bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bidecadal Thermal Changes in the Abyssal Ocean
Authors: Wunsch Carl , Heimbach Patrick
Published: March 2014

A dynamically consistent state estimate is used for the period 1992–2011 to describe the changes in oceanic temperatures and heat content, with an emphasis on determining the noise background in the abyssal (below 2000 m) depths. Interpretation requires close attention to the long memory of the deep ocean, implying that meteorological forcing of decades to thousands of years ago should still be producing trendlike changes in abyssal heat content. Much of the deep-ocean volume remained unobserved. At the present time, warming is seen in the deep western Atlantic and Southern Oceans, roughly consistent with those regions of the ocean expected to display the earliest responses to surface disturbances. Parts of the deeper ocean, below 3600 m, show cooling. Most of the variation in the abyssal Pacific Ocean is comparatively featureless, consistent with the slow, diffusive approach to a steady state expected there. In the global average, changes in heat content below 2000 m are roughly 10% of those inferred for the upper ocean over the 20-yr period. A useful global observing strategy for detecting future change has to be designed to account for the different time and spatial scales manifested in the observed changes. If the precision estimates of heat content change are independent of systematic errors, determining oceanic heat uptake values equivalent to 0.1 W m−2 is possibly attainable over future bidecadal periods.
A Low-Cost Wireless Temperature Sensor: Evaluation for Use in Environmental Monitoring Applications
Authors: Young Duick T. , Chapman Lee , Muller Catherine L. , Cai Xiao-Ming , Grimmond C. S. B.
Published: March 2014

A wide range of environmental applications would benefit from a dense network of air temperature observations. However, with limitations of costs, existing siting guidelines, and risk of damage, new methods are required to gain a high-resolution understanding of spatiotemporal patterns of temperature for agricultural and urban meteorological phenomena such as the urban heat island. With the launch of a new generation of low-cost sensors, it is possible to deploy a network to monitor air temperature at finer spatial resolutions. This study investigates the Aginova Sentinel Micro (ASM) sensor with a custom radiation shield (together less than USD$150) that can provide secure near-real-time air temperature data to a server utilizing existing (or user deployed) Wi-Fi networks. This makes it ideally suited for deployment where wireless communications readily exist, notably urban areas. Assessment of the performance of the ASM relative to traceable standards in a water bath and atmospheric chamber show it to have good measurement accuracy with mean errors <±0.22°C between −25° and 30°C, with a time constant in ambient air of 110 ±15 s. Subsequent field tests also showed the ASM (in the custom shield) had excellent performance (RMSE = 0.13°C) over a range of meteorological conditions relative to a traceable operational Met Office platinum resistance thermometer. These results indicate that the ASM and radiation shield are more than fit for purpose for dense network deployment in environmental monitoring applications at relatively low cost compared to existing observation techniques.
Does State Failure Cause Terrorism? An Empirical Analysis (1999–2008)
Authors: Coggins Bridget L.
Published: March 2014

A developed-world consensus ties state failure to new and serious international insecurity. But that conclusion rests upon an uncertain foundation; insights into the nature and intensity of failure-related threats remain tentative and unsystematic. This study begins to remedy the problem, examining the broad relationships between weakness, failure, and terrorism with panel data for 153 countries (1999–2008). I argue that the quantitative literature too often disregards the political context determining terrorism's use, that terrorism is endogenous to many measures of state failure, and that estimates of the failure-related threat of terrorism are overstated. Consistent with these expectations, I find that most failing and failed states are not predisposed to terrorism. However, among the “most failed” states, those at war or experiencing political collapse are significantly more likely to experience and produce terror. These results refine the relationship between failure and external threat and highlight the importance of terrorism's macro-level political context.
Ultraviolet-induced free radical reactions in ENR50/alkyd blend leading to significant increase in cross-linking
Authors: Khong Yoke Kum , Ang Desmond Teck Chye , Gan Seng Neon
Published: March 2014

In this work, the potential of palm stearin alkyd as a cross-linking agent for rubber compounding was investigated. Alkyd carrying pendent –COOH groups was blended with epoxidised natural rubber (ENR50) via solvent casting technique at ambient temperature. Spectroscopic characterisations show that ENR50 and alkyd have interacted with each other via chemical reaction involving the epoxide of the rubber and –COOH of alkyd. Consequently, notable increase in the glass transition temperature ( Tg) and gel content of the blend was observed. In addition to the epoxide ring-opening reaction, the extent of cross-linking in the blend was further increased by means of ultraviolet (UV) curing. As a result, the UV-cured blends experienced lower percentage of swelling, produced higher percentage of gel, have higher cross-link density and higher Tg. The cross-link density in the rubber/alkyd blend has increased from 3.0 × 10−6 mol cm−3 to 2.0 × 10−4 mol cm−3 after UV curing. This is clearly evidenced from the swelling test results, where ENR and alkyd are completely soluble in the solvent, but upon blending and subsequent UV irradiation, the blend produced >90% of gel and swelled by 318%. Findings from this work show that sustainable material such as vegetable oil could be utilised in development of cross-linking agent for rubber. Significant increase in the cross-link density of the UV-cured blend suggests that environment friendly compound such as alkyd has great potential to serve as an alternative to conventional compounds in rubber vulcanisation.
Marital Strain Exacerbates Health Risks of Filial Caregiving
Authors: Kang SunWoo , Marks Nadine F.
Published: March 2014

This study examined linkages between providing care for a parent (in contrast to not providing any care to other kin or nonkin) and four dimensions of physical health (self-rated health, functional limitations, physical symptoms, chronic conditions), as well as moderation of these linkages by gender and a negative dimension of marital quality—marital strain. Regression models were estimated using telephone and self-administered questionnaire data from 1,080 married men and women who participated in the National Survey of Midlife in the United States 2005. Although providing filial care was not found to be a global health risk for all married caregivers, marital strain was a critical factor in determining risk. Contrary to hypothesis, robust gender differences were not in evidence. But among both women and men, caregiving for a parent in the presence of high levels of marital strain was associated with significantly poorer health across all four evaluated outcomes.
The Impact of Demographic and Socioeconomic Factors on Major Salivary Gland Cancer Survival
Authors: Olarte Lucia S. , Megwalu Uchechukwu C.
Published: March 2014

Objective

This study aimed to investigate the impact of demographic and socioeconomic factors on survival in patients with major salivary gland malignancies.

Study Design

Population‐based study using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) cancer database.

Subject and Methods

The study cohort consisted of 10,735 men and women ages 20 and older who were diagnosed with major salivary gland carcinoma from 1973 to 2009.

Results

Kaplan–Meier analysis revealed that the overall and disease‐specific survival was higher for women than for men (P <. 001). Overall and disease‐specific survival decreased with increasing age (P <. 001) and differed by race (P <. 001) and marital status (P <. 001). Patients residing in counties with higher rates of high school completion had higher overall and disease‐specific survival (P <. 001). Patients residing in counties with higher median household incomes had better overall and disease‐specific survival than patients from lower income counties (P <. 001). On multivariable analysis, male sex (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.41; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.32‐1.50), increasing age, and single status (HR = 1.36; 95% CI, 1.27‐1.44) had poor prognostic impact on overall survival. Male sex (HR = 1.38; 95% CI, 1.27‐1.49), increasing age, and single status (HR = 1.29; 95% CI, 1.19‐1.39) had poor prognostic impact on disease‐specific survival.

Conclusion

For patients with salivary gland malignancies, there is a survival benefit for younger patients, female patients, and married patients. This highlights the significance of demographic factors on survival outcomes for patients with salivary gland malignancies and highlights areas for further research on health disparities.
Acute Dacryocystitis with Empyema of the Lacrimal Sac: Is Immediate Endoscopic Dacryocystorhinostomy Justified?
Authors: Lombardi Davide , Mattavelli Davide , Accorona Remo , Turano Raffaele , Semeraro Francesco , Bozzola Anna , Nicolai Piero
Published: March 2014

Objectives

To evaluate the efficacy of endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy (Endo‐DCR) in the treatment of acute dacryocystitis with lacrimal sac empyema (ADLSE).

Design

Case series with chart review.

Setting

Academic tertiary center.

Patients

The study included 26 consecutive patients who underwent Endo‐DCR for ADLSE between August 2005 and December 2013.

Main Outcome Measures

The success of the procedure was defined as complete complaint relief and DCR patency. Data on the time from referral to surgery, postoperative complications, and revision surgery are also reported.

Results

The present patient series included 4 males (15.4%) and 22 females (84.6%) (mean age, 66 years). The mean time between referral and surgery was 0.88 days and the mean follow‐up time was 29 months. All patients showed immediate relief from symptoms, with no ADLSE recurrences. Complete success was achieved in 25 (96.2%) cases; the only failure was in a patient who had previously undergone radioiodine treatment. In this case, revision Endo‐DCR was not successful. The only perioperative complication (3.8%) was epistaxis in a patient who required revision surgery under general anesthesia. The definitive success rate was 96.2% after primary and revision surgery.

Conclusions

Endo‐DCR enables rapid resolution of ADLSE with a very high success rate. Immediate surgery may reduce the risk of skin fistulization and/or orbital complications. DCR shrinkage and lacrimal obstruction are unlikely with Endo‐DCR since the procedure is performed on an enlarged sac. The main advantage of Endo‐DCR, compared with external DCR, is the absence of a skin incision in an inflamed and infected field.
Systemic Inflammation and Cerebral Palsy Risk in Extremely Preterm Infants
Authors: Kuban Karl C. K. , O’Shea T. Michael , Allred Elizabeth N. , Paneth Nigel , Hirtz Deborah , Fichorova Raina N. , Leviton Alan
Published: March 2014

The authors hypothesized that among extremely preterm infants, elevated concentrations of inflammation-related proteins in neonatal blood are associated with cerebral palsy at 24 months. In 939 infants born before 28 weeks gestation, the authors measured blood concentrations of 25 proteins on postnatal days 1, 7, and 14 and evaluated associations between elevated protein concentrations and cerebral palsy diagnosis. Protein elevations within 3 days of birth were not associated with cerebral palsy. Elevations of tumor necrosis factor-α, tumor necrosis factor-α-receptor-1, interleukin-8, and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 on at least 2 days were associated with diparesis. Recurrent-persistent elevations of interleukin-6, E-selectin, or insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 were associated with hemiparesis. Diparesis and hemiparesis were more likely among infants who had at least 4 of 9 protein elevations that previously have been associated with cognitive impairment and microcephaly. Repeated elevations of inflammation-related proteins during the first 2 postnatal weeks are associated with increased risk of cerebral palsy.
Comparison of the properties of colorless polyimide nanocomposites containing saponite or organically modified hectorite
Authors: Ju Jieun , Chang Jin-Hae
Published: March 2014

Poly(amic acid) (PAA) was prepared by the reaction of 4,4′-(hexafluoro isopropylidene) diphthalic anhydride with 2,2′-bis(trifluoromethyl) benzidine in N, N-dimethylacetamide. Hybrid films were obtained from blended solutions of the precursor polymer and saponite (SPT) or organically modified hectorite (STN) clays, and the clay content was varied from 0 to 40 wt%. The cast film of PAA was heat treated at different temperatures to create polyimide (PI) hybrid films. The nanostructure of the hybrid films was observed using transmission electron microscopy, which showed that the clay layers were well dispersed into the matrix polymer, although some clusters or agglomerated particles were also detected. The addition of SPT was more effective than the addition of STN with regard to improving the thermal properties, whereas the addition of STN was more effective with regard to improving the optical transparency and gas barrier characteristics of the PI matrix.
Cardioprotective effects of curcumin and nebivolol against doxorubicin-induced cardiac toxicity in rats
Authors: Imbaby S , Ewais M , Essawy S , Farag N
Published: March 2014

Doxorubicin (DOX) is used in the treatment of cancer. However, cardiotoxicity is its major dose-limiting factor. Mechanism of DOX–cardiac toxicity is not completely elucidated. The aim of the current study was to explore whether the addition of subeffective dose of curcumin (100 mg/kg) to nebivolol would produce a better impact in treating DOX-induced cardiac toxicity in comparison with monotherapy.

Male rats were used and subdivided into seven groups. Cardiac toxicity was induced in 6 groups by intraperitoneal injection of DOX over 23 days; of the six groups, five groups were treated with curcumin (100 and 200 mg/kg), nebivolol (1 and 2 mg/kg), and their combination; the sixth group was the control group used for comparison.

Oral administration of curcumin and/or nebivolol attenuated DOX cardiotoxicity as manifested by increasing survival rate, improvement in body weight, heart index, and ECG parameters, increase in ventricular isoprenaline responses, and improvement in cardiac enzymes, oxidative stress, apoptosis, and histopathological picture. The addition of the current low subeffective dose of curcumin to nebivolol ameliorated DOX cardiac toxicity to a much greater extent than monotherapy showing better antioxidant and antiapoptotic effects versus the per se effect of nebivolol. Therefore, the current study encourages adding low dose of curcumin to potentiate the effect of nebivolol in the clinical management of cardiac toxicity improving the patients’ quality of life if proper clinical safety data are available.
A Model of Adaptation of Overseas Nurses
Authors: Kishi Yuka , Inoue Kumiyo , Crookes Patrick , Shorten Allison
Published: March 2014

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to investigate the experiences of Japanese nurses and their adaptation to their work environment in Australia. Using a qualitative research method and semistructured interviews, the study aimed to discover, describe, and analyze the experiences of 14 Japanese nurses participating in the study. Design: A qualitative study. Method: Fourteen Japanese registered nurses working in Australian hospitals participated in the study. Individual semistructured interviews were conducted from April to June in 2008. Thematic analysis was used to identify themes within the data. Results: Analysis of qualitative open-ended questions revealed the participants’ adaptation process. It consists of three themes or phases: seeking (S), acclimatizing (A), and settling (S), subsequently named the S.A.S. model. Discussion: The conceptual model of the adaptation processes of 14 Japanese nurses working in Australia includes the seeking, acclimatizing, and settling phases. Although these phases are not mutually exclusive and the process is not necessarily uniformly linear, all participants in this study passed through this S.A.S. model in order to adapt to their new environment. Implications for Practice: The S.A.S. model of adaptation helps to describe the experiences of Japanese overseas qualified nurses working in Australian hospitals. Future research is needed to examine whether this model can be applied to nurses from other countries and in other settings outside Australia.
Social cognition in pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis (MS)
Authors: Charvet LE , Cleary RE , Vazquez K , Belman AL , Krupp LB ,   on behalf of the US Network for Pediatric MS
Published: March 2014

Background:

Pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis (MS) patients represent a subpopulation who are diagnosed during the course of development. Social cognitive deficits have recently been recognized in adults with MS. It is critical to identify whether these youngest patients with the disorder are also at risk.

Objective:

To determine whether pediatric-onset MS is associated with social cognitive deficits.

Methods:

Consecutively-recruited participants with pediatric-onset MS were compared to a group of age- and gender-matched healthy controls on Theory of Mind (ToM) task performance. Tasks measured facial affect recognition (Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test), detecting social faux pas (Faux Pas Test), and understanding the perspective of another (False Beliefs Task).

Results:

Twenty-eight (28) pediatric-onset MS participants (median age 17 years) and 32 healthy controls (median age 16 years) completed the study. The MS participants performed worse than controls on all three ToM tasks: Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test ( p = 0.008), the Faux Pas Test ( p = 0.009), and the False Beliefs Task ( p = 0.06). While more MS than control participants were impaired on a measure of information processing speed (the Symbol Digit Modalities Test; 38% versus 6%), it did not account for the differences in ToM performance.

Conclusions:

Social cognition may represent an area of cognitive functioning affected by MS in the pediatric-onset population. These processes are especially important to study in younger patients as they may have long range implications for social adjustment, employment, and well-being.
A daily diary assessment of female weight stigmatization
Authors: Seacat Jason D , Dougal Sarah C , Roy Dooti
Published: March 2014

Research focused on assessing weight stigmatization has typically been conducted using cross-sectional, retrospective designs. Such designs may impair the scientific understanding of this stigma by limiting participants’ recall of frequencies and/or details about stigmatizing events. To address this, 50 overweight/obese women were recruited from public weight forums to complete week-long daily diaries. A total of 1077 weight-stigmatizing events were reported on the Stigmatizing Situations Inventory. Hierarchical linear modeling was used to investigate potential relationships between participant-level factors and reported stigmatization. Results indicate that body mass index, education, age, daily activities, and interpersonal interactions all may impact individuals’ levels of stigmatization.
Formulations on Israeli political talk radio: From actions and sequences to stance via dialogic resonance
Authors: Nir Bracha , Dori-Hacohen Gonen , Maschler Yael
Published: March 2014

This article explores the properties of formulations in a corpus of Hebrew radio phone-ins by juxtaposing two theoretical frameworks: conversation analysis (CA) and dialogic syntax. This combination of frameworks is applied towards explaining an anomalous interaction in the collection – a caller’s marked, unexpected rejection of a formulation of gist produced by the radio phone-in’s host. Our analysis shows that whereas previous CA studies of formulations account for many instances throughout the corpus, understanding this particular formulation in CA terms does not explain its drastic rejection by the caller. We therefore turn to an in-depth examination of strategies for lexical and syntactic resonance as a stance-taking device throughout the interaction. In so doing, we not only shed light on the anomalous interaction, but also offer an answer to a provocative question previously put forward by Haddington (2004) concerning which of the two – stances or actions – have more meaningful consequences for the description of the organization of interaction. In the particular interaction analyzed here, stances play the more significant role. We propose that the intersubjective stance-taking of participants may be viewed as a meta-action employed among participants as they move across actions, sequences, and activities in talk.
‘Stretching out the categories’: Chinese/European narratives of mixedness, belonging and home in Singapore
Authors: Rocha Zarine L.
Published: March 2014

Racial categorization is important in everyday interactions and state organization in Singapore. Increasingly, the idea of ‘mixed race’ and new conceptions of mixedness are challenging such classification along racial lines. Although contemporary Singapore is extremely diverse, the underlying ideology of multiracialism remains grounded in distinctly racialized groups, leaving little space for more complex individual identities. This paper explores the identifications of individuals of mixed Chinese and European descent in the Singaporean context, looking at how complexity is lived within firmly racialized structures. Drawing on a series of 20 narrative interviews, this research examines the relationship between categorization and identity, focusing on the identities of individuals with multiple national, cultural and ethnic ties. The practical impacts of racial categorization shape many aspects of life in Singapore, and individuals of mixed descent illustrated a constant tension between official categorization and personal mixedness, seen in the frustrations experienced and strategies developed by individuals around race and belonging. Individuals negotiated their connections around race and nationality both in practical terms around language, social policies and culture, and personally in terms of symbolic feelings of connection.
Professional football squads as multicultural teams
Authors: Maderer Daniel , Holtbrügge Dirk , Schuster Tassilo
Published: March 2014

After the Bosman ruling in 1995, the cultural diversity of professional football teams in Europe has increased considerably. Recruiting players regardless of their nationality allows football clubs to make use of a global talent pool and to combine the specific strengths of individuals with different cultural backgrounds. At the same time, it confronts them with the challenge of having players who speak different languages and who have different football philosophies ingrained in them. Based on a structure–leadership–performance model, we test the impact of various cultural factors on team success against the background of archival data of 2483 players of 98 clubs in the 5 largest European football leagues (England, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain). We find a negative effect of cultural diversity of the team and of intercultural experience of a coach on team performance. We derive implications for research on multicultural teams and for the management of football teams.
Experimental characterizations of three-point bending fatigue behavior of four-step three-dimensional braided composite T-beam
Authors: Zhang Zhongwei , Gu Bohong , Sun Baozhong
Published: March 2014

This paper reports the three-point bending fatigue behaviors of four-step three-dimensional braided composite T-beam. The fatigue deformation and damage of three-dimensional braided composite T-beam at different stress levels and fatigue cycles have been obtained to explain the fatigue behaviors. The influence of stress levels on fatigue life is analyzed based on experimental S–N curves performed with the stress ratio (R) value of 0.1 at room temperature. Furthermore, the energy absorptions were analyzed by comparing the integral areas among different stress levels to indicate energy absorption mechanisms. In addition, the fatigue damage location distribution is found according to the damage morphologies of three-dimensional braided composite T-beam. The history of the overall stiffness degradation is found to exhibit three stages of fatigue failure: initial stage, steady stage, and final failure crack stages. The results of this investigation provide an insight into fatigue damage behavior and fatigue life of three-dimensional braided composite T-beam, and it shows that the three-dimensional braided composite T-beam is able to be used as connector.
Short beam strength properties of multistitched biaxial woven E-glass/polyester nano composites
Authors: Bilisik Kadir , Yolacan Gaye
Published: March 2014

The aim of this study was to understand the warp and weft directional short beam strength properties of the developed two-dimensional multistitched multilayer E-glass/polyester woven nano composites. The warp and weft directional specific short beam strengths of unstitched structures were lower than those of the multistitched/nano structures. When the amount of nano silica material in the unstitched E-glass/polyester composite structure increased, the warp and weft directional specific short beam strengths of the unstitched/nano structures increased. When the stitching direction increased from two to four directions, the warp and weft directional short beam strengths of all hand-stitched structures slightly increased. In addition, the warp and weft directional short beam strengths of high modulus (stitching yarn Kevlar® 129) lightly and densely machine-stitched structures were slightly higher than those of the low modulus (stitching yarn Nylon 6.6) lightly and densely machine-stitched structures. All composite structures had interlaminar shear failure between layers in their cross-sections, but the interlaminar shear failure in machine-stitched and machine-stitched/nano structures did not propagate to the large areas. The stitching direction, stitching density, stitching yarn, stitching type, and amount of nano materials in the composite structures were identified as important parameters.
Cognitive, Neuropsychiatric, and Motor Features Associated With Apolipoprotein E ∊4 Allele in a Sample of Bulgarian Patients With Late-Onset Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Pavlova Radka , Mehrabian Shima , Petrova Maria , Skelina Silvia , Mihova Kalina , Jordanova Albena , Mitev Vanio , Traykov Latchezar
Published: March 2014

Objective:

To evaluate the role of apolipoprotein E ( APOE) ∊4 allele on cognitive, neuropsychiatric, and motor features in a sample of Bulgarian patients with late-onset Parkinson’s disease (LOPD, age at onset > 55 years).

Methods:

A total of 16 patients with LOPD having APOE ∊3/∊4 genotype were compared to 30 patients with LOPD having APOE ∊3/∊3 genotype and 20 healthy control individuals. Detailed cognitive assessment and evaluation of neuropsychiatric and motor symptoms were performed.

Results:

The patients with LOPD had significantly lower scores in all cognitive domains compared to controls. The patients with LOPD carrying an ∊4 allele showed some significant differences in their cognitive, motor, and neuropsychiatric features.

Conclusions:

The data suggest a role of the APOE genotype as a disease-modifying factor.
A comparison of Jabulani and Brazuca non-spin aerodynamics
Authors: Goff John Eric , Asai Takeshi , Hong Sungchan
Published: March 2014

Wind-tunnel experimental measurements of drag coefficients for non-spinning Jabulani and Brazuca balls are presented. The Brazuca ball’s critical drag speed is lower than that of the Jabulani ball, and the Brazuca ball’s super-critical drag coefficient is larger than that of the Jabulani ball. Compared to the Jabulani ball, the Brazuca ball suffers less instability due to knuckle-ball effects. Using drag data, numerically determined ball trajectories are created, and it is postulated that although power shots are too similar to note flight differences, goalkeepers are likely to note the differences between Jabulani and Brazuca ball trajectories for intermediate-speed ranges. This latter result may appear in the 2014 World Cup for goalkeepers used to the flight of the ball used in the 2010 World Cup.
The Sources and Frames Used to Tell Stories About Depression and Anxiety
Authors: Myrick Jessica Gall , Major Lesa Hatley , Jankowski Stacie Meihaus
Published: March 2014

Although mental illness is a serious public health issue, little is known about the nature of national television news coverage of these medical conditions. The framing of this coverage, the subtopics discussed in stories, and the sources used to tell those stories of mental illness may have a significant impact on attitudes and behaviors tied to diagnosis, treatment, and social interactions with those with a mental illness. Through a content analysis of 18 years of coverage of anxiety and depression, we sought to gain deeper insight into the connections between source use and frames in national television news stories about mental illness. Prospect theory and Iyengar’s concepts of episodic and thematic frames formed the foundation of this content analysis. The data revealed different source use patterns in gain—versus loss-framed stories as well as in episodic—versus thematic-framed stories. Implications for researchers, news organizations, and mental health advocates are discussed.
Consumer Demand for Cynical and Negative News Frames
Authors: Trussler Marc , Soroka Stuart
Published: March 2014

Commentators regularly lament the proliferation of both negative and/or strategic (“horse race”) coverage in political news content. The most frequent account for this trend focuses on news norms and/or the priorities of news journalists. Here, we build on recent work arguing for the importance of demand-side, rather than supply-side, explanations of news content. In short, news may be negative and/or strategy-focused because that is the kind of news that people are interested in. We use a lab study to capture participants’ news-selection biases, alongside a survey capturing their stated news preferences. Politically interested participants are more likely to select negative stories. Interest is associated with a greater preference for strategic frames as well. And results suggest that behavioral results do not conform to attitudinal ones. That is, regardless of what participants say, they exhibit a preference for negative news content.
Ageing, Childhood and Social Identity in the Early Neolithic of Central Europe
Authors: Bickle Penny , Fibiger Linda
Published: March 2014

In this paper, osteological and archaeological data are brought together to further our understanding of childhood in the early Neolithic Linearbandkeramik culture (LBK; c. 5500–5000 cal BC). In many characterizations of LBK society, fixed representations of sex or identities based on subsistence strategies pervade, with children rarely considered and then only as a specialized and separate topic of study. As a challenge to this view, a summary of the current models of childhood in the LBK culture is presented and debated with reference to the burial rites of children. A period of ‘middle’ childhood is proposed for the LBK culture. The osteological evidence suggests that childhood could be a time of dietary stress, perhaps with sex-based differences from childhood, and examples of the diseases and traumas suffered are discussed. Finally, the possibility that the children were actively contributing to acts of personal violence is raised. While the recognition of identity making as a continuous process remains a powerful exploratory route to investigating prehistoric societies, we argue that this should not discourage us from seeing identity as formed over the entire lifecourse.
Cortical thickness in youth with major depressive disorder
Authors: Reynolds Stephanie , Carrey Normand , Jaworska Natalia , Langevin Lisa Marie , Yang Xiao-Ru , MacMaster Frank P
Published: March 2014

Background

Studies in adults with major depressive disorder (MDD) have implicated dysregulation of frontal-limbic circuits in the symptomology of this disorder. We hypothesized that the middle frontal gyrus (MFG; a core portion of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex or DLPFC) and the anterior cingulate (caudal), regions implicated in emotive and cognitive control, would display a reduced cortical thickness in youth with MDD as compared to healthy, non-depressed adolescents.

Methods

Sixteen healthy control adolescents (17.19 ± 1.87 years; 7 males, 9 females) and thirty MDD participants (16.89 ± 2.01 years; 9 males, 21 females) underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Cortical thickness analysis was carried out using FreeSurfer software.

Results

Counter to our hypothesis, we observed thicker right and left rostral MFG in MDD adolescents as compared to controls (p = 0.004 and p = 0.005, respectively). Furthermore, the left caudal anterior cingulate cortex was thicker in MDD subjects as compared to controls (p = 0.009). In MDD subjects, there was a significant inverse correlation between age and left MFG thickness (r = -0.45, p = 0.001).

Conclusions

These results have implications for the developmental trajectory of the frontal lobe in adolescent MDD. The MFG is implicated in the frontal-limbic circuits underlying executive functioning and their interaction with affective processing. Alterations in this region are likely involved with the symptoms of MDD. Limitations include a small sample size and cross sectional design.
Mathematically optimized cryoprotectant equilibration procedures for cryopreservation of human oocytes
Authors: Davidson Allyson Fry , Benson James D , Higgins Adam Z
Published: March 2014

Background

Simple and effective cryopreservation of human oocytes would have an enormous impact on the financial and ethical constraints of human assisted reproduction. Recently, studies have demonstrated the potential for cryopreservation in an ice-free glassy state by equilibrating oocytes with high concentrations of cryoprotectants (CPAs) and rapidly cooling to liquid nitrogen temperatures. A major difficulty with this approach is that the high concentrations required for the avoidance of crystal formation (vitrification) also increase the risk of osmotic and toxic damage. We recently described a mathematical optimization approach for designing CPA equilibration procedures that avoid osmotic damage and minimize toxicity, and we presented optimized procedures for human oocytes involving continuous changes in solution composition.

Methods

Here we adapt and refine our previous algorithm to predict piecewise-constant changes in extracellular solution concentrations in order to make the predicted procedures easier to implement. Importantly, we investigate the effects of using alternate equilibration endpoints on predicted protocol toxicity. Finally, we compare the resulting procedures to previously described experimental methods, as well as mathematically optimized procedures involving continuous changes in solution composition.

Results

For equilibration with CPA, our algorithm predicts an optimal first step consisting of exposure to a solution containing only water and CPA. This is predicted to cause the cells to initially shrink and then swell to the maximum cell volume limit. To reach the target intracellular CPA concentration, the cells are then induced to shrink to the minimum cell volume limit by exposure to a high CPA concentration. For post-thaw equilibration to remove CPA, the optimal procedures involve exposure to CPA-free solutions that are predicted to cause swelling to the maximum volume limit. The toxicity associated with these procedures is predicted to be much less than that of conventional procedures and comparable to that of the corresponding procedures with continuous changes in solution composition.

Conclusions

The piecewise-constant procedures described in this study are experimentally facile and are predicted to be less toxic than conventional procedures for human oocyte cryopreservation. Moreover, the mathematical optimization approach described here will facilitate the design of cryopreservation procedures for other cell types.
Improved prognostic diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus in an early stage of disease by a combination of different predictive biomarkers identified by proteome analysis
Authors: Boenisch Maximilian , Hurst Rebecca , Huber Susanna , Koehn Jadranka , Krapfenbauer Kurt
Published: March 2014

Background

Since the original characterizations of the pathological features defining glomerulonephritis in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) were reported, numerous studies have linked the development of pathology to the abnormal expression of protein in urine. The determination of proteinuria is important and necessary; however, this alone is not predictive enough to confirm a suspected diagnosis, especially in an early state of disease when symptoms are not yet observed. Furthermore, several studies have already highlighted the pitfalls of proteinuria both as a clinical prognostic marker and as a factor predicting the progressive loss of renal function. Therefore, the identification of more accurate and predictive biomarkers is urgently needed. To address this, comparative urinary and kidney profiling was performed in the MRL-lpr/lpr mouse as a model of lupus tubulointerstitial nephritis and lupus glomerulonephritis corresponding to SLE in humans.

Results

Tamm-Horsfall glycoprotein (THG; uromodulin) and beta2-microglubulin (β2M) were identified as immune process-related molecules in the urine and kidney of the MRL-lpr/lpr mouse model. Furthermore, we show that the combinatory expression profile of THG and β2M as biomarkers, normalized by the proteinuria level, is more predictive than proteinuria determination alone. Data were confirmed by comparative urinary profiling of SLE in mice by Western blot and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analysis.

Conclusion

Based on our results, we are able to diagnose SLE in the MRL-lpr/lpr mouse in a very early state of disease, when the proteinuria level alone is not able to confirm a suspected diagnosis. The pre-validation of our urinary biomarkers is associated with clinical outcomes of glomerulonephritis in humans and merits additional investigation. Further conformations of our predictive biomarkers in the urine of SLE patients in the course of a clinical study are still ongoing.
Decoding the massive genome of loblolly pine using haploid DNA and novel assembly strategies
Authors: Neale David B , Wegrzyn Jill L , Stevens Kristian A , Zimin Aleksey V , Puiu Daniela , Crepeau Marc W , Cardeno Charis , Koriabine Maxim , Holtz-Morris Ann E , Liechty John D , Martínez-García Pedro J , Vasquez-Gross Hans A , Lin Brian Y , Zieve Jacob J , Dougherty William M , Fuentes-Soriano Sara , Wu Le-Shin , Gilbert Don , Marçais Guillaume , Roberts Michael , Holt Carson , Yandell Mark , Davis John M , Smith Katherine E , Dean Jeffrey FD , Lorenz W Walter , Whetten Ross W , Sederoff Ronald , Wheeler Nicholas , McGuire Patrick E , Main Doreen , Loopstra Carol A , Mockaitis Keithanne , deJong Pieter J , Yorke James A , Salzberg Steven L , Langley Charles H
Published: March 2014

Background

The size and complexity of conifer genomes has, until now, prevented full genome sequencing and assembly. The large research community and economic importance of loblolly pine, Pinus taeda L., made it an early candidate for reference sequence determination.

Results

We develop a novel strategy to sequence the genome of loblolly pine that combines unique aspects of pine reproductive biology and genome assembly methodology. We use a whole genome shotgun approach relying primarily on next generation sequence generated from a single haploid seed megagametophyte from a loblolly pine tree, 20-1010, that has been used in industrial forest tree breeding. The resulting sequence and assembly was used to generate a draft genome spanning 23.2 Gbp and containing 20.1 Gbp with an N50 scaffold size of 66.9 kbp, making it a significant improvement over available conifer genomes. The long scaffold lengths allow the annotation of 50,172 gene models with intron lengths averaging over 2.7 kbp and sometimes exceeding 100 kbp in length. Analysis of orthologous gene sets identifies gene families that may be unique to conifers. We further characterize and expand the existing repeat library based on the de novo analysis of the repetitive content, estimated to encompass 82% of the genome.

Conclusions

In addition to its value as a resource for researchers and breeders, the loblolly pine genome sequence and assembly reported here demonstrates a novel approach to sequencing the large and complex genomes of this important group of plants that can now be widely applied.
Oxidative Desulfurization of Diesel Using Organic Salt of Polyoxometalate as an Efficient and Recoverable Phase-transfer Catalyst
Authors: Yu Fengli , Wang Rui
Published: March 2014

Several organic salts of polyoxometalates were prepared and used initially as effective and recoverable phase-transfer catalysts for the oxidative desulfurization of simulated and real diesels. Meanwhile, the kinetic parameters of the DBT oxidation process were obtained.
Enhanced CO Oxidation Activity of Ni@Ag Core–Shell Nanoparticles
Authors: Mahara Yuji , Ishikawa Hiroyuki , Ohyama Junya , Sawabe Kyoichi , Yamamoto Yuta , Arai Shigeo , Satsuma Atsushi
Published: March 2014

Ni@Ag core–shell nanoparticles supported on SiO2 were prepared by a galvanic replacement reaction between Ni and Ag at a low temperature (213 K). The Ni@Ag core–shell catalyst showed a higher catalytic activity for CO oxidation than Ag and Ni monometallic catalysts as well as than Ni–Ag bimetallic catalyst prepared by a conventional impregnation method.
Prostate cancer and its mimics at multiparametric prostate MRI
Authors: Yu J , Fulcher A S , Turner M A , Cockrell C H , Cote E P , Wallace T J
Published: March 2014

One in six males will develop prostate cancer during their lifetime. Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in American males, behind only lung cancer. Unfortunately, even though this disease is so common, clinical screening methods such as prostate-specific antigen test and transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy lack sensitivity and specificity in diagnosing prostate cancer. In recent years, multiparametric prostate MRI has emerged as a very important tool in the diagnosis of prostate carcinoma with a high accuracy. However, diagnostic difficulty is often encountered even with an experienced abdominal radiologist. That is mainly because many normal and abnormal entities can mimic prostate carcinoma at multiparametric MRI. Therefore, the purpose of this pictorial review is to discuss the usefulness of multiparametric prostate MRI in the diagnosis of prostate carcinoma, emphasizing the key MRI features that help to make a distinction of prostate carcinoma from its mimics.
A single plan solution to chest wall radiotherapy with bolus?
Authors: Ordonez-Sanz C , Bowles S , Hirst A , MacDougall N D
Published: March 2014

Objective:

Radiotherapy treatments of post-mastectomy chest walls are complex, requiring treatment close to skin, necessitating bolus use. Commonly used 5- and 10-mm-thick boluses develop full skin dose, needing removal for the latter half of treatment and requiring two treatment plans to be generated. Can a thinner bolus be used for all treatment fractions, requiring only one plan?

Methods:

Investigation of doses received using (A) a half-time 10-mm-thick Vaseline® bolus (current situation); (B) a brass mesh (Whiting & Davis, Attleboro Falls, MA) and (C) 3- and 5-mm Superflab™ (Mick Radio-Nuclear Instruments, Mount Vernon, NY) for 6 and 15 MV. Dosimetric measurements in Barts WT1 solid water and an anthropomorphic phantom, using ionization chambers and thermoluminescent dosemeters, were used to study the effect of different bolus regimes on the photon depth–dose curves (DDCs) and skin doses.

Results:

Measured skin doses for the current 10-mm-thick Vaseline bolus, brass mesh and 3-mm bolus were compared (5 mm bolus has been rejected). The brass mesh has the least effect on the DDC, with changes <0.7% for depths greater than d  max. Brass mesh conforms superiorly to skin surfaces. Measurements on an anthropomorphic phantom demonstrate an increased skin dose compared with our current treatment protocol.

Conclusion:

Brass mesh has the smallest effect on the DDC, whilst sufficiently increasing surface dose. It can be removed at any fraction, based on a clinical decision, without the need for generating a new plan. Treating with one plan significantly reduces planning times.

Advances in knowledge:

Quantification of skin doses required and achieved from wax-on/wax-off treatment compared with alternative available breast boluses.
Are Consumers Strategic? Structural Estimation from the Air-Travel Industry
Authors: Li Jun , Granados Nelson , Netessine Serguei
Published: March 2014

Consumers often consider delaying a purchase strategically, anticipating that prices might decrease. Combining two unique data sources from the air-travel industry (posted fare data and booking data), we use a structural model to estimate the fraction of strategic consumers in the population, assuming different levels of sophistication in consumers' perception of future prices: perfect foresight and weak- and strong-form rational expectations. We find that 5.2% to 19.2% of the population is strategic across markets, measured by the first and third quartiles. Our intermarket analysis indicates that shorter trips with more attractive outside options are populated with more strategic consumers. Using a nonparametric approach, we further find that most strategic consumers arrive either at the beginning of the booking horizon or close to departure. Finally, our counterfactual analysis shows that, contrary to conventional wisdom, the presence of strategic consumers does not necessarily hurt revenues. Rather, the impact varies by market. Commitment to a nondecreasing pricing strategy is more likely to benefit business markets than leisure markets, or it could even hurt leisure markets. Intermarket analysis shows that city pairs with lower Internet penetration, higher average price, and shorter distances tend to benefit more from such commitment as well.

This paper was accepted by Yossi Aviv, operations management.
Thermal characterization and comparisons of lignin-formaldehyde and lignin-glyoxal adhesives
Authors: Ammar Mohamed , Khiari Ramzi , Belgacem Mohamed Naceur , Elaloui Elimame
Published: March 2014

In the present study, the main focus was the use of lignin isolated through an industrial waste (black liquor) to prepare phenolic-type resins. Thermal properties of control lignin-formaldehyde adhesive (RLF) and lignin â€“glyoxal adhesive (RLG) have been investigated in detail. The effect of methylolation of lignin by formaldehyde and glyoxal have been studied using thermogravimetric analysis (TG) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Methylolation has significant effect on the structure and the thermal stability of lignin. Rate of curing is enhanced by the type of curing agent and temperature.
Migration of metaphors: Making sense of music in the lives of the urban poor in Dhaka city
Authors: Mohammad Din
Published: March 2014

Urban folk is an emerging trend in popular music in Bangladesh, which has become prevalent in audio media quite recently with, among others, the emergence of a new generation of artists and musicians. The present article explores the relationship between popular music and the experience of migration by looking at the lyrical contents of a number of urban folk songs and is particularly interested in the metaphoric reconstruction at work within urban folk music that acts to signify the formation of new cultural identity for rural migrants in Dhaka city.