bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Systematic Review on the Functions of Rap Among Gangs
Authors: Lozon Jeffrey , Bensimon Moshe
Published: November 2015

Although the field of gangs is well studied, information regarding the way gangs may use or misuse music for different needs is sparse. The aim of this systematic review is to gather descriptive and empirical information to ascertain the important roles rap music possesses within gang life. This review suggests five main functions of rap used within gangs with an emphasis on the subgenre of gangsta rap. First, rap facilitates antisocial behavior by reinforcing such messages in its lyrics. Second, its deviant lyrics serve as a reflection of the violent reality experienced in many urban ghetto communities. Third, it operates as a means for constructing individual and collective identity, as well as resistance identity. Fourth, it functions as an educating force by teaching its members how to act and respond in the urban ghetto. Finally, rap glorifies gang norms among newcomers and successfully spreads its values to the general population.
Environmental Sustainability in a Sraffian Framework
Authors: Hahnel Robin
Published: November 2015

This article expands the Sraffian framework to address environmental sustainability by showing how to define and measure what ecological economists call “throughput” and increases in throughput efficiency. In the process it clarifies issues that are often muddled in the steady-state and de-growth literatures.

JEL classification: B51, Q55, Q56
A Capital Invariant Solution to the Marxian Transformation Problem
Authors: Montes-Rojas Gabriel
Published: November 2015

This paper constructs a new solution to the Marxian transformation problem in a simple reproduction economy. It imposes two invariant equations using both constant and variable capital, separately, in order to solve the price and value system. This solution produces a profit rate that lays in between the “new interpretation” and labor-valued profit rates.
Potential mercury emissions from fluorescent lamps production and obsolescence in mainland China
Authors: Tan Quanyin , Li Jinhui
Published: December 2015

The use of fluorescent lamps has expanded rapidly all over the world in recent years, because of their energy-saving capability. Consequently, however, mercury emissions from production, breakage, and discard of the lamps are drawing increasing concern from the public. This article focuses on evaluating the amount of mercury used for fluorescent lamp production, as well as the potential mercury emissions during production and breakage, in mainland China. It is expected to provide a comprehensive understanding about the risks present in the mercury from fluorescent lamps, and to know about the impacts of the policies on fluorescent lamps after their implementation. It is estimated that, in 2020, mercury consumption will be about 11.30–15.69 tonnes, a significant reduction of 34.9%–37.4% from that used in 2013, owing to improvement in mercury dosing dosage technology and tighter limitations on mercury content in fluorescent lamps. With these improvements, the amount of mercury remaining in fluorescent lamps and released during production is estimated to be 10.71–14.86 and 0.59–0.83 tonnes, respectively; the mercury released from waste fluorescent lamps is estimated to be about 5.37–7.59 tonnes. Also, a significant reduction to the mercury emission can be expected when a collection and treatment system is well established and conducted in the future.
On-machine truing of diamond wheel and high-efficiency grinding of monocrystal silicon for aspheric surface
Authors: Chen Bing , Guo Bing , Zhao Qingliang
Published: December 2015

To realize the high-efficiency grinding of the aspheric surfaces on monocrystal silicon, a novel on-machine truing method for the resin-bonded arc-shaped diamond wheels was proposed utilizing rotary green silicon carbon rod, and then the high-efficiency grinding of the aspheric surface was performed. First, the principle of mutual-wear for truing arc-shaped diamond wheel was introduced, and the truing performance was studied. The experimental results showed that the top morphology of the trued arc-shaped wheel was precise and smooth, and the run error on the top of the trued arc-shaped wheel was reduced from 41 to 10 µm after truing. Furthermore, high-efficiency grinding experiments revealed that the surface quality of the aspheric surface increased with the increase in the average material removal rates.
Interest in Babies Negatively Predicts Testosterone Responses to Sexual Visual Stimuli Among Heterosexual Young Men
Authors: Zilioli Samuele , Ponzi Davide , Henry Andrea , Kubicki Konrad , Nickels Nora , Wilson M. Claire , Maestripieri Dario
Published: December 2015

Men’s testosterone may be an important physiological mechanism mediating motivational and behavioral aspects of the mating/parenting trade-off not only over time but also in terms of stable differences between mating-oriented and parenting-oriented individuals. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that self-reported interest in babies is inversely related to testosterone reactivity to cues of short-term mating among heterosexual young men. Among 100 participants, interest in babies was related to a slow life-history strategy, as assessed by the Mini-K questionnaire, and negatively related to testosterone responses to an erotic video. Interest in babies was not associated with baseline testosterone levels or with testosterone reactivity to nonsexual social stimuli. These results provide the first evidence that differential testosterone reactivity to sexual stimuli may be an important aspect of individual differences in life-history strategies among human males.
Book Review: Amita Batra, Regional Economic Integration in South Asia: Trapped in Conflict?
Authors: Khan Maria
Published: December 2015

Amita Batra, Regional Economic Integration in South Asia: Trapped in Conflict? New York: Routledge, 2013, pp. 200, $145.00.
‘Good Policy’ Gone Bad: Institutionalised Ranking of Citizens and Identity Conflicts in Nigeria
Authors: Eke Surulola James
Published: December 2015

Contrary to mainstream thinking, the existence of diversity does not necessarily condemn a state to instability and chaos. In fact, difference is a good ingredient for progress because each group contributes its unique experiences and peculiar qualities to the cause of a nation. To produce crisis, diversity must be worked on or manipulated. With a view to gaining deeper understanding of the factors that impact on identity diversity to create conflict in Nigeria, a number of conflict theatres in the country were examined. Having explored each case, the article notes that the policies of the colonial state, that emphasised group differentiation, laid the foundation for identity conflicts. The post-colonial state is just as guilty. Its administrative arrangement for managing diversity, the federal character principle (FCP), has failed to exploit the country’s diversity to produce development. Instead, it has deepened the isolation of certain groups, thus, inhibiting national integration. Added to the deliberate manipulation of diversity for personal interests by the political class, the incidence of identity conflicts in the country can be explained. Going forward, the author stresses the need to review the FCP and close all loopholes in its enabling laws that allow for easy misinterpretation and deliberate misapplication.
Theatre for Community Development: Street Theatre as an Agent of Change in Punjab (Pakistan)
Authors: Rashid Tahmina
Published: December 2015

Street theatre has always been a significant feature in the lives of rural communities as the only source of entertainment especially in the post-harvest season. In many parts of South Asia and Africa, it has been increasingly utilised as an awareness raising and development tool by civil society and development organisations. This paper would explore street theatre in the context of Pakistan, where it has been revitalised by organisations like Lok Rahs and Ajoka. Lok Rahs has primarily focused on the needs of rural communities and remains committed to their concerns regarding health but also human rights especially women and the disadvantaged. Ajoka, on the other hand, is a professional organisation, performing in formal as well as informal settings, focusing on socio-political concerns as well as human rights issues. This article would examine the contributions of both the groups in the broader context of feminist movement in Pakistan, looking at their role as change agents in the development of rural communities in Punjab province.
Parallel-Serial Memoing
Authors: Patel Kulsum , Auton Malcolm F. , Carter Bernie , Watkins Caroline L. , Hackett Maree , Leathley Michael J. , Thornton Tim , Lightbody Catherine E.
Published: December 2015

The mechanisms by which talking therapies exert their beneficial effects are largely unknown. In exploring the process of a talking therapy, motivational interviewing (MI), when used to treat and prevent low mood in stroke survivors, we developed, what we believe to be, a novel approach to analyzing transcripts. We illustrate the method using qualitative data from MI sessions with 10 stroke survivors. The approach, drawing on grounded theory, incorporated processes of parallel and serial memoing among a team of researchers to allow a process of validation. This enabled us to describe session content and to develop theoretical interpretations of what was occurring in and across MI sessions. We found that this process can be used to integrate different perspectives in theory building, allowing for a richer description and more robust theoretical interpretation. Others can use and adapt this approach to develop insights into their own inquiry.
Cavitation noise from elastic response of metals in ultrasonic cavitation erosion
Authors: Ge Han , Li Jiang , Chen Haosheng
Published: December 2015

Noise from the cavitation around propellers is the main noise source of marine vehicles. In our experiment, we found that the material of the propeller also affected the cavitation noise, especially on their frequencies. Three most commonly used metal propeller materials, including brass (B), aluminum bronze (AlB), and stainless steel (SS), were placed in an ultrasonic cavitation system. They presented different spectral peaks in the measured cavitation noise spectrum, and the one with higher elastic modulus has a higher noise frequency. According to the numerical validation, this phenomenon is attributed to the elastic response of different metals under the impaction of the collapsing bubbles, and the elastic modulus of the metals is the dominant mechanical factor that affects the frequency.
Multiphysics-based design and analysis of the high-speed aerostatic spindle with application to micro-milling
Authors: Gao Siyu , Cheng Kai , Ding Hui , Fu Hongya
Published: December 2015

High-speed aerostatic spindles are essential for ultra-precision micro-milling machine tools. The distinguishing functional characteristics of the spindle system are achieved through innovative design and integration of thermal, fluidic, and electromagnetic physics on the spindle structure and system. These physics, together with the shaft dynamics, interact dynamically and collectively to determine the spindle’s performance. It is thus required to have a comprehensive analysis and scientific understanding on the multiple physics interactions within the spindle, which is essential for design of the spindle working at much higher speeds and accuracy under various increasingly stringent engineering conditions. This paper presents an integrated multiphysics simulation approach to design and analysis of high-speed aerostatic spindles. Based on the proposed approach, an integrated multiphysics simulation platform is developed with application to micro-milling machines. Experiments have been designed and carried out to validate the integrated multiphysics simulation method and evaluate the simulation results, which show that the integrated multiphysics model is able to predict and analyze the performance characteristics of the high-speed aerostatic spindle. The integrated multiphysics model and the corresponding virtual spindle simulation can be used as a powerful design aid for supporting the design and analysis of next generation high-speed aerostatic spindles at nanometric precision.
Influence of a purposefully negotiated season of sport education on one teacher and his pupils
Authors: Wahl-Alexander Zachary , Curtner-Smith Matthew , Sinelnikov Oleg
Published: December 2015

A small body of previous research suggests that teachers who purposefully negotiated the physical education curriculum empowered their pupils and enhanced the quality of their experience. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of one purposefully negotiated season of sport education (SE) on one teacher and his 18 male eighth grade pupils. Data were collected by employing seven qualitative techniques. These included extensive non-participant observation and formal interviews with the teacher and pupils. Data were coded, categorized, and reduced to themes using standard interpretive techniques. The purposefully negotiated SE season was largely successful and the indications were that SE provided an excellent framework on which to build such a unit. Unlike more direct models of instruction in which teachers make most of the decisions, there was no contest, in the form of negative negotiation, between the teacher and his pupils. Rather, most negotiations were positive and involved discussions among and between pupils. Key pedagogies employed by the teacher were the indirect teaching styles of guided discovery and divergent production, and the ability to avoid interfering with the pupils as they designed and implemented their SE season.
Assessment of the Impact of Skeletonization on Pleuropulmonary Changes after Bilateral Internal Thoracic Artery Harvest for Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting
Authors: Dennie C. J. , Oikonomou A. , Thornhill R. , Rubens F. D.
Published: December 2015

Background and Aims:

Skeletonization has been proposed as a technique to minimize the risk of sternal devascularization during bilateral internal thoracic artery harvest for coronary artery bypass grafting. The impact of this strategy on late radiologic pleuropulmonary changes has not been addressed.

Material and Methods:

Post-operative chest radiographs from patients ( n = 253 per group) undergoing bilateral internal thoracic artery harvest using skeletonized and non-skeletonized techniques were reviewed by blinded radiologists. The primary outcome was the incidence of atelectasis and pleural effusion. Multivariable linear regression models were derived to assess the relationship of radiologic pleuropulmonary outcomes to patients and operative variables.

Results and Conclusion:

Patients in the skeletonized group were older ( p < 0.0001), had a lower preoperative hematocrit ( p = 0.014), had higher prevalence of peripheral vascular disease ( p = 0.001), were of female gender ( p = 0.015), underwent off-pump surgery ( p < 0.001), had urgent/emergent status ( p = 0.024), and had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ( p = 0.019). There was no difference in the incidence of post-operative complications, ventilation time, or intensive care unit stay. There was no difference in the severity of post-operative atelectasis in both groups. More patients in the non-skeletonized group had a grade 2/3 left pleural effusion on the late post-operative chest X-ray ( p = 0.007). The independent effect of skeletonization on the development of a late left pleural effusion was significant (odds ratio = 0.558, 95% confidence interval = 0.359–0.866, p = 0.009). Skeletonization results in a decreased incidence of late post-operative left pleural effusion with no difference in early or late atelectasis. Further studies are warranted to assess the mechanism of these pleuropulmonary changes and the impact of other factors such as pleural violation during surgery.
Re-electing MEPs: The factors determining re-election probabilities
Authors: Frech Elena
Published: December 2015

By placing candidates on electoral lists for European elections, national parties hold a very powerful position in the (re-)election of Members of the European Parliament (MEPs). This article analyses the factors or individual characteristics of MEPs that affect list placement decisions. I identify three possible national party goals in European elections, legislative leverage, loyalty and attractiveness to voters, and examine evidence for each. Based on a unique data set of German MEPs from 1999–2009, the analysis shows that national parties, in particular small parties, value MEPs from more powerful committees. National parties furthermore reward MEPs with national party positions during the European Parliament term. Surprisingly, I find little evidence that German parties reward very loyal parliamentarians.
Inferior petrosal sinus route microcatheterization study and embolization for primary orbital varix
Authors: Singh Vivek , Phadke RV , Udiya Alok , Shetty Gurucharan S , Sharma Kumudini , Kanaujia Vikas
Published: December 2015

Purpose

Primary orbital varix is a rare lesion but difficult to treat. Our main aim was to demonstrate the varices and their central venous communication and to explore the feasibility of embolization of these lesions.

Method

In four patients with clinical suspicion of varix, in whom MRI showed retro-global vascular channels, microcatheter digital subtraction angiography (DSA) of the varices was performed using femoral venous access. Embolization was carried out in two patients.

Results

In all four patients orbital varices could be accessed with a microcatheter through inferior petrosal sinus and ophthalmic vein (superior or inferior) route. Microcatheter angiography showed opacification of varices and demonstrated their central venous communication. Two patients were treated with coil embolization. Complete resolution of symptoms was seen in one patient and partial relief in the other.

Conclusion

The study presents microcatheterization of orbital varices via the inferior petrosal sinus–cavernous sinus–ophthalmic vein route with injections into distal ophthalmic veins for demonstration of these variceal sacs and their central venous connection. Coiling to disconnect the venous communication should be the primary goal of embolization.
Plasma levels of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin in children with heart failure
Authors: Tawfeek Mostafa S.K. , Raafat Doaa M. , Saad Khaled , Idriss Naglaa K. , Sayed Sherif , Fouad Doaa A. , El-Houfey Amira A.
Published: December 2015

Introduction:

Data about plasma levels of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) in children with heart failure (HF) are very limited. NGAL is used widely as a biomarker for the diagnosis of renal injury in numerous clinical studies. The aim of this study is to investigate the plasma NGAL in children with HF caused by idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDCM) and its relation to the severity of HF.

Material and methods:

In a case-control study, 30 nondiabetic children, aged –16 years (all have IDCM) recruited from the pediatric department of our institute together with 30 healthy children were prospectively enrolled in this study. Patients underwent a detailed history taking, clinical examination, New York Heart Association (NYHA) class assessment and echocardiographic evaluation. Plasma levels of NGAL were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results:

Plasma levels of NGAL were significantly higher in children with HF compared with healthy controls (mean: 290.97 versus 144.33, p < 0.0001). The relationship between NGAL and the severity of HF was investigated. However, we did not find any statistically significant relationship between plasma NGAL levels and indices of myocardial function.

Conclusions:

NGAL levels were significantly increased in children with HF caused by IDCM. However, there was no significant relationship between plasma NGAL levels and indices of myocardial function. Future multicenter clinical studies in a large population addressing the natural course of NGAL in HF and its potential as a treatment target are needed in the near future.
༄༅།།བོད་ཀྱི་སློབ་མའི་དབྱིན་ཡིག་སློབ་ཁྲིད་ཀྱི་སྤུས་ཀ་མཐོར་འདེགས་ཡོང་ཐབས་དཔྱད་པ།-གངས་ལྗོངས་སློབ་གྲྭ་ཆེན་མོ་དཔེར་བཀོད་དེ་གླེང་བ། Exploring the elements of a quality English language program for Tibetan students: A case study of Gang Jong Normal University
Authors: Yinzhong Jia , རྒྱལ་ཡུམ་སྒྲོལ་མ།
Published: December 2015

Today, English has become a global language and the teaching of it as a foreign or second language has become increasingly challenging. China, the world’s most populous country, has a significant English language learning population and has attracted the attention of researchers who are at the frontier of English language education. Although extensive research has been carried out on English language teaching and learning in China as whole, no single study exists which adequately covers English language education of ethnic minorities, especially Tibetans, and other less numerous ethnic minorities generally located in the Southwest of China. English is a recent addition to the curriculum for Tibetans. Their English level is regarded as being basic, and they are underrepresented in higher education compared to Han students in the People’s Republic of China. Therefore, maintaining the quality of English Language programs, and English teachers who understand students’ cultural backgrounds and use appropriate teaching approaches are crucial for Tibetan students in their quest to access and become proficient in the English language. Access to such programs and teachers, and the higher level of English that they enable, will improve Tibetan students’ access to higher education, and will also improve English language education in Tibet as whole. This qualitative research project investigates the elements of a quality English as a Foreign Language program for Tibetan students in the People’s Republic of China. It presents the elements that constitute a quality English as a Foreign Language program and the elements involved in the implementation of quality English as a Foreign Language teaching and learning in this program as evidenced in the data from semi-structured interviews with three teachers and six students, classroom observations, and the English Language Program document analysis.
Three fallacies of digital footprints
Authors: Lewis Kevin
Published: December 2015

“Digital footprints” is an attractive, useful, and increasingly popular metaphor for thinking about Big Data. In this essay, I elaborate on this metaphor to highlight three relatively basic fallacies in the way we tend to think about Big Data: first, that they contain information on complete populations, or “ N = all”; second, that they contain recordings of naturalistic behavior; and third, that they can be understood devoid of context.
Wikipedia, sociology, and the promise and pitfalls of Big Data
Authors: Adams Julia , Brückner Hannah
Published: December 2015

Wikipedia is an important instance of “Big Data,” both because it shapes people's frames of reference and because it is a window into the construction—including via crowd-sourcing—of new bodies of knowledge. Based on our own research as well as others' critical and ethnographic work, we take as an instance Wikipedia's evolving representation of the field of sociology and sociologists, including such gendered aspects as male and female scholars and topics associated with masculinity and femininity. Both the gender-specific dynamics surrounding what counts as “notability” on the online encyclopedia and Wikipedia's relative categorical incoherence are discussed. If “Big Data” can be said to construct its own object, it is, in this instance, a curious and lop-sided one, exemplifying pitfalls as well as promise with respect to more accurate and democratic forms of knowledge.
Probable primary polydipsia in a domestic shorthair cat
Authors: Long Charles Tyler , Williams Morika , Savage Mason , Fogle Jonathan , Meeker Rick , Hudson Lola
Published: December 2015

Case summary

A 10-month-old neutered male domestic shorthair cat presented with a 4 month history of polyuria and polydipsia. After a thorough diagnostic work-up the only abnormal findings were hyposthenuria and an elevated random plasma osmolality level. Trial therapy with the oral and ophthalmic forms of desmopressin failed to concentrate urine. A modified water deprivation test confirmed the ability to concentrate urine above a urine specific gravity (USG) of 1.035. After transitioning the cat to a higher sodium diet and instituting several enrichment changes to the cat’s environment, average water consumption and urine output levels decreased to almost normal levels and USG increased from 1.006 to 1.022. These findings provide strong evidence that primary polydipsia was the underlying etiology of the cat’s condition.

Relevance and novel information

This case report exemplifies the challenges faced when a cat presents for polyuria and polydipsia without an obvious cause identified on routine diagnostics. To our knowledge, this is the first report of primary polydipsia in a cat.
Successful subtotal orbitectomy in a cat with osteoma
Authors: Corgozinho Katia B , Cunha Simone CS , Siqueira Ricardo S , Souza Heloisa JM
Published: December 2015

Case summary

A 14-year-old Siamese neutered male cat was evaluated for anorexia and a left periorbital mass. Skull radiographic findings showed a well-defined lesion resembling new compact bone formation without destruction. A subtotal orbitectomy was indicated. The tumor was removed intact with a normal tissue margin of at least 1 cm. There were no postsurgical complications. Histopathologic examination revealed an osteoma. The cat returned to normal appetite and activity 15 days after surgery. Six months after surgery, there were no gross signs of recurrence.

Relevance and novel information

Periorbital tumors are infrequently diagnosed in companion animals and most are malignant. In this case, the diagnosis was orbital osteoma. The most commonly affected bone for osteoma in cats is the mandibular bone; few cases have been identified in orbital bones. Orbital surgery has the potential to be challenging owing to complex anatomy, difficult exposure and the tendency to bleed. Surgical complications are common. In this case, although the disease was advanced, subtotal orbitectomy was successfully performed.
Capitalism and Inequality
Authors: Patnaik Prabhat
Published: December 2015

In discussing inequality under capitalism, we must distinguish between ‘stock inequality’ and ‘flow inequality’, or inequality in wealth and inequality in incomes. We also have to be clear whether our focus is the capitalist sector proper, consisting only of the workers and the capitalists, or the capitalist sector together with the setting in which it exists, which includes its pre-capitalist surroundings. This article argues that the focus must be wider, encompassing the capitalist sector together with its setting. Over this wider terrain, wealth inequality has a tendency to increase over time not only because of ‘centralization of capital’ highlighted by Marx but also because of the dispossession of petty producers, the so-called ‘primitive accumulation of capital’, which continues throughout the history of capitalism. Primitive accumulation also ensures the existence of a persistently large reserve army of labour which keeps down real wages even as labour productivity increases, resulting in an increase over time in income inequality as well.
Practically Saline
Authors: Schroeder Jonathan , O’Neal Catherine , Jagneaux Tonya
Published: December 2015

Introduction. In December 2014, the Food and Drug Administration issued a recall of all Wallcur simulation products due to reports of their use in clinical practice. We present a case of septic shock and multiorgan failure after the accidental intravenous infusion of a nonsterile Wallcur simulation product. Case. The patient presented with symptoms of rigors and dyspnea occurring immediately after infusion of Wallcur Practi-0.9% saline. Initial laboratory evidence was consistent with severe septic shock and multiorgan dysfunction. His initial lactic acid level was 9 mmol/L (reference range = 0.5-2.2), and he had evidence of acute kidney injury and markers of disseminated intravascular coagulation. All 4 blood culture bottles isolated multidrug-resistant Empedobacter brevis. The patient recovered from his illness and was discharged with ciprofloxacin therapy per susceptibilities. Discussion. This patient represents the first described case of severe septic shock associated with the infusion of a Wallcur simulation product. Intravenous inoculation of a nonsterile fluid is rare and exposes the patient to unusual environmental organisms, toxins, or unsafe fluid characteristics such as tonicity. During course of treatment, we identified the possible culprit to be a multidrug-resistant isolate of Empedobacter brevis. We also discuss the systemic failures that led to this outbreak.
Combining multiple ECG features does not improve prediction of defibrillation outcome compared to single features in a large population of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests
Authors: He Mi , Gong Yushun , Li Yongqin , Mauri Tommaso , Fumagalli Francesca , Bozzola Marcella , Cesana Giancarlo , Latini Roberto , Pesenti Antonio , Ristagno Giuseppe
Published: December 2015

Introduction

Quantitative electrocardiographic (ECG) waveform analysis provides a noninvasive reflection of the metabolic milieu of the myocardium during resuscitation and is a potentially useful tool to optimize the defibrillation strategy. However, whether combining multiple ECG features can improve the capability of defibrillation outcome prediction in comparison to single feature analysis is still uncertain.

Methods

A total of 3828 defibrillations from 1617 patients who experienced out-of-hospital cardiac arrest were analyzed. A 2.048-s ECG trace prior to each defibrillation without chest compressions was used for the analysis. Sixteen predictive features were optimized through the training dataset that included 2447 shocks from 1050 patients. Logistic regression, neural network and support vector machine were used to combine multiple features for the prediction of defibrillation outcome. Performance between single and combined predictive features were compared by area under receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and prediction accuracy (PA) on a validation dataset that consisted of 1381 shocks from 567 patients.

Results

Among the single features, mean slope (MS) outperformed other methods with an AUC of 0.876. Combination of complementary features using neural network resulted in the highest AUC of 0.874 among the multifeature-based methods. Compared to MS, no statistical difference was observed in AUC, sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV and PA when multiple features were considered.

Conclusions

In this large dataset, the amplitude-related features achieved better defibrillation outcome prediction capability than other features. Combinations of multiple electrical features did not further improve prediction performance.
Comparison of Pyridine and Pyrazine Derivatives Distribution in Exhaled Breath and Exhaled Breath Condensate after Smoking
Authors: Chagovets Vitaliy , Kononikhin Aleksey , Starodubtseva Nataliia , Sysoev Alexey A. , Ding Jianhua , Chen Huanwen , Frankevich Vladimir
Published: December 2015

Molecular mass distributions of series of compounds found in exhaled breath after smoking are compared between the direct-breath analysis by extractive electrospray ionization and the analysis of exhaled breath condensate by direct-infusion electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. Although all the analyzed series of compounds are detected by both methods, their relative abundances are different. A number-average mass is used as a quantitative characteristic of the series. It is shown that this value is close for the distributions of the series of compounds in the mass spectrum of exhaled breath condensate and the mass spectrum obtained by summation of direct mass spectra over the breathing time.
Improving the Prediction of Soil Organic Matter Using Visible and near Infrared Spectroscopy of Moist Samples
Authors: Wang Changkun , Pan Xianzhang
Published: December 2015

Soil moisture reduces the accuracy of in situ measurements of soil properties using visible and near infrared reflectance spectroscopy and limits the application scope of existing soil spectral libraries built from air-dried samples. The preprocessing method of external parameter orthogonalisation (EPO) has been successfully used to improve the prediction of soil organic matter (SOM) in moist samples. However, the traditional strategy of EPO development (EPOI) requires a complex experimental design. In this study, we proposed a new EPO strategy (EPOII) that only uses a single sample but containing various soil moisture content ( SMC) levels. Reflectance spectra (350– 2500 nm) of 130 samples with different SMC levels were measured in the laboratory. We built calibration models using air-dried samples and partial least squares regression before and after EPOI and EPOII, which were validated using air-dried samples and moist samples, respectively. For the validation of moist samples, we first classified the SMC into four groups (A: all SMC levels; B: SMC < 0.1 g g−1; C: 0.1 < SMC < 0.2 g g−1; and D: SMC > 0.2 g g−1) and then used a Monte Carlo method to simulate SMC distributions in the field with a result of 500 cases for each SMC group. Before EPO, an apparent decrease in the accuracy of the SOM predictions for moist samples occurred in each SMC group when using the calibration model derived from air-dried samples, compared with that of air-dried samples. Both EPOI and EPOII improved the SOM prediction of moist samples for most scenarios of SMC variations (groups A–C), but did not apply to the scenario with both large SMC variation and high SMC (group D). When considering EPOII, it could be a feasible strategy of EPO implementation for removing moisture effects on SOM prediction using visible and near infrared spectroscopy, although the degree of improvement was less than that from EPOI. Also, EPOII will pave the way as a standard pretreatment especially for soil spectra measured in the field when projection matrices of EPOII have been derived and incorporated in spectroscopy-related software.
Fulgur: MATLAB GUI Application for Working with near Infrared Calibration Sets. Part 1: The Fulgur Application
Authors: Bjerrum Esben J. , Jørgensen Pia , Fernandes Rita L. , Gernaey Krist V. , Skov Thomas
Published: December 2015

NIR instruments in combination with multivariate data calibration models are useful tools in process monitoring. The calibration models often need to overcome matrix effects and must be re-calibrated over time to compensate for, e.g., changes in process parameters or raw materials, a task often involving manual expert assistance, which is a bottleneck for more widespread application of the technique. To ease the re-calibration, the BIOPRO consortium launched the “Hands free” project to research and develop automated methods for handling data sets and calibration of partial least squares (PLS) models. The intention was to find methods and algorithms which could be operated either by non-experts or fully automatically. Part of this effort was to develop a graphical user interface (GUI) application in MATLAB to enable rapid dissemination of methods to partners in the consortium and early testing by non-programmers. The resulting application, called Fulgur, can assist in handling near infrared (NIR) instrument calibration datasets, identifying outliers and developing and assessing PLS model performance with standard plots. Plots are focused on performance over time as it is usual to collect NIR data over longer time spans when monitoring industry processes. In this article, we present an overview of the application for end-users and explain the outlier detection and model performance plotting in more depth. Source code for the application together with a more in-depth user guide is available for download from models.life.ku.dk. In the next article, we will introduce the source code for potential developers and the principles behind the programming architecture used to develop the application.
Capital Tax Reform and the Real Economy: The Effects of the 2003 Dividend Tax Cut
Authors: Yagan Danny
Published: December 2015

This paper tests whether the 2003 dividend tax cut—one of the largest reforms ever to a US capital tax rate—stimulated corporate investment and increased labor earnings, using a quasi-experimental design and US corporate tax returns from years 1996–2008. I estimate that the tax cut caused zero change in corporate investment and employee compensation. Economically, the statistical precision challenges leading estimates of the cost-of-capital elasticity of investment, or undermines models in which dividend tax reforms affect the cost of capital. Either way, it may be difficult to implement an alternative dividend tax cut that has substantially larger near-term effects. (JEL C72, C78, C91)
Feedback Effects, Asymmetric Trading, and the Limits to Arbitrage
Authors: Edmans Alex , Goldstein Itay , Jiang Wei
Published: December 2015

We analyze strategic speculators’ incentives to trade on information in a model where firm value is endogenous to trading, due to feedback from the financial market to corporate decisions. Trading reveals private information to managers and improves their real decisions, enhancing fundamental value. This feedback effect has an asymmetric effect on trading behavior: it increases (reduces) the profitability of buying (selling) on good (bad) news. This gives rise to an endogenous limit to arbitrage, whereby investors may refrain from trading on negative information. Thus, bad news is incorporated more slowly into prices than good news, potentially leading to overinvestment. (JEL D83, G12, G14)
NEW EVALUATION MEASURES IN COMPARATIVE LAW
Authors: Тихомиров Юрий , Tikhomirov YUriy
Published: December 2015

Comparative law develops in a fast-moving and grand-scale way. Accumulated conceptions, traditions and experience allow stepping forward from informational and comparative analysis to the use of new criteria that permit to measure the level of countries’ legal development. The article reviews modern trends in the development of the comparative law research — expansion of the scope of comparison objects, justification of the new classification of legal frameworks, possibilities of functional analysis of legal regulators, the role of international law in legal frameworks’ convergence etc. The author draws special attention to the problems of countries’ legal sovereignty under the conditions of globalization and integration of legal systems, legal frameworks and information exchange, law evolution. In addition the author argues in favor of the “Roving Legal Framework” development.
THE LAWMAKING SCHOOL: FROM THE DEVELOPMENT OF LEGAL TECHNIQUE TO MODERN LEGAL TECHNOLOGIES
Authors: Власенко Николай , Vlasyenko Nikolay , Залоило Максим , Zaloilo Maksim
Published: December 2015

The article deals with the history of formation and further development of the lawmaking school of sought of the Institute of Legislation and Comparative Law for the whole period of its existence since 1925 up to now. The transformation of one of the Institute’s research guidelines — the questions of legal technique and legal technology — to the theory of lawmaking is demonstrated. Special attention is paid to the period of formation of the lawmaking school of sought from the end of 1920, to the significance of changes in the profile of the Institute’s activity, and to the extension of research guidelines of the Institute. The authors examine the impact of new phenomena in lawmaking: legal monitoring; forecasting; regulatory impact assessment; experimental application of new legal solutions within a particular region or social group; information technologies in legal systematization and processing of legal data; neurolinguistic legal technology affecting the issues of improving the legal language; etc. The article presents the names of distinguished scholars and great lawyers who are the representatives of the lawmaking school of sought of the Institute. The contribution of this persons to the formation and development of lawmaking school of sought and their role in development of theoretical problems of lawmaking, legal drafting, systematization of legislation, improvement of the legal language, legal technique and legal technology are revealed.
СIVILISTIC SCHOOL OF THOUGHT IN INTERNATIONAL PRIVATE LAW
Authors: Марышева Наталия , Maryshyeva Nataliya , Лазарева Татьяна , Lazaryeva Tatyana , Власова Наталия , Vlasova Nataliya
Published: December 2015

The article is devoted to the analysis of the civil law concept of private international law, which comes down to the fact that private international law regulates private law relations: civil, family and labour, if they comprise a foreign element (foreign citizenship, foreign affiliation of a subject of law, etc). The authors provide arguments that private international law is an independent branch of law and legal studies; civil law concept of private international law is based on two methods of regulation of private law relations with a foreign element: conflict of laws (national and standardized through uniform rules contained in international conventions) and a substantive (standardized) element. The authors reveal the role in the development of the science of private international law played by professor L. A. Luntz, Laureate of the USSR State prize, who worked in the Institute of Legislation and Comparative Law (ILCL) in 1939—1979. Special attention is paid to the contribution of L. A. Luntz and his successors — the ILCL researchers V. P. Zvekov, A. L. Makovskiy, N. I. Marysheva, O. N. Sadikov — to the formation and development of the Soviet and Russian legislation in the field of private international law, including drafting of the Bill on Private International Law and International Civil Procedure (1990), drafting and adoption of the respective sections within the Fundamental Principles of Civil Legislation of the USSR (1961, 1991), the Fundamental Principles of Marriage and Family Legislation of the USSR (1968), the RSFSR Civil Code (1964), the Marriage and Family Code of the RSFSR (1969), the present Civil Code of the Russian Federation (Part III, 2001), the Family Code of the Russian Federation (1995), the Maritime Code of the Russian Federation (1999), the Civil Procedure Code of the Russian Federation (2002).
ON LIMITATION OF EMPLOYEES’ LABOUR RIGHTS UNDER THE CONDITIONS OF AN ECONOMIC CRISIS
Authors: Чиканова Людмила , CHikanova Lyudmila
Published: December 2015

The article is dedicated to the problems of limitation of employees’ labour rights under the conditions of an economic crisis. The author analyzes the Russian and foreign legislations, that regulate the relations in connection with mass discharge of employees and concluding of fixed-term employment contracts, as well as the opinions of labour law science representatives on the issue under consideration. The author notes that the statement of business representatives that unlike foreign legislation, the domestic labour legislation is excessively severe and regulates the relations between employees and employers in the Soviet manner and imposes on employers a large number of restrictions is not justified. The practice shows that general employment and labour laws in the developed countries leave very limited room for uncontrolled flexibility on the part of an employer, remaining truly flexible with respect to the diversity and variety of ways to ensure employees’ rights. Comparative analysis of legislations in Russia and foreign developed countries testifies that many foreign statutory regulations either completely agree with the RF Labour Code requirements or are yet less convenient for an employer. The Russian legislation, restricting the possibility of concluding fixed-term employment contracts is less severe compared to the European states. It conforms to international standards and that is why a suggestion on expanding grounds for concluding fixed-term employment contracts appears to be completely unjustified.
CRIMINAL LIABILITY AS PROVIDED FOR UNDER THE LAWS OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION AND THE REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM: AGE LIMITATIONS
Authors: Чан Тхи Ту Ань . , Chan Tkhi Tu An .
Published: December 2015

Criminal responsibility is one of the types of legal responsibility. State agencies apply it to persons for the commission of a crime. Imposing of criminal penalties on a juvenile who has committed a socially — dangerous act is a challenging problem in criminal legislations in all countries. Age is one of a criminal’s mandatory basic characteristics that influences the differentiation of criminal responsibility for persons, who committed crime. The issue of determining the minimum and general age threshold for juveniles’ criminal responsibility is recognized to be a challenging problem. The article analyzes the importance of the age of criminals and the age of juveniles who commit crimes, for differentiation of their criminal responsibility, regulated by the Criminal Codes of the Russian Federation and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. The author analyzes the problem of age determining when a person becomes criminally liable. The author provides recommendations on making alterations and amendments, related to determination of age limits for criminals, into the criminal legislations of Russia and Vietnam. The purpose of this article is the analysis of the age for criminal responsibility and the age of juveniles, the problem of lowering the minimum age of a criminal, and also the issue of dividing juveniles into several age groups. On the basis of the analysis, the author proposes improvements to the provision about the age of criminal responsibility in general, and the age of juveniles in particular.
Reply to comment on “Suburban watershed nitrogen retention: Estimating the effectiveness of stormwater management structures” by Koch et al. (Elem Sci Anth3:000063, July 2015)
Authors: Koch Benjamin J. , Filoso Solange , Cooke Roger M. , Hosen Jacob D. , Colson Abigail R. , Febria Catherine M. , Palmer Margaret A.
Published: December 2015

We reply to a comment on our recent structured expert judgment analysis of stormwater nitrogen retention in suburban watersheds. Low relief, permeable soils, a dynamic stream channel, and subsurface flows characterize many lowland Coastal Plain watersheds. These features result in unique catchment hydrology, limit the precision of streamflow measurements, and challenge the assumptions for calculating runoff from rainfall and catchment area. We reiterate that the paucity of high-resolution nitrogen loading data for Chesapeake Bay watersheds warrants greater investment in long-term empirical studies of suburban watershed nutrient budgets for this region.
Active lifestyles and being healthy
Authors: Sandy  , Green Jake
Published: December 2015

In the third of a series of extracts, we examine the importance of movement skills for young children and ways of introducing them to some appropriate sporting activities.
Treatment in cases of feline house soiling
Authors: Halls Vicky , Heath Sarah
Published: December 2015

Treatment for house soiling is based on extensive diagnostic investigation to rule out medical causes and history taking to enable specific stressors to be identified and reduced or removed. These stressors may be present in the physical or social environment or in the owners' general husbandry and management of the cats. In the case of the marking cat the aims of treatment are to remove the cause of the unnecessary marking and to re-establish the home as a part of the cat's safe and secure core territory; while for the cat with unacceptable elimination, related to primary environmental or social factors, the aims are to re-establish appropriate associations with locations and substrates.