bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Majority Rule Based Opinion Dynamics with Biased and Stubborn Agents
Authors: Mukhopadhyay Arpan , Mazumdar Ravi R. , Roy Rahul
Published: July 2016

In this paper, we investigate the impact of majority-rule based random interactions among agents in a large social network on the diffusion of opinions in the network. Opinion of each agent is assumed to be a binary variable taking values in the set {0, 1}. Interactions among agents are modeled using the majority rule, where each agent updates its opinion at random instants by adopting the '
majority
' opinion among a group of randomly sampled agents. We investigate two scenarios that respectively incorporate `bias' of the agents towards a specific opinion and stubbornness of some of the agents in the majority rule dynamics. For the first scenario, where all the agents are assumed to be '
biased
' towards one of the opinions, it is shown that the agents reach a
consensus
on the preferred opinion (with high probability) only if the initial fraction of agents having the preferred opinion is above a certain threshold. Furthermore, the mean time taken to reach the consensus is shown to be logarithmic in the network size. In the second scenario, where the presence of '
stubborn
' agents, who never update their opinions, is assumed, we characterize the equilibrium distribution of opinions of the non-stubborn agents using mean field techniques. The mean field limit is shown to have multiple
stable
equilibrium points which leads to a phenomenon known as
metastability
.
SSD Failures in Datacenters
Authors: Narayanan Iyswarya , Wang Di , Jeon Myeongjae , Sharma Bikash , Caulfield Laura , Sivasubramaniam Anand , Cutler Ben , Liu Jie , Khessib Badriddine , Vaid Kushagra
Published: July 2016

Despite the growing popularity of Solid State Disks (SSDs) in the datacenter, little is known about their reliability characteristics in the field. The little knowledge is mainly vendor supplied, which cannot really help understand how SSD failures can manifest and impact production systems, in order to take appropriate actions. Besides failure data, a detailed characterization requires wide spectrum of data about factors influencing SSD failures, right from provisioning (what models' where and when deployed' etc.) to the operational ones (workloads, read-write intensities, write amplification, etc.). We analyze over half a million SSDs that span multiple generations spread across several datacenters which host a wide range of workloads over nearly 3 years. By studying the diverse set of factors on SSD failures, and their symptoms, our work provides the first look at the what, when and why characteristics of SSD failures in production datacenters.
Mean Field Equilibria of Pricing Games in Internet Marketplaces
Authors: Reddyvari Raja Vamseedhar , Ramaswamy Vinod , Shakkottai Srinivas , Subramanian Vijay
Published: July 2016

We model an Internet marketplace using a set of servers that choose prices for performing jobs. Each server has a queue of unfinished jobs, and is penalized for delay by the market maker via a holding cost. A server completes jobs with a low or high "quality", and jobs truthfully report the quality with which they were completed. The best estimate of quality based on these reports is the "reputation" of the server. A server bases its pricing decision on the distribution of its competitors offered prices and reputations. An entering job is given a random sample of servers, and chooses the best one based on a linear combination of price and reputation. We seek to understand how prices would be determined in such a marketplace using the theory of Mean Field Games. We show the existence of a Mean Field Equilibrium and show how reputation plays a role in allowing servers to declare larger prices than their competitors. We illustrate our results by a numerical study of the system via simulation with parameters chosen from data gathered from existing Internet marketplaces.
CAR
Authors: Liu Wenjie , Huang Ping , Tang Kun , Zhou Ke , He Xubin
Published: July 2016

DRAM memory is suffering increasingly aggravating refresh penalty, which no longer causes trivial performance degradation and power consumption. As memory capacity increases, refresh penalty has become increasingly worse as more rows have to be refreshed. In this work, we propose a simple, practical, and effective refresh approach called CAR (Compression-Aware Refresh) to efficiently mitigate refresh overheads. We apply data compression technique to store data in compressed format so that data blocks which are originally distributed across all the constituent chips of a rank only need to be stored in a subset of those chips, leaving banks in the remaining chips not fully occupied. As a result, the memory controller can safely skip refreshing memory rows which contain no useful data without compromising data integrity. Such a compression-aware refresh scheme can result in significant refresh savings and thus improve overall memory performance and energy efficiency. Moreover, to further take advantage of data compression, we adopt the rank subsetting technique to enable accesses to only those occupied chips for memory requests accessing compressed data blocks. Evaluations using benchmarks from SPEC CPU 2006 and the PARSEC 3.0 on the recent DDR4 memory systems have shown that CAR can achieve up to 1.66x performance improvement (11.7% on average).
QoE Analysis of a Large-Scale Live Video Streaming Event
Authors: Ahmed Adnan , Shafiq Zubair , Khakpour Amir
Published: July 2016

Streaming video has received a lot of attention from industry and academia. In this work, we study the characteristics and challenges associated with large-scale live video delivery. Using logs from a commercial Content Delivery Network (CDN), we study live video delivery for a major entertainment event that was streamed by hundreds of thousands of viewers in North America. We analyze Quality-of-Experience (QoE) for the event and note that a significant number of users suffer QoE impairments. As a consequence of QoE impairments, these users exhibit lower engagement metrics.
Breathing Mankind Thoughts
Authors: Jacquet Philippe
Published: July 2016

Mankind has never been connected as it is now and as it will be tomorrow. Nowadays thanks to the rise of social networks such as Tweeter and Facebook, we can follow in real time the thought of millions of people. In fact we can almost feel the thoughts of a whole humanity and maybe project ourselves in a position where we could predict the major trends in the collective behavior of this humanity. However such an ambitious aim would require considerable resources in processing and networking which may be far from affordable. Indeed trends and topics are carried in a multiple of small texts written in various language and vocabularies like an hologram carries information in a dispersed way. Their capture and classification pose serious problems of data mining and analytics. Processes based on pure semantic analysis would require too much processing power and memory. We will present alternative methods based on string complexity also inspired on geolocalization in wireless networks which saves processing power by several order of magnitude. The ultimate goal is to detect when people are thinking about the very same topics before they become aware.

Beyond the problem of topic detection and classification one must also estimate the potential of an isolated topic to become a lasting trend. In other word one must probe the topic foundations, for example by challenging how trustworthy are its sources. Designing an efficient source finder algorithm is indissociable with building realistic models about topic propagation. If we suppose that topics propagate inside communities via the followers-followees links, the propagation is highly amplified by the unbalances in the graph topology. It is established that dominating and semi dominating nodes such as the CNN Tweeter site are the main accelerator of topic propagation. The difficulty is to find the actual source of a topic beyond those screening nodes and the search is prone to false positive and true negative effects. In fact we will show that finding a source of topic is similar to finding a common ancestor in a Darwin channel where spurious mutations complicate the task.
Comparison of Test Your Memory and Montreal Cognitive Assessment Measures in Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Henderson Emily J. , Chu Howard , Gaunt Daisy M. , Whone Alan L. , Ben-Shlomo Yoav , Lyell Veronica
Published: July 2016

Background.MoCA is widely used in Parkinson’s disease (PD) to assess cognition. The Test Your Memory (TYM) test is a cognitive screening tool that is self-administered.Objectives.We sought to determine (a) the optimal value of TYM to discriminate between PD patients with and without cognitive deficits on MoCA testing, (b) equivalent MoCA and TYM scores, and (c) interrater reliability in TYM testing.Methods.We assessed the discriminant ability of TYM and the equivalence between TYM and MoCA scores and measured the interrater reliability between three raters.Results.Of the 135 subjects that completed both tests, 55% had cognitive impairment according to MoCA. A MoCA score of 25 was equivalent to a TYM score of 43-44. The area under the receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve for TYM to differentiate between PD-normal and PD-cognitive impairment was 0.82 (95% CI 0.75 to 0.89). The optimal cutoff to distinguish PD-cognitive impairment from PD-normal was ≤45 (sensitivity 90.5%, specificity 59%) thereby correctly classifying 76.3% of patients with PD-cognitive impairment. Interrater agreement was high (0.97) and TYM was completed in under 7 minutes (interquartile range 5.33 to 8.52 minutes).Conclusions.The TYM test is a useful and less resource intensive screening test for cognitive deficits in PD.
Effects of Traumeel (Tr14) on Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage Response in Healthy Subjects: A Double-Blind RCT
Authors: Muders Kerstin , Pilat Christian , Deuster Vanessa , Frech Torsten , Krüger Karsten , Pons-Kühnemann Jörn , Mooren Frank-Christoph
Published: July 2016

The present double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial intended to test whether ingestion of a natural combination medicine (Tr14 tablets) affects serum muscle damage and inflammatory immune response after downhill running. 96 male subjects received Tr14 tablets, which consist of 14 diluted biological and mineral components, or a placebo for 72 h after the exercise test, respectively. Changes in postexercise levels of various serum muscle damage and immunological markers were investigated. The area under the curve with respect to the increase (AUCi) of perceived pain score and creatine kinase (CK) were defined as primary outcome measures. While for CK thepvalue of the difference between the two groups is borderline, the pain score and muscle strength were not statistically significant. However, a trend towards lower levels of muscle damage (CK,p=0.05; LDH,p=0.06) in the Tr14 group was shown. Less pronounced lymphopenia (p=0.02), a trend towards a lower expression of CD69 count (p=0.07), and antigen-stimulated ICAM-1 (p=0.01) were found in the verum group. The Tr14 group showed a tendentially lower increase of neutrophils (p=0.10), BDNF (p=0.03), stem cell factor (p=0.09), and GM-CSF (p=0.09) to higher levels. The results of the current study indicate that Tr14 seems to limit exercise-induced muscle damage most likely via attenuation of both innate and adaptive immune responses. This study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT01912469).
Epidemiology of Cancers in Kashmir, India: An Analysis of Hospital Data
Authors: Qurieshi Mariya A. , Khan S. M. Salim , Masoodi Muneer A. , Qurieshi Uruj , Ain Quratul , Jan Yasmeen , Haq Inaamul , Ahmad Sheikh Zahoor
Published: July 2016

Cancer is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity in the world. The aim of the present study was to measure the pattern of different cancers in Kashmir, India, a cancer belt with peculiar cancer profile. A hospital based cancer registry was started by the Department of Community Medicine, Government Medical College, Srinagar, in January 2006, wherein information was collected from cancer patients who were diagnosed and treated in the hospital. Data has been analysed for a period extending from January 2006 to December 2012. Descriptive analysis has been done by using statistical software. A total of 1598 cancer patients were admitted during this period. Overall male to female ratio was 1.33 : 1. Stomach cancer was the most commonly reported cancer (25.2%), followed by colorectal cancer (16.4%) and lung cancer (13.2%) among males. For females, colorectal cancer (16.8%), breast cancer (16.1%), and stomach cancer (10.4%) were the most frequently reported cancers in order of frequency. Tobacco related cancers contributed to more than three-fourths of cancers among men and more than half of cancers for women. There is an urgent need to set up a population based cancer registration system to understand the profile of cancers specific to this geographic region.
Neuroplasticity: Insights from Patients Harboring Gliomas
Authors: Kong Nathan W. , Gibb William R. , Tate Matthew C.
Published: July 2016

Neuroplasticity is the ability of the brain to reorganize itself during normal development and in response to illness. Recent advances in neuroimaging and direct cortical stimulation in human subjects have given neuroscientists a window into the timing and functional anatomy of brain networks underlying this dynamic process. This review will discuss the current knowledge about the mechanisms underlying neuroplasticity, with a particular emphasis on reorganization following CNS pathology. First, traditional mechanisms of neuroplasticity, most relevant to learning and memory, will be addressed, followed by a review of adaptive mechanisms in response to pathology, particularly the recruitment of perilesional cortical regions and unmasking of latent connections. Next, we discuss the utility and limitations of various investigative techniques, such as direct electrocortical stimulation (DES), functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), corticocortical evoked potential (CCEP), and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). Finally, the clinical utility of these results will be highlighted as well as possible future studies aimed at better understanding of the plastic potential of the brain with the ultimate goal of improving quality of life for patients with neurologic injury.
Effects of Controlled Irrigation and Drainage on Nitrogen and Phosphorus Concentrations in Paddy Water
Authors: Gao Shi-kai , Yu Shuang-en , Shao Guang-cheng , She Dong-li , Wang Mei , Guo Rong , Cao Rui-zhe , Yan Shao-feng , Ding Ji-hui
Published: July 2016

Controlled irrigation and drainage (CID) has received attention for improving water quality. Under CID condition, water stress is frequently experienced in two contexts: first drought and then flooding (FDTF) and first flooding and then drought (FFTD). This study aimed to investigate the effects of FDTF and FFTD on nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) dynamics in paddy water at different growth stages. The effects of water stress on the migration and transformation of N and P were also investigated. Results showed that CID can decrease N and P concentrations in surface water.NH4+-Nwas the major form of N in surface drainage and percolation water. Mean total phosphorus (TP),NH4+-N, andNO3--Nconcentrations were significantly higher than in FFTD during the growth stage. MeanNH4+-N,NO3--N, and TP concentrations were significantly higher in percolation water under flooding stress than those under drought stress at growth stage, except for mean TP concentrations at milky stage (stage IV). Meanwhile, flooding can sharply increase theNH4+-N,NO3--N, and TP concentrations in percolation water after drought. Thus, without CID, the considerably highNH4+-N,NO3--N, and TP concentrations via runoff and leaching can be responsible for the eutrophication of water bodies in the vicinity of paddy fields during the rice growing season when water stress transforms from drought into flooding.
Fluid Dynamics of Biomimetic Pectoral Fin Propulsion Using Immersed Boundary Method
Authors: Li Ningyu , Su Yumin
Published: July 2016

Numerical simulations are carried out to study the fluid dynamics of a complex-shaped low-aspect-ratio pectoral fin that performs the labriform swimming. Simulations of flow around the fin are achieved by a developed immersed boundary (IB) method, in which we have proposed an efficient local flow reconstruction algorithm with enough robustness and a new numerical strategy with excellent adaptability to deal with complex moving boundaries involved in bionic flow simulations. The prescribed fin kinematics in each period consists of the power stroke and the recovery stroke, and the simulations indicate that the former is mainly used to provide the thrust while the latter is mainly used to provide the lift. The fin wake is dominated by a three-dimensional dual-ring vortex wake structure where the partial power-stroke vortex ring is linked to the recovery-stroke ring vertically. Moreover, the connection of force production with the fin kinematics and vortex dynamics is discussed in detail to explore the propulsion mechanism. We also conduct a parametric study to understand how the vortex topology and hydrodynamic characteristics change with key parameters. The results show that there is an optimal phase angle and Strouhal number for this complicated fin. Furthermore, the implications for the design of a bioinspired pectoral fin are discussed based on the quantitative hydrodynamic analysis.
Serotonin-Exacerbated DSS-Induced Colitis Is Associated with Increase in MMP-3 and MMP-9 Expression in the Mouse Colon
Authors: Chen Menglu , Gao Lei , Chen Pan , Feng Dandan , Jiang Yalin , Chang Yongchao , Jin Jianjun , Chu Fong-Fong , Gao Qiang
Published: July 2016

Background. 5-HT enhances dextran sulfate sodium- (DSS-) induced colitis and is involved in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play roles in the process of intestinal inflammation.Aims. To examine whether 5-HT induces MMPs expression in mouse colon to enhance DSS-induced colitis.Materials and Methods. C57BL/6J (B6) mice were treated with either low-dose (1.0 mg/kg) or high-dose (2.0 mg/kg) 5-HT by enema, low-dose (1.0%) or high-dose (2.5%) DSS, or combined low-dose (1.0%) DSS and (1.0 mg/kg) 5-HT. Mouse colitis was analyzed. MMPs and tissue inhibitors of MMPs (TIMPs) mRNA were measured by real-time quantitative RT-PCR in mouse colon and in human Caco-2 cells and neutrophils. MMP-3 and MMP-9 protein levels were quantified from immunohistochemistry (IHC) images of mouse colons.Results. 5-HT exacerbated DSS-induced colitis, low-dose 5-HT induces both MMP-3 and MMP-9, and high-dose 5-HT only increased MMP-3 mRNA expression in mouse colon. Mouse colon MMP-3 and MMP-9 protein levels were also elevated by 5-HT treatment. The MMP-2, TIMP-1, and TIMP-2 mRNA levels were increased in the inflamed colon. 5-HT induced MMP-3 and MMP-9 mRNA expression in Caco-2 and human neutrophils, respectively, in vitro.Conclusion. 5-HT induced MMP-3 and MMP-9 expression in mouse colon; these elevated MMPs may contribute to DSS-induced colitis.
Multiobjective Optimal Control of Longitudinal Seismic Response of a Multitower Cable-Stayed Bridge
Authors: Fangfang Geng , Youliang Ding
Published: July 2016

The dynamic behavior of a multitower cable-stayed bridge with the application of partially longitudinal constraint system using viscous fluid dampers under real earthquake ground motions is presented. The study is based on the dynamic finite element model of the Jiashao Bridge, a six-tower cable-stayed bridge in China. The prime aim of the study is to investigate the effectiveness of viscous fluid dampers on the longitudinal seismic responses of the bridge and put forth a multiobjective optimization design method to determine the optimized parameters of the viscous fluid dampers. The results of the investigations show that the control objective of the multitower cable-stayed bridge with the partially longitudinal constraint system is to yield maximum reductions in the base forces of bridge towers longitudinally restricted with the bridge deck, with slight increases in the base forces of bridge towers longitudinally unrestricted with the bridge deck. To this end, a multiobjective optimization design method that uses a nondominating sort genetic algorithm II (NSGA-II) is used to optimize parameters of the viscous fluid dampers. The effectiveness of the proposed optimization design method is demonstrated for the multitower cable-stayed bridge with the partially longitudinal constraint system, which reveals that a design engineer can choose a set of proper parameters of the viscous fluid dampers from Pareto optimal fronts that can satisfy the desired performance requirements.
A Five-Gene Expression Signature Predicts Clinical Outcome of Ovarian Serous Cystadenocarcinoma
Authors: Liu Li-Wei , Zhang Qiuhao , Guo Wenna , Qian Kun , Wang Qiang
Published: July 2016

Ovarian serous cystadenocarcinoma is a common malignant tumor of female genital organs. Treatment is generally less effective as patients are usually diagnosed in the late stage. Therefore, a well-designed prognostic marker provides valuable data for optimizing therapy. In this study, we analyzed 303 samples of ovarian serous cystadenocarcinoma and the corresponding RNA-seq data. We observed the correlation between gene expression and patients’ survival and eventually established a risk assessment model of five factors using Cox proportional hazards regression analysis. We found that the survival time in high-risk patients was significantly shorter than in low-risk patients in both training and testing sets after Kaplan-Meier analysis. The AUROC value was 0.67 when predicting the survival time in testing set, which indicates a relatively high specificity and sensitivity. The results suggest diagnostic and therapeutic applications of our five-gene model for ovarian serous cystadenocarcinoma.
Painful Os Peroneum Syndrome: Underdiagnosed Condition in the Lateral Midfoot Pain
Authors: Chagas-Neto Francisco Abaete , Souza Barbara Nogueira Caracas de , Nogueira-Barbosa Marcello Henrique
Published: July 2016

Os peroneum is an accessory ossicle located within the peroneus longus tendon. The painful os peroneum syndrome (POPS) results from a wide spectrum of conditions, including fractures, diastases, and other causes. POPS can result in tenosynovitis or discontinuity of the peroneus longus tendon with a clinical presentation of pain in the lateral aspect of the midfoot. Authors report a typical case of POPS, illustrating this entity through different imaging methods (radiographs, ultrasound, and magnetic resonance imaging). We emphasize the prevalence of this ossicle and discuss painful complications.
Leukocyte-Reduced Platelet-Rich Plasma Treatment of Basal Thumb Arthritis: A Pilot Study
Authors: Loibl Markus , Lang Siegmund , Dendl Lena-Marie , Nerlich Michael , Angele Peter , Gehmert Sebastian , Huber Michaela
Published: July 2016

A positive effect of intra-articular platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection has been discussed for osteoarthritic joint conditions in the last years. The purpose of this study was to evaluate PRP injection into the trapeziometacarpal (TMC) joint. We report about ten patients with TMC joint osteoarthritis (OA) that were treated with 2 intra-articular PRP injections 4 weeks apart. PRP was produced using the Double Syringe System (Arthrex Inc., Naples, Florida, USA). A total volume of1.47±0.25 mL PRP was injected at the first injection and1.5±0.41 mL at the second injection, depending on the volume capacity of the joint. Patients were evaluated using VAS, strength measures, and the Mayo Wrist score and DASH score after 3 and 6 months. VAS significantly decreased from6.2±1.6to5.4±2.2at six-month follow-up (P<0.05). The DASH score was unaffected; however, the Mayo Wrist score significantly improved from46.5±18.6to67.5±19.0at six-month follow-up (P=0.05). Grip was unaffected, whereas pinch declined from6.02±2.99to3.96±1.77at six-month follow-up (P<0.05). We did not observe adverse events after the injection of PRP, except one occurrence of a palmar wrist ganglion, which resolved without treatment. PRP injection for symptomatic TMC OA is a reasonable therapeutic option in early stages TMC OA and can be performed with little to no morbidity.
Structural Aspects of Antioxidant and Genotoxic Activities of Two Flavonoids Obtained from Ethanolic Extract of Combretum leprosum
Authors: Viau Cassiana Macagnan , Moura Dinara Jaqueline , Pflüger Pricila , Facundo Valdir Alves , Saffi Jenifer
Published: July 2016

Combretum leprosum Mart., a member of the Combretaceae family, is a traditionally used Brazilian medicinal plant, although no evidence in the literature substantiates its antioxidant action and the safety of its use. We evaluated the antioxidant properties of the ethanolic extract (EE) from flowers of C. leprosum and its isolated products 5,3′‐dihydroxy‐3,7,4′‐trimethoxyflavone (FCL2) and 5,3′,4′‐trihydroxy‐3,7‐dimethoxyflavone (FCL5) in Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains proficient and deficient in antioxidant defenses. Their mutagenic activity was also assayed in S. cerevisiae, whereas cytotoxic and genotoxic properties were evaluated by MTT and Comet Assays, respectively, in V79 cells. We show that the EE, FCL2, and FCL5 have a significant protective effect against H2O2. FCL2 showed a better antioxidant action, which can be related to the activation of the 3′‐OH in the presence of a methoxyl group at 4′ position in the B‐ring of the molecule, while flavonoids did not induce mutagenesis in yeast, and the EE was mutagenic at high concentrations. The toxicity of these compounds in V79 cells increases from FCL2 = FCL5 < EE; although not cytotoxic, FCL5 induced an increase in DNA damage. The antioxidant effect, along with the lower toxicity and the absence of genotoxicity, suggests that FCL2 could be suitable for pharmacological use.
The Effect of Local Anesthetic Infiltration Around Nephrostomy Tract on Postoperative Pain Control after Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Wang Jiawu , Zhang Chengyao , Tan Dan , Tan Guangzhong , Yang Bo , Chen Wenkai , Tang Guoqiang
Published: July 2016

Objectives: To assess the safety and efficacy of local anesthetic infiltration around nephrostomy tract on postoperative pain control after percutaneous nephrolithotomy. Methods: This systematic review was performed based on randomized clinic trials about local anesthetic infiltration around nephrostomy tract on postoperative pain control. The weighted mean difference (WMD), with their corresponding 95% CI, was calculated to compare continuous variables. Results: Our results showed that the consumption of analgesic was less in the experimental group than in the control group (WMD -25.32, 95% CI -48.09 to -2.55, p = 0.003). There was no significant difference between the mean Visual Analog Scale (VAS) in the experimental group than the control group after 6 h while significantly lower after 24 h. The time of first analgesic demand was significantly longer in the experimental group (WMD 2.19, 95% CI 0.98-3.41). There was no significant difference between 2 groups in terms of operation time, hemoglobin (Hb) alteration, and hospital stay. Conclusion: Local anesthetic infiltration around nephrostomy tract had similar efficacy in the control group in terms of operation time, Hb alteration, and hospital stay, but offers some potential advantages in terms of analgesia requirement, the time of first analgesic demand, and VAS-24 h. However, good quality and large studies with long-term follow-up are warranted for further research.
A Subtrochanteric Femoral Stress Fracture following Bisphosphonate Treatment in an Adolescent Girl
Authors: Boyce Alison M. , Collins Michael T. , Tosi Laura L. , Gafni Rachel I.
Published: July 2016

Atypical subtrochanteric and diaphyseal femoral fractures (AFFs) have emerged as a potential complication of bisphosphonate treatment in adults. Despite increasing off-label use of bisphosphonates in children and adolescents for a variety of skeletal disorders, there have been no reports of AFFs in children or adolescents outside of the osteogenesis imperfecta population. We present the case of a 16-year-old girl who developed a subtrochanteric femoral stress fracture following pamidronate treatment for idiopathic juvenile osteoporosis.
Hydrocortisone Counteracts Adverse Stress Effects on Dual-Task Performance by Improving Visual Sensory Processes
Authors: Weckesser Lisa J. , Alexander Nina C. , Kirschbaum Clemens , Mennigen Eva , Miller Robert
Published: July 2016

The impact of acute stress on executive processes is commonly attributed to glucocorticoid-induced disruptions of the pFC. However, the occipital cortex seems to express a higher density of glucocorticoid receptors. Consequently, acute stress effects on executive processes could as well be mediated by glucocorticoid (e.g., cortisol)-induced alterations of visual sensory processes. To investigate this alternative route of stress action by demarcating the effects of acute stress and cortisol on executive from those on visual sensory processes, 40 healthy young men completed a standardized stress induction (i.e., the Trier Social Stress Test) and control protocol in two consecutive sessions. In addition, they received either a placebo or hydrocortisone (0.12-mg/kg bodyweight) pill and processed a dual and a partial report task to assess their executive and visual sensory processing abilities, respectively. Hydrocortisone administration improved both partial report and dual-task performance as indicated by increased response accuracies and/or decreased RTs. Intriguingly, the hydrocortisone-induced increase in dual-task performance was completely mediated by its impact on partial report performance (i.e., visual sensory processes). Moreover, RT measures in both tasks shared approximately 26% of variance, which was only in part attributable to hydrocortisone administration (ΔR2 = 8%). By contrast, acute stress selectively impaired dual-task performance (i.e., executive processes), presumably through an alternative route of action. In summary, the present results suggest that cortisol secretion (as mimicked by hydrocortisone administration) may counteract adverse residual stress effects on executive processes by improving visual sensory processes (e.g., the maintenance and amplification of task-relevant sensory information).
The fish that cried wolf: the role of parental care in novel predator recognition in juvenile convict cichlids (Amatitlania siquia)
Authors: Al-Shaer Layla , Paciorek Timothy , Carroll Zachary , Itzkowitz Murray
Published: July 2016

This study tested if convict cichlids (Amatitlania siquia) with prior predator experience could socially transfer their predator knowledge to their offspring. Prior to reproduction, pairs were assigned to either an experimental or control associative learning treatment, and given novel predator odour from a wolf cichlid (Parachromis dovii) paired with either alarm cue or water respectively. We hypothesized that upon re-exposure to the odour, experimental pairs would socially transfer their acquired predator knowledge to their naïve offspring, which in turn would exhibit antipredator behaviour. While fry from both treatment groups did not show a difference in shoal formation, there is some evidence to suggest a trend in the experimental group regarding parental ability to transfer information to offspring and influence shoal behaviour. When tested individually, experimental fry decreased their activity more than control fry in the presence of the predator odour. This study provides evidence of a unique form of predator learning between parents and offspring, suggesting that biparental care may also serve to provide offspring with information about the habitat into which they are born.
The Fatimid Caliphs, the Copts, and the Coptic Church
Authors: Lev Yaacov
Published: July 2016

This paper examines the complex relations between the Fatimid rulers and their Coptic subjects, focusing on state policies and the situation in the Delta. In spite of al-Ḥākim’s persecutions of non-Muslims, Fatimid policies toward Christians and Jews can be described as non-prejudicial and surprisingly tolerant. Whether these were driven by practical considerations or Ismāʿīlī ideological underpinnings remains vague. In any case, state policies were not responsible for the Islamization of the Delta during the Fatimid period. This process was a by-product, so to speak, of the civil war of the 1060s and early 1070s and must also be examined in light of pre-Fatimid realities in the region.
Dhimmīs in Fatimid Egypt: A View from the Islamic West
Authors: Fierro Maribel
Published: July 2016

This paper is intended as an epilogue and concludes the papers of this collection by analyzing their content from the specific vantage point of a comparison with parallel developments and phenomena in the Maghrib and particularly in Islamic Spain (al-Andalus). The issues studied in the collection are thus reviewed in a wider geographical and chronological context.
Taxonomic review on the subgenus Tripodura Townes (Diptera: Chironomidae: Polypedilum) from China with eleven new species and a supplementary world checklist
Authors: ZHANG RUILEI , SONG CHAO , QI XIN , WANG XINHUA
Published: July 2016

The subgenus Tripodura Townes of Polypedilum Kieffer from China including 26 species is reviewed. Eleven new species, named P. (T.) absensilobum Zhang & Wang sp. n., P. (T.) apiculusetosum Zhang & Wang sp. n., P. (T.) arcuatum Zhang & Wang sp. n., P. (T.) bilamella Zhang & Wang sp. n., P. (T.) conghuaense Zhang & Wang sp. n., P. (T.) dengae Zhang & Wang sp. n., P. (T.) mengmanense Zhang & Wang sp. n., P. (T.) napahaiense Zhang & Wang sp. n., P. (T.) parallelum Zhang & Wang sp. n., P. (T.) pollicium Zhang & Wang sp. n. and P. (T.) trapezium Zhang & Wang sp. n. are described and illustrated based on male imagines. Three species, P. (T.) quadriguttatum Kieffer, P. (T.) unifascia (Tokunaga) and P. (T.) udominutum Niitsuma are firstly recorded in China. A key to known male imagines of Chinese species and an updated world checklist of subgenus Tripodura are presented.
Three new species of the genus Lepidostoma Rambur (Lepidostomatidae: Trichoptera) from India
Authors: PAREY SAJAD H. , MORSE JOHN C. , PANDHER MANPREET S.
Published: July 2016

Three new species of the genus Lepidostoma Rambur are described and illustrated from the Indian Himalaya: Lepidostoma trilobatum sp. nov., L. lidderwatense sp. nov., and L. sainii sp. nov., all belonging to the Lepidostoma ferox Branch. With these new additions, the genus Lepidostoma is now represented by 50 species in India and over 450 species globally.
Oxyropsis ephippia, a New Hypoptopomatine Catfish (Siluriformes: Loricariidae) from Guyana
Authors: AQUINO ADRIANA E. , PÉREZ MARK H. SABAJ
Published: July 2016

Oxyropsis ephippia, a new species of loricariid catfish in the subfamily Hypoptopomatinae, is described from the Essequibo and Branco basins, Guyana. Based on the presence of a keel-like row of relatively enlarged odontodes on trunk median plates immediately above the lateral line canal, the new species is assigned to the genus Oxyropsis Eigenmann & Eigenmann 1889. It can be distinguished from its congeners by having the keel-like row on each median plate dominated by a single odontode (one closest to the posterior margin of the plate) conspicuously larger than preceding ones, and by having the sides of the trunk below the median series (approximately between median plates 7 to 12) shielded only by plates of the midventral series, with the exclusion of plates from the ventral series. The report of O. ephippia from the Essequibo is the first record of the genus in a river system that drains the north-central portion of the Guiana Shield into the Atlantic Ocean.
The identity of the Brachyplatys species recently introduced to Panama, with a review of bionomics (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Plataspidae)
Authors: RÉDEI DÁVID
Published: July 2016

A recent report of a population of Brachyplatys vahlii (Fabricius, 1787) (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Plataspidae) introduced to Panama is considered as misidentification, the species in concern is recognized as B. subaeneus (Westwood, 1837). Syntypes of B. subaeneus and diagnostic characters of the species are illustrated, published information on its distribution, bionomics and economic importance is reviewed. Syntypes of B. vahlii are illustrated, taxonomic problems in connection with the species are highlighted.
New species of Pisionidens (Sigalionidae, Annelida) from Akumal, México
Authors: PETERSEN H. CECILIE B. , GONZALEZ BRETT C. , MARTÍNEZ ALEJANDRO , WORSAAE KATRINE
Published: July 2016

Pisionidens Aiyar & Alikuhni, 1943 is a genus of small scale-less annelids formerly belonging to the family ‘Pisionidae’, now synonymized with the scale worm family Sigalionidae. A new species from Akumal, México, Pisionidens ixazaluohae n. sp., is herein described, including a genetic barcode, and diagnosed by parapodia from segment 8, males having a continuous line of midventral pores, and the presence of a single copulatory segment without parapodia. The new species differs in morphology from the three previously described species, including P. indica (Aiyar & Alikuhni, 1940), representing the only other species previously reported from the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico. A comparative table with a summary of the main taxonomic characters of all described species of the genus, including information on distribution, is provided.
Revision of Ishigakia Uchida (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Acaenitinae) from Japan, with a new species having a close relative in South Africa
Authors: ITO MASATO , MAETO KAORU
Published: July 2016

Two Japanese species of the genus Ishigakia Uchida, 1928, i.e., the type species from Ryukyus, I. exetasea Uchida, and a new species from Honshu, I. albitarsa Ito & Maeto sp. nov., are (re-)described. Antennal tapping and oviposition behavior of female I. exetasea was observed on the stalks of Japanese silvergrass Miscanthus sinensis. The new species, I. albitarsa, has (presumably) close relatives from mainland China and, disjunctely, from South Africa. A key to the world species of Ishigakia is also provided.
The Rapid Intensification of Hurricane Karl (2010): New Remote Sensing Observations of Convective Bursts from the Global Hawk Platform
Authors: Guimond Stephen R. , Heymsfield Gerald M. , Reasor Paul D. , Didlake Anthony C.
Published: July 2016

The evolution of rapidly intensifying Hurricane Karl (2010) is examined from a suite of remote sensing observations during the NASA Genesis and Rapid Intensification Processes (GRIP) field experiment. The novelties of this study are in the analysis of data from the airborne Doppler radar High-Altitude Imaging Wind and Rain Airborne Profiler (HIWRAP) and the new Global Hawk airborne platform that allows long endurance sampling of hurricanes. Supporting data from the High-Altitude Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuit (MMIC) Sounding Radiometer (HAMSR) microwave sounder coincident with HIWRAP and coordinated flights with the NOAA WP-3D aircraft help to provide a comprehensive understanding of the storm. The focus of the analysis is on documenting and understanding the structure, evolution, and role of small-scale deep convective forcing in the storm intensification process. Deep convective bursts are sporadically initiated in the downshear quadrants of the storm and rotate into the upshear quadrants for a period of ~12 h during the rapid intensification. The aircraft data analysis indicates that the bursts are being formed and maintained through a combination of two main processes: 1) convergence generated from counterrotating mesovortex circulations and the larger vortex-scale flow and 2) the turbulent (scales of ~25 km) transport of anomalously warm, buoyant air from the eye to the eyewall at low levels. The turbulent mixing across the eyewall interface and forced convective descent adjacent to the bursts assists in carving out the eye of Karl, which leads to an asymmetric enhancement of the warm core. The mesovortices play a key role in the evolution of the features described above. The Global Hawk aircraft allowed an examination of the vortex response and axisymmetrization period in addition to the burst pulsing phase. A pronounced axisymmetric development of the vortex is observed following the pulsing phase that includes a sloped eyewall structure and formation of a clear, wide eye.
On the Predictability and Error Sources of Tropical Cyclone Intensity Forecasts
Authors: Emanuel Kerry , Zhang Fuqing
Published: July 2016

The skill of tropical cyclone intensity forecasts has improved slowly since such forecasts became routine, even though track forecast skill has increased markedly over the same period. In deciding whether or how best to improve intensity forecasts, it is useful to estimate fundamental predictability limits as well as sources of intensity error. Toward that end, the authors estimate rates of error growth in a “perfect model” framework in which the same model is used to explore the sensitivities of tropical cyclone intensity to perturbations in the initial storm intensity and large-scale environment. These are compared to estimates made in previous studies and to intensity error growth in real-time forecasts made using the same model, in which model error also plays an important role. The authors find that error growth over approximately the first few days in the perfect model framework is dominated by errors in initial intensity, after which errors in forecasting the track and large-scale kinematic environment become more pronounced. Errors owing solely to misgauging initial intensity are particularly large for storms about to undergo rapid intensification and are systematically larger when initial intensity is underestimated compared to overestimating initial intensity by the same amount. There remains an appreciable gap between actual and realistically achievable forecast skill, which this study suggests can best be closed by improved models, better observations, and superior data assimilation techniques.
Annual and Semiannual Cycle of Equatorial Atlantic Circulation Associated with Basin-Mode Resonance
Authors: Brandt Peter , Claus Martin , Greatbatch Richard J. , Kopte Robert , Toole John M. , Johns William E. , Böning Claus W.
Published: July 2016

Seasonal variability of the tropical Atlantic circulation is dominated by the annual cycle, but semiannual variability is also pronounced, despite weak forcing at that period. This study uses multiyear, full-depth velocity measurements from the central equatorial Atlantic to analyze the vertical structure of annual and semiannual variations of zonal velocity. A baroclinic modal decomposition finds that the annual cycle is dominated by the fourth mode and the semiannual cycle is dominated by the second mode. Similar local behavior is found in a high-resolution general circulation model. This simulation reveals that the annual and semiannual cycles of the respective dominant baroclinic modes are associated with characteristic basinwide structures. Using an idealized, linear, reduced-gravity model to simulate the dynamics of individual baroclinic modes, it is shown that the observed circulation variability can be explained by resonant equatorial basin modes. Corollary simulations of the reduced-gravity model with varying basin geometry (i.e., square basin vs realistic coastlines) or forcing (i.e., spatially uniform vs spatially variable wind) show a structural robustness of the simulated basin modes. A main focus of this study is the seasonal variability of the Equatorial Undercurrent (EUC) as identified in recent observational studies. Main characteristics of the observed EUC including seasonal variability of transport, core depth, and maximum core velocity can be explained by the linear superposition of the dominant equatorial basin modes as obtained from the reduced-gravity model.
Malpractice in Cases of Pediatric Appendicitis
Authors: Sullins Veronica F. , Rouch Joshua D. , Lee Steven L.
Published: July 2016

Appendicitis is one of the most common diagnoses in children and is frequently the focus of alleged malpractice. Causes for medical malpractice claims and outcomes of disputes in pediatric patients with appendicitis are currently unknown. A retrospective database review of all medical malpractice claims concerning the diagnosis of appendicitis from 1984 to 2013 in pediatric patients was performed. Alleged claims, causes of malpractice, and outcomes were recorded and analyzed. Of the 203 included cases, failure or delays in diagnosing appendicitis are the most common causes of malpractice lawsuits and account for the majority of the largest payments to plaintiffs outcomes. Cases that ultimately went to trial resulted in defense verdicts in 67.5%. Mortality occurred in 19.9% of included cases. Timely diagnosis of appendicitis in children should be the focus of physicians across all specialties to improve patient safety and potentially reduce medicolegal liability.
Countering Coups: Leadership Succession Rules in Dictatorships
Authors: Frantz Erica , Stein Elizabeth A.
Published: July 2016

Paradoxically, many dictators agree to institutionalized succession rules even though these rules could regulate their removal from office. This study shows that succession rules, like other pseudo-democratic institutions in authoritarian regimes, provide survival benefits for dictators. Specifically, they protect dictators from coup attempts because they reduce elites’ incentives to try to grab power preemptively via forceful means. By assuaging the ambition of some elites who have more to gain with patience than with plotting, institutionalized succession rules hamper coordination efforts among coup plotters, which ultimately reduce a leader’s risk of confronting coups. Based on a variety of statistical models, including instrumental variables regression that addresses potential endogeneity between succession rules and coup attempts, the empirical evidence supports the authors’ hypothesis that institutions governing leadership succession reduce the likelihood that dictators confront coups. This study clarifies one of the ways in which institutions in dictatorships help autocratic leaders survive.
Can Results-Free Review Reduce Publication Bias? The Results and Implications of a Pilot Study
Authors: Findley Michael G. , Jensen Nathan M. , Malesky Edmund J. , Pepinsky Thomas B.
Published: July 2016

In 2015, Comparative Political Studies embarked on a landmark pilot study in research transparency in the social sciences. The editors issued an open call for submissions of manuscripts that contained no mention of their actual results, incentivizing reviewers to evaluate manuscripts based on their theoretical contributions, research designs, and analysis plans. The three papers in this special issue are the result of this process that began with 19 submissions. In this article, we describe the rationale for this pilot, expressly articulating the practices of preregistration and results-free review. We document the process of carrying out the special issue with a discussion of the three accepted papers, and critically evaluate the role of both preregistration and results-free review. Our main conclusions are that results-free review encourages much greater attention to theory and research design, but that it raises thorny problems about how to anticipate and interpret null findings. We also observe that as currently practiced, results-free review has a particular affinity with experimental and cross-case methodologies. Our lack of submissions from scholars using qualitative or interpretivist research suggests limitations to the widespread use of results-free review.