bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Vesicle Trafficking and RNA Transfer Add Complexity and Connectivity to Cell–Cell Communication
Authors: Roberts Charles T. , Kurre Peter
Published: May 2013

Cell–cell communication, either in direct proximity or at a distance, generally occurs by receptor–ligand engagement and subsequent activation of downstream intracellular signaling cascades. This conventional, largely protein-based, model has long been considered necessary and sufficient to explain coordinate tissue and organismal function. Intriguing recent work indicates that many cells can also transfer RNA directly via cell–cell trafficking of nanometer-sized, lipid-bilayer vesicles. The distinct biogenesis pathways that give rise to the different vesicle types described to date are just beginning to be elucidated. Notwithstanding their diverse origin, all types of vesicles seem to contain a broad, cell-specific, nonrandom representation of cellular protein and RNA species. The cell–cell trafficking of coding and small noncoding RNAs in particular constitutes a new paradigm for the direct phenotypic modulation of cells in the local microenvironment and in distal organs. Here, we review the current understanding of RNA vesicle trafficking and its emerging role in cell–cell signaling. Cancer Res; 73(11); 3200–5. ©2013 AACR.
Mitoxantrone Targets Human Ubiquitin-Specific Peptidase 11 (USP11) and Is a Potent Inhibitor of Pancreatic Cancer Cell Survival
Authors: Burkhart Richard A. , Peng Yu , Norris Zoë A. , Tholey Renée M. , Talbott Vanessa A. , Liang Qin , Ai Yongxing , Miller Kathy , Lal Shruti , Cozzitorto Joseph A. , Witkiewicz Agnieska K. , Yeo Charles J. , Gehrmann Matthew , Napper Andrew , Winter Jordan M. , Sawicki Janet A. , Zhuang Zhihao , Brody Jonathan R.
Published: May 2013

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States, with a 95% five-year mortality rate. For over a decade, gemcitabine (GEM) has been the established first-line treatment for this disease despite suboptimal response rates. The development of PARP inhibitors that target the DNA damage repair (DDR) system in PDA cells has generated encouraging results. Ubiquitin-specific peptidase 11 (USP11), an enzyme that interacts with the DDR protein BRCA2, was recently discovered to play a key role in DNA double-strand break repair and may be a novel therapeutic target. A systematic high-throughput approach was used to biochemically screen 2,000 U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved compounds for inhibition of USP11 enzymatic activity. Six pharmacologically active small molecules that inhibit USP11 enzymatic activity were identified. An in vitro drug sensitivity assay demonstrated that one of these USP11 inhibitors, mitoxantrone, impacted PDA cell survival with an IC50 of less than 10 nM. Importantly, across six different PDA cell lines, two with defects in the Fanconi anemia/BRCA2 pathway (Hs766T and Capan-1), mitoxantrone is 40- to 20,000-fold more potent than GEM, with increased endogenous USP11 mRNA levels associated with increased sensitivity to mitoxantrone. Interestingly, USP11 silencing in PDA cells also enhanced sensitivity to GEM. These findings establish a preclinical model for the rapid discovery of FDA-approved compounds and identify USP11 as a target of mitoxantrone in PDA.

Implications: This high-throughput approach provides a strong rationale to study mitoxantrone in an early-phase clinical setting for the treatment of PDA. Mol Cancer Res; 11(8); 901–11. ©2013 AACR.
PD-L1 Expression in the Merkel Cell Carcinoma Microenvironment: Association with Inflammation, Merkel Cell Polyomavirus, and Overall Survival
Authors: Lipson Evan J. , Vincent Jeremy G. , Loyo Myriam , Kagohara Luciane T. , Luber Brandon S. , Wang Hao , Xu Haiying , Nayar Suresh K. , Wang Timothy S. , Sidransky David , Anders Robert A. , Topalian Suzanne L. , Taube Janis M.
Published: May 2013

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a lethal, virus-associated cancer that lacks effective therapies for advanced disease. Agents blocking the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway have shown objective, durable tumor regressions in patients with advanced solid malignancies and efficacy has been linked to PD-L1 expression in the tumor microenvironment. To investigate whether MCC might be a target for PD-1/PD-L1 blockade, we examined MCC PD-L1 expression, its association with tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL), Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV), and overall survival. Sixty-seven MCC specimens from 49 patients were assessed with immunohistochemistry for PD-L1 expression by tumor cells and TILs, and immune infiltrates were characterized phenotypically. Tumor cell and TIL PD-L1 expression were observed in 49% and 55% of patients, respectively. In specimens with PD-L1(+) tumor cells, 97% (28/29) showed a geographic association with immune infiltrates. Among specimens with moderate-severe TIL intensities, 100% (29/29) showed PD-L1 expression by tumor cells. Significant associations were also observed between the presence of MCPyV DNA, a brisk inflammatory response, and tumor cell PD-L1 expression: MCPyV(-) tumor cells were uniformly PD-L1(-). Taken together, these findings suggest that a local tumor-specific and potentially MCPyV-specific immune response drives tumor PD-L1 expression, similar to previous observations in melanoma and head and neck squamous cell carcinomas. In multivariate analyses, PD-L1(-) MCCs were independently associated with worse overall survival [HR 3.12; 95% confidence interval, 1.28–7.61; P = 0.012]. These findings suggest that an endogenous immune response promotes PD-L1 expression in the MCC microenvironment when MCPyV is present, and provide a rationale for investigating therapies blocking PD-1/PD-L1 for patients with MCC. Cancer Immunol Res; 1(1); 54–63. ©2013 AACR.
The Uremic Toxin Acrolein Promotes Suicidal Erythrocyte Death
Authors: Ahmed Mohamed Siyabeldin E. , Langer Henning , Abed Majed , Voelkl Jakob , Lang Florian
Published: May 2013

Background: Anemia is a major complication of end stage renal disease. The anemia is mainly the result of impaired formation of erythrocytes due to lack of erythropoietin and iron deficiency. Compelling evidence, however, points to the contribution of accelerated erythrocyte death, which decreases the life span of circulating erythrocytes. Erythrocytes may enter suicidal death or eryptosis, which is characterized by cell shrinkage and by cell membrane scrambling with phosphatidylserine-exposure at the erythrocyte surface. Triggers of eryptosis include increase of cytosolic Ca2+-activity ([Ca2+]i). Erythrocytes could be sensitized to cytosolic Ca2+ by ceramide. In end stage renal disease, eryptosis may possibly be stimulated by uremic toxins. The present study explored, whether the uremic toxin acrolein could trigger eryptosis. Methods: Cell volume was estimated from forward scatter, phosphatidylserine-exposure from annexin-V-binding, hemolysis from hemoglobin release, [Ca2+]i from Fluo3-fluorescence, and ceramide from fluorescent antibodies. Results: A 48 h exposure to acrolein (30 － 50 µM) did not significantly modify [Ca2+]i but significantly decreased forward scatter and increased annexin-V-binding. Acrolein further triggered slight, but significant hemolysis and increased ceramide formation in erythrocytes. Acrolein (50 µM) induced annexin-V-binding was significantly blunted in the nominal absence of extracellular Ca2+. Acrolein augmented the annexin-V-binding following treatment with Ca2+ ionophore ionomycin (1 µM). Conclusion: Acrolein stimulates suicidal erythrocyte death or eryptosis, an effect at least in part due to stimulation of ceramide formation with subsequent sensitisation of the erythrocytes to cytosolic Ca2+.
Multi-Institutional Study of Implantable Defibrillator Lead Performance in Children and Young Adults
Authors: Atallah Joseph , Erickson Christopher C. , Cecchin Frank , Dubin Anne M. , Law Ian H. , Cohen Mitchell I. , LaPage Martin J. , Cannon Bryan C. , Chun Terrence U.H. , Freedenberg Vicki , Gierdalski Marcin , Berul Charles I.
Published: May 2013

Background—

Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) therapy in children and congenital heart disease patients is hampered by poor long-term lead survival. Lead extraction is technically difficult and carries substantial morbidity. We sought to determine the outcomes of ICD leads in pediatric and congenital heart disease patients.

Methods and Results—

The Pediatric Lead Extractability and Survival Evaluation (PLEASE) is a 24-center international registry. Pediatric and congenital heart disease patients with ICD lead implantations from 2005 to 2010 were eligible. Study subjects comprised 878 ICD patients (44% congenital heart disease). Mean±SD age at implantation was 18.6±9.8 years. Of the 965 total leads, 54% were thin (≤7F), of which 57% were Fidelis, and 23% were coated with expanded polytetrafluoroethylene. There were 139 ICD lead failures (14%) in 132 patients (15%) at a mean lead age of 2.0±1.4 years, causing shocks in 53 patients (40%). Independent predictors of lead failure included younger implantation age and Fidelis leads. Actuarial analysis showed an incremental risk of lead failure with younger age at implantation: <8 years compared with >18 years (
P
=0.015). The actuarial yearly failure rate was 2.3% for non-Fidelis and 9.1% for Fidelis leads. Extraction was performed on 143 leads (80% thin, 7% expanded polytetrafluoroethylene coated), with lead age as the only independent predictor for advanced extraction techniques. There were 6 major extraction complications (4%) but no procedural mortality.

Conclusions—

This study demonstrates that ICD leads in children and congenital heart disease patients have an age-related suboptimal performance, further compounded by a high failure rate of Fidelis leads. Advanced extraction techniques were common and correlated with older lead age.

Clinical Trial Registration—

URL:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT00335036.
Role of Balloon-Expandable Stents in Intracranial Atherosclerotic Disease in a Series of 182 Patients
Authors: Alurkar Anand , Karanam Lakshmi Sudha Prasanna , Oak Sagar , Nayak Suresh , Sorte Sandeep
Published: May 2013

Background and Purpose—

To demonstrate the safety and efficacy of balloon-expandable intracranial stents in patients with intracranial atherosclerotic lesions (>70% stenosis) who were symptomatic despite being on optimum medical therapy.

Methods—

Between April 2004 and May 2012, 182 patients underwent intracranial stenting in our institution. All patients had symptoms despite being on optimum medical therapy. Clinical follow-up was done at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months. Angiographic follow-up was done at 1 year in 121 patients.

Results—

Technical success was achieved in 97.44% of the cases. The incidence of all strokes at 1 month after procedure was 11 (5.64%), of which 2 (1.02%) were major, both related to stent thrombosis not responding to tirofiban, and 9 (4.61%) were minor. Periprocedural minor stroke was seen in 9 patients. There were 2 deaths in our study (mortality=1.09%).

Conclusions—

Treatment of intracranial atherosclerotic disease with balloon-expandable intracranial stents is a safe and effective method with acceptable adverse events, especially in patients who failed medical therapy and were symptomatic despite being on optimum medical therapy.
Aversive Pavlovian Control of Instrumental Behavior in Humans
Authors: Geurts Dirk E. M. , Huys Quentin J. M. , den Ouden Hanneke E. M. , Cools Roshan
Published: May 2013

Adaptive behavior involves interactions between systems regulating Pavlovian and instrumental control of actions. Here, we present the first investigation of the neural mechanisms underlying aversive Pavlovian–instrumental transfer using fMRI in humans. Recent evidence indicates that these Pavlovian influences on instrumental actions are action-specific: Instrumental approach is invigorated by appetitive Pavlovian cues but inhibited by aversive Pavlovian cues. Conversely, instrumental withdrawal is inhibited by appetitive Pavlovian cues but invigorated by aversive Pavlovian cues. We show that BOLD responses in the amygdala and the nucleus accumbens were associated with behavioral inhibition by aversive Pavlovian cues, irrespective of action context. Furthermore, BOLD responses in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex differed between approach and withdrawal actions. Aversive Pavlovian conditioned stimuli modulated connectivity between the ventromedial prefrontal cortex and the caudate nucleus. These results show that action-specific aversive control of instrumental behavior involves the modulation of fronto-striatal interactions by Pavlovian conditioned stimuli.
Cognitive Control of Distinct Vocalizations in Rhesus Monkeys
Authors: Hage Steffen R. , Gavrilov Natalja , Nieder Andreas
Published: May 2013

Whether nonhuman primates can decouple their innate vocalizations from accompanied levels of arousal or specific events in the environment to achieve cognitive control over their vocal utterances has been a matter of debate for decades. We show that rhesus monkeys can be trained to elicit different call types on command in response to arbitrary visual cues. Furthermore, we report that a monkey learned to switch between two distinct call types from trial to trial in response to different visual cues. A controlled behavioral protocol and data analysis based on signal detection theory showed that noncognitive factors as a cause for the monkeys' vocalizations could be excluded. Our findings also suggest that monkeys also have rudimentary control over acoustic call parameters. These findings indicate that monkeys are able to volitionally initiate their vocal production and, therefore, are able to instrumentalize their vocal behavior to perform a behavioral task successfully.
Tea Ceremony as a Space for Interreligious Dialogue
Authors: Hioki Naoko Frances
Published: May 2013

Abstract

This paper explores the potential of Japanese tea ceremony to be an aesthetic space for inter-religious dialogue. Through a study of historical encounters that took place between European Jesuit missionaries and Japanese tea masters in the late 16th century, this paper elucidates the missionaries’ experiences of tea ceremonies and discusses the validity and limitation of a tea house as a space for cross-cultural and interreligious dialogue. The fruit of tea ceremony in terms of interreligious dialogue includes a shared sense of aesthetic communion that is attained through communal enjoyment of the beauty of nature and drinking a cup of tea in an isolated tea house, where guests are invited to cast away worries of everyday business, as well as their social and religious differences; whereas its limitation pertains to marked indifference toward verbal communication that is characteristic to the way of tea, and thus the historical missionaries’ experience was limited to aesthetic paradigm and did not lead to logical understanding of doctrinal differences between Buddhists and Christians.
The Crisis Model for Managing Change in African Christianity: The Story of St John’s Apostolic Church
Authors: Masondo Sibusiso
Published: May 2013

Abstract

St John’s Apostolic Faith Mission, founded by Christinah Nku (also known as Mme Christinah) and all its splinter groups can be theorized as presenting a crisis model for managing change. These churches provide their members with a well worked out path of inclusion through baptism and related rituals, as well as, alleviation of crisis through an assortment of healing, cleansing and deliverance rituals. There is also a strong element of maintaining a person’s healing through an assortment of rituals of celebration and ideological reinforcement. They do this through a process of resource mobilization from both Christianity and African Religion to set up a religion that adequately responds to both the existential and spiritual needs of their members.
New species of Rhyacodrilus (Annelida: Clitellata: Rhyacodrilinae) of North America, with re-description of R. sodalis (Eisen, 1879)
Authors: RODRIGUEZ PILAR , FEND STEVEN V.
Published: May 2013

Six new Nearctic species of the aquatic oligochaete genus Rhyacodrilus (Annelida, Clitellata, Rhyacodrilinae), are de-scribed, five (R. saelonae sp. n., R. quileuticus sp. n., R. clio sp. n., R. alcyoneus sp. n. and R. longichaeta sp. n.) from western and one (R. propiporus sp. n.) from eastern North America. The taxonomy of the most common Rhyacodrilus species reported in the Nearctic region has been based largely on chaetal characters, which has generated certain confu-sion. The new species give a new perspective on the genus Rhyacodrilus in North America, suggesting a much higher diversity than previously expected. The description of R. longichaeta sp. n. questions the taxonomic status of R. montana (Brinkhurst), which is here regarded as species inquirenda. The taxonomic status of R. sodalis (Eisen) is discussed based on characters of the reproductive system, the existing Lake Tahoe neotype series is invalidated, and a neotype is described from Eisen's type locality. Based on the discussion of the characters of the genus Rhyacodrilus, the genus Stochidrilus Martínez-Ansemil et al. is proposed as a junior synonym of that genus. The presence of the widely reported species R. coccineus has not been confirmed in the study collections, although the species requires a sound revision. A key to the species bearing hair chaetae is provided, based mainly on features of the reproductive system.
Rusingeria nom. nov, a new substitute name for Usingeria Coetzee & Segerman, 1992 (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Cimicidae)
Authors: COETZEE MAUREEN , KMENT PETR
Published: May 2013

Rusingeria nom. nov. is established as a new substitute name for Usingeria Coetzee & Segerman, 1992 (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Cimicidae), which is junior homonym of Usingeria Schouteden, 1952 (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Aradidae). The following new combination is proposed: Rusingeria transvaalensis (Coetzee & Segerman, 1992), comb. nov., for Usingeria transvaalensis Coetzee & Segerman, 1992
Typtonomenaeus formosanus gen. et sp. nov., a new sponge-associated pontoniine shrimp (Crustacea: Decapoda: Palaemonidae: Pontoniinae) from northern Taiwan
Authors: MARIN IVAN , CHAN TIN-YAM
Published: May 2013

A new genus and species of sponge-associated pontoniine shrimps (Crustacea: Decapoda: Palaemonidae: Pontoniinae) is described from northern part of Formosa Island (Taiwan). The new species can be clearly recognized by convex robust nail-like apices on dactyli of both pereiopods II—a unique morphological structure among pontoniine shrimps. Morphological differences from all known sponge-associated pontoniine genera are discussed.
Three new species of Pauropoda (Myriapoda) from Brazil with description of a new genus in Diplopauropodidae, Adelphopauropus
Authors: SCHELLER ULF
Published: May 2013

Three new species of Pauropoda are described from Brazil, Allopauropus prolongus n.sp. and Decapauropus glomeratus n.sp. in Pauropodidae, and Adelphopauropus ichtyematos n. gen., n. sp. in Diplopauropodidae.
Lethocerus patruelis (Stål, 1855) in Italy: a recent introduction or a natural westward spread? (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Nepomorpha: Belostomatidae)
Authors: CIANFERONI FABIO , NARDI GIANLUCA
Published: May 2013

The paper provides new records and a critical review of the previous citations of Lethocerus patruelis (Stål, 1855) from Italy. The status of the species in Italy, and whether its presence can be related to a recent introduction or to a natural west-ward spread, is discussed, but further observations are needed to assess its effective status in the country. The dates of description for this species and of L. niloticus (Stål, 1855) are corrected, since they have up to the present time been incorrectly stated as 1854.
Two new species of Fibuloides (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) from eastern Thailand
Authors: JAIKLA SORAYA , PINKAEW NANTASAK , VITHEEPRADIT AKEKAWAT , KLANGSAP NATHAWAT
Published: May 2013

Two new species of Fibuloides are described from eastern Thailand: F. tratensis Jaikla and Pinkaew, n.sp., and F. bulla Jaikla and Pinkaew, n.sp. Males of F. tratensis have modified labial palpi with specialized scales that have not been re-ported for other Tortricidae. Descriptions and illustrations of adults and genitalia are provided for the two new species collected from Trat Agroforestry Research and Training Station, eastern Thailand.
Gyraulus elenae sp. n.—a new Planorbid snail from Eastern Turkey (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Planorbidae)
Authors: VINARSKI MAXIM V. , GLÖER PETER , PALATOV DMITRY M.
Published: May 2013

The most recent complete list of the basommatophoran snails of Turkey (Yildirim et al., 2006) includes eight species of the genus Gyraulus Charpentier, 1837 (sensu Meier-Brook, 1983). Four of them have wide Palearctic or even Holarctic distribution, whereas the rest are of the Mediterranean – Near Eastern type of distribution. However, this species list is clearly far from completeness as recently several new species of Gyraulus have been recorded for Turkey, including four species (Gyraulus pamphylicus Glöer et Rähle, 2009, G. nedyalkovi Glöer et Georgiev, 2012, G. egridirensis Glöer et Girod, 2013, and G. taseviensis Glöer et Girod, 2013) described as new for science. In this note, we describe one more Gyraulus species from waterbodies of Eastern Turkey and provide a determination key for all species of the genus recorded hitherto from Turkey.
Ethical leadership, moral equity judgments, and discretionary workplace behavior
Authors: Resick Christian J , Hargis Michael B , Shao Ping , Dust Scott B
Published: May 2013

The current study examines the role of ethical cognition as a psychological mechanism linking ethical leadership to employee engagement in specific discretionary workplace behaviors. Hypotheses are developed proposing that ethical leadership is associated with employees’ negative moral equity judgments of workplace deviance (a discretionary antisocial behavior) and positive moral equity judgments of organizational citizenship (a discretionary prosocial behavior). In addition, hypotheses propose that moral equity judgments are a key type of ethical cognition linking ethical leadership with employee behaviors. Hypotheses are tested in a cross-organizational sample of 190 supervisor–employee dyads. Results indicate that employees who work for ethical leaders tended to judge acts of workplace deviance as morally inequitable and acts of organizational citizenship as morally equitable. In turn, these judgments guided employee regulation of behavior, and mediated the relationships between ethical leadership and employee avoidance of antisocial conduct and engagement in prosocial behavior.
Measurement: Past, Present and Future: Part 1 Measurement History and Fundamentals
Authors: Jones Barry E
Published: May 2013

In this article, the importance of measurement and measurement fundamentals is briefly discussed. Measurement helped our ancestors of several million years ago to develop skills to survive, then in relatively recent times to obtain the knowledge for scientific endeavour and to industrialise and very recently still to introduce automatic control and to underpin innovation. The basis of measurement scales and measurement standards has often changed, and now, there are agreed means for estimating measurement uncertainty and stating measurement accuracy with a given confidence. Measurement now has a solid basis in theory and practice and has developed into a systematic discipline.
Measurement: Past, Present and Future: Part 2 Measurement Instrumentation and Sensors
Authors: Jones Barry E
Published: May 2013

In this article, two general issues are discussed: first, the functional parts of measuring systems and the critical nature of designing primary sensing structures, defining stable functional-part relationships and providing suitable packaging arrangements for the sensory elements, and second, the new sciences and technologies being applied to measurement instrumentation. The coherent systematic approach to measurement theory and practice and the multi-disciplinary nature of measurement science and technology are thus illustrated.
Preparation and characterization of green bio-composites based on modified spinifex resin and spinifex grass fibres
Authors: Mondal Subrata , Memmott Paul , Martin Darren
Published: May 2013

Many researchers are now working on composites systems where the fibers and polymers are either totally or predominantly based on renewable materials. The aim of this study is to develop renewable resource-based composites based on spinifex fibers and a polyurethane matrix prepared primarily from spinifex resin. Chemically cleaned and cryo-ground spinifex grass fibres have been used as a reinforcing phase in thermoplastic polyurethane prepared from spinifex resin biopolymer. The morphology, thermal and mechanical properties of the prepared composites were characterized using attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis and tensile tests. The results obtained by various characterization techniques indicate that interfacial interaction between the spinifex grass fillers and the polyurethane matrix occurs and that the ground spinifex cellulose fillers act as promising reinforcement for the relatively weak polyurethane matrix synthesized from renewable spinifex plant resin products.
Dynamic and static properties of flax fibre reinforced polymer tube confined coir fibre reinforced concrete
Authors: Yan Libo , Chouw Nawawi
Published: May 2013

Flax and coir fibres have the potential to be used as reinforcement in fibre reinforced polymer and concrete, respectively. This study investigates the effect of coir fibre inclusion and flax fibre reinforced polymer thickness on the dynamic and static properties of flax fibre reinforced polymer tube confined coir fibre reinforced concrete. Plain concrete and coir fibre reinforced concrete beams are considered as references. The properties investigated include natural frequencies, dynamic and static modulus of elasticity, Poisson’s ratio, damping ratio, compressive strength, stress–strain behaviour, ductility and confinement effectiveness. Axial compression test revealed that flax fibre reinforced polymer tube confinement significantly increases axial compressive strength and ductility of the confined concrete composite. The increase in compressive strength and structural ductility is directly proportional to an increase in tube thickness. Dynamic test revealed that both coir fibre and flax fibre reinforced polymer tube improve the damping of the structure considerably, thus reducing the effect of dynamic loading on the structural response.
Hanging Together or Hanged Separately
Authors: Konrad Kai A. , Cusack Thomas R.
Published: May 2013

What is the strategic role of membership in an intergovernmental group with unanimity requirements if the group negotiates with an external player in a setting with incomplete information? Being in such a group has a strategic effect compared to negotiating as a stand-alone player and reduces the demands of the outside player. Group membership lends additional bargaining power. Negotiating as a group may also cause more inefficiencies due to bargaining failure, and this may harm also the intergovernmental group. We uncover the role of preference alignment and preference independence between members of the coalition group for equilibrium payoffs and welfare effects. In this analysis, we also distinguish between coalition groups with and without side payments. Overall, coalition groups tend to perform well for the members of the coalition group in comparison to fully decentralized negotiations, particularly if the objectives of the members of the coalition group are not always perfectly aligned.
Is It the Music or Is It Selection Bias? A Nationwide Analysis of Music and Non-Music Students’ SAT Scores
Authors: Elpus Kenneth
Published: May 2013

This study examined the college entrance examination scores of music and non-music students in the United States, drawing data from the restricted-use data set of the Education Longitudinal Study of 2002 (ELS), a nationally representative education study ( N = 15,630) conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics. Analyses of high school transcript data from ELS showed that 1.127 million students (36.38% of the U.S. class of 2004) graduated high school having earned at least one course credit in music. Fixed-effects regression procedures were used to compare standardized test scores of these music students to their non-music peers while controlling for variables from the domains of demography, prior academic achievement, time use, and attitudes toward school. Results indicated that music students did not outperform non-music students on the SAT once these systematic differences had been statistically controlled. The obtained pattern of results remained consistent and robust through internal replications with another standardized math test and when disaggregating music students by type of music studied.
Sidestepping the Combinatorial Explosion: An Explanation of n-gram Frequency Effects Based on Naive Discriminative Learning
Authors: Baayen R Harald , Hendrix Peter , Ramscar Michael
Published: May 2013

Arnon and Snider ((2010). More than words: Frequency effects for multi-word phrases. Journal of Memory and Language, 62, 67–82) documented frequency effects for compositional four-grams independently of the frequencies of lower-order n-grams. They argue that comprehenders apparently store frequency information about multi-word units. We show that n-gram frequency effects can emerge in a parameter-free computational model driven by naive discriminative learning, trained on a sample of 300,000 four-word phrases from the British National Corpus. The discriminative learning model is a full decomposition model, associating orthographic input features straightforwardly with meanings. The model does not make use of separate representations for derived or inflected words, nor for compounds, nor for phrases. Nevertheless, frequency effects are correctly predicted for all these linguistic units. Naive discriminative learning provides the simplest and most economical explanation for frequency effects in language processing, obviating the need to posit counters in the head for, and the existence of, hundreds of millions of n-gram representations.
Television, technology and creativity in the production of a sports mega event
Authors: Liang Limin
Published: May 2013

Using a social constructionist and structurational approach to technologies, the article looks at how designers (TV engineers) and users (TV content makers) interacted with each other in developing the “network production and broadcasting system” adopted by the Chinese broadcaster in covering the Beijing Olympics. Perceiving new technologies as resources fostered close cooperation between the two groups during the development stage and helped unleash the creative potential of the technology. In doing so, media agents elevated a technically elegant exercise to one that enhanced creativity in television making. Conversely, under a competing technology frame that prioritized safe broadcasting (during the live broadcasting of the Games), media makers exhibited caution and failed to tap into the full affordance of the technology. The article extends the discussion of “double articulation of technology” from a media reception context to a media production context. It shows how technology development and use within a broadcaster is a negotiation amongst relevant groups and between competing goals, namely, technological efficiency, creativity in TV making and safe broadcasting.
The ‘social tsunami’: Media coverage of child abuse in Malaysia’s English-language newspapers in 2010
Authors: Niner Sara , Ahmad Yarina , Cuthbert Denise
Published: May 2013

Since the early 1990s, Malaysian society has displayed a deepening concern over steady increases in reported cases of child abuse in the country. For many Malaysians, knowledge of this issue comes from the mainstream media. This research analyses media coverage of child abuse in two mainstream English-language daily newspapers throughout 2010. The analysis focuses on how this issue is presented and ‘framed’ in the media. Through the use of simple episodic framing and a distorted focus on extreme cases of child abuse, media coverage internationally obscures the reality of child abuse as it occurs within the context of contemporary social, cultural, religious or political systems. This hinders any genuine understanding of the problem, leading to flawed solutions. We find these international patterns largely replicated in Malaysia. Furthermore, gendered socialization processes in Malaysia make women and mothers principally responsible for family life and there is a tendency to blame and punish mothers for child abuse even when they are not the perpetrators. Internationally, child welfare experts and academics have advised the media to focus reporting on the underlying causes of abuse so that the issue can be better understood and addressed and this advice is pertinent for Malaysia today.
Recovery of Posttraumatic Migraine Characteristics in Patients After Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
Authors: Mihalik Jason P. , Register-Mihalik Johna , Kerr Zachary Y. , Marshall Stephen W. , McCrea Michael C. , Guskiewicz Kevin M.
Published: May 2013

Background:

Headache-related symptoms may be predictive of delayed recovery in student athletes after sport-related concussion.

Purpose and Hypothesis:

To compare balance performance, cognitive function, and symptom recovery in concussed student athletes with no headache, those with posttraumatic headache, and those with characteristics of posttraumatic migraine following a sport-related concussion. It was hypothesized that those with posttraumatic migraine would take longer to recover on all clinical measures.

Study Design:

Cohort study (prognosis); Level of evidence, 2.

Methods:

A total of 296 student athletes who sustained sport-related concussions (migraine, 52; headache, 176; no headache, 68) were evaluated on measures of balance performance, cognition, and symptoms. Patients were categorized into posttraumatic migraine, posttraumatic headache, and no headache groups based on symptoms reported 1 day after injury. Serial testing was conducted with the Balance Error Scoring System, the Standardized Assessment of Concussion, and a graded symptom checklist to evaluate balance performance, cognition, and symptoms, respectively, at baseline, at the time of injury, after the event, and at days 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, and 90.

Results:

Student athletes with posttraumatic migraine experienced greater symptom severity scores than did those with posttraumatic headache and no headache at the time of injury, after the event, and through day 7 ( P < .001 for all). By day 7, symptom severity scores reported by patients with posttraumatic migraine still demonstrated deficits relative to baseline (Δ = 5.6 ± 1.2) compared with patients with headache (Δ = −0.8 ± 0.7) and those with no headache (Δ = −1.4 ± 1.1). Patients with headache experienced greater symptom severity scores than patients with no headache at the time of injury ( P < .001), after the event ( P < .001), and at day 1 ( P < .001), day 2 ( P = .005), and day 3 ( P = .038). Much smaller differences were observed between the headache and no headache groups beyond day 3 ( P > .05). There were no group differences on balance performance ( P = .439) and cognitive testing ( P = .200) over time. Female patients were 2.13 times more likely than males to report posttraumatic migraine characteristics after concussion.

Conclusion:

Posttraumatic migraine characteristics are related to prolonged symptom recovery after sport-related concussion. Clinicians should exercise caution in making decisions about return to participation for athletes with migraine-like symptoms given the increased short-term impairments and delayed symptom recovery we observed.
Thermally conductive polymer compounds for injection moulding: The synergetic effect of hexagonal boron-nitride and talc
Authors: Kovacs JG , Suplicz A
Published: May 2013

The aim of the research project was to investigate and maximize the thermal conductivity of polymer compounds with low filler content (<30 vol%). The study focused on the effect of the matrix material, the filler type, the processing method and the interaction of the fillers. It was concluded that compression-moulded samples have higher thermal conductivity than injection-moulded samples due to the segregation effect and the orientation of the anisotropic fillers. Conductivity can be improved by adding fillers with higher thermal conductivity, and also by combining, or hybridizing the fillers. A synergetic behaviour between hexagonal boron-nitride and talc which improved thermal conductivity was found.
Mechanical, thermal and electrical properties of epoxy modified with a reactive hydroxyl-terminated polystyrene-butadiene liquid rubber
Authors: Zhou Wenying , Zuo Jing
Published: May 2013

This study investigated the modification of epoxy resin with a hydroxyl-terminated polystyrene-butadiene liquid rubber copolymer. The Fourier transform infrared analysis evidenced the occurrence of a chemical reaction between the oxirane ring of epoxy resin and the hydroxyl functional group of hydroxyl-terminated polystyrene-butadiene using benzyldimethylamine as a catalyst. The mechanical results indicated that the 10 phr hydroxyl-terminated polystyrene-butadiene-modified epoxy resin exhibited the maximum impact strength of 16.5 J/m2, which is about 91.8% higher than that for the neat epoxy; the best mechanical performance in terms of tensile and flexural properties was achieved at 10 phr hydroxyl-terminated polystyrene-butadiene content; higher concentration of hydroxyl-terminated polystyrene-butadiene resulted in the cured networks lower impact and strength values. The investigation on the microstructure of hydroxyl-terminated polystyrene-butadiene–modified epoxy resin showed a two-phase morphology where the hydroxyl-terminated polystyrene-butadiene domains were uniformly dispersed in epoxy resin matrix. The addition of hydroxyl-terminated polystyrene-butadiene into epoxy resin reduced the thermal stability, whereas, it obviously improved the volume, surface resistivity; and the dielectric breakdown strength of 20 phr hydroxyl-terminated polystyrene-butadiene–modified epoxy resin was 36 kV/mm compared to 31.2 kV/mm of the neat epoxy resin.
Perfusion Imaging of Focal Cortical Dysplasia Using Arterial Spin Labeling
Authors: Wintermark Pia , Lechpammer Mirna , Warfield Simon K. , Kosaras Bela , Takeoka Masanori , Poduri Annapurna , Madsen Joseph R. , Bergin Ann M. , Whalen Stephen , Jensen Frances E.
Published: May 2013

Focal cortical dysplasia is the most common malformation of cortical development, causing intractable epilepsy. This study investigated the relationship between brain perfusion and microvessel density in 7 children with focal cortical dysplasia. The authors analyzed brain perfusion measurements obtained by magnetic resonance imaging of 2 of the children and the microvessel density of brain tissue specimens obtained by epilepsy surgery on all of the children. Brain perfusion was approximately 2 times higher in the area of focal cortical dysplasia compared to the contralateral side. The microvessel density was nearly double in the area of focal cortical dysplasia compared to the surrounding cortex that did not have morphological abnormalities. These findings suggest that hyperperfusion can be related to increased microvessel density in focal cortical dysplasia rather than only to seizures. Further investigations are needed to determine the relationship between brain perfusion, microvessel density, and seizure activity.
Numerical study of the flow-induced sunroof buffeting noise of a simplified cavity model based on the slightly compressible model
Authors: Wang Yiping , Deng Yadong , Yang Zhendong , Jiang Tao , Su Chuqi , Yang Xue
Published: May 2013

Numerical computation was conducted to investigate the flow-induced sunroof buffeting noise at low Mach numbers. In order to avoid the stiffness problem which occurs in solving the compressible fluid equations at low Mach numbers, new governing equations were derived with the assumption that there is a slight compressibility effect. The mechanisms of the flow-induced sunroof buffeting noise were investigated by considering a three-dimensional model cavity. Extensive wind tunnel tests were conducted to verify the computational scheme developed in the present study. The results demonstrated that strong pressure fluctuations will be generated inside the cavity and that the modal resonant frequencies are in good agreement with the Rossiter formula and experimental data. Moreover, the results reveal that the sunroof buffeting noise is attributed to the periodicity of flow separation, vortex shedding, vortex impingement and pressure wave feedback, with the addition of the Helmholtz resonance locked effect. Therefore, the current computational approach was validated to have the capability to predict the flow-induced buffeting noise in low-Mach-number flows.
Guidance and control of a cruise missile flying along a geomagnetic isoline
Authors: Guo Caifa , Cai Hong , van der Heijden GHM
Published: May 2013

This paper presents a new guidance method for cruise missiles, which makes use of geomagnetic isolines. The isolines are extracted by using bilinear interpolation in the geomagnetic contour map. Path tracking is implemented in the geomagnetic map and takes into account the dynamics of the missile and its constraints. For this, the dynamic equations for the missile during its cruise phase are established. Using an inverse dynamics guidance law to implement the simulation experiments, the simulation results show that missile flight along a geomagnetic isoline is theoretically feasible. As the path made up of isoline points is determined, the missile can follow the isoline with a path tracking controller.
Position control of linear electromechanical actuator for spoiler system base on the inverse system method
Authors: Cui Yebing , Ju Yutao , Zhou Changsheng , Liu Liang , Xu Jing
Published: May 2013

A kind of robust control of linear electromechanical actuator (LEMA) spoiler system for thrust vector control (TVC) in a spacecraft was investigated. This paper presents an inverse system method (ISM) to achieve precise motion control for the LEMA spoiler system, which is based on a voice coil motor. The dynamic model of the LEMA spoiler system is established, and the inverse system of the LEMA spoiler is obtained. By linearization of the nonlinear LEMA spoiler system, the state feedback control is used to control the spoiler to follow the desired spoiler motion. A state variable observer is designed to estimate the unmeasurable state variables. Simulations and experimental setup are used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed control method. The performance of proportional-integral-differential (PID) control is compared to the ISM control in simulation and ISM control is robust to large parameter variations of 50%. The experimental results show close agreement with the simulation results. The proposed method proved effective by achieving a transient time of 5.5 ms and system bandwidth of 20 Hz, so that ISM control method can more effectively handle the parameters’ perturbation, load disturbance, the variation of work temperature, and the LEMA's nonlinearity.
A biomechanical study of the recovery in spinal stability of flexion/extension and torsion after the resection of different posterior lumbar structures in a sheep model
Authors: Jia Haobo , Zhu Shaowen , Ma Jianxiong , Wang Jie , Feng Rui , Xing Dan , Yang Yang , Ma Baoyi , Chen Yang , Yu Jingtao , Ma Xinlong
Published: May 2013

Posterior lumbar structures are vital for spinal stability, and many researchers thought that laminectomy and facetectomy would lead to severe spinal instability. However, because living organisms have compensatory repair capacities, their long-term condition after injuries may change over time. To study the changes in the lumbar biomechanical stability of flexion/extension and torsion at different time points after the resection of various posterior structures, as well as to assess the capacity for self-healing, sheep that had undergone laminectomy or facetectomy were used as an experimental animal model. The injured sheep models included three groups: laminectomy only, laminectomy plus left total facetectomy, and laminectomy plus bilateral facetectomy. Eight nonoperative sheep were used as the control group. At 0, 6, 12, 24, and 36 weeks after injury, the lumbar specimens were harvested for biomechanical testing using the Instron 8874 servohydraulic biomechanical testing system. The changes in the injured lumbar spine were also analyzed through radiological examination. The lumbar stability in flexion/extension and torsion was severely decreased after the three types of surgery. After 6 weeks, the flexion/extension mechanical parameters recovered substantially; each parameter had returned to normal levels by 12 weeks and exceeded the intact group by 24 and 36 weeks. Torsional stiffness also recovered gradually over time. All injury groups demonstrated decreased intervertebral space and degeneration or even fusion in the small joints of the surgical segment or in adjacent segments. These results indicate that the body has the ability to repair the mechanical instability to a certain extent.
Compassion Training Alters Altruism and Neural Responses to Suffering
Authors: Weng Helen Y. , Fox Andrew S. , Shackman Alexander J. , Stodola Diane E. , Caldwell Jessica Z. K. , Olson Matthew C. , Rogers Gregory M. , Davidson Richard J.
Published: May 2013

Compassion is a key motivator of altruistic behavior, but little is known about individuals’ capacity to cultivate compassion through training. We examined whether compassion may be systematically trained by testing whether (a) short-term compassion training increases altruistic behavior and (b) individual differences in altruism are associated with training-induced changes in neural responses to suffering. In healthy adults, we found that compassion training increased altruistic redistribution of funds to a victim encountered outside of the training context. Furthermore, increased altruistic behavior after compassion training was associated with altered activation in brain regions implicated in social cognition and emotion regulation, including the inferior parietal cortex and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), and in DLPFC connectivity with the nucleus accumbens. These results suggest that compassion can be cultivated with training and that greater altruistic behavior may emerge from increased engagement of neural systems implicated in understanding the suffering of other people, executive and emotional control, and reward processing.
Confidence Level in Performing Clinical Procedures Among Medical Officers in Nonspecialist Government Hospitals in Penang, Malaysia
Authors: Othman Mohamad Sabri , Merican Hassan , Lee Yew Fong , Ch’ng Kean Siang , Thurairatnam Dharminy
Published: May 2013

A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted at 3 government hospitals over 6 months to evaluate the confidence level of medical officers (MOs) to perform clinical procedure in nonspecialist government hospitals in Penang. An anonymous self-administered questionnaire in English was designed based on the elective and emergency procedures stated in the houseman training logbook. The questionnaire was distributed to the MOs from Penang State Health Department through the respective hospital directors and returned to Penang State Health Department on completion. The results showed that there was statistically significant difference between those who had undergone 12 months and 24 months as houseman in performing both elective and emergency procedures. MOs who had spent 24 months as housemen expressed higher confidence level than those who had only 12 months of experience. We also found that the confidence level was statistically and significantly influenced by visiting specialist and working together with cooperative experienced paramedics.