bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
In vitro culture of Mesocestoides corti metacestodes and isolation of immunomodulatory excretory–secretory products
Authors: Vendelova E. , Hrčková G. , Lutz M. B. , Brehm K. , Nono J. K.
Published: April 2016

Cestode‐mediated diseases hold the interesting feature of persisting metacestode larvae dwelling within the host tissues, in the midst of the immune response. Excretory–secretory (ES) products of the metacestode larval stage modulate the host immune response and modify the outcome of the disease. Therefore, isolation and analysis of axenic metacestode ES products are crucial to study their properties. Here, we report the development of a system for long‐term in vitro cultivation of the metacestode of the parasitic cestode Mesocestoides corti (syn. Mesocestoides vogae). Although feeder cells and host serum supported the early growth of the parasite, long‐term survival was not dependent on host serum or host‐derived factors enabling the collection of parasite released products in serum‐free medium. Functionally, these axenic ES products recapitulated M. corti tetrathyridia's ability to inhibit LPS‐driven IL‐12p70 secretion by dendritic cells. Thus, our new axenic culture system will simplify the identification and characterization of M. corti‐derived immunomodulatory factors that will indirectly enable the identification and characterization of corresponding factors in the metacestode larvae of medically relevant cestodes such as Echinococcus multilocularis that are not yet amenable to serum‐free cultivation.
Hydrogen peroxide affects ion channels in lily pollen grain protoplasts
Authors: Breygina M. A. , Abramochkin D. V. , Maksimov N. M. , Yermakov I. P.
Published: April 2016

Ion homeostasis plays a central role in polarisation and polar growth. In several cell types ion channels are controlled by reactive oxygen species (ROS). One of the most important cells in the plant life cycle is the male gametophyte, which grows under the tight control of both ion fluxes and ROS balance. The precise relationship between these two factors in pollen tubes has not been completely elucidated, and in pollen grains it has never been studied to date. In the present study we used a simple model – protoplasts obtained from lily pollen grains at the early germination stage – to reveal the effect of H2O2 on cation fluxes crucial for pollen germination. Here we present direct evidence for two ROS‐sensitive currents on the pollen grain plasma membrane: the hyperpolarisation‐activated calcium current, which is strongly enhanced by H2O2, and the outward potassium current, which is modestly enhanced by H2O2. We used low concentrations of H2O2 that do not cause an intracellular oxidative burst and do not damage cells, as demonstrated with fluorescent staining.
More than the Affordable Care Act: Topics and Themes in Health Policy Research
Authors: Frazier Lisa A.
Published: April 2016

As debates in industrialized countries over the last century indicate, health care and the role of government in its provision are complex and contentious issues. This article provides an orientation to the variety of topics guiding research and discourse in U.S. health policy, as well as how those topical areas influence and engage each other. This paper introduces five prominent themes in health policy research, namely (i) biomedical policy, (ii) public health policy, (iii) health economics, (iv) health care policy, and (v) health informatics policy. It also provides specific examples from current scholarship. Broad themes that connect those lines of inquiry are highlighted with recommendations for future research.
Comparing the Politics of Hydraulic Fracturing inNewYork,Colorado, andTexas
Authors: Weible Christopher M. , Heikkila Tanya
Published: April 2016

The purpose of this article is to analyze perceptions and activities of policy actors, who are actively involved in or knowledgeable about the politics of hydraulic fracturing in New York, Colorado, and Texas. The analysis is guided by research questions drawn from the Advocacy Coalition Framework that focus on policy actors’ policy positions, problem perceptions, political capacity, activities, and interactions. In doing so, we examine the differences between those policy actors who are opposed to hydraulic fracturing relative to those who support hydraulic fracturing across the three states using data from online surveys administered in 2013 and 2014. The results show polarization between opponents and proponents in their policy positions on hydraulic fracturing, which are associated with problem perceptions. Proponents and opponents of hydraulic fracturing also have different capacities, activities, and interactions. The results are similar across states but not without nuanced differences, including greater polarization in New York, higher levels of government support for proponents of hydraulic fracturing in Texas, and more frequent coalition building in Colorado.
We Hold Antihypertensives Prior To Dialysis
Authors: Krishnan Namrata , Peixoto Aldo J.
Published: April 2016

Hypertension is the most common complication of end‐stage renal disease and chronic hemodialysis and yet, only a third of these patients have adequately controlled blood pressures. Pathogenesis of hypertension in this population is complex and multifactorial and therefore poses numerous treatment challenges. Furthermore, it is common practice among nephrologists to withhold antihypertensives prior to a hemodialysis procedure due to concerns for intradialytic hypotension (IDH). Intradialytic hypertension (ID‐HTN) is an increasingly recognized phenomenon and although less common than IDH, portends poor cardiovascular prognosis as well as reflects higher hypertension burden in the dialysis population. Withholding antihypertensives prior to dialysis routinely in patients may worsen interdialytic blood pressure control as well as increase the prevalence of euvolemic ID‐HTN. It may also increase the risk of cardiac arrhythmias and further compromise hemodynamic stability during dialysis. In such situations, predialysis administration of antihypertensive is appropriate and necessary and drug choice should be based on the patient's comorbidities, pharmacokinetics of the drug and its dialyzability.
Effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy on health‐related quality of life: An evaluation of therapies provided by trainee therapists
Authors: Henriksson Sophie , Anclair Malin , Hiltunen Arto J.
Published: April 2016

The present study was carried out to examine the treatment effect of cognitive behavioral therapy provided by trainee therapists at a university clinic, focusing on health‐related quality of life (HRQOL) optimism and symptoms. The study was conducted through a repeated measures design and included a treatment group (n = 21), which received cognitive behavioral therapy for an average of 10.7 therapy sessions and a control group (n = 14), that was put on a wait list for 8.6 weeks on average. After treatment, the treatment group improved significantly concerning general health (p = 0.028) and optimism (p = 0.027). In addition, clients improved in several areas within mental health and displayed some reduction in anxiety symptoms. Concurrently, the results also indicated some improvement within the control group, which may have been caused by the initial therapeutic contact, expectancy effects or spontaneous remission. The study concluded that cognitive behavioral therapy provided by trainee therapists may have a positive effect on areas within HRQOL and optimism.
Do securely and insecurely attached children derive well‐being from different forms of gender identity?
Authors: Menon Meenakshi , Menon Madhavi , Cooper Patrick J. , Pauletti Rachel E. , Tobin Desiree D. , Spatta Brooke C. , Hafen Christopher A. , Peets Kätlin , Hodges Ernest V. E. , Perry David G.
Published: April 2016

We examined whether attachment security moderates influences of two gender identity variables—felt gender typicality and felt pressure for gender differentiation—on preadolescents' well‐being. We tested two hypotheses. The first was that attachment security protects children from the distress that can stem from feeling gender atypical or from feeling pressure for gender conformity. The second was that secure children derive well‐being from believing they are similar to same‐gender peers whereas insecure children derive well‐being from believing it important to be different from other‐gender peers. We assessed children's attachment security, gender identity, and well‐being (self‐esteem, internalizing problems) in two successive years (N = 211, M initial age = 10.1 years). Results supported the second hypothesis. Attachment security may govern children's contingencies of well‐being.
Visual Political Communication: The Impact of Facial Cues from Social Constituencies to Personal Pocketbooks
Authors: Carpinella Colleen M. , Johnson Kerri L.
Published: April 2016

Voters often use visual cues such as facial appearance when forming impressions of political candidates. Originally, psychological research on appearance‐based politics focused on understanding whether or not these facial cues were consequential for political judgments. As this sub‐field of study has expanded, the focus has shifted to understanding how and what facial cues voters utilize in their decision‐making. From this perspective, inferences about political candidates are characterized by a number of interrelated appearance‐based cues such as facial competence, physical attractiveness, and ingrained gender stereotypes that manifest in politicians' appearance. Importantly, this expanded research focus now includes a broader range of evaluative judgments that are influenced by candidates' facial appearance. Here, we provide an overview of the research on the use of appearance‐based cues in political decision‐making including initial information gathered about candidates, the evaluation of candidates' potential to be effective leaders, and the decision of whether or not to support candidates in an election.
Intergenerational Relations between English Students, Graduates Living at Home, and their Parents
Authors: Lewis Jane , West Anne
Published: April 2016

Debate about intergenerational relations has become more prominent since the financial crisis of 2007–09, focusing particularly on the difficulties faced by young adults trying to enter the labour and housing markets, whilst often bearing high levels of debt incurred as students. This article reviews the nature of the ‘intergenerational contract’ at both the micro level of the family, and at the macro level between individuals and the state. We then present qualitative, empirical data on the relationship between parents and: (1) their student children; and (2) their graduate children who have returned home. We focus primarily on the financial support provided by parents to the two groups. We explore why support is given, and the nature of similarities and differences in terms of what is given. We find that virtually all parents who were able to support their young adult children financially did so, but to different degrees and with different amounts of tension and anxiety. We suggest that the increased importance of the intergenerational contract at the micro level is likely to contribute to intra‐ rather than intergenerational inequalities.
Teachers' Considerations of Students' Thinking During Mathematics Lesson Design
Authors: Amador Julie M.
Published: April 2016

Teachers' abilities to design mathematics lessons are related to their capability to mobilize resources to meeting intended learning goals based on their noticing. In this process, knowing how teachers consider Students' thinking is important for understanding how they are making decisions to promote student learning. While teaching, what teachers notice influences their decision‐making process. This article explores the mathematics lesson planning practices of four 4th‐grade teachers at the same school to understand how their consideration of Students' learning influences planning decisions. Case study methodology was used to gain an in‐depth perspective of the mathematics planning practices of the teachers. Results indicate the teachers took varying approaches in how they considered students. One teacher adapted instruction based on Students' conceptual understanding, two teachers aimed at producing skill‐efficient students, and the final teacher regulated learning with a strict adherence to daily lessons in curriculum materials, with little emphasis on student understanding. These findings highlight the importance of providing professional development support to teachers focused on their noticing and considerations of Students' mathematical understandings as related to learning outcomes. These findings are distinguished from other studies because of the focus on how teachers consider Students' thinking during lesson planning.

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Photoperiodic and thermosensory pathways interact through CONSTANS to promote flowering at high temperature under short days
Authors: Fernández Virginia , Takahashi Yasuyuki , Le Gourrierec José , Coupland George
Published: April 2016

Plants detect changes in day length to induce seasonal patterns of flowering. The photoperiodic pathway accelerates the flowering of Arabidopsis thaliana under long days (LDs) whereas it is inactive under short days (SDs), resulting in delayed flowering. This delay is overcome by exposure of plants to high temperature (27°C) under SDs (27°C‐SD). Previously, the high‐temperature flowering response was proposed to involve either the impaired activity of MADS‐box transcription factor (TF) floral repressors or PHYTOCHROME‐INTERACTING FACTOR 4 (PIF4) TF‐mediated activation of FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT), which encodes the output signal of the photoperiodic pathway. We integrate these observations by studying several PIFs, the MADS‐box SHORT VEGETATIVE PHASE (SVP) and the photoperiodic pathway under 27°C‐SD. We find that the mRNAs of FT and its paralogue TWIN SISTER OF FT (TSF) are increased at dusk under 27°C‐SD compared with 21°C‐SD, and that this requires PIF4 and PIF5 as well as CONSTANS (CO), a TF that promotes flowering under LDs. The CO and PIF4 proteins are present at dusk under 27°C‐SD, and they physically interact. Although Col‐0 plants flower at similar times under 27°C‐SD and 21°C‐LD the expression level of FT is approximately 10‐fold higher under 21°C‐LD, suggesting that responsiveness to FT is also increased under 27°C‐SD, perhaps as a result of the reduced activity of SVP in the meristem. Accordingly, only svp‐41 ft‐10 tsf‐1 plants flowered at the same time under 21°C‐SD and 27°C‐SD. Thus, we propose that under non‐inductive SDs, elevated temperatures increase the activity and sensitize the response to the photoperiod pathway.
Wage and Price Dynamics in China
Authors: Holz Carsten A. , Mehrotra Aaron
Published: April 2016

We study wage‐price dynamics in Mainland China with a novel data set using province‐level data from 1994 to 2010. We find that the growth in labour costs in China is not passed through fully to final prices, neither in the tradable goods sector nor in the economy as a whole. This probably reflects the strong pressure on profit margins from a highly competitive environment, especially in manufactured goods. These findings have potential implications for global price developments, given China's relevance in global supply chains.
Economic Effects of the Syrian War and the Spread of the Islamic State on the Levant
Authors: Ianchovichina Elena , Ivanic Maros
Published: April 2016

This paper uses a global computable general equilibrium framework with new detail on six Levant countries – the Arab Republic of Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, the Syrian Arab Republic and Turkey – to quantify the direct and indirect economic effects of the Syrian war and the advance of the Islamic State on the Levant. Syria and Iraq bear the brunt of the direct economic costs, while the other Levant countries lose in per capita but not in aggregate terms as the inflows of refugees increase the size of their populations. The war has undermined progress towards deeper regional trade integration, thus adding to varying degrees to the direct costs sustained by the Levant economies and, in the cases of Syria and Iraq, doubling their welfare losses. All Levant countries are foregoing opportunities to expand intra‐Levant trade and the associated gains in economic efficiency. The average welfare effects are not indicative of the distributional effects of war within countries.
Physics-Based Lumped-Parameter Modeling of Automotive Canister Fuel Purge
Authors: Franchek Matthew , Ebrahimi Behrouz , Grigoriadis Karolos , Makki Imad
Published: April 2016

A physics-based model is presented to estimate the flow rate out of the fuel canister purged into the intake manifold. The lumped parameters of the model, including canister capacitance and flow resistance, are employed to obtain a first-order multi-input and single-output dynamic model. The vacuum pressure in the intake manifold and the fuel tank pressure serve as inputs, and the purged fuel flow rate is considered as the model output. The model does not require cumbersome computation, thereby allowing direct implementation in the fueling control to compensate for the extra fuel in regulation of the stoichiometric air–fuel ratio.
Development of Noninteraction Material Models With Cyclic Hardening
Authors: Bouchenot Thomas , Felemban Bassem , Mejia Cristian , Gordon Ali P.
Published: April 2016

Simulation plays a critical role in the development and evaluation of critical components that are regularly subjected to mechanical loads at elevated temperatures. The cost, applicability, and accuracy of either numerical or analytical simulations are largely dependent on the material model chosen for the application. A noninteraction (NI) model derived from individual elastic, plastic, and creep components is developed in this study. The candidate material under examination for this application is 2.25Cr–1Mo, a low-alloy ferritic steel commonly used in chemical processing, nuclear reactors, pressure vessels, and power generation. Data acquired from prior research over a range of temperatures up to 650 °C are used to calibrate the creep and plastic components described using constitutive models generally native to general-purpose fea. Traditional methods invoked to generate constitutive modeling coefficients employ numerical fittings of hysteresis data, which result in values that are neither repeatable nor display reasonable temperature dependence. By extrapolating simplifications commonly used for reduced-order model approximations, an extension utilizing only the cyclic Ramberg–Osgood (RO) coefficients has been developed. This method is used to identify the nonlinear kinematic hardening (NLKH) constants needed at each temperature. Single-element simulations are conducted to verify the accuracy of the approach. Results are compared with isothermal and nonisothermal literature data.
Implementation of an Infinite-Height Levee in CaFunwave Using an Immersed-Boundary Method
Authors: Oler Adam , Zhang Ning , Brandt Steven R. , Chen Qin
Published: April 2016

Numerical simulations of storm-surge–wave actions on coastal highways and levees are very important research topics for coastal engineering. In a large-scale region hydrodynamic model, highways and levees are often complicated in geometry and much smaller in size compared to the grid spacing. The immersed-boundary method (IBM) allows for those complicated geometries to be modeled in a less expensive way. It can allow very small geometries to be modeled in a large-scale simulation, without requiring them to be explicitly on the grid. It can also allow for complicated geometries not collocated on the grid points. CaFunwave is a project that uses the Cactus Framework for modeling a solitary coastal wave impinging on a coastline and is the wave solver in this research. The IBM allows for a levee with different geometries to be implemented on a simple Cartesian grid in the CaFunwave package. The IBM has not been often used previously for these types of applications. Implementing an infinite-height levee using the IBM into the Cactus project CaFunwave involves introducing immersed-boundary (IB) forcing terms into the standard two-dimensional (2D) depth-averaged shallow water equation set. These forcing terms cause the 2D solitary wave to experience a virtual force at the grid points surrounding the IB levee. In this paper, the levee was implemented and tested using two different IBMs. The first method was a feedback-forcing method, which proved to be more effective at modeling the levee than the second method, the direct-forcing method. In this study, the results of the two methods are presented and discussed. The effect of levee shape on the flow is also investigated and discussed in this paper.
An Experimental Study of Robustness of Multi-Objective Optimal Sliding Mode Control
Authors: Qin Zhi-Chang , Xiong Fu-Rui , Sun Jian-Qiao
Published: April 2016

This paper presents an experimental study of robustness of multi-objective optimal sliding mode control, which is designed in a previous study. Inertial and stiffness uncertainties are introduced to a two degrees-of-freedom (DOF) under-actuated rotary flexible joint system. A randomly selected design from the Pareto set of multi-objective optimal sliding mode controls is used in the experiments. Three indices are introduced to evaluate the performance variation of the tracking control in the presence of uncertainties. We have found that the multi-objective optimal sliding mode control is quite robust against the inertial and stiffness uncertainties in terms of maintaining the stability and delivering satisfactory tracking performance as compared to the control of the nominal system, even when the uncertainty is not a small quantity. Furthermore, we have studied the effect of upper bounds of the model estimation error on the stability of the closed-loop system.
Plate Diffuser Performance in Spherical Tank Thermocline Storage System
Authors: Khan Fahad , Savilonis Brian J.
Published: April 2016

Thermal energy storage (TES) systems that store sensible heat in liquid media require the use of storage tanks. Spherical tanks require less building material and insulation, which might reduce the overall cost of a TES system while providing structural rigidity. The current study investigates an optimized plate diffuser in a thermocline spherical tank storage system to possibly increase the discharge flow rate without disrupting the thermocline region and without reducing the tank thermal efficiency. For low temperature (10–90 °C heat storage applications), such as heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) and thermal water desalination, storing hot water in a thermocline system can increase the system thermal efficiency by up to 40% when compared to a fully mixed water tank and reduce the installation cost by 30% compared to a two-tank system. This study examines using a spherical tank in a thermocline system for such applications. A computational fluid dynamic (CFD) study simulated the discharge process from a spherical storage tank thermocline water system. Thermocline thickness and temperature profile in the tank were numerically determined for Reynolds number, Re = 600 and Froude number, Fr = 1.2; results were then experimentally validated. A CFD parametric study with (500 < Re < 7500) and (0.5 < Fr < 3.3): (i) determined the influence of tank flow dimensionless numbers (Reynolds, Froude, Richardson, and Archimedes) on thermal efficiency and thermocline thickness, (ii) produced an equation to predict the tank thermal efficiency using flow dimensionless numbers, and (iii) estimated the thermocline region volume occupation as a percentage of the total volume. The study of an optimized plate diffuser produced an equation for thermal efficiency based on Re and Fr numbers and estimated a thermocline volume equal to 15% of total tank volume. Flow rate ramp up by a factor of 3 was possible after the thermocline region was formed without losing tank thermal efficiency.
Diabetes: The roles of brains, brawn, and brown fat?
Authors: Stanley Sarah A.
Published: April 2016

A central nervous system circuit regulating brown fat function and gene expression may play a role in the development of insulin resistance.
Worth more than the paper it’s written on
Authors: Evans Conor L.
Published: April 2016

Simple, low-cost diagnostic tool reliably measures respiration rate using graphite ink and common laboratory paper.
Do as the pathogens do
Authors: Ulery Bret D.
Published: April 2016

New bacteria-inspired design of a vaccine-adjuvant delivery system leads to enhanced immune responses.
Science Translational Medicine
Podcast: 27 April 2016
Authors: Dean Jurrien , VanHook Annalisa M.
Published: April 2016

Peptide-coated beads could be used for contraception or to select the sperm best suited for use in assisted reproduction.
Toxic shock syndrome in Australian children
Authors: Chen Katherine Y H , Cheung Michael , Burgner David P , Curtis Nigel
Published: April 2016

Background

There are limited data describing the epidemiology, management and outcomes of children with toxic shock syndrome (TSS), a potentially life-threatening illness. Here, we describe the incidence, clinical features, treatment and outcome of children with staphylococcal and streptococcal TSS in Victoria, Australia.

Methods

Retrospective chart review of children admitted between 2003 and 2014 to two tertiary paediatric referral centres who fulfilled the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention case definition of TSS.

Results

There were 62 cases over the 11-year period; 43 staphylococcal TSS and 19 streptococcal TSS. The majority (46 (74%)) of cases were admitted to an intensive care unit and 44 (71%) required inotropic support. Compared with those with staphylococcal TSS, patients with streptococcal TSS were younger, more unwell and more likely to have residual morbidity. Adjunctive therapy with intravenous immunoglobulin or clindamycin was used in 58 (94%) of cases and fresh frozen plasma was used in 15 (24%). Seven patients received extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. All patients survived.

Conclusions

This study highlights the importance of early recognition of TSS and supports rapid tertiary referral and intensive care management, which includes the use of adjunctive therapy with intravenous immunoglobulin and clindamycin.
International Olympic Committee consensus statement: harassment and abuse (non-accidental violence) in sport
Authors: Mountjoy Margo , Brackenridge Celia , Arrington Malia , Blauwet Cheri , Carska-Sheppard Andrea , Fasting Kari , Kirby Sandra , Leahy Trisha , Marks Saul , Martin Kathy , Starr Katherine , Tiivas Anne , Budgett Richard
Published: April 2016

Despite the well-recognised benefits of sport, there are also negative influences on athlete health, well-being and integrity caused by non-accidental violence through harassment and abuse. All athletes have a right to engage in ‘safe sport’, defined as an athletic environment that is respectful, equitable and free from all forms of non-accidental violence to athletes. Yet, these issues represent a blind spot for many sport organisations through fear of reputational damage, ignorance, silence or collusion. This consensus statement extends the 2007 IOC Consensus Statement on Sexual Harassment and Abuse in Sport, presenting additional evidence of several other types of harassment and abuse—psychological, physical and neglect. All ages and types of athletes are susceptible to these problems but science confirms that elite, disabled, child and lesbian/gay/bisexual/trans-sexual (LGBT) athletes are at highest risk, that psychological abuse is at the core of all other forms and that athletes can also be perpetrators. Harassment and abuse arise from prejudices expressed through power differences. Perpetrators use a range of interpersonal mechanisms including contact, non-contact/verbal, cyber-based, negligence, bullying and hazing. Attention is paid to the particular risks facing child athletes, athletes with a disability and LGBT athletes. Impacts on the individual athlete and the organisation are discussed. Sport stakeholders are encouraged to consider the wider social parameters of these issues, including cultures of secrecy and deference that too often facilitate abuse, rather than focusing simply on psychopathological causes. The promotion of safe sport is an urgent task and part of the broader international imperative for good governance in sport. A systematic multiagency approach to prevention is most effective, involving athletes, entourage members, sport managers, medical and therapeutic practitioners, educators and criminal justice agencies. Structural and cultural remedies, as well as practical recommendations, are suggested for sport organisations, athletes, sports medicine and allied disciplines, sport scientists and researchers. The successful prevention and eradication of abuse and harassment against athletes rests on the effectiveness of leadership by the major international and national sport organisations.
Free Fall Acrobatics to Reduce Neck Loads During Parachute Opening Shock: Evaluation of an Intervention (ACROPOSE)
Authors: Westman Anton , Äng Björn O
Published: April 2016

Introduction

Neck pain is a widespread health problem in the skydiver athlete population, epidemiologically linked to repeated exposure to parachute opening shock (POS). During POS, a parachutist is subjected to considerable deceleration forces. This study aims to evaluate the use of preventive free fall acrobatics to reduce the biomechanical load on the neck of parachutists during parachute opening.

Methods and analysis

Interventional study with a cross-over, within-subject, repeated measures design. Two consecutive skydives are made on the same day with random ordering of either an ‘intervention jump’ or a ‘control jump’. The intervention jump contains two acrobatic elements prior to main parachute extraction: Reducing parachute deployment airspeed and positioning the human body head high. The primary outcome measure is the magnitude of initial Gx deceleration. All other directions of accelerations will be measured as well, as will magnitudes of multidirectional jerks (rates of changes of accelerations) and lower neck torque. Repeated within group measures analysis of variance will be used to quantify effects, and regression used to test for relationships between the elements of the intervention.

Ethics and dissemination

Regional Medical Research Ethics Committee of Stockholm approval 2015/1189-31. The intervention protocol has been systematically prevalidated with an emphasis on participant safety. The study will be conducted in compliance with the Declaration of Helsinki, and its results published in peer-reviewed journals, preferably Open Access, to maximise access for the target athlete population.

Trial registration number

NCT02625896. Pre-results.
Methodological considerations for researching the financial costs of family caregiving within a palliative care context
Authors: Gardiner Clare , Allen Ruth , Moeke-Maxwell Tess , Robinson Jackie , Gott Merryn
Published: April 2016

Background

The financial impact of family caregiving in a palliative care context has been identified as an issue which requires further research. However, little is known about how research should be conducted in this area.

Objective

The aim of this study was to explore the opinions of family caregivers in New Zealand regarding the need to conduct research relating to the financial costs of family caregiving and to explore their perspectives on acceptable and feasible methods of data collection.

Methods

A qualitative study design was adopted. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 30 family caregivers who were either currently caring for a person with palliative care needs or had done so in the past year.

Results

All participants felt that research relating to the costs of family caregiving within a palliative care context was important. There was little consensus regarding the most appropriate methods of data collection and administration. Online methods were preferred by many participants, although face-to-face methods were particularly favoured by Ma¯ori participants. Both questionnaires and cost diaries were felt to have strengths and weaknesses.

Conclusions

Prospective longitudinal designs are likely to be most appropriate for future research, in order to capture variations in costs over time. The lack of consensus for a single preferred method makes it difficult to formulate specific recommendations regarding methods of data collection; providing participants with options for methods of completion may therefore be appropriate.
Fatty acid profile of British Columbia suckler beef
Authors: Turner Tyler D. , Hartling Ivan , Jensen Jessica , Pilfold Jessica L. , Prema Dipesh , Van Hamme Jonathan D. , Cinel Bruno , Donkor Kingsley K. , Church John S.
Published: April 2016

In this study, the influence of feeding system on the fatty acid (FA) profile of suckler beef (SB), moderate grain-fed (MG), and grass-fed (GF) beef was compared. It was found that total saturated FA content was not affected; however, greater 14:0, total polyunsaturated FA content, and lower n-6/n-3 ratio suggest some transmittance of milk FA in SB calves (P < 0.001).
Synchrony in larval yellow perch abundance: the influence of the Moran Effect during early life history
Authors: Dembkowski Daniel J. , Willis David W. , Wuellner Melissa R.
Published: April 2016

Recruitment may vary substantially in fish populations, which can drive not only adult population characteristics but also the dynamics of fishes dependent on the species of interest and recreational fisheries for these species. However, spatiotemporal trends in population fluctuations and potential drivers of recruitment variability are poorly understood. Therefore, we used a long-term (2000–2014) data set to estimate the extent of spatial synchrony in larval abundance and factors influencing variability in recruitment of yellow perch (Perca flavescens). Contrary to the prevailing paradigm that spatial synchrony in population fluctuations (i.e., recruitment) is typically absent or occurs at small spatial scales (<50 km) for freshwater species, abundance of larval yellow perch was synchronous among spatially segregated systems across a geographic scale of at least 180 km. Additionally, variation in larval yellow perch density was influenced by spatially-correlated climatic and hydrological variables (indicative of the Moran Effect). Results ultimately broaden the scale at which factors were previously thought to influence recruitment of freshwater fishes and provide important insight to patterns and processes that structure yellow perch populations.
Mass Measurements of the Unstable Nuclei 72Se, 82Sr, 100Pd, 118Te,128Ba, and 160Er Using the (p,t) Reaction
Authors: Debenham P. , Falk W. R. , Canty M.
Published: April 2016

The two-neutron separation energies (S2n) for the lightest stable isotopes of the elements Se, Sr, Pd, Te, Ba, and Er have been determined to within < 28 keV by measuring the (p,t) reaction Q values. These S2n values are all lower than previous estimates for β-decay energy systematics, by up to 400 keV. They fit, however, into the systematics of S2n.
Cross Section Measurements for the 103Rh(n,n′)103Rhm Reaction from 0.122 to 14.74 MeV
Authors: Santry D. C. , Butler J. P.
Published: April 2016

Cross sections for the production of 103Rhm were measured by the activation method. At energies below 5.3 MeV the neutron flux was measured with a calibrated neutron long counter, while at higher energies, measurements were made relative to the known cross section for the 32S(n,p)32P reaction. The shape of the Rh excitation curve is discussed in terms of known energy levels in 103Rh. An effective cross section for a 235U fission neutron spectrum calculated from the measured excitation curve is 724 ± 43 mb.
Etat excité du 12C à 18.36 MeV
Authors: Goulard Gisèle , Turcotte Gilles
Published: April 2016

The energy level of 12C at 18.36 MeV is investigated with the reaction 11B(p, α)2α. Both suggested values, 2+ and 3−, for its spin and parity are used to compute the cross section in the laboratory σL, which corresponds to the detection of two alphas of the final state. Comparison of σL with the experimental data confirms that 3− is the most probable value. A tentative evaluation of the percentage of different outgoing channels is given in order to complete the analysis.
Non-relativistic s-wave binding energies of Λ-particle in hypernuclei
Authors: Armat A. , Hassanabadi H.
Published: April 2016

In this work, the ground state binding energy of [Formula: see text]-particle in hypernuclei is investigated by using analytical solution of non-relativistic Schrödinger equation in the presence of a generalized Woods–Saxon-type interaction. The comparison with the experimental data is motivating.
An Automated Approach for Scheduling Bug Fix Tasks
Authors: Netto Fernando de Castro , Barros Márcio de Oliveira , Alvim Adriana C. F.
Published: April 2016

Software projects usually maintain bug repositories where both developers and end users can report and track the resolution of software defects. These defects should be fixed and new versions of the software incorporating the patches that solve them must be released. The project manager must schedule a set of error correction tasks with different priorities in order to minimize the time required to accomplish these tasks and guarantee that the more important issues have been fixed. This problem is recurrent for most software organizations and, given the enormous number of potential schedules, a tool that searches for good schedules may be helpful to project managers. In this work we propose a genetic algorithm using information captured from bug repositories to find near optimal schedules. We evaluated our approach using a subset of the Eclipse bug repository and the results suggested better schedules than the schedule followed by the developers and schedules proposed by a simpler search procedure.
On higher holonomy invariants in higher gauge theory I
Authors: Zucchini Roberto
Published: April 2016

This is the first of a series of two technical papers devoted to the analysis of holonomy invariants in strict higher gauge theory with end applications in higher Chern–Simons theory. For a flat 2-connection, we define the 2-holonomy of surface knots of arbitrary genus and determine its covariance properties under 1-gauge transformation and change of base data.
Executive Stock Options and Earnings Management: A Theoretical and Empirical Analysis
Authors: Kadan Ohad , Yang Jun
Published: April 2016

We study the effect of the grants of executive stock options (ESOs) and restricted stock on earnings management and insider trading during the vesting years of these grants. In our theoretical model, an informed manager compensated by stock options is mandated to issue an earnings report. Uninformed investors price the stock based on this report. The manager can manipulate the report to affect the stock price, but earnings management is costly to the manager. The optimal report balances the benefits from exercising stock options and the costs of earnings management. Earnings management and insider trading occur at the vesting date only if the options are in the money post manipulation, and are intensified by larger grants. The model identifies three major determinants of the extent of both earnings management and insider trading: The moneyness of the options at the vesting date, the size of the grants, and cumulative stock returns between the grant date and the vesting date. Our empirical results confirm that the moneyness of newly granted stock options and cumulative stock returns are strongly correlated with both earnings management and insider trading in vesting years. In contrast, the size of the grants is only weakly related to earnings management and insider trading in vesting years.
Evaluating a Water Conservation Response to Climate Change in the Lower Boise River Basin
Authors: Schmidt Robert D. , Taylor R. Garth
Published: April 2016

Aquifers created or sustained by seepage losses from Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) Projects extend over vast areas of western states. Yet agricultural water conservation measures such as canal lining top the list of State and Federal policies for mitigating the effect of water shortages brought about by climate change. Cost benefit analysis (CBA) of new Reclamation water conservation infrastructure such as canal lining or piping is too often Project-specific, and detached from basin hydrology. The value of canal seepage as a positive externality is thus ignored in CBA. A basin-wide approach to hydro-economic modeling that accounts for the externalized costs and benefits of both canal seepage and new canal lining conservation insures that incidental aquifer recharge is recognized in CBA of Federally financed irrigation water conservation measures. Integrated hydrologic and partial equilibrium models are employed in the Lower Boise River basin to calculate the foregone benefit to non-project groundwater and drain water irrigation of a hypothetical Boise Project canal lining response to projected climate change water shortages. Basin-wide hydrologic response data is used to compute shifts in non-project groundwater supply functions and drain water supply constraints, and a base-case water supply scenario is compared to six climate change scenarios in which projected water shortages are offset by lining of project canals. The foregone net benefit to non-project groundwater and drain water irrigation resulting from elimination of the canal seepage externality (US$[Formula: see text]4.4–22.6[Formula: see text]million depending on the scenario) outweighs the increase in net benefit to Boise Project irrigation by canal lining (US$[Formula: see text]1.4–19.3[Formula: see text]million). On average, foregone groundwater and drain water irrigation benefit exceeds restored canal irrigation benefit by about 38%. Canal lining conservation is unable to restore total basin-wide irrigation net benefit to the base-case level in any of the climate change scenarios; rather it shifts the foregone benefit of climate change shortages from project canal irrigation to non-project groundwater and drain water irrigation. The canal lining CPA is not a complete accounting of either costs or benefits of canal lining conservation. On the cost side, only the foregone benefits of eliminating the positive canal seepage externality are calculated; construction and maintenance costs of canal lining are omitted. On the benefit side, Arrowrock canal irrigators are assumed to be the sole beneficiary of reduced seepage losses.
Spatial Dynamic Optimization of Groundwater Use with Ecological Standards for Instream Flow
Authors: Speir Cameron , Han Jae , Brozović Nicholas
Published: April 2016

We examine how variations in the spatial distribution and timing of groundwater management actions, as well as the physical characteristics of a stream aquifer system, affect regulators’ ability to meet instream goals in a stream-aquifer system. We propose an optimization model that distributes restrictions on groundwater pumping among a set of irrigators in a way that minimizes costs, subject to meeting instream flow requirements. Our model is distinguished by two features: (1) instream flow requirements must be met daily and (2) we incorporate a hydrologic model of stream-aquifer interaction that allows the time lags of the stream depletion impact that vary across space. Our results show that there is a tradeoff between the daily magnitude and duration of the stream-depletion effect: more distant wells have a smaller, but longer-lived, impact on streamflow. We find that there exist important cases where in drought years where wells located closer to the stream should be allocated more water than wells farther from the stream, despite having a smaller overall effect on stream depletion. Our results show the importance of considering the lag between the time at which pumping occurs and the time at which stream depletion related to that pumping occurs.
Delegation as art
Authors: Matsudaira Kate
Published: April 2016

Be someone who makes everyone else better.
A Stack Memory Abstraction and Symbolic Analysis Framework for Executables
Authors: Anand Kapil , Elwazeer Khaled , Kotha Aparna , Smithson Matthew , Barua Rajeev , Keromytis Angelos
Published: April 2016

This article makes three contributions regarding reverse-engineering of executables. First, techniques are presented for recovering a precise and correct stack-memory model in executables while addressing executable-specific challenges such as indirect control transfers. Next, the enhanced memory model is employed to define a novel symbolic analysis framework for executables that can perform the same types of program analyses as source-level tools. Third, a demand-driven framework is presented to enhance the scalability of the symbolic analysis framework. Existing symbolic analysis frameworks for executables fail to simultaneously maintain the properties of correct representation, a precise stack-memory model, and scalability. Furthermore, they ignore memory-allocated variables when defining symbolic analysis mechanisms. Our methods do not use symbolic, relocation or debug information, which are usually absent in deployed binaries. We describe our framework, highlighting the novel intellectual contributions of our approach and demonstrating its efficacy and robustness. Our techniques improve the precision of existing stack-memory models by 25%, enhance scalability of our basic symbolic analysis mechanism by 10×, and successfully uncovers five previously undiscovered information-flow vulnerabilities in several widely used programs.
Bringing computer science to U.S. schools, state by state
Authors: Guzdial Mark
Published: April 2016

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Mark Guzdial considers the crucial role of states in Computer Science for All.
Silicon photonics
Authors: Monroe Don
Published: April 2016

Processes for making CMOS chips are adapted for optical components.
Coding as sport
Authors: Kirkpatrick Keith
Published: April 2016

Programming competitions help identify and reward those who excel in coding.
Expanding design possibilities for life with dementia
Authors: Hwang Amy S. , Truong Khai N. , Mihailidis Alex
Published: April 2016

This forum is dedicated to personal health in all its many facets: decision making, goal setting, celebration, discovery, reflection, and coordination, among others. We look at innovations in interactive technologies and how they help address current critical healthcare challenges.
--- Gillian R. Hayes, Editor
ACM's 2016 general election
Authors: CACM Staff
Published: April 2016

Meet the candidates who introduce their plans---and stands---for the Association.
Preserving hybrid objects
Authors: Anderson David P.
Published: April 2016

Brutal lessons from contemporary art.
Static presentation consistency issues in smartphone mapping apps
Authors: Samet Hanan , Nutanong Sarana , Fruin Brendan C.
Published: April 2016

Comparing smartphone mapping apps leads to unexpected surprises.