bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Peptide‐based systems analysis of inflammation induced myeloid‐derived suppressor cells reveals diverse signaling pathways
Authors: Choksawangkarn Waeowalee , Graham Lauren M. , Burke Meghan , Lee Sang Bok , Ostrand‐Rosenberg Suzanne , Fenselau Catherine , Edwards Nathan J.
Published: May 2016

A better understanding of molecular signaling between myeloid‐derived suppressor cells (MDSC), tumor cells, T‐cells, and inflammatory mediators is expected to contribute to more effective cancer immunotherapies. We focus on plasma membrane associated proteins, which are critical in signaling and intercellular communication, and investigate changes in their abundance in MDSC of tumor‐bearing mice subject to heightened versus basal inflammatory conditions. Using spectral counting, we observed statistically significant differential abundances for 35 proteins associated with the plasma membrane, most notably the pro‐inflammatory proteins S100A8 and S100A9 which induce MDSC and promote their migration. We also tested whether the peptides associated with canonical pathways showed a statistically significant increase or decrease subject to heightened versus basal inflammatory conditions. Collectively, these studies used bottom‐up proteomic analysis to identify plasma membrane associated pro‐inflammatory molecules and pathways that drive MDSC accumulation, migration, and suppressive potency.
Co‐morbidity of depression, anxiety and fatigue in cancer patients receiving psychological care
Authors: Zhu Lei , Ranchor Adelita V. , van der Lee Marije , Garssen Bert , Almansa Josué , Sanderman Robbert , Schroevers Maya J.
Published: May 2016

Objectives

This study aimed to examine (1) subgroups of cancer patients with distinct co‐morbidity patterns of depression, anxiety and fatigue; (2) how individuals transitioned between these patterns; and (3) whether socio‐demographic, clinical and psychological care characteristics distinguished patients' transitions.

Method

This naturalistic, longitudinal study focused on 241 cancer patients receiving psycho‐oncological care in the Netherlands. Data were collected before initiation of psychological care (T1), 3 months (T2), and 9 months thereafter (T3). Latent transition analysis was performed examining research questions.

Results

Three distinct co‐morbidity patterns were identified: class 1 (‘mood disturbances and fatigue’), class 2 (‘mood disturbances’) and class 3 (‘few symptoms of mood disturbances and fatigue’). Half of those in class 1 remained in this group from T1 to T3, a quarter transitioned to class 2 and another quarter to class 3. Baseline physical symptoms distinguished these transitions: those with more physical symptoms tended to remain stable. Half of patients in class 2 remained stable from T1 to T3, 46% moved into class 3 and 8% into class 1. Baseline physical symptoms and years after cancer diagnosis significantly distinguished these transitions: the 8% moving to class 1 had more physical symptoms and were longer after cancer diagnosis. Most patients in class 3 remained stable from T1 to T3, and predictors of transitions could not be examined.

Conclusions

Three distinct co‐morbidity patterns of depression, anxiety and fatigue were identified and exhibited different symptom courses longitudinally. Those with poor physical health tended to report elevated mood disturbances and fatigue during psychological care. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Negative bias illumination stress stability of dual‐active layer amorphous indium‐gallium‐zinc‐oxide thin‐film transistor
Authors: Kim Myeong‐Ho , Ko Young‐Sung , Choi Hyoung‐Seok , Ryu Seung‐Man , Jeon Sung‐Ho , Jung Ji‐Hwan , Choi Duck‐Kyun
Published: May 2016

In the current study, dual‐active layer amorphous indium‐gallium‐zinc‐oxide (a‐IGZO) TFT has been fabricated by sequential deposition of oxygen‐rich layer on a top of oxygen‐poor layer in the active layer through oxygen partial pressure control in order to improve reliability under negative bias illumination stress (NBIS) condition. The method is very simple as it is performed in situ without any post treatment. Reliability of a TFT that had a thickness of oxygen‐poor layer and oxygen‐rich active layer in the ratio of 6:4, quite improved with the threshold voltage shift Δ of a‐IGZO TFT at around 3.2 V under NBIS condition of 1000 s in comparison with a TFT (8.5 V) that comprised only oxygen‐poor active layer. The increased reliability is attributed to decrease interaction with ambient and the reduction in the total neutral oxygen vacancy concentration due to the oxygen rich layer at the back‐channel region, which was confirmed by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis.
Keeping Up with New Ways of Consuming Media
Authors: Macer Tim
Published: May 2016

Experts from a media network, a media measurement company and the US standards body, on the latest ways to measure audiences across devices.
Is Digital Advertising the Place to Be?
Authors: Parnell‐Berry Bel
Published: May 2016

Whilst online might be growing, media specialists explain why TV still has more impact
The Darker Side of Digital
Authors: Kent‐Lemon Nichola
Published: May 2016

In recent years digital technology has liberated us, saving us time, giving us access to more methods of communication than we ever thought possible and bringing us closer to the people we love. But it is becoming increasingly apparent that there is a darker side to digital. In July of 2015, Northstar teamed up with creative agency Six: Thirty to generate a design exhibition inspired by the increasingly complex relationship between our real world and digital lives.
Signs of Europeanization?: the 2014 EP election in European newspapers
Authors: Belluati Marinella
Published: May 2016

Taking into account the European public sphere and the EU democratic deficit theories, and utilizing the European elections as an evidence, this article demonstrates that despite appearances the European public sphere is showing signs of Europeanization. In the last European electoral campaign, the electorate has gained a more direct voice in the selection of the President of the European Commission. For the first time, EP parties (or party groups) have selected candidates for this position, hence structuring the electoral campaign and giving visibility to such candidates, as suggested by the European Parliament resolution document issued on 4 July 2013. Through political communication approaches, the article explores the impact these guidelines had in the domestic electoral strategies. It does so drawing on a comparative perspective approach. Descriptive content analysis tools are utilized to examine the online edition of articles related to the European election campaign in five European newspapers:The Guardian, Le Monde, El Pais, La Stampa, andSüddeutche Zeitung. The research focused on (i) coverage of European campaign, (ii) main issues and topics of the electoral debate, (iii) visibility of European and national leaders, and (iv) impact of Eurosceptic perspective in the European election debate. Special attention is given to comparing the different journalistic approaches about gender balance and Euroscepticism. The results of this comparative analysis show a strengthening of the Europeanization of the public sphere.
Management of isolated cricopharyngeal dysfunction: systematic review
Authors: Ashman A , Dale O T , Baldwin D L
Published: May 2016

Objective:

A systematic review was performed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of different therapeutic interventions available for the management of isolated cricopharyngeal dysfunction.

Methods:

Studies were identified using the following databases: Ovid (Medline, Embase), the Cochrane Library, PubMed and Google Scholar. An initial search identified 339 articles. All titles and abstracts were reviewed. Fifty-six relevant articles were inspected in more detail; of these, 47 were included in the qualitative analysis.

Results:

No relevant randomised trials were found. A range of case series were used to perform a qualitative analysis. Botulinum toxin A injection and cricopharyngeal dilatation were associated with a higher risk of recurrence, but appear to be more suitable in elderly and co-morbid patients. In those patients requiring formal myotomy, endoscopic approaches appear to be as effective but less morbid when compared with classical open surgery.

Conclusion:

There is good evidence for the safety and efficacy of the different therapeutic options for isolated cricopharyngeal dysfunction. However, further studies are required to compare the efficacy of the various treatment modalities.
A new species ofMegalobrachiumStimpson, 1858 (Crustacea: Anomura: Porcellanidae) from the eastern Pacific coasts of Panama and Colombia, with re-description ofM. erosum
Authors: Ferreira Luciane Augusto de Azevedo , Tavares Marcos
Published: May 2016

A new species of porcelain crab,Megalobrachium lemaitrein. sp., is described and illustrated from the Pacific coasts of Panama and Colombia. The new species is similar to its northern counterpartM. erosum(Glassell, 1936) in the general eroded appearance of the carapace and chelipeds, but is distinguished by the details of the carapace and cheliped ornamentation and pereopod setation. For comparison,Megalobrachium erosumis re-described on the basis of the type and other material.
Constrained cyclic coordinate descent for cryo-EM images at medium resolutions: beyond the protein loop closure problem
Authors: Al Nasr Kamal , He Jing
Published: May 2016

The cyclic coordinate descent (CCD) method is a popular loop closure method in protein structure modeling. It is a robotics algorithm originally developed for inverse kinematic applications. We demonstrate an effective method of building the backbone of protein structure models using the principle of CCD and a guiding trace. For medium-resolution 3-dimensional (3D) images derived using cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM), it is possible to obtain guiding traces of secondary structures and their skeleton connections. Our new method, constrained cyclic coordinate descent (CCCD), builds α-helices, β-strands, and loops quickly and fairly accurately along predefined traces. We show that it is possible to build the entire backbone of a protein fairly accurately when the guiding traces are accurate. In a test of 10 proteins, the models constructed using CCCD show an average of 3.91 Å of backbone root mean square deviation (RMSD). When the CCCD method is incorporated in a simulated annealing framework to sample possible shift, translation, and rotation freedom, the models built with the true topology were ranked high on the list, with an average backbone RMSD100 of 3.76 Å. CCCD is an effective method for modeling atomic structures after secondary structure traces and skeletons are extracted from 3D cryo-EM images.
The bioactivities of the central segment of Zp2 polypeptide
Authors: Cao Zuowu , Nie Chuncheng , Xie Yan , Cai Dongqin
Published: May 2016

In order to understand the role of the protein zona pellucida 2 in fertilization, an antibody against a central segment of the zona pellucida 2 peptide, segment 190–505 (Z2eH), was prepared. The influence of the antibody on sperm–zona interaction was tested using the sperm–egg binding assay. The effect of the antibody on fertility was evaluated by passive immunization with anti-Z2eH antibody. Immunohistochemical assay showed that an antibody from rabbit reacted specifically with the natural zona pellucida on mouse ovarian sections. Immunofluorescence assay showed that the antibody bound specifically to the zonae pellucidae of the ovulated oocytes and 2-cell embryos after passive immunization. The antibody-treated oocytes bound capacitated sperm as control oocytes, passive immunization did not impede the action of sperm to fertilize the oocytein vivo. These findings suggest that the central peptide of ZP2 (190–505) is immunogenic and contains zona pellucida-specific epitopes, however the central polypeptide might not be the crucial part from which to construct a functional domain to bind sperm.
Comet with Stunted Tail Hints at How Solar System Formed
Authors: Wendel JoAnna
Published: May 2016

Finding out whether just a few or many of this newfound type of rocky object roam deep space should help scientists sort among contrasting scenarios of the solar system's infancy.
A unique approach to magnetization of metal oxides: nano-Fe3O4@TDI@TiO2 as a highly efficient, magnetically separable and recyclable heterogeneous nanocatalyst
Authors: Tabrizian Elham , Amoozadeh Ali
Published: May 2016

Nano-Fe3O4@TDI@TiO2 as a novel heterogeneous nanocatalyst is synthesized by covalent linkage of n-Fe3O4 and n-TiO2 through TDI.
A multifunctional lanthanide metal–organic framework supported by Keggin type polyoxometalates
Authors: Zhu Wen-Hua , Zeng Min , Wang Juan , Li Chen-Yang , Tian Li-Hong , Yin Jia-Cheng , Liu Yu-Kun
Published: May 2016

An unusual multifunctional POM@MOF neodymium metal–organic framework with 1D nanotubular channels incorporating Keggin type [SiWV3WVI9O38]3− polyoxometalates was successfully synthesized.
Controllable synthesis of three dimensional electrodeposited Co–P nanosphere arrays as efficient electrocatalysts for overall water splitting
Authors: Han Guan-Qun , Li Xiao , Liu Yan-Ru , Dong Bin , Hu Wen-Hui , Shang Xiao , Zhao Xin , Chai Yong-Ming , Liu Yun-Qi , Liu Chen-Guang
Published: May 2016

Novel three dimensional (3D) electrodeposited Co–P nanosphere arrays on FTO (Co–P/FTO) have been successfully prepared as efficient bifunctional electrocatalysts for overall water splitting in alkaline media.
Fabrication of a stretchable electromagnetic interference shielding silver nanoparticle/elastomeric polymer composite
Authors: Kim Eunjoo , Lim Dae Young , Kang Youngjong , Yoo Euisang
Published: May 2016

Highly conductive and stretchable electromagnetic interference shielding (EMI) materials were developed using a silver nanoparticle/elastomeric polymer (NP/SBS) composite.
Structurally confined ultrafine NiO nanoparticles on graphene as a highly efficient and durable electrode material for supercapacitors
Authors: Cheng Yi , Pan Jian , Saunders Martin , Yao Shikui , Shen Pei Kang , Wang Huanting , Jiang San Ping
Published: May 2016

Core–shell structured ultrafine NiO NPs embedded in MnOx show high supercapacitance as well as excellent stability due to the structure confinement effect of amorphous MnO shell.
Multiconfigurable logic gate operation in 1D polydiacetylene microtube waveguide
Authors: Yang Guang , Zhang Yan , Xia Hongyan , Zou Gang , Zhang Qijin
Published: May 2016

Reversible electrical modulation of waveguiding in a 1D viologen-modified PDA microtube based on fluorescence resonance energy transfer. By applying a voltage, the emission at the tip of the VFPDA microtube was decreased (−1.5 V), or was returned to original values (1.5 V).
Hydrothermal synthesis of analcime and hydroxycancrinite from K-feldspar in Na2SiO3solution: characterization and reaction mechanism
Authors: Yuan Jiangyan , Yang Jing , Ma Hongwen , Liu Changjiang , Zhao Chenglong
Published: May 2016

Hydroxycancrinite and analcime were generated in the reaction process of K-feldspar and various concentration solutions of Na2SiO3.
Crystal structure, luminescence properties and energy transfer of Eu3+/Dy3+ doped GdNbTiO6 broad band excited phosphors
Authors: Liu N. , Si J. Y. , Cai G. M. , Tao Y.
Published: May 2016

GdNbTiO6 has been used as a broad band excited host material absorbing UV radiation, and the excitation energy is transferred from the O2− → Nb5+(Ti4+) charge transfer band to the excited states of Eu3+/Dy3+ ions, presenting different emission colors.
Enhancing the safety and electrochemical performance of ether based lithium sulfur batteries by introducing an efficient flame retarding additive
Authors: Fei Huifang , An Yongling , Feng Jinkui , Ci Lijie , Xiong Shenglin
Published: May 2016

A novel flame retarding additive, hexafluorocyclotriphosphazene, has been used to create an ether based (1,3-dioxolane and dimethoxyethane) electrolyte, which is non-flammable and enhances the electrochemical properties of a lithium sulfur battery.
Preparation of photoluminescence tunable Cu-doped AgInS2 and AgInS2/ZnS nanocrystals and their application as cellular imaging probes
Authors: Chen Siqi , Demillo Violeta , Lu Minggen , Zhu Xiaoshan
Published: May 2016

Photoluminescence tunable Cu-doped AgInS2 and AgInS2/ZnS nanocrystals were synthesized and applied in cellular imaging.
Spiral growth mode in DMDPC organic thin film transistors by physical vapor deposition
Authors: Liu Tianjun , Wang Jiawei , Wang Liang , Wang Jing , Lan Jingbo , You Jingsong , Jiang Chao
Published: May 2016

We report the observation of a screw-dislocation-driven spiral growth of DMDPC organic thin films. The existence of screw dislocations was clearly confirmed by the observations of outcropped stepsand spiral fringes.
Nickel-catalyzed C-3 direct arylation of pyridinium ions for the synthesis of 1-azafluorenes
Authors: Desrosiers Jean-Nicolas , Wei Xudong , Gutierrez Osvaldo , Savoie Jolaine , Qu Bo , Zeng Xingzhong , Lee Heewon , Grinberg Nelu , Haddad Nizar , Yee Nathan K. , Roschangar Frank , Song Jinhua J. , Kozlowski Marisa C. , Senanayake Chris H.
Published: May 2016

The reactivity of pyridinium ions was utilized for the first non-precious-metal-catalyzed C-3 direct arylation and was demonstrated by mechanistic studies.
Area‐efficient error amplifier with current‐boosting module for fast‐transient buck converters
Authors: Liu Pang‐Jung , Chen Tzu‐Hsuan , Hsu Shang‐Ru
Published: May 2016

The current boosting module (CBM) is proposed to be implemented in an error amplifier (EA) for improving the load transient of a dc–dc converter. To enhance the slew rate of the EA during transient, the CBM is adopted to raise/reduce the gate voltages of the output‐stage transistors of the EA for enhancing its current driving capability with simple circuitry. Moreover, to save power consumption in steady state, the accelerative mechanism of the EA is turned off. A buck converter with CBM is implemented with 0.35 μm 2P4M complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor process. The experimental results demonstrate that the recovery time and transient ripple of the buck converter are improved by over ten times and two times, respectively, compared with those of the buck converter without CBM, for a 450 mA load current change. The maximum power conversion efficiency is 92.8% when the input and output voltages are 4 and 2.5 V, respectively. Hence, the buck converter with CBM can concurrently fulfil the functionalities of fixed switching frequency and fast load transient.
Comparative studies between KVL and BPFT in magnetically‐coupled resonant wireless power transfer
Authors: Zhang Jin , Cheng Chonghu
Published: May 2016

Kirchhoff's voltage law (KVL) and band‐pass filter theory (BPFT) have been utilised for estimating the power transfer efficiency (PTE) and power delivered to the load (PDL) of magnetically‐coupled resonant wireless power transfer (WPT). By using the two approaches, three aspects for in‐depth understanding of power transfer characteristics and designing a high‐efficiency WPT system are illuminated in this research. First, by introducing generalised mistuning factor and using diagram discriminance method in KVL, the effect conditions of source‐ and load‐loaded quality factors on PTE and PDL are analysed. Then, by applying frequency and element transformations in BPFT, the restraints of Butterworth and Chebyshev type filter for WPT application are revealed. Third, it is verified that BPFT is a special case of KVL, and the former simplifies the design and analysis under the derived restraints than the latter. The maximal PDL at original frequency and the transfer characteristics in frequency splitting region can be easily achieved by Butterworth and Chebyshev type, respectively. The PTE and PDL versus frequency and coupling coefficient can be analysed in detail by KVL. Finally, the calculated results of the design examples are verified through experimental measurements.
Quantitative analysis in language variation and change
Authors: Tagliamonte Sali A.
Published: May 2016

The essential goal of variation analysis is to understand the behavior of the dependent variable according to a series of factors, either external (social) or internal (grammatical), (Sankoff, 1988, p. 985). I begin with a brief review of the standard tool, logistic regression using the Varb family of programs. I will also introduce new tools, mixed effects models and condition inference trees relying on the discussions in Baayen (2008), Gries (2009), Johnson (2009).
The role of social networks in the acquisition of a dialectal features during study abroad
Authors: Pope Joshua
Published: May 2016

Research shows that students who study abroad (SA) gain in communicative and discourse skills more than their at-home (AH) counterparts (Freed, 1995). However, such advantages are not automatic. For example, evidence of SA phonological advantages over AH is clear at times (e.g. Díaz Campos, 2006) while not in others (e.g. Geeslin & Gudmestad, 2011). This study adds to the conversation about phonological acquisition during SA and posits that learner social networks (Milroy, 1987) are key in such acquisition. It examines the realizations of [θ] in four English native speakers who spent one year in Madrid. Two used [θ] consistently while the other two did not. The participants’ social networks can be used, in part, to explain the discrepancy.
Bilingualism and aspiration
Authors: Chappell Whitney
Published: May 2016

Spanish has become increasingly prevalent in Bilwi, a Nicaraguan town on the northern Atlantic Coast, where many L1-Miskitu locals are now Spanish-dominant. As the community shifts towards Spanish, I investigate whether these L2-Spanish speakers are producing advanced rates of coda /s/ reduction like monolingual Nicaraguan Spanish speakers. In a comparison of the Miskitu’s reduction rates with Spanish monolinguals, I find that Miskitu speakers who learned Spanish later in life do reduce coda /s/ but diverge from monolingual reduction rates preconsonantally. I contend that salience and perceptibility can account for this difference. While monolinguals reduce /s/ the most in cue-impoverished environments, the L2-Spanish speakers reduce /s/ more where they hear the reductions the best: in cue-rich, prevocalic environments.
The tuteo of Rocha, Uruguay
Authors: Weyers Joseph R.
Published: May 2016

Although Uruguay is generally considered voseante, its easternmost department of Rocha is known for its seemingly stable tuteo (T-T). The evidence of a stable tuteo in Rocha to date has been anecdotal. Weyers (2014) studied teenagers’ attitudes toward second person singular forms and found that young speakers in Rocha have a strong sense of pride in their tuteo and link it to their identity. At the same time, they demonstrate openness toward the voseo of Montevideo. The current study builds on Weyers (2014). Here, 55 informants participated in a two-part survey. The first part includes Weyers’ (2014) linguistic attitudes survey in part, the results for which are corroborated by this more heterogeneous sample. The second part was an elicitation task for which speakers produced second person singular imperatives or present indicative forms. The findings show that while tuteo forms are generally preferred, nearly half of the informants preferred the voseo form of ser in an elicitation task. Younger speakers, primarily male, were more apt to prefer sos over eres, citing its sense of informality to the tuteo’s formality. The data from the current study suggest that Rocha’s tuteo might not be as stable as commonly thought. This study provides a foundation for subsequent research on the potential for a future shift from tuteo to voseo.
A corpus-based sociolinguistic study of contact-induced changes in subject placement in the Spanish of New York City bilinguals
Authors: Barrera Tobón Carolina , Raña-Risso Rocío
Published: May 2016

This chapter reports on a variationist sociolinguistic analysis of variable subject placement in the Spanish of first- and second-generation Spanish-English bilinguals in New York City. We show that second-generation speakers exhibit a more rigid word order compared to their first-generation peers, and we attribute this difference to their increased use of and contact with English. However, we also find that regional differences in subject placement in the first generation are maintained, to a certain degree, in the second generation, indicating that both English contact and continuity with Latin American ways of speaking shape Spanish in New York City.
Quantifying Expressions in the History of German
Authors: Roehrs Dorian , Sapp Christopher D.
Published: May 2016

This study describes the 1200-year history of German quantifying expressions like nîoman anderro > niemand anderer ‘nobody else’, analyzing the morpho-syntactic developments within the generative framework. The quantifiers examined arose from various lexical sources/categories (nouns, adjectives, and pronouns) but all changed to adjectival quantifiers. These changes are interpreted as a novel type of upward reanalysis from head to specifier, which we associate with degrammaticalization driven by analogy. As for the quantified phrases, most appeared in the genitive in Old High German, indicating a bi-nominal structure. During the Early New High German period, most quantified nouns and adjectives changed to agreement with the quantifier. By Modern German, only quantified DPs and pronouns remain in the genitive. These changes involve downward reanalysis of the quantified elements, being integrated into the matrix nominal depending on the structural size of the quantified phrase. Overall, we conclude that diachronically quantifying expressions may have different syntactic analyses.
The interactional history of examples and parentheses
Authors: De Stefani Elwys , Sambre Paul , Van De Mieroop Dorien
Published: May 2016

In this article, we set out to examine how participants organize their note-taking while engaged in multiparty interaction. We first describe the collective display of affiliation as an interactional practice that allows note-takers to identify recordables and to legitimize their writing. We then focus on the use of examples (e.g.) and parentheses in the written notes. While style guides recommend the use of examples and parentheses to indicate subsidiary information, we describe the interactional history that leads to such scriptorial practices in collaborative writing. The analyses show that both examples and parentheses may originate from various interactional practices (e.g. listing, instruction, epistemic disputes) and that they may relate to highly salient topics of the interaction. We use the methods developed in conversation analysis, which we extend to the analysis of multimodal phenomena of interaction.
Going to write
Authors: Mondada Lorenza
Published: May 2016

This paper offers a multimodal approach of writing as an embodied interactional action, prefigured by the movements of the entire body, projecting going to write. It considers grassroots participatory democracy meetings as an exemplary setting for studying issues related to writing in public, for the public and on behalf of the public. In this context, a facilitator is in charge of writing down the outcome of the participatory discussion, in a way that is public, transparent and intelligible for the audience. On the basis of extensive video recordings, I study the methodic embodied practices that precede and lead to public writing. The analysis shows that the writing of proposals is contingent on the establishment of an agreement about them: clear agreement is followed by a straight and brisk walk of the facilitator towards the board, projecting the inscription. By contrast, when there are problems in establishing the agreement, his walk is more discontinuous. Finally, in case of persisting disagreement, the walk deploys in very different manners. Thus embodied movements of the facilitator are reflexively related to the agreed upon vs. disagreed status of the proposal that the facilitator is going to inscribe. This demonstrates how writing is strongly projected by walking; and how writing is observably done in a public, transparent, and revisable way as the product of a collective action.
The semiotic landscaping of heritage
Authors: Abdelhay Ashraf , Ahmed Mahgoub , Mohamed Elbashir
Published: May 2016

This paper investigates the semiotic landscape of one of the significant spaces in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Al-Manṭiqa al-Tarikhiyya in Jeddah (Historic District/Historic Jeddah). It intends to achieve two key objectives: first, to situate al-Manṭiqa al-Tarikhiyya in wider historical contexts by inspecting its conditions of (re)constitution across various temporal and spatial orders of social life. Our observation here is that although linguistic signs such as al-Balad (city center), Jeddah al-Qadema (Old Jeddah), and al-Manṭiqa al-Tarikhiyya (Historic District) are referentially synonymous, sociolinguistically they are products of more or less different patterns of mobility, conviviality, and structures of power relations. Since the semiotic landscape of al-Manṭiqa al-Tarikhiyya is caught up in a relation of dominance between sedimented and co-existing discursive regimes of regulation of social life, the space is fundamentally multilayered and complex. The second objective is to examine the social circumstances, discursive processes and strategies (rites of institution) designed to produce the recent entextualization of the “same” space as a heritage landscape (al-Manṭiqa al-Tarikhiyya). Our contention here is that these situated actions do not “preserve” a naturally given “historic space” as such but rather they “reinvent” a “shared memory” through social struggle and contextually anchored (re)interpretation. Thus the sense of “originality” implied by the concept of “historic/heritage” is an emergent product of social interaction and ongoing discursive struggles by a network of differentially positioned social actors.
Phonation and glottal states in Modern South Arabian and San'ani Arabic
Authors: Watson Janet C.E. , Heselwood Barry
Published: May 2016

This chapter examines phonation categories and glottal states in the Modern South Arabian language, Mehri, as spoken in southern Oman and eastern Yemen with reference also to its sister language, Śḥerɛ̄t, and in San’ani Arabic from an Emergent Features perspective (Mielke, 2008). Within the paper, we consider the extent to which these language varieties may inform research on the phonological categories of the early Arab grammarians. The innovation in this paper lies in addressing the relationship between phonological patterning, phonetics, and distinctive features. We present data to show that voiced and emphatic phonemes pattern together in these varieties in opposition to voiceless phonemes, leading us to postulate a phonological account in terms of two ‘emergent’ laryngeal features [open] and [closed], that draws on Morén’s Parallel Structures model (2003).
Temporal NPIs and NCIs as adverb phrases
Authors: Alqassas Ahmad
Published: May 2016

I analyze the status of the temporal NPI ʕʊmr and NCI baʕd in Jordanian Arabic and explain their distribution and syntactic licensing. Despite their head-like properties (hosting clitics and assigning case), I argue that both elements are AdvPs in Spec-XP positions rather than heads projecting their own clausal structure. These items can be pre-verbal or post-verbal; they differ in their ability to precede negative constituents; they require a complement (DP or CP) that can be co-referential with the subject or object of the clause (or, in the NPI case, the pronominal complement inside a syntactic island). I contend that the similarities and differences among these properties follow from the fact that ʕʊmr may be base-generated either pre-verbally or post-verbally, while baʕd is always base-generated post-verbally and optionally moves to a pre-verbal position. I conclude that both c-command and specifier-head configurations can license such items, while the head-complement configuration cannot.
The Multiplicity of Habit
Authors: Turner Scott F. , Cacciatori Eugenia
Published: May 2016

This chapter explores habit as a foundational concept for routines research. The authors examine how habit and habitus have been conceptualized in psychology and sociology, giving particular attention to the role of deliberation and mindfulness. Drawing on this work, they develop a typology of habit that is based on the extent of deliberation by the individual performing an activity, and the variability in the conditions in which he or she performs it. The chapter considers the implications of these insights on habit for two central perspectives of organizational routines, the capabilities perspective and the practice perspective, arguing that both can be advanced by closer attention to the idea of routines as interlinked habits.
Reproductive skew in Japanese sardine inferred from DNA sequences
Authors: Niwa Hiro-Sato , Nashida Kazuya , Yanagimoto Takashi ,   Handling editor: W. Stewart Grant
Published: May 2016

An excess of low-frequency mutations is a ubiquitous characteristic of many marine species, and may be explained by three hypotheses. First, the demographic expansion hypothesis postulates that many species experienced a post-glacial expansion following a Pleistocene population bottleneck. The second invokes some form of natural selection, such as directional selection and selective sweeps. The third explanation, the reproductive skew hypothesis, postulates that high variation in individual reproductive success in many marine species influences genetic diversity. In this study, we focused on demography and reproductive success and the use of coalescent theory to analyse mitochondrial DNA sequences from the Japanese sardine. Our results show that population parameters estimated from both the site-frequency spectrum and the mismatch distribution of pairwise nucleotide differences refute the demographic expansion hypothesis. Further, the observed mismatch distribution, compared with the expectations of the reproductive skew hypothesis, supports the presence of multiple mergers in the genealogy. Many short external branches but few long terminal branches are found in the sardine genealogy. Model misspecification can lead to misleading contemporary and historical estimates of the genetically effective population sizes in marine species. The prevalence of reproductive skew in marine species influences not only the analysis of genetic data but also has ecological implications for understanding variation in reproductive and recruitment patterns in exploited species.
Efficacy and Safety of a Preemptive Antiviral Therapy Strategy Based on Combined Virological and Immunological Monitoring for Active Cytomegalovirus Infection in Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplant Recipients
Authors: Navarro David , Amat Paula , de la Cámara Rafael , López Javier , Vázquez Lourdes , Serrano David , Nieto José , Rovira Monserrat , Piñana José Luis , Giménez Estela , Solano Carlos
Published: May 2016

Background.  Preemptive antiviral therapy for active cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in allogeneic stem cell transplant recipients (Allo-SCT) results in overtreatment and a high rate of recurrences. Monitoring of CMV-specific T-cell immunity may help to individualize treatments and minimize these problems.

Methods.  We conducted a prospective, multicenter, matched comparison-group study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a novel strategy that consisted of interrupting anti-CMV therapy upon CMV DNAemia clearance and concurrent detection of phosphoprotein 65/immediate-early-1-specific interferon-γ-producing CD8+ T cells at levels of >1 cell/µL (within 30 days after the initiation of therapy). Immunological monitoring was performed on days +7, +14, +21, and +28 after treatment initiation. The primary endpoint was the cumulative incidence of recurrent DNAemia within 2 months after treatment cessation. Secondary endpoints were the length of antiviral treatment courses and the incidence of hematological toxicity.

Results.  Sixty-one patients were enrolled in the study group. Fifty-six patients were included in the matched-control group. Eleven patients (18%) fulfilled the criteria for antiviral treatment interruption. The cumulative incidence of recurrent CMV DNAemia was significantly lower (P = .02) in these patients than in patients in the comparative groups. Likewise, the length of antiviral treatment courses was significantly shorter in these patients than that in patients in the matched-control group (P = .003). No significant differences in the incidence of hematological toxicity was observed between the comparative groups.

Conclusions.  Our data support the clinical utility of combining immunological and virological monitoring for the management of CMV infection in a subset of Allo-SCT recipients.
Delayed treatment of femoral neck fractures in 58 children: open reduction internal fixation versus closed reduction internal fixation
Authors: Ju Li , Jiang Bo , Lou Yue , Zheng Pengfei
Published: May 2016

The best treatment plan for femoral neck fractures in children in whom treatment is delayed by more than 24 h is unclear because of the limited number of such cases reported. This study compares the outcomes of closed and open reduction performed 24 h after the injury was sustained. We retrospectively reviewed 58 cases (40 males, 18 females) of femoral neck fractures reset after more than a 24-h delay at our hospital (May 2005 to May 2014). According to Delbet’s classification, there were 30 type II fractures (51.7%), 21 type III fractures (36.2%), and seven type IV fractures (12.1%). A total of 21 patients underwent closed reduction and internal fixation; the remaining patients underwent open reduction and internal fixation. The follow-up period was 17–61 months (average, 35.1 months). The results were classified according to Ratliff’s criteria. With the exception of one case of bone nonunion (closed reduction group), the fracture was healed in the remaining cases. The average healing time was 10.82 weeks (9–13 weeks). The incidence of avascular necrosis was significantly lower in the open reduction group. Further, the percentage of results classified as ‘fine’ according to Ratliff’s criteria was significantly higher in the open reduction group than in the closed reduction group. Coxa vara occurred in three patients in the closed reduction group, but it did not occur in any of the patients in the open reduction group. The incidence of avascular necrosis was significantly lower in the patients who achieved anatomical reduction than in the patients who only achieved acceptable reduction. Finally, the results in the anatomical reduction group were obviously better than those in the acceptable reduction group. Open reduction with internal fixation yielded better outcomes than closed reduction in this group of children with displaced femoral neck fractures who were treated more than 24 h after the injury. This may be related to the better reduction quality in the open reduction group. Level of evidence: Therapeutic studies: investigating the results of treatment, Level III.
Symptom Clusters in Adults With Chronic Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: Streur Megan , Ratcliffe Sarah J. , Ball Jocasta , Stewart Simon , Riegel Barbara
Published: May 2016

Background:

Symptom clusters have not previously been explored among individuals with atrial fibrillation of any type.

Objective:

The purpose of this study is to determine the number of symptom clusters present among adults with chronic atrial fibrillation and to explore sociodemographic and clinical factors potentially associated with cluster membership.

Methods:

This was a cross-sectional secondary data analysis of 335 Australian community-dwelling adults with chronic (recurrent paroxysmal, persistent, or permanent) atrial fibrillation. We used self-reported symptoms and agglomerative hierarchical cluster analysis to determine the number and content of symptom clusters present.

Results:

There were slightly more male (52%) than female participants, with a mean (SD) age of 72 (11.25) years. Three symptom clusters were evident, including a vagal cluster (nausea and diaphoresis), a tired cluster (fatigue/lethargy, weakness, syncope/dizziness, and dyspnea/breathlessness), and a heart cluster (chest pain/discomfort and palpitations/fluttering). We compared patient characteristics among those with all the symptoms in the cluster, those with some of the symptoms in the cluster, and those with none of the symptoms in the cluster. The only statistically significant differences were in age, gender, and the use of antiarrhythmic medications for the heart cluster. Women were more likely to have the heart symptom cluster than men were. Individuals with all of the symptoms in the heart cluster were younger (69.6 vs 73.7 years; P = .029) than those with none of the symptoms in the heart cluster and were more likely to be on antiarrhythmic medications.

Conclusion:

Three unique atrial fibrillation symptom clusters were identified in this study population.
Hepatocellular carcinoma in noncirrhotic livers is associated with steatosis rather than steatohepatitis: potential implications for pathogenesis
Authors: van Meer Suzanne , van Erpecum Karel J. , Sprengers Dave , Klümpen Heinz-Josef , Jansen Peter L.M. , Ijzermans Jan N.M. , Siersema Peter D. , de Man Robert A. , Verheij Joanne
Published: May 2016

Objective

The risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is increased in patients with metabolic syndrome (MS), possibly related to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). As histological features of NAFLD may regress in cirrhosis, we compared steatosis versus steatohepatitis in the nontumoral liver of noncirrhotic HCC patients.

Patients and methods

A retrospective clinicopathological analysis was carried out in 91 noncirrhotic HCC patients. Patients were divided into three subgroups: that is, patients with: (1) MS without other risk factors for underlying liver disease, (2) no underlying risk factors, or (3) other risk factors (with or without MS). The NAFLD activity score (NAS) less than 3 was classified as no steatohepatitis, NAS 3–4 as borderline steatohepatitis, and NAS 5 or more as definite steatohepatitis.

Results

Eleven (12%) patients had MS without other risk factors (group 1). In the nontumoral liver, significant steatosis (≥5% of hepatocytes) was generally present (in 10/11 patients), with mild lobular inflammation and absence of ballooning in most cases. Absence of steatohepatitis, borderline steatohepatitis, and definite steatohepatitis were found in 55, 45, and 0% of cases, respectively. In groups 2 and 3, significant steatosis was frequently present (in 16/37 and 21/43 patients, respectively). Absence of steatohepatitis, borderline steatohepatitis, and definite steatohepatitis were found in 84, 16, and 0% of cases (group 2), respectively, in 77, 23, and 0% of cases (group 3).

Conclusion

In noncirrhotic HCC patients, histological steatosis was frequently present, whereas overt steatohepatitis did not occur. These findings may be relevant for HCC pathogenesis in NAFLD.
Human resource management from an Islamic perspective: a contemporary literature review
Authors: Habib Rana Muhammad , Shaukat Malik Muhammad
Published: May 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a concise overview of available research work on Islamic principles related to human resource management (HRM).

Design/methodology/approach

With the purpose in view, an effort was made to collect books, journal articles and research papers. The selected works cover the period from 2003 to 2014. The reason behind selection of this period is the fact that during this time, an increased emphasis on religion, particularly Islam, has been felt the world over. The ideas and inferences out of those works have been compiled in a concise and ordered form. Compilation of ideas has been thematically arranged on the basis of different areas of HRM which led to the findings of the study.

Findings

Business organizations in Islamic countries or those being managed by the Muslims generally claim to follow Islamic management principles. However, practical adherence to these principles varies in various shades depending on national and organizational culture. The reviewed literature covers the theory of HRM and identifies the Islamic principles related to it. Mostly, the researchers have elaborated the Islamic guidelines related to HRM; however, a few have also ventured to find out practical application of Islamic principles and their efficacy.

Research limitations/implications

Books and articles included in this review do not present wholesome picture. Although random selection from various authors and journals neutralizes the limitation to some extent, a more comprehensive review may improve the findings.

Originality/value

Religion has proven to be a driving force in the display of human commitment and devotion in various forms of competitions including war. Identification of the role of religion in business can open new vistas in HRM. The glimpses of the role of Islam in business, especially HRM, included in this review can have far reaching impact.
Aspirations of an Islamic bank: an exploration from stakeholders’ perspective
Authors: Ahmed Ishfaq
Published: May 2016

Purpose

It is believed that Islamic banks are aimed at the welfare of its stakeholders (Dusuki, 2008). The major stakeholders consist of customers, employees, competitors and management. But whether the Islamic banks are really able to communicate and convey their mission to their stakeholders is an area which has not be given due importance. This paper aims to attempt to unveil this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

This study comprised two distinctive methodological stances, where mission statements of selected (five) Islamic banks were analyzed using content analysis, readability and understandability in first instance. In second step, various stakeholders responded for their perception of objectives of stakeholders through personally administrated questionnaires. In all, 370 respondents recorded their responses in this stage.

Findings

Findings of the study show that Islamic banks are not well in communication to their objectives through their missions statements. Moreover, most of the stakeholders are not clear about the objectives of Islamic banks.

Originality/value

This study is first of its type which covers content analysis, mission statement readability and understandability and perception of stakeholders in one study.