impact of the in-service on their knowledge of child language development and language-promoting strategies and their confidence in this knowledge. To explore ECEs’ actual use of strategies, five ECEs also participated in pre- and post-video recordings of their interactions with children. ECEs’ knowledge of language development and language-promoting strategies increased post-program. Confidence in this knowledge and awareness of their roles also increased. Although not statistically significant, video recordings captured an overall increase in ECEs use of seven of the eleven rated language-promoting strategies. This pilot study has highlighted potential benefits of SLP-led education programs for ECEs, which is promising given the important role of ECEs in facilitating child language development.
Institutional asymmetry: How formal and informal institutions affect entrepreneurship in Bulgaria
Authors: Williams Nick , Vorley Tim
Published: June 2014

This article critically analyses how the institutional environment influences the development of entrepreneurship in Bulgaria. Drawing on in-depth interviews with Bulgarian entrepreneurs an ‘institutional asymmetry’ between formal and informal institutions is identified which hampers the development of economically and socially productive entrepreneurship. Despite reforms to formal institutions in Bulgaria, the asymmetry persists as a result of informal institutions which serve to hamper entrepreneurship. In order to reduce this asymmetry, there is a need to develop and align formal and informal institutions, while recognising that such institutional reforms are, by their nature, long-term and may potentially be undermined by entrepreneurs engaging in informal and corrupt activities.
Effects of acute alcohol consumption and processing of emotion in faces: Implications for understanding alcohol-related aggression
Authors: Attwood Angela S , Munafò Marcus R
Published: June 2014

The negative consequences of chronic alcohol abuse are well known, but heavy episodic consumption (“binge drinking”) is also associated with significant personal and societal harms. Aggressive tendencies are increased after alcohol but the mechanisms underlying these changes are not fully understood. While effects on behavioural control are likely to be important, other effects may be involved given the widespread action of alcohol. Altered processing of social signals is associated with changes in social behaviours, including aggression, but until recently there has been little research investigating the effects of acute alcohol consumption on these outcomes. Recent work investigating the effects of acute alcohol on emotional face processing has suggested reduced sensitivity to submissive signals (sad faces) and increased perceptual bias towards provocative signals (angry faces) after alcohol consumption, which may play a role in alcohol-related aggression.

Here we discuss a putative mechanism that may explain how alcohol consumption influences emotional processing and subsequent aggressive responding, via disruption of orbitofrontal cortex (OFC)-amygdala connectivity. While the importance of emotional processing on social behaviours is well established, research into acute alcohol consumption and emotional processing is still in its infancy. Further research is needed and we outline a research agenda to address gaps in the literature.
The use of magnetoencephalography in the study of psychopharmacology (pharmaco-MEG)
Authors: Muthukumaraswamy Suresh D
Published: June 2014

Magnetoencephalography (MEG) is a neuroimaging technique that allows direct measurement of the magnetic fields generated by synchronised ionic neural currents in the brain with moderately good spatial resolution and high temporal resolution. Because chemical neuromodulation can cause changes in neuronal processing on the millisecond time-scale, the combination of MEG with pharmacological interventions (pharmaco-MEG) is a powerful tool for measuring the effects of experimental modulations of neurotransmission in the living human brain. Importantly, pharmaco-MEG can be used in both healthy humans to understand normal brain function and in patients to understand brain pathologies and drug-treatment effects. In this paper, the physiological and technical basis of pharmaco-MEG is introduced and contrasted with other pharmacological neuroimaging techniques. Ongoing developments in MEG analysis techniques such as source-localisation, functional and effective connectivity analyses, which have allowed for more powerful inferences to be made with recent pharmaco-MEG data, are described. Studies which have utilised pharmaco-MEG across a range of neurotransmitter systems (GABA, glutamate, acetylcholine, dopamine and serotonin) are reviewed.
Neuropsychological performance of methadone-maintained opiate users
Authors: Wang Grace Y , Wouldes Trecia A , Kydd Rob , Jensen Maree , Russell Bruce R
Published: June 2014

Methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) has been used to treat opiate dependence since the mid-1960s. Previous studies have investigated the effects of methadone on cognitive function however the findings have been inconsistent. Some report a complete absence of deficits while others report different types of cognitive impairment. Our research aimed to investigate the effects of MMT on cognitive function by comparing the performance of patients currently enrolled in MMT ( n=32) with opiate-dependent subjects ( n=17) and healthy control subjects ( n=25) on a computerised neuropsychological test battery. Both the patients undertaking MMT and the opiate users showed less efficient interaction between visual searching and manually connecting digits and letters during the Switching of Attention Task than the healthy control subjects ( F(2,64)=3.25, p=0.05), which indicates deficits in information processing. Nevertheless, the performance of the MMT group was similar to that of healthy control subjects in all other tasks, in contrast to the group of opiate users who performed poorly when compared to healthy control subjects during tests of attention (mean difference (MD)=2.8, 95% confidence interval (CI) (0.9–4.7), p=0.001) and executive function (MD=5.9, 95% CI (1.3–10.5), p=0.007). These findings suggest that cognitive function in patients undertaking MMT is improved compared to those dependent on illicit opiates.
Administrative Character
Authors: Newswander Chad B.
Published: June 2014

Managerial competence expressed in the promise of science provides administrators with a set of dispositions. In attempting to achieve such a character, the Supreme Court set up a hard look orientation that used rational means to justify the substance of administrative power. Even though this mode of operation grants legitimacy resulting from meeting a high threshold, it also began to cripple administrative reasoning and movement. When problems are multifaceted, administrative character must be given room to explore. Taking this into consideration, the court also established an alternative space rooted in a soft look that encouraged a different type of administrative character. It has done this by establishing the foundations of a legal framework that privileges deference, which allows for prudence to emerge. Rooted in classical origin and updated in modern parlance, prudence can be leveraged as a way to not only deal with questions of law but also with substance.
On mutual information-based control of range sensing robots for mapping applications
Authors: Julian Brian J. , Karaman Sertac , Rus Daniela
Published: June 2014

In this paper we examine the correlation between the information content and the spatial realization of range measurements taken by a mapping robot. To do so, we consider the task of constructing an occupancy grid map with a binary Bayesian filter. Using a beam-based sensor model (versus an additive white Gaussian noise model), we prove that any controller tasked to maximize a mutual information reward function is eventually attracted to unexplored space. This intuitive behavior is derived solely from the geometric dependencies of the occupancy grid mapping algorithm and the monotonic properties of mutual information. Since it is dependent on both the robot’s position and the uncertainty of the surrounding cells, mutual information encodes geometric relationships that are fundamental to robot control, thus yielding geometrically relevant reward surfaces on which the robot can navigate. We also provide an algorithmic implementation for computing mutual information and show that its worst-case time and space complexities are quadratic and linear, respectively, with respect to the map’s spatial resolution. Lastly, we present the results of experiments employing an omnidirectional ground robot equipped with a laser range finder. Our experimental results support our theoretical and computational findings.
Phenomenology and City Planning
Authors: Whittemore Andrew H.
Published: June 2014

Finding an ideal procedure for planning has always preoccupied theorists. The urgency of this task arguably has increased as imperatives and participants have diversified over the last half-century. Theorists have often advocated the communicative model of Jürgen Habermas in this period. This article investigates the theoretical shortcomings of communicative theory in planning and postulates the possible contributions of a phenomenological approach in especially complex planning situations. It also reviews past instances in which a phenomenological approach has been useful and suggests some contemporary episodes in which it could prove useful again.
The Role of Gender, Values, and Culture in Adolescent Bystanders’ Strategies
Authors: Tamm Anni , Tulviste Tiia
Published: June 2014

We examined the relationship between adolescent bystanders’ strategies for intervening in the bullying-like situation and their gender, values, and cultural origin. The sample consisted of 682 Estonian and Russian-Estonian adolescents ( Mage = 13.02 years). They were shown a video of a bullying-like situation with a non-intervening adult bystander and asked to describe what they would do if they, instead of the adult, witnessed that situation. Only 10% said that they would not intervene. Girls were more likely than boys to suggest multiple actions. Adolescents who valued conformity were less likely to propose using physical aggression. Doing nothing was less likely suggested by those who placed more importance on conformity and less on power. Estonian adolescents were more likely than their Russian-Estonian peers to suggest finding out what is going on, and less likely to say that they would do nothing. The findings suggest that although most adolescents express willingness to help the victim, they might not actually know how to intervene.
Women’s Perspectives on the Context of Violence and Role of Police in Their Intimate Partner Violence Arrest Experiences
Authors: Li Simiao , Levick Ani , Eichman Adelaide , Chang Judy C.
Published: June 2014

Intimate partner violence (IPV) accounts for up to 50% of all calls to police. In an effort to standardize arrest criteria, mandatory arrest laws were established. It is unclear whether subsequent increased rates of female arrest are due to greater recognition of female IPV perpetrators or of women acting in self-defense. This study aims to understand the context and consequences of IPV-related arrest from perspectives of women arrested in a single metropolitan area. Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with women arrested and court-ordered to attend IPV education groups at a women’s shelter in the Northeast United States. Interviews addressed circumstances surrounding arrest, experience with past violence, and reasoning regarding use of partner violence. Two researchers independently coded transcripts and met to iteratively refine the code and review transcripts for themes. Eighteen women were interviewed. Major themes that emerged were as follows: (a) Women’s use of violence occurred within the context of their own victimization; (b) the arrest included a complex interplay between subject, partner, and police; (c) women perceived police arrest decisions to be based on a limited understanding of context; and (d) women experienced both positive and negative consequences of arrest. Many relationships did not fall under the traditional victim/perpetrator construct. Rather, women’s use of violence evolved, influenced by prior experiences with violence. More appropriate methods must be developed for making arrest decisions, guiding justice system responses, and developing interventions for couples experiencing IPV. Recognition that women’s use of partner violence often represented either a retaliatory or self-defensive gesture within the context of prior victimization suggests that victims’ interventions should not only focus on empowerment but also provide skills and strategies to avoid temptation to adopt aggression as a primary method of self-protection.
Emotion Dysregulation and Drinking to Cope as Predictors and Consequences of Alcohol-Involved Sexual Assault
Authors: Messman-Moore Terri , Ward Rose Marie , Zerubavel Noga , Chandley Rachel B. , Barton Sarah N.
Published: June 2014

The present study examined emotion dysregulation, coping drinking motives, and alcohol-related problems as predictors and consequences of alcohol-involved sexual assault (AISA). A convenience sample of 424 college women completed confidential surveys on paper and online. Data were collected at baseline (T1), weekly for 10 weeks (T2-10), and at 1 year (T11). The cross-sectional and longitudinal associations among variables were examined in a cross-lagged panel model. Within each time point, all variables were correlated. Drinking to cope and emotion dysregulation predicted AISA in the short term (within 10 weeks), alcohol problems increased risk for AISA in the long term (within 1 year), and AISA history predicted AISA revictimization regardless of time frame. Drinking to cope and alcohol-related problems predicted future victimization, but their impact seems to fluctuate over time. Coping drinking motives were both a predictor and consequence of AISA, suggesting a cyclical pattern. However, additional analyses indicated that coping drinking motives and alcohol problems might act as suppressors in the model. Overall, findings indicate that interventions focused on improving emotion regulation skills may decrease short-term risk for AISA.