bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Chapter 7. Pictorial narrativity
Authors: Schöttler Tobias
Published: February 2016

Narrativity is commonly understood as a predominantly temporal concept. In the case of verbal narration, the telling (‘discours’) is a temporally structured process and the told (‘histoire’) can be described as a sequence of events ordered in time. Whether or not there is such a thing as ‘pictorial narrativity’ is, in consequence, the subject of controversial debate. The static character of the classical panel painting is at odds with the temporality of narrativity. Due to their static character, pictures can only represent one single moment (punctum temporis); therefore, they cannot present complete actions or a series of events. Both the critics and the defenders of pictorial narrativity usually refer to Gotthold Ephraim Lessing’s characterization of the pictorial medium (distinguished from the linguistic medium), which he gives in his Laocoon (Lessing 1853 [1766]: 101f.). Against this background, the defenders either dilute the definition of ‘narrativity’ (with the result that temporality is no longer a necessary condition for narrativity), or they fall back on picture series or other genres of pictures which can depict several phases of a story. This chapter, however, shows that Lessing’s reinterpretation of the presented moment as ‘fruitful’ or ‘pregnant’ reveals a different strategy to defend the possibility of pictorial narrativity. The presented moment enables us to infer the whole action of which the picture shows just a snippet. In this way, the observer transcends the intrinsically incomplete representation and (re-)constructs the whole action. By broadening Lessing’s approach, we can see that the same holds true for verbal narratives (as the paradigmatic case for narrativity). Verbal narratives do not present the whole story, either, but have to be completed by the reader.
The aorist and the perfect in Albanian*
Authors: Duchet Jean-Louis , Përnaska Remzi
Published: February 2016

The Albanian aorist may refer to a complete accomplishment of a process in the past but also to the accomplishment of a recent process (just like the perfect); it also expresses future reference, condition, and is the tense of maxims (gnomic aorist). Although the perfect has mainly the typical function of a resultative, it is to some extent compatible with definite markers of time. It also has a secondary metalinguistic function. The two tenses are in complementary distribution in narratives and discourse, and, rather than partially replacing the aorist, the perfect has its own development alongside the aorist which retains most of its original functions.
The aorist in Modern Armenian
Authors: Donabedian Anaid
Published: February 2016

With a remarkably stable morphology since Classical Armenian, the aorist has a very special place in the TMA system of Modern Armenian: since all tenses need either a particle or an auxiliary to be actualized, the aorist is the only synthetic, self-actualized form. The aim of this paper is to account for the variety of contextual meanings that the Armenian aorist can display, refuting generalizations previously made by grammarians and typologists. Foregrounding enunciative criteria (following A. Culioli) rather than referential ones (durativity, temporal meaning, chaining of events, etc.), we identify three parameters able to explain the specificity of the aorist in Modern Armenian with regard to other tenses, and with regard to the aorist in other Indo-European languages.
The aorist in Berber
Authors: Galand Lionel
Published: February 2016

The Berber verbal system is based on three tenses: aorist, perfective and imperfective. Historically, the latter is derived from the aorist and takes no part in the aspectual opposition. It is used either alone or with a particle. Alone, it only conveys the basic meaning of the verb, provided that the aspect is expressed by a verb, by the context, or by the situation. It can also take on a modal meaning. The use of a particle (often ad) explicitly endows it with this modal meaning and may render a future. Cross dialectal comparison shows that globally the aorist without a particle is in decline. With a particle, it is found in all dialects.
The future tenses in the Tibetic languages
Authors: Tournadre Nicolas
Published: February 2016

In this paper, I will present the various types of futures in the Tibetic languages and their relationship to other tenses, aspects and modalities. Tibetic languages constitute a compact family of languages derived from Old Tibetan spoken in six countries (China, India, Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan and Myanmar). These languages usually have a wide range of “future tenses”. There is generally a distinction between Realis and Irrealis types of futures as well as a pervasive distinction between Intentional and non-Intentional Futures. Tibetic languages have a rich inventory of forms expressing various epistemic and evidential values in the context of future. Finally, I will examine a number of specific types of futures such as Benefactive, Warning or Autolalic futures which are found in some Tibetic languages.
Chapter 4. Towards a Speech Rhythm-Based Reading Intervention
Authors: Harrison Emily , Wood Clare
Published: February 2016

The purpose of this chapter is to review ‘traditional’ approaches to reading interventions alongside experimental work which has devised tasks for the assessment of speech rhythm in different age groups. The chapter reflects on how to take the best of these tasks and intervention formats and combine them into a potential model for speech rhythm-based reading intervention. The chapter reviews the phonological deficit hypothesis before detailing reading interventions linked to this hypothesis and found to be effective in raising attainment in reading. It then reviews the methodologies and findings of studies looking at speech rhythm and its contribution to reading processes. This chapter proposes that tasks used to assess speech rhythm sensitivity could usefully be adapted and used in the context of early intervention.
Chapter 6. Speech Rhythm and Temporal Structure
Authors: Goswami Usha , Leong Victoria
Published: February 2016

In this chapter, we present data from phonological processing in developmental dyslexia. We suggest that dyslexia data can offer a novel yet converging perspective on temporal structure and speech rhythm. The dyslexia data addresses the acoustic basis of rhythm perception and of rhythmic synchronisation, considering the potential role of the amplitude modulation (AM) structure of the speech envelope. We argue that a consideration of the perceptual effects of the rise times in the amplitude envelope and the phase relations between different temporal rates of AM may be theoretically productive. Recent work in auditory neuroscience suggests that amplitude modulation is also important for the neural entrainment of oscillatory neuronal networks, which play a role in speech encoding.
Chapter 10. Cross-Linguistic Evidence for Probabilistic Orthographic Cues to Lexical Stress
Authors: Monaghan Padraic , Arciuli Joanne , Seva Nada
Published: February 2016

Reading a word requires converting symbols to a phonetic sequence but also determining the stress position of that word. In this chapter, we analysed corpora of English, Dutch, German, Italian, Spanish, and Greek to determine whether sublexical probabilistic information from the very beginnings and endings of words provided sufficient information to determine stress patterns. We found that such information was sufficient to accurately determine stress positions. However, languages varied as to whether beginnings or endings were more informative. Furthermore, the extent to which stress patterns were regular within each language related to the reliability of the sublexical cues to stress position. The analyses show that stress does not have to be stored at the lexical level to support pronunciation.
Chapter 12. Prosodic Skills and Literacy Acquisition in Spanish
Authors: Gutiérrez-Palma Nicolás , Defior Silvia , Calet Nuria
Published: February 2016

In the acquisition of literacy skills, children have to learn how to use the prosodic marks included in the written script, as prosody is necessary for reading and writing. In this chapter we review the main Spanish suprasegmental elements and how they are represented on the script. We also review the main studies regarding prosodic skills in Spanish and their relationships to literacy acquisition, as well as some prosody training studies. We propose that stress sensitivity, both lexical and metrical, may be related to Spanish literacy acquisition. Moreover, we argue that prosodic reading, or reading with expressiveness, may improve reading comprehension.
The Role of Functions in Syntax
Authors: Frajzyngier Zygmunt , Shay Erin
Published: February 2016

The main aim of this book is to address a fundamental question in linguistics, namely why languages are similar and why they are different. The study proposes that languages are fundamentally similar when they encode the same meanings in their grammatical systems and that languages are different when they encode different meanings. Even if languages encode the same meaning, they may differ with respect to the formal means used to code those meanings. This approach allows for a typology based on functional domains, subdomains and functions coded in individual languages. The outcome of the study is a unified approach to language theory, linguistic typology, and descriptive linguistics. The argumentation for the hypotheses and the proposed approach is supported by analyses of data from more than a dozen languages, including English, Polish, French, Wandala, Mina, Hdi, and several other Chadic languages. The study is accessible to a wide variety of linguists.
Angular Leaf Spot of Cucurbits is Associated With Genetically DiversePseudomonas syringaeStrains
Authors: Newberry E. A. , Jardini T. M. , Rubio I. , Roberts P. D. , Babu B. , Koike S. T. , Bouzar H. , Goss E. M. , Jones J. B. , Bull C. T. , Paret M. L.
Published: February 2016

Angular leaf spot of cucurbits is generally considered to be caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. lachrymans. It has a worldwide distribution and has been observed to emerge sporadically under humid and wet conditions. Reports of multiple P. syringae pathovars associated with the disease and lack of molecular analysis has left the true diversity of populations in the United States unclear. In this study, we collected 27 P. syringae strains causing foliar lesions and blighting on watermelon, cantaloupe, and squash in Florida, Georgia, and California over several years. Strains were fluorescent on King’s medium B agar and displayed the typical phenotypic and biochemical characteristics of P. syringae. P. syringae pv. lachrymans is a member of genomospecies 2. However, the genetic profiles obtained through both MLSA (gyrB, rpoD, gapA, and gltA) and BOX-PCR (BOXA1R) identified 26 of the P. syringae strains to be distributed among three clades within genomospecies 1, and phylogenetically distinct from genomospecies 2 member P. syringae pv. lachrymans. A novel MLSA haplotype of the pathogen common to all states and cucurbit hosts was identified. Considerable genetic diversity among P. syringae strains infecting cucurbits is associated with the same disease, and reflects the larger ecological diversity of P. syringae populations from genomospecies 1.
Time Course of Carbendazim Stimulation on Pathogenicity ofSclerotinia sclerotiorumIndicates a Direct Stimulation Mechanism
Authors: Di Ya-Li , Lu Xiao-Ming , Zhu Zu-Qing , Zhu Fu-Xing
Published: February 2016

Previous studies have demonstrated that subtoxic doses of carbendazim have a stimulatory effect on pathogenicity of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum on rapeseed plants. The present study focused on the time-course profile of the stimulatory effect and its relevance to stimulation mechanisms. At 12 h postinoculation (HPI), initial necrotic lesions were visible only for rapeseed leaves treated with carbendazim at 0.2 and 1 μg/ml, whereas no disease symptoms were observed for the nontreated control. At 18 HPI, carbendazim stimulation on pathogenicity was more obvious than at 12 HPI. Study with scanning electron microscopy demonstrated that no discernable differences in the development of disease symptoms could be detected at 8 HPI. However, at 12 HPI, necrotic symptoms of the epidermal cells were apparent only for leaves sprayed with carbendazim. These results indicated that stimulations on pathogenicity occurred in the first 12 h, implying that direct stimulation rather than overcompensation to the disruption of homeostasis was likely to be the underlying mechanism for pathogenicity stimulation. Greenhouse experiments showed that spraying carbendazim at 400 μg/ml on potted rapeseed plants had statistically significant (P < 0.05) stimulations on pathogenicity for inoculations at 1, 3, 5, and 7 days after application (DAA). The stimulation action eventually disappeared for inoculations at 14 DAA. Mycelia grown on potato dextrose agar (PDA) supplemented with carbendazim at 400 μg/ml were more pathogenic than the nontreated control. However, after additional growth of the mycelia on fungicide-free PDA for 2 days, the stimulatory effect disappeared completely, indicating that carbendazim was indispensable for pathogenicity stimulations. Studies on biochemical mechanisms indicated that cell-wall-degrading enzymes such as cellulase, pectinase, and polygalacturonase were not involved in pathogenicity stimulations. These results will advance our understanding of the nature and mechanisms of fungicide stimulation on fungal pathogenicity and, thus, are valuable for judicious applications of fungicides.
Bayesian estimates of male and female African lion mortality for future use in population management
Authors: Barthold Julia A. , Loveridge Andrew J. , Macdonald David W. , Packer Craig , Colchero Fernando
Published: February 2016

The global population size of African lions is plummeting, and many small fragmented populations face local extinction. Extinction risks are amplified through the common practice of trophy hunting for males, which makes setting sustainable hunting quotas a vital task.

Various demographic models evaluate consequences of hunting on lion population growth. However, none of the models use unbiased estimates of male age‐specific mortality because such estimates do not exist. Until now, estimating mortality from resighting records of marked males has been impossible due to the uncertain fates of disappeared individuals: dispersal or death.

We develop a new method and infer mortality for male and female lions from two populations that are typical with respect to their experienced levels of human impact.

We found that mortality of both sexes differed between the populations and that males had higher mortality across all ages in both populations. We discuss the role that different drivers of lion mortality may play in explaining these differences and whether their effects need to be included in lion demographic models.

Synthesis and applications. Our mortality estimates can be used to improve lion population management and, in addition, the mortality model itself has potential applications in demographically informed approaches to the conservation of species with sex‐biased dispersal.
Antimicrobial resistance in wildlife
Authors: Vittecoq Marion , Godreuil Sylvain , Prugnolle Franck , Durand Patrick , Brazier Lionel , Renaud Nicolas , Arnal Audrey , Aberkane Salim , Jean‐Pierre Hélène , Gauthier‐Clerc Michel , Thomas Frédéric , Renaud François
Published: February 2016

The spread of antimicrobial resistance is of major concern for human health and leads to growing economic costs. While it is increasingly hypothesized that wildlife could play an important role in antimicrobial‐resistant bacteria dynamics, empirical data remain scarce.

The present work builds on a systematic review of the available data in order to highlight the main information we have and to suggest research pathways that should be followed if we aim to fill the gaps in our current knowledge.

To achieve this goal, we address four questions: (i) Which resistant bacteria are the most frequently observed in wildlife? (ii) How are resistant bacteria exchanged between wildlife and the other hosts involved? (iii) In which habitats are those resistant bacteria found? (iv) Are resistances associated with certain ecological traits of the host?

Synthesis and applications. We highlight the strong link existing between the impact of human activities on natural habitats and the carriage of antimicrobial‐resistant bacteria by wildlife. Furthermore, we underline that omnivorous, anthropophilic and carnivorous species are at high risk of being carriers and potentially spreaders of antimicrobial‐resistant bacteria. Identifying among those groups key sentinel species may be of particular interest to implement ecosystem contamination surveillance. Finally, we discuss possible exchange routes for antimicrobial‐resistant bacteria between humans and wildlife. Considering that water is of major importance in those exchanges, a critical way to control antimicrobial resistance spread may be to limit aquatic environment contamination by antimicrobial‐resistant bacteria and antibiotics.
Advancing environmentally explicit structured population models of plants
Authors: Ehrlén Johan , Morris William F. , von Euler Tove , Dahlgren Johan P.
Published: February 2016

The relationship between the performance of individuals and the surrounding environment is fundamental in ecology and evolutionary biology. Assessing how abiotic and biotic environmental factors influence demographic processes is necessary to understand and predict population dynamics, as well as species distributions and abundances.

We searched the literature for studies that have linked abiotic and biotic environmental factors to vital rates and, using structured demographic models, population growth rates of plants.

We found 136 studies that had examined the environmental drivers of plant demography. The number of studies has been increasing rapidly in recent years. Based on the reviewed studies, we identify and discuss several major gaps in our knowledge of environmentally driven demography of plants. We argue that some drivers may have been underexplored and that the full potential of spatially and temporally replicated studies may not have been realized.

We also stress the need to employ relevant statistical methods and experiments to correctly identify drivers. Moreover, assessments of the relationship between drivers and vital rates need to consider interactive, nonlinear and indirect effects, as well as effects of intraspecific density dependence.

Synthesis. Much progress has already been made by using structured population models to link the performance of individuals to the surrounding environment. However, by improving the design and analyses of future studies, we can substantially increase our ability to predict changes in plant population dynamics, abundances and distributions in response to changes in specific environmental drivers. Future environmentally explicit demographic models should also address how genetic changes prompted by selection imposed by environmental changes will alter population trajectories in the face of continued environmental change and investigate the reciprocal feedback between plants and their biotic drivers.
Transients drive the demographic dynamics of plant populations in variable environments
Authors: McDonald Jenni L. , Stott Iain , Townley Stuart , Hodgson Dave J.
Published: February 2016

The dynamics of structured plant populations in variable environments can be decomposed into the ‘asymptotic’ growth contributed by vital rates, and ‘transient’ growth caused by deviation from stable stage structure.

We apply this framework to a large, global data base of longitudinal studies of projection matrix models for plant populations. We ask, what is the relative contribution of transient boom and bust to the dynamic trajectories of plant populations in stochastic environments? Is this contribution patterned by phylogeny, growth form or the number of life stages per population and per species?

We show that transients contribute nearly 50% or more to the resulting trajectories, depending on whether transient and stable contributions are partitioned according to their absolute or net contribution to population dynamics.

Both transient contributions and asymptotic contributions are influenced heavily by the number of life stages modelled. We discuss whether the drivers of transients should be considered real ecological phenomena, or artefacts of study design and modelling strategy. We find no evidence for phylogenetic signal in the contribution of transients to stochastic growth, nor clear patterns related to growth form. We find a surprising tendency for plant populations to boom rather than bust in response to temporal changes in vital rates and that stochastic growth rates increase with increasing tendency to boom.

Synthesis. Transient dynamics contribute significantly to stochastic population dynamics but are often overlooked in ecological and evolutionary studies that employ stochastic analyses. Better understanding of transient responses to fluctuating population structure will yield better management strategies for plant populations, and better grasp of evolutionary dynamics in the real world.
An Examination of Hospital Nurse Staffing and Patient Experience with Care: Differences between Cross‐Sectional and Longitudinal Estimates
Authors: Martsolf Grant R. , Gibson Teresa B. , Benevent Richele , Jiang H. Joanna , Stocks Carol , Ehrlich Emily D. , Kandrack Ryan , Auerbach David I.
Published: February 2016

Objective

To study the association between hospital nurse staffing and Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) scores.

Data Sources

State hospital financial and utilization reports, Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project State Inpatient Databases, HCAHPS survey, and American Hospital Association Annual Survey of Hospitals.

Study Design

Retrospective study using cross‐sectional and longitudinal models to estimate the effect of nurse staffing levels and skill mix on seven HCAHPS measures.

Data Collection/Extraction Methods

Hospital‐level data measuring nurse staffing, patient experience, and hospital characteristics from 2009 to 2011 for 341 hospitals (977 hospital years) in California, Maryland, and Nevada.

Principal Findings

Nurse staffing level (i.e., number of licensed practical nurses and registered nurses per 1,000 inpatient days) was significantly and positively associated with all seven HCAHPS measures in cross‐sectional models and three of seven measures in longitudinal models. Nursing skill mix (i.e., percentage of all staff who are registered nurses) was significantly and negatively associated with scores on one measure in cross‐sectional models and none in longitudinal models.

Conclusions

After controlling for unobserved hospital characteristics, the positive influences of increased nurse staffing levels and skill mix were relatively small in size and limited to a few measures of patients' inpatient experience.
Rocuronium pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics in the adductor pollicis and masseter muscles
Authors: Vega E. A. , Ibacache M. E. , Anderson B. J. , Holford N. H. G. , Nazar C. E. , Solari S. , Allende F. A. , Cortínez L. I.
Published: February 2016

Background

The aim of this study was to characterize the dose–effect relationship of rocuronium at the adductor pollicis and masseter muscles.

Methods

Ten, ASA I, adult patients, received a bolus dose of rocuronium 0.3 mg/kg during propofol based anesthesia. Train‐of‐four (TOF) was simultaneously monitored at the masseter and the adductor pollicis muscles until recovery. Rocuronium arterial serum concentrations were measured during 120 min. The first twitch of the TOF response was used to characterize the time–effect profile of both muscles using pharmacokinetic–pharmacodynamic analysis in NONMEM. A decrease in NONMEM objective function (∆OFV) of 3.84 points for an added parameter was considered significant at the 0.05 level.

Results

Onset time at the masseter (mean ± SD, 1.5 ± 0.9 min) was faster than at the adductor pollicis (2.7 ± 1.4 min, P < 0.05). Recovery, measured as the time to TOF ratio = 0.9 was similar between muscles 29.9 ± 6.7 (adductor pollicis) vs. 29.3 ± 8.1 (masseter). (P = 0.77). The estimated pharmacodynamic parameters [mean (95% CI)] of the adductor pollicis muscle and the masseter muscle were; plasma effect‐site equilibration half‐time (teq) 3.25 (2.34, 3.69) min vs. 2.86 (1.83, 3.29) min, (∆OFV 383.665); Ce50 of 1.24 (1.13, 1.56) mg/l vs. 1.19 (1.00, 1.21) mg/l, (∆OFV 184.284); Hill coefficient of 3.97 (3.82, 5.62) vs. 4.68 (3.83, 5.71), (∆OFV 78.906).

Conclusions

We found that the masseter muscle has faster onset of blockade and similar recovery profile than adductor pollicis muscle. These findings were best, explained by a faster plasma effect‐site equilibration of the masseter muscle to rocuronium.
Brugada Phenocopy as a Dynamic Electrocardiographic Pattern during Acute Anterior Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Ferrando‐Castagnetto Federico , Garibaldi‐Remuñan A. , Vignolo G. , Ricca‐Mallada R. , Baranchuk A.
Published: February 2016

Brugada phenocopies represent some unusual clinical cases with identical characteristics to Brugada syndrome (BrS) elicited by various clinical circumstances. We report the case of a woman exhibiting “Brugada Phenocopy” during an acute anterior myocardial infarction, highlighting differential diagnosis with true BrS and discussing possible mechanisms underlying its dynamic ECG pattern.
Elevated Carboxyhaemoglobin Concentrations by Pulse CO‐Oximetry is Associated with Severe Aluminium Phosphide Poisoning
Authors: Mashayekhian Mohammad , Hassanian‐Moghaddam Hossein , Rahimi Mitra , Zamani Nasim , Aghabiklooei Abbas , Shadnia Shahin
Published: February 2016

In pulse CO‐oximetry of aluminium phosphide (ALP)‐poisoned patients, we discovered that carboxyhaemoglobin (CO‐Hb) level was elevated. We aimed to determine whether a higher CO level was detected in patients with severe ALP poisoning and if this could be used as a prognostic factor in these patients. In a prospective case–control study, 96 suspected cases of ALP poisoning were evaluated. In the ALP‐poisoned group, demographic characteristics, gastric and exhalation silver nitrate test results, average CO‐Hb saturation, methaemoglobin saturation, and blood pressure and blood gas analysis until death/discharge were recorded. Severely poisoned patients were defined as those with systolic blood pressure ≤80 mmHg, pH ≤7.2, or HCO3 ≤15 meq/L or those who died, while patients with minor poisoning were those without any of these signs/symptoms. A control group (37 patients) was taken from other medically ill patients to detect probable effects of hypotension and metabolic acidosis on CO‐Hb and methaemoglobin saturations. Of 96 patients, 27 died and 37 fulfilled the criteria for severe poisoning. All patients with carbon monoxide saturation >18% met the criteria to be included in the severe poisoning group and all with a SpCO >25% died. Concerning all significant variables in univariate analysis of severe ALP toxicity, the only significant variable which could independently predict death was carbon monoxide saturation. Due to high mortality rate and need for intensive care support, early prediction of outcome is vital for choosing an appropriate setting (ICU or ordinary ward). CO‐oximetry is a good diagnostic and prognostic factor in patients with ALP poisoning even before any clinical evidence of toxicity will develop.
Phytotherapeutic interventions in the management of biochemically recurrent prostate cancer: a systematic review of randomised trials
Authors: van Die Margaret Diana , Bone Kerry M. , Emery Jon , Williams Scott G. , Pirotta Marie V. , Paller Channing J.
Published: February 2016

Objective

To evaluate the evidence from randomised trials for the efficacy and safety of phytotherapeutic interventions in the management of biochemically recurrent (BCR) prostate cancer, indicated by prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) progression, numbers progressing to/time to initiation of androgen‐deprivation therapy or salvage therapy.

Patients and Methods

MEDLINE (Ovid), EMBASE (Ovid), AMED (Ovid), CINAHL (EBSCO) and the Cochrane Library databases were searched. Clinical trials investigating phytotherapeutic interventions as dietary supplements or dietary components, including multi‐component herbal formulations, in men with BCR prostate cancer were located. Eight of nine authors contacted for further information responded. Methodological quality was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration's risk of bias assessment tool. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA) statement for reporting systematic reviews was followed.

Results

Of 23 full‐text articles assessed for eligibility, five met the criteria for inclusion. Two studies were placebo controlled; two were active control trials; and one a high‐/low‐dose trial. The interventions were administered as isolated phytochemicals (sulphoraphane), phytotherapeutic extracts [Pomi‐T (pomegranate, turmeric, green tea and broccoli sprout extract), soy, lycopene, and POMx (pomegranate extract)], or plant‐derived dietary items (soy and lycopene). All studies found serum PSA levels to stabilise, decrease or rise more slowly in a significant number of men, and three studies reported stabilising or lengthening of PSA‐doubling time. Studies were generally of good quality, but sample sizes were predominantly small, and durations short.

Conclusions

High‐quality studies in this area are lacking. Sulphoraphane, lycopene, soy isoflavones, POMx, and Pomi‐T are safe and well tolerated. There is limited evidence that they can affect PSA dynamics. No recommendation can be made for the use of these agents in managing prostate cancer morbidity and mortality until high‐quality, fully powered studies are available. Recommendations are made for improving reproducibility and translation of findings with regard to study population, study endpoints, design, and the reporting of phytotherapeutic interventions.
Immunoprotective responses of T helper type 1 stimulatory protein-S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine hydrolase against experimental visceral leishmaniasis
Authors: Khare P , Jaiswal A K , Tripathi C D P , Sundar S , Dube A
Published: February 2016

It is well known that a patient in clinical remission of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) remains immune to reinfection, which provides a rationale for the feasibility of a vaccine against this deadly disease. In earlier studies, observation of significant cellular responses in treated Leishmania patients as well as in hamsters against leishmanial antigens from different fractions led to its further proteomic characterization, wherein S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine hydrolase (AdoHcy) was identified as a helper type 1 (Th1) stimulatory protein. The present study includes immunological characterization of this protein, its cellular responses [lymphoproliferation, nitric oxide (NO) production and cytokine responses] in treated Leishmania-infected hamsters and patients as well as prophylactic efficacy against Leishmania challenge in hamsters and the immune responses generated thereof. Significantly higher cellular responses were noticed against recombinant L. donovani S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine hydrolase (rLdAdoHcy) compared to soluble L. donovani antigen in treated samples. Moreover, stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells with rLdAdoHcy up-regulated the levels of interferon (IFN)-γ, interleukin (IL)−12 and down-regulated IL-10. Furthermore, vaccination with rLdAdoHcy generated perceptible delayed-type hypersensitivity response and exerted considerably good prophylactic efficacy (∼70% inhibition) against L. donovani challenge. The efficacy was confirmed by the increased expression levels of inducible NO synthase and Th1-type cytokines, IFN-γ and IL-12 and down-regulation of IL-4, IL-10 and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β. The results indicate the potentiality of rLdAdoHcy protein as a suitable vaccine candidate against VL.
PREPAID ELECTRICITY PLAN AND ELECTRICITY CONSUMPTION BEHAVIOR
Authors: Qiu Yueming , Xing Bo , Wang Yi David
Published: February 2016

By using customer‐level residential billing data from 2008 to 2010 of a major utility company in Phoenix metropolitan area, this study adopts a matching approach and a difference‐in‐differences method to estimate empirically the impact of a prepaid electricity plan on residential electricity consumption, after correcting for selection bias. Results show that the prepaid program is associated with a 12% reduction in electricity usage, customers with lower level of wealth or those with higher amount of arrearage prior to switching to the prepaid program tend to save more electricity after switching, and prepaid customers save more electricity in the summer than winter. (JEL L94, Q41)
Visual cues of motion that trigger animacy perception at birth: the case of self‐propulsion
Authors: Di Giorgio Elisa , Lunghi Marco , Simion Francesca , Vallortigara Giorgio
Published: February 2016

Self‐propelled motion is a powerful cue that conveys information that an object is animate. In this case, animate refers to an entity's capacity to initiate motion without an applied external force. Sensitivity to this motion cue is present in infants that are a few months old, but whether this sensitivity is experience‐dependent or is already present at birth is unknown. Here, we tested newborns to examine whether predispositions to process self‐produced motion cues underlying animacy perception were present soon after birth. We systematically manipulated the onset of motion by self‐propulsion (Experiment 1) and the change in trajectory direction in the presence or absence of direct contact with an external object (Experiments 2 and 3) to investigate how these motion cues determine preference in newborns. Overall, data demonstrated that, at least at birth, the self‐propelled onset of motion is a crucial visual cue that allowed newborns to differentiate between self‐ and non‐self‐propelled objects (Experiment 1) because when this cue was removed, newborns did not manifest any visual preference (Experiment 2), even if they were able to discriminate between the stimuli (Experiment 3). To our knowledge, this is the first study aimed at identifying sensitivity in human newborns to the most basic and rudimentary motion cues that reliably trigger perceptions of animacy in adults. Our findings are compatible with the hypothesis of the existence of inborn predispositions to visual cues of motion that trigger animacy perception in adults.
Is SEEG safe? A systematic review and meta‐analysis of stereo‐electroencephalography–related complications
Authors: Mullin Jeffrey P. , Shriver Michael , Alomar Soha , Najm Imad , Bulacio Juan , Chauvel Patrick , Gonzalez‐Martinez Jorge
Published: February 2016

Objective

Stereo‐electroencephalography (SEEG) is a procedure performed for patients with intractable epilepsy in order to anatomically define the epileptogenic zone (EZ) and the possible related functional cortical areas. By avoiding the need for large craniotomies and due to its intrinsic precision placement features, SEEG may be associated with fewer complications. Nevertheless, intracerebral electrodes have gained a reputation of excessive invasiveness, with a “relatively high morbidity” associated with their placement. A systematic literature review and meta‐analysis of SEEG complications has not been previously performed. The goal of this study is to quantitatively review the incidence of various surgical complications associated with SEEG electrode implantation in the literature and to provide a summary estimate. This will allow physicians to accurately counsel their patients about the potential complications related to this method of extraoperative invasive monitoring.

Methods

The systematic review was conducted following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA). We conducted MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science database searches with the search algorithm. We analyzed complication rates using a fixed‐effects model with inverse variance weighting. Calculations for the meta‐analysis and construction of forest plots were completed using an established spreadsheet. The principal summary measures were the effect summary value and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Results

The initial 1,901 retrieved citations were reviewed. After removing 787 duplicates, the titles and abstracts of 1,114 publications were screened. At this stage, studies that did not mention the absence or presence of complications following SEEG or that did not fulfill the inclusion criteria in any manner were excluded. After excluding 1,057 citations, the full text was assessed in the resulting 57 articles for eligibility criteria. The most common complications were hemorrhagic (pooled prevalence 1.0%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.6–1.4%) or infectious (pooled prevalence 0.8%, 95% CI 0.3–1.2%). Five mortalities were identified (pooled prevalence 0.3%, 95% CI −0.1–0.6%). Overall, our analysis identified 121 surgical complications related to SEEG insertion and monitoring (pooled prevalence 1.3%, 95% CI 0.9–1.7%).

Significance

This review represents a comprehensive estimation of the actual incidence of complications related to SEEG. We report a rate substantially lower than the complication rates reported for other methods of extraoperative invasive monitoring. These data should alleviate the concerns of some regarding the safety of the “stereotactic” method, allowing a better decision process among the different methods of invasive monitoring and ameliorating the fear associated with the placement of depth electrodes.
Predictors of and attitudes toward counseling about SUDEP and other epilepsy risk factors among Austrian, German, and Swiss neurologists and neuropediatricians
Authors: Strzelczyk Adam , Zschebek Gerda , Bauer Sebastian , Baumgartner Christoph , Grond Martin , Hermsen Anke , Kieslich Matthias , Krämer Günter , Kurlemann Gerhard , May Theodor W. , Mayer Thomas , Neubauer Bernd A. , Pfäfflin Margarete , Plecko Barbara , Ryvlin Philippe , Schubert‐Bast Susanne , Stefan Hermann , Trinka Eugen , Knake Susanne , Seifart Carola , Rosenow Felix
Published: February 2016

Objective

To examine the attitudes toward counseling about sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) and other epilepsy risk factors among Austrian, German, and Swiss neurologists and neuropediatricians, and to determine factors associated with not discussing SUDEP.

Methods

Questionnaires were sent to approximately 5,000 neurologists and neuropediatricians in 2014 regarding respondents’ demographics, their working environments, and how often they discussed SUDEP, suicidal ideations on anticonvulsive medication, driving restrictions, and risks in daily life activities.

Results

In total, 519 surveys were completed (respondents’ mean age: 45.5 years, 41.6% female, 66.9% adult neurologists, 31.0% neuropediatricians). A minority of 2.7% reported that they counseled all of their patients on SUDEP, 8.7% counseled most of the time (50–90%), 20.8% sometimes (10–49%), 44.5% rarely (1–9%), and 23.3% reported not counseling about SUDEP at all. In contrast, 92.9% reported that they counseled all patients about driving restrictions and 81.5% about risks in daily life activities. Suicidal ideations were discussed in 59.0% for some and in 3.3% for all patients, whereas 35.1% of respondents reported never discussing suicidal ideations. Independent predictors of not discussing SUDEP were no additional epilepsy training, no or uncertain SUDEP cases in the past, <10 years in practice, <25 epilepsy patients seen per quarter, and the opinion of a lack of consequences in SUDEP prevention. The opinion that SUDEP is a risk factor in particular patient groups and the attitude that all risks should be discussed predicted counseling on SUDEP.

Significance

Our findings show a discrepancy between guidelines and practice regarding the discussion of premature mortality due to SUDEP or suicidality. Both are not discussed at all by a substantial proportion of neurologists and neuropediatricians. This is in contrast to ubiquitous education about driving restrictions. Dissemination of knowledge among physicians about potential preventive strategies might increase the likelihood of discussion. Clinical practice guidelines are welcomed by the majority of physicians in this process.
Campus Diversity and Global Education: A Case Study of a Japanese Program
Authors: Mori Junko , Takeuchi Jae DiBello
Published: February 2016

The recent influx of international students from Asia to the United States has drastically changed the demographics of students studying languages, including languages other than English, in many large universities. For some languages, it is not uncommon for international students from Asia to constitute more than 50% of current enrollments in a language class. This new reality poses a number of questions, including how to meet students' diverse needs and goals for language study and how to mobilize increasing student diversity to enhance the development of global competence among all students, regardless of country of origin. Using semi‐structured exploratory interviews conducted with domestic and international students of Japanese as a foreign language at an American university, this study investigated the challenges and opportunities presented in the globalized language classroom.
Resilience of aquatic net‐spinning caddisfly silk structures to common global stressors
Authors: Albertson Lindsey K. , Daniels Melinda D.
Published: February 2016

Two of the most common consequences resulting from land use and climate change are increased fine sediment loads and shifts in hydrological regimes in freshwater ecosystems.

Although a growing number of studies indicate that these stressors are likely to directly affect community composition and organism physiology, little is known about how biological structures produced by aquatic organisms might respond. For example, hydropsychid caddisflies (Trichoptera) are a group of globally distributed aquatic insects that spin silk mesh nets that they use to filter feed. These silk mesh nets are important ecosystem engineering structures in flowing waters that can regulate sediment erosion, food particle delivery by altering near‐bed current velocities, and enhance habitat availability for other macroinvertebrates.

We conducted two experiments in laboratory mesocosms to assess the effects of increased fine sediment and drought on hydropsychid caddisfly silk. We compared silk thread diameter, thread count, mesh pore area, and thread tensile strength across treatments in which the silk nets were exposed to high levels of total suspended solids or to stream drying over 2 weeks.

We found that caddisfly silk was resilient to both forms of stress and maintained its overall structure and tensile strength.

Our findings indicate that biological silk structures may be viable ecosystem engineering tools following short‐lived disturbances associated with increased sediment loads and drying events. Caddisfly silk may be resilient to various forms of environmental change, with important consequences for recovery of aquatic communities.
Surrounding vegetation matters for arthropods of small, natural patches of indigenous forest
Authors: Yekwayo Inam , Pryke James S. , Roets Francois , Samways Michael J.
Published: February 2016

Natural forests are important for terrestrial biodiversity conservation. In South Africa, many forest patches are naturally small and surrounded by either natural grassland or exotic plantations.

Here we compared arthropod diversity and composition among natural forest patches, pine plantations and grassland. We also assess how arthropod assemblages respond to the environmental changes at the boundaries between natural forest patches and the two different surrounding vegetation types.

Twenty transects were selected, ten natural forests surrounded by pines, and ten natural forests surrounded by natural grassland. Transects ran from natural forest interiors, across the boundary into the interior of the surrounding vegetation. Arthropods were sampled using pitfall traps and active searches.

Natural forests surrounded by grassland had higher species richness than those surrounded by pines. Greater arthropod abundance was in grassland edges than other stations. Pairwise comparisons revealed significant differences in assemblages between all vegetation types. This implies that forest biodiversity in these patches is altered by the main vegetation type in the matrix or in close proximity. Qualitative differences in assemblages between natural forest‐grassland boundaries were greater than differences between natural forest‐pine boundaries, indicating greater sharing of species between pines and natural forests.

Our findings emphasise the value of natural forest‐grassland edges for conserving arthropod diversity as they add to the local species pool. Overall, we show that when maintaining small isolated natural forest patches, the role of the surrounding vegetation must be considered as it has a major influence on the local patch fauna.
Effect of acid whey on physicochemical characteristics of dry‐cured organic pork loins without nitrite
Authors: Stadnik Joanna , Stasiak Dariusz M.
Published: February 2016

The present study deals with the effect of acid whey (AW) on physicochemical properties of non‐nitrite organic dry‐cured pork loins. The loins were divided into three experimental batches: with the curing mixture (C), with sea salt (S) and with sea salt combined with AW (SW). The evolution of physicochemical properties, colour, fatty acid profile and microbiological quality were assessed at 0, 30 and 90 days of refrigerated storage. Physicochemical parameters of dry‐cured organic loins were significantly (P < 0.01) affected by treatment, storage time and the interaction between them. Sea salt in combination with AW was the most successful at reducing the browning reaction involved in the formation of dark colour in dry‐cured loins. Significant reduction in a* value (P < 0.05) caused by replacement of curing salt by sea salt has been less pronounced in sample with AW. Storage diminished (P < 0.01) initial differences in profile of SFA, MUFA and n‐3 induced by treatment method. AW added to uncured loins was able to protect PUFA against oxidation comparable to nitrite. The highest count of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in dry‐cured loins with AW was accompanied by their lower pH (P < 0.05).
Physicochemical characterisation of corn extrudates prepared with varying levels of beetroot (Beta vulgaris) at different extrusion temperatures
Authors: Singh Jatinder Pal , Kaur Amritpal , Shevkani Khetan , Singh Narpinder , Singh Baljit
Published: February 2016

This study examines the effect of beetroot powder (BRP) incorporation (0%, 5%, 10% and 15%) at different extrusion temperatures (125, 150 and 175 °C) on the physicochemical, antioxidant and sensory properties of corn grit (CG) extrudates. BRP showed higher values of total phenolic content (TPC = 9095 μg GAE g−1) and free radical inhibition (ABTS = 6.5 μm trolox mg−1 and DPPH = 7.9 μm trolox mg−1) than CG (1346 μg GAE g−1, 1.5 μm trolox mg−1 and 2.2 μm trolox mg−1, respectively). Pasting viscosity (peak, breakdown and final) decreased, while pasting temperature of CG increased with the level of BRP incorporation. Analyses of the extrudates showed an increase in redness, bulk density, hardness, TPC, free radical inhibition, total dietary fibre (TDF) and a decrease in water absorption index (WAI), water solubility index (WSI), expansion ratio and oil uptake with the increase in the level of BRP incorporation. On the other hand, higher extrusion temperature increased porosity, WAI, WSI, oil uptake but decreased redness, bulk density, hardness and TPC.