bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Englishes beyond and between the three circles
Authors: Mair Christian
Published: May 2016

The study of “varieties of English around the world”, the “New Englishes” or “World Englishes” emerged at the intersection of dialectology, sociolinguistics and historical linguistics in the early 1980s and has become one of the most vibrant sub-fields of English linguistics. Work in this tradition has made an enormous contribution to our understanding of the linguistic aftermath of colonialism. Among its lasting legacies is the simple and elegant classification of World Englishes into the Inner, Outer and Expanding Circles proposed by Kachru (1992 [1982]).What has not been studied in equal depth (yet) are the non-traditional avenues for the spread of standard and vernacular varieties of English that have been opened up through more recent aspects of globalisation, such as the new migrations starting after the end of the Cold War, the entertainment industry or the revolution in communication brought about by the participatory web. Many of these phenomena elude description within the “Three Circles” model and require a re-positioning of World Englishes research in the context of the “sociolinguistics of globalisation” (Blommaert 2010; Coupland 2010). In order to demonstrate the potential of such a rapprochement, the present study explores the use of the African American rhetorical device of augmentation in a Nigerian diasporic community.
Reinforcement without Awareness: II. Word Class
Authors: Lieberman David A. , Connell Gillian L. , Moos Hilary F. T.
Published: May 2016

In a previous study of reinforcement without awareness by Lieberman, Sunnucks, & Kirk (this issue), subjects were told that the experiment was on ESP; two words were presented on every trial, and their task was to choose the word the experimenter was thinking of. In fact, reinforcement was contingent on the loudness of the subjects’ voices when responding. They found stronger evidence for reinforcement without awareness than in many previous studies, and they attributed their success in part to the reinforcement of a response to which subjects were unlikely to attend. To explore this factor further, we again used an ESP cover story but reinforced subjects for choosing the word in each pair that contained a double letter. We found evidence of reinforcement without awareness in three experiments and also identified two factors that influence these effects: Learning did not occur if subjects (a) were encouraged to test irrelevant hypotheses, or (b) sat in an uncomfortable chair. We speculate that learning without awareness may be more likely when subjects are relaxed and that hypothesis testing and uncomfortable chairs impair such learning because they prevent relaxation.
Economic and Conservation Impacts of Stocking Wild Florida Bass into Large Florida Lakes
Authors: Thompson Brandon C. , Porak Wesley F. , Bonvechio Kimberly I. , Barthel Brandon L. , Allen Micheal S. , Adams Charles M.
Published: May 2016

Supplemental stocking of fingerling or advanced fingerling Largemouth Bass Micropterus salmoides is a common management strategy for augmenting natural production in low-recruitment systems. Few studies, however, have evaluated the impact of stocking adult bass taken from donor lakes. Over a period of 6 years, University of Florida researchers stocked Florida Lakes Griffin and Dora with 24,781 wild Florida Bass M. s. floridanus collected by electrofishing from other Florida lakes. During stocking years, stocked fish made up to 10% of the population in Lake Griffin and 27% in Lake Dora from electrofishing samples. However, 1 year after all stocked fish had been released, the proportion of stocked bass had declined to less than 5%, and 3 years after it had declined to less than 1%. We did not detect an increase in recruitment (catch of age-1 bass) following stocking, so any benefit from stocking was likely short-lived. We also could not conclude that stocking was responsible for increasing fishing effort because total fishing effort did not increase after stocking. As a result, no additive economic benefits could be attributed to the stocking program. During randomized electrofishing sampling, we collected 51 wild bass that had been released during the stocking program, and genetic analysis determined that two (3.9%) were hybrids and had alleles from nonnative Largemouth Bass. The extrapolation of these results estimated that almost 1,000 hybrids had been introduced into Lakes Griffin and Dora, which were historically identified to contain pure Florida Bass populations. Future wild bass stocking programs should include an appropriate study design for evaluating changes in fish populations, changes in the fishery, and economic consequences of stocking. Furthermore, a risk–benefit assessment should be completed before any stocking program is initiated, including consideration of any potential impacts on biodiversity.

Received February 26, 2015; accepted January 6, 2016 Published online May 9, 2016
Introducing a new age-and-cognition-sensitive measurement for assessing spatial orientation using a landmark-less virtual reality navigational task
Authors: Ranjbar Pouya Omid , Byagowi Ahmad , Kelly Debbie M. , Moussavi Zahra
Published: May 2016

Age-related impairments during spatial navigation have been widely reported in egocentric and allocentric paradigms. However, the effect of age on more specific navigational components such as the ability to drive or update directional information has not received enough attention. In this study we investigated the effect of age on spatial updating of a visual target after a series of whole–body rotations and transitions using a novel landmark-less virtual reality (VR) environment. Moreover, a significant number of previous studies focused on measures susceptible to a general decline in motor skills such as the spent time navigating, the distance traversed. The current paper proposes a new compound spatial measure to assess navigational performance, examines its reliability and compares its power with those of the measures of duration and traversed distance in predicting participants' age and cognitive groups assessed by Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scores. Using data from 319 adults (20–83 years), our results confirm the reliability, the age sensitivity, and the cognitive validity of the designed spatial measure as well as its superiority to the measures of duration and traversed distance in predicting age and MoCA score. In addition, the results show the significant effect of age cognitive status on spatial updating.
Simultaneous Discrimination Learning in Pigeons: Value of S - Affects the Relative Value of its Associated S+
Authors: Clement Tricia S. , Weaver Janice E. , Sherburne Lou M. , Zentall Thomas R.
Published: May 2016

In a simple simultaneous discrimination involving a positive stimulus (S+) and a negative stimulus (S−), it has been hypothesized that positive value can transfer from the S+ to the S− (thus increasing the relative value of the S−) and also that negative value can transfer from the S− to the S+ (thus diminishing the relative value of the S+ Fersen, Wynne, Delius, & Staddon, 1991). Evidence for positive value transfer has been reported in pigeons (e.g. Zentall & Sherburne, 1994). The purpose of the present experiments was to determine, in a simultaneous discrimination, whether the − diminishes the value of the S+ or the Sis contrasted with the S+ (thus enhancing the value of the S+). In two experiments, we found evidence for contrast, rather than value transfer, attributable to simultaneous discrimination training. Thus, not only does the S+ appear to enhance the value of the S−, but the S− appears to enhance rather than reduce the value of the S+.
Backward Sensory Preconditioning when Reinforcement is Delayed
Authors: Ward-Robinson Jasper , Hall Geoffrey
Published: May 2016

In two experiments rats received an initial phase of training in which two neutral stimuli were presented as a serial compound (A-X). In a second phase, A was established as a signal for a shock reinforcer, the shock being presented immediately after the termination of A (the immediate condition) or after a 5-sec interval (the trace condition). A final test phase showed that not only A but also X was capable of evoking conditioned suppression (a backward sensory preconditioning effect). The degree of suppression evoked by X was not correlated with that evoked by A. In both experiments the A trained with immediate reinforcement was more suppressive than that trained with the trace procedure, but in Experiment 1 the trace and immediate groups did not differ in the response they showed to X, and in Experiment 2 (which allowed a within-subject comparison) the trace procedure resulted in more suppression to X than did immediate conditioning of A. These results disconfirm the suggestion that the backward sensory preconditioning effect depends on the formation of an associative chain: X-A-shock. They are consistent with the proposal that the associatively activated representation of X is able to form a direct association with the reinforcer during A-shock training.
Further Investigation of Responding Elicited by BC and C after A+, AB-, ABC+ Training
Authors: Nakajima Sadahiko
Published: May 2016

Two experiments with pigeons explored conditioned keypeck responding to new visual targets after visual compound discrimination training. In the first experiment, pigeons were trained with an A+, AB−, ABC+, AD−, ADC+ task, in which stimulus A signalled food, stimulus compounds AB and AD signalled no food, and stimulus compounds ABC and ADC signalled food. According to both an elemental model (Rescorla & Wagner, 1972) and a configural model (Pearce, 1987) of Pavlovian conditioning, test compounds BC and DC should elicit less responding than should C alone. However, the birds responded more to BC and DC than to C. In the second experiment, another set of pigeons was trained with an A+, AB−, ABC+, AD−, ADE+ task, in which stimulus A signalled food, stimulus compounds AB and AD signalled no food, and stimulus compounds ABC and ADE signalled food. Contrary to the prediction of the Rescorla-Wagner model, keypeck responding was not less on BC and DE trials than on C and E trials in testing. However, B and D attenuated responding to E and C, respectively, when presented in compounds BE and DC. The Pearce model was able to accommodate these results.
Tumor evolution of glioma intrinsic gene expression subtype associates with immunological changes in the microenvironment
Authors: Wang Qianghu , Hu Xin , Hu Baoli , Muller Florian , Kim Hoon , Squatrito Massimo , Millelsen Tom , Scarpace Lisa , Barthel Floris , Lin Yu-Hsi , Satani Nikunj , Martinez-Ledesma Emmanuel , Chang Edward , Olar Adriana , Wang Guocan , deCarvalho Ana C. , Eskilsson Eskil , Zheng Siyuan , Heimberger Amy B. , Sulman Erik P. , Nam Do-Hyun , Verhaak Roel G.W.
Published: May 2016

We leveraged IDH wild type glioblastomas and derivative neurospheres to define tumor-intrinsic transcription phenotypes. Transcriptomic multiplicity correlated with increased intratumoral heterogeneity and tumor microenvironment presence. In silico cell sorting demonstrated that M2 macrophages/microglia are the most frequent type of immune cells in the glioma microenvironment, followed by CD4 T lymphocytes and neutrophils. Hypermutation associated with CD8+ T cell enrichment. Longitudinal transcriptome analysis of 124 pairs of primary and recurrent gliomas showed expression subtype is retained in 53% of cases with no proneural to mesenchymal transition being apparent. Inference of the tumor microenvironment through gene signatures revealed a decrease in invading monocytes but a subtype dependent increase in M2 macrophages/microglia cells after disease recurrence. All expression datasets are accessible through http://recur.bioinfo.cnio.es/.

Significance

IDH wild type glioblastoma expression phenotypes have been related to tumor characteristics including genomic abnormalities and treatment response. We explored the intratumoral transcriptomic landscape, including a definition of tumor-intrinsic gene expression subtypes and how they relate to the different cellular components of the tumor immune environment. Comparison of matching primary and recurrent gliomas provided insights into the treatment-induced phenotypic tumor evolution. Proneural to mesenchymal transitions have long been suspected but were not apparent, while intratumoral heterogeneity was a predictor of subtype transition upon recurrence. Characterizing the evolving glioblastoma transcriptome en tumor microenvironment aids in designing more effective immunotherapy trials. Our study provides a comprehensive transcriptional and cellular landscape of IDH wild type GBM during treatment modulated tumor evolution.

Highlights

Next generation GBM-intrinsic transcriptional subtypes: proneural, classical, mesenchymal

M2 macrophages, CD4+ T-lymphocytes and neutrophils dominate glioblastoma microenvironment

Sensitivity to radiotherapy may associate with M2 macrophage presence

CD8+ T cells are enriched in hypermutated GBMs at diagnosis and recurrence
Study on fractional order grey reducing generation operator
Authors: Meng Wei , Li Qian , Zeng Bo
Published: May 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to derive the analytical expression of fractional order reducing generation operator (or inverse accumulating generating operation) and study its properties.

Design/methodology/approach

– This disaggregation method includes three main steps. First, by utilizing Gamma function expanded for integer factorial, this paper expands one order reducing generation operator into integer order reducing generation operator and fractional order reducing generation operator, and gives the analytical expression of fractional order reducing generation operator. Then, studies the commutative law and exponential law of fractional order reducing generation operator. Lastly, gives several examples of fractional order reducing generation operator and verifies the commutative law and exponential law of fractional order reducing generation operator.

Findings

– The authors pull the analytical expression of fractional order reducing generation operator and verify that fractional order reducing generation operator satisfies commutative law and exponential law.

Practical implications

– Expanding the reducing generation operator would help develop grey prediction model with fractional order operators and widen the application fields of grey prediction models.

Originality/value

– The analytical expression of fractional order reducing generation operator, properties of commutative law and exponential law for fractional order reducing generation operator are first studied.
Reflections on the value and impact of library and information services
Authors: Urquhart Christine , Turner Jenny
Published: May 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to critically review methods of impact assessment and economic analyses.

Design/methodology/approach

– Reviews the literature on impact assessment, and examines some case studies of impact assessment in health libraries. Relates satisfaction and dissatisfaction assessment to impact assessment. Identifies recent impact assessment approaches in public and academic libraries, and explores different uses of terminology for impact and outcome. Reviews literature on economic analysis of value, including cost analyses, cost-effectiveness analysis and return on investment (ROI) studies.

Findings

– Terms for library assessment (outcome, output, impact, value and benefit) vary among different sectors. Impact evaluation should examine initial assumptions of value carefully, and examine possible gaps in the line of argument linking inputs of library services to presumed impacts (positive and negative). More attention to sampling and response rates is required, to avoid problems such as the “warm glow” effect. Qualitative and quantitative evidence should be carefully integrated to tell the impact story. Economic impact can be estimated, but methodology depends on the service aims and sector.

Originality/value

– Demonstrates that some of the requirements for traditional impact assessment also affect economic analyses and ROI studies.
Capturing digital developments through qualitative inquiry
Authors: Kyrillidou Martha , Cook Colleen , Lippincott Sarah
Published: May 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to describe a model of digital library (DL) work that surfaced through the ARL Profiles 2010 and resonates current work underway by the large-scale DL projects like DPLA, SHARE, Hathitrust, Academic Preservation Trust, and Digital Preservation Network.

Design/methodology/approach

– In total, 86 ARL members submitted institutional profiles that were analyzed using Atlas.ti and surfaced major themes that comprise the mission of research libraries including serving the public good, expanding their presence globally, setting standards for access and quality, needing to explore best practices, and being visible at the national and international levels.

Findings

– The analysis of the narratives identified three key areas for DL developments: first, digitized special collections, second, acquiring digital content, and third, developing digital services (Figure 1). Specific examples and context are provided in the paper.

Research limitations/implications

– The qualitative data collected from these profiles demonstrate that libraries are transforming their services to leverage digital technologies and meet the changing needs of their users. The approach was open ended and allowed libraries to celebrate their strengths and unique context. Some of the disadvantages of this approach include the amount of work both on behalf of the participating libraries as well as on behalf of the analysts and the difficulty of comparing libraries with one another.

Originality/value

– This was the first time ARL attempted to describe research libraries using narrative descriptions. The approach complements the traditional ARL Statistics and offers a viable alternative in a future environment that is dominated by radical change. This qualitative approach deployed here is critical for describing DL developments as current large-scale digitization projects have extended the directions that were surfacing in these profiles and have major implications for the future of digital content and research. Future research in this area is strongly encouraged.
Predator swamping reduces predation risk during nocturnal migration of juvenile salmon in a high‐mortality landscape
Authors: Furey Nathan B. , Hinch Scott G. , Bass Arthur L. , Middleton Collin T. , Minke‐Martin Vanessa , Lotto Andrew G.
Published: May 2016

Animal migrations are costly and are often characterized by high predation risk for individuals. Three of the most oft‐assumed mechanisms for reducing risk for migrants are swamping predators with high densities, specific timing of migrations and increased body size.

Assessing the relative importance of these mechanisms in reducing predation risk particularly for migrants is generally lacking due to the difficulties in tracking the fate of individuals and population‐level characteristics simultaneously.

We used acoustic telemetry to track migration behaviour and survival of juvenile sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) smolts released over a wide range of conspecific outmigration densities in a river associated with poor survival.

The landscape was indeed high risk; smolt survival was poor (˜68%) over 13·5 km of river examined even though migration was rapid (generally <48 h). Our results demonstrate that smolts largely employ swamping of predators to reduce predation risk. Increased densities of co‐migrant conspecifics dramatically improved survival of smolts. The strong propensity for nocturnal migration resulted in smolts pausing downstream movements until the next nightfall, greatly increasing relative migration durations for smolts that could not traverse the study area in a single night. Smolt size did not appear to impact predation risk, potentially due to unique characteristics of the system or our inability to tag the entire size range of outmigrants.

Movement behaviours were important in traversing this high‐risk landscape and provide rare evidence for swamping to effectively reduce individual predation risk.
Exotic or not, leaf trait dissimilarity modulates the effect of dominant species on mixed litter decomposition
Authors: Finerty Genevieve E. , de Bello Francesco , Bílá Karolína , Berg Matty P. , Dias André T.C. , Pezzatti Gianni B. , Moretti Marco
Published: May 2016

It has long been recognized that leaf traits exert a crucial control on litter decomposition, a key process for nutrient cycling, and that invading species can greatly alter such soil processes via changes in mixed litter trait composition. Trait effects on ecosystem processes are hypothesized to operate via changes in either dominant trait values in the community (often calculated as community‐weighted mean trait values; CWM) or trait functional diversity (dissimilarity between species trait values; FD). Few have studied the effects of these community trait components in tandem due to their interdependence.

We studied litter mixture decomposition using three exotic and six native European tree species with a range in litter decomposability, to disentangle the unique and combined roles of CWM and FD in explaining net litter mixture mass loss.

We showed that while CWM exerted the strongest effect on mass loss, FD modulated its effects, increasing mass loss in mixtures with low mean decomposability and decreasing mass loss in mixtures with high mean decomposability. Litter species identity and native/exotic status explained relatively little additional variation in mass loss after accounting for CWM and FD. We further showed that alterations to CWM and FD were more important than the replacement of a native species with an exotic counterpart in predicting mass loss.

Synthesis: Our results indicate that the effect of adding an exotic or losing a native species on litter decomposition rate can be predicted from how a species alters both CWM and FD trait values. This supports the idea that the repercussions of exotic species on ecosystem processes depends on the extent that introduced species bear novel traits or trait values and so on how functionally dissimilar a species is compared to the existing species in the community.
Lamina cribrosa thickness correlated with posterior scleral thickness and axial length in monkeys
Authors: Jonas Jost B. , Kutscher Jan N. , Panda‐Jonas Songhomitra , Hayreh Sohan S.
Published: May 2016

Purpose

To explore associations of lamina cribrosa thickness with axial length and thickness of the posterior sclera in monkeys.

Methods

Examining histological sections by light microscopy, we measured the thickness of the lamina cribrosa and posterior sclera and axial length.

Results

The study included 28 animals (28 eyes) with a mean age of 13.3 ± 4.9 years (range: 3–24 years) and mean axial length of 18.9 ± 1.4 mm (range: 17–21 mm) (22 eyes after experimental temporary central retinal artery occlusion; four eyes after a permanent occlusion of the posterior ciliary artery; and two eyes without any intervention). Mean thickness of the lamina cribrosa was 167 ± 30 μm (range: 115–273 μm). Thinner lamina cribrosa thickness was significantly associated with longer axial length (standardized correlation coefficient beta: ‐0.42; p = 0.026), with thinner sclera at the posterior pole (beta: 0.56; p = 0.002) and with thinner sclera at the disc border (beta: 0.55; p = 0.002). Lamina cribrosa thickness was not significantly related to temporary central retinal artery occlusion (p = 0.14) or to permanent posterior ciliary artery occlusion (p = 0.49) or age (p = 0.46).

Conclusions

As in humans, lamina cribrosa thickness in non‐glaucomatous monkeys got thinner with longer axial length and with thinner posterior sclera. These data may be of interest for studies on the process of emmetropization/myopization in monkeys, and they may be of interest for the studies on the biomechanics of the optic nerve head.
Factors Associated with Preference for Vaginal Birth among Undergraduate Students from Southern Brazil
Authors: Knobel Roxana , Takemoto Maíra L. S. , Andreucci Carla B. , Docusse Pedro , McKinley Danette W. , Amaral Eliana
Published: May 2016

Backround

Cesarean rates in Brazil have reached over 50 percent of all births. Multiple factors have been studied aiming to explain these rates. Mode of delivery preferences among university students may provide insights into strategies to reduce those numbers.

Methods

A cross‐sectional study was conducted enrolling students who attended Health Sciences and Human Sciences undergraduate programs in 2013. Participants answered a semi‐structured questionnaire about which mode of delivery they considered the “best” (less risky and more beneficial) and the “preferred” mode (the one they would choose for themselves or their partners). Pearson chi‐square was used to assess association among variables. Multiple regression analysis identified independent factors associated with the outcome measures.

Results

Among the 797 students who provided complete responses (76% response rate), the mean age was 22.6 years, 61.6 percent were female, 2.6 percent had previous pregnancies, and 56.7 percent were born by cesarean. Vaginal birth was chosen as the “best” mode of delivery by 91.2 percent, and the “preferred” mode by 75.5 percent of students. Being male, born vaginally, and a Health Sciences student was associated with a preference for vaginal birth. Being a Health Sciences student and born vaginally was associated with considering vaginal birth the “best” mode of delivery.

Conclusions

Our findings indicate that the recognition of the benefits of vaginal birth do not always translate into a personal preference for vaginal birth. The student's own mode of birth was a strong predictor of their preferences for mode of delivery.
The behaviour of residual tumour after the intentional incomplete excision of a vestibular schwannoma: is it such a bad thing to leave some behind?
Authors: Syed M.I. , Wolf A. , Ilan O. , Hughes C.O. , Chung J. , Tymianski M. , Pothier D.D. , Rutka J.A.
Published: May 2016

Objectives

To evaluate the biological behaviour of tumour remnants intentionally left in the surgical bed following the incomplete excision of vestibular schwannomas (VS) and to review the relation between extent of resection and preservation of facial nerve function.

Methods

A retrospective chart review of 450 patients who underwent surgery for resection of VS over 23 years (1992–2014). Of these, 50 (11%) patients had residual tumour intentionally left on/around the facial nerve (near‐total or subtotal excision) to preserve facial nerve function intra‐operatively. The growth of residual tumour was evaluated using serial magnetic resonance imaging scanning; pre‐ and postoperative facial nerve function was assessed using the House‐Brackmann grading scale.

Setting

Tertiary referral neurotology unit.

Results

Of the 42 non‐NF2 cases where the tumour was intentionally incompletely excised, 28 (67%) patients underwent subtotal resection (mean follow‐up 68.5 ± 39.0 months) and 14 (33%) underwent near‐total resection (mean follow‐up 72.9 ± 48.3 months). Three patients (all in subtotal resection group) showed regrowth. This was not statistically different from the near‐total resection group (χ2 = 0.92, P = 0.31). The mean overall growth for these cases was 0.68 mm ± 0.32 mm/year.

5 (one near total, four subtotal) of the eight NF2 patients (62.5%) were excluded from our analysis.

In the non‐NF2 group, poor facial nerve outcomes (House‐Brackmann scores of III‐IV) were seen in 2/14 and V‐VI in 3/14 of the near total compared with 7/25 and 4/25 respectively in the subtotal group.

Conclusions

Given that the primary surgery for the VS was only for tumours that were relatively large or grew during conservative treatment, the low rate of tumour remnant growth (7%) is reassuring. It may be appropriate to have a lower threshold for leaving tumour on the facial nerve in non‐NF2 patients where complete resection may jeopardise facial nerve function.
Role of Three‐Dimensional Speckle Tracking Echocardiography in the Quantification of Myocardial Iron Overload in Patients with Beta‐Thalassemia Major
Authors: Li Shu‐juan , Hwang Yu‐yan , Ha Shau‐yin , Chan Godfrey C.F. , Mok Amanda S.P. , Wong Sophia J. , Cheung Yiu‐fai
Published: May 2016

Background

The new three‐dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (3DSTE) may enable comprehensive quantification of global left ventricular (LV) myocardial mechanics.

Methods

Twenty‐four patients aged 29.3 ± 5.2 years and 22 controls were studied. 3DSTE was performed to assess LV 3D global strain, twist and torsion, ejection fraction, and systolic dyssynchrony index (SDI). The LV SDI was calculated as % of SD of times‐to‐peak strain of 16 segments/RR interval. The global performance index (GPI) was calculated as (global 3D strain·torsion)/SDI. Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was calculated to determine the capability of 3DSTE parameters to discriminate between patients with (cardiac magnetic resonance T2* <20 ms) and those without myocardial iron overload.

Results

Compared with controls, patients had significantly lower LV global 3D strain (P < 0.001), twist (P = 0.01), torsion (P = 0.04), and ejection fraction (P < 0.001) and greater SDI (P < 0.001). The GPI was lower in patients than controls (P < 0.001). T2* value correlated positively with global 3D strain (r = 0.74, P < 0.001) and GPI (r = 0.63, P = 0.001), and negatively with SDI (r = −0.44, P = 0.03). The AUCs of GPI, global 3D strain, ejection fraction, torsion, and 1/SDI were 0.94, 0.90, 0.87, 0.82, and 0.70, respectively. The GPI cutoff of 2.7°/cm had a sensitivity of 94.9% and a specificity of 88.9% of differentiating patients with from those without myocardial iron overload.

Conclusions

The LV composite index of strain, torsion, and dyssynchrony derived from 3DSTE enables sensitive detection of myocardial iron overload in patients with thalassemia.
Addressing the Person of the Therapist in Supervision: The Therapist's Inner Conversation Method
Authors: Rober Peter
Published: May 2016

In this study a method of retrospective case supervision is presented aimed at helping the supervisee to become a better self‐supervisor. The method pays special attention to the therapist's self‐reflection and has the therapist's inner conversation as a central concept. The starting point of the method is an assignment in which the supervisee reflects on a case using a tape‐assisted recall procedure. The method helps trainees to develop experiential expertise to become more flexible and effective therapists. A case example of one training group of novice family therapists illustrates the use of the method.
Dying for Money: The Effects of Global Health Initiatives on NGOs Working with Gay Men and HIV/AIDS in Northwest China
Authors: Miller Casey James
Published: May 2016

Drawing on 17 months of ethnographic fieldwork (2007–2011), this article critically examines the consequences of two global health initiatives (GHIs), the Global Fund and the Gates Foundation, on NGOs engaged in HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment among gay men in northwest China. I argue that a short‐term surge in funding provided by GHIs between 2008 and 2010 exacerbated preexisting conflicts between NGOs by promoting a neoliberal process in which the state outsourced public health services to civil society organizations, deliberately encouraging a climate of competition among NGOs. I also show how GHIs encouraged the bureaucratization and medicalization of one grassroots gay NGO, channeling its activities away from broader political and social objectives and compelling the group to develop a narrower and more entrepreneurial emphasis on HIV testing and treatment. This article contributes to a deeper ethnographic understanding of the complex and perhaps unintended consequences of GHIs.
Partner choice through concealed floral sugar rewards evolved with the specialization of ant–plant mutualisms
Authors: Chomicki Guillaume , Staedler Yannick M. , Schönenberger Jürg , Renner Susanne S.
Published: May 2016

Obligate mutualisms require filtering mechanisms to prevent their exploitation by opportunists, but ecological contexts and traits facilitating the evolution of such mechanisms are largely unknown.

We investigated the evolution of filtering mechanisms in an epiphytic ant–plant symbiotic system in Fiji involving Rubiaceae and dolichoderine ants, using field experiments, metabolomics, X‐ray micro‐computed tomography (micro‐CT) scanning and phylogenetics.

We discovered a novel plant reward consisting of sugary sap concealed in post‐anthetic flowers only accessible to Philidris nagasau workers that bite through the thick epidermis. In five of the six species of Rubiaceae obligately inhabited by this ant, the nectar glands functioned for 10 d after a flower's sexual function was over. Sugar metabolomics and field experiments showed that ant foraging tracks sucrose levels, which only drop at the onset of fruit development. Ontogenetic analyses of our focal species and their relatives revealed a 25‐fold increase in nectary size and delayed fruit development in the ant‐rewarding species, and Bayesian analyses of several traits showed the correlated evolution of sugar rewards and symbiosis specialization.

Concealed floral nectar forestalls exploitation by opportunists (generalist ants) and stabilizes these obligate mutualisms. Our study pinpoints the importance of partner choice mechanisms in transitions from facultative to obligate mutualisms.
Effects of interstimulus intervals on behavioral, heart rate, and event‐related potential indices of infant engagement and sustained attention
Authors: Xie Wanze , Richards John E.
Published: May 2016

Maximizing infant attention to stimulus presentation during an EEG or ERP experiment is important for making valid inferences about the neural correlates of infant cognition. The present study examined the effects of stimulus presentation interstimulus interval (ISI) on behavioral and physiological indices of infant attention including infants' fixation to visual presentation, the amount of heart rate (HR) change during sustained attention, and ERP components. This study compared an ISI that is typically used in infant EEG/ERP studies (e.g., 1,500–2,000 ms) with two shorter durations (400–600 ms and 600–1,000 ms). Thirty‐six infants were tested cross‐sectionally at 3, 4.5, and 6 months. It was found that using the short (400–600 ms) and medium (600–1,000 ms) ISIs resulted in more visually fixated trials and reduced frequency of fixation disengagement per experimental block. We also found larger HR changes during sustained attention to both of the shorter ISIs compared with the long ISI, and larger ERP responses when using the medium ISI compared to using the short and long ISIs. These data suggest that utilizing an optimal ISI (e.g., 600–1,000 ms), which increases the presentation complexity and provides sufficient time for information processing, can promote infant engagement and sustained attention during stimulus presentation.
Branch Cuts of Stokes Wave on Deep Water. Part I: Numerical Solution and Padé Approximation
Authors: Dyachenko S. A. , Lushnikov P. M. , Korotkevich A. O.
Published: May 2016

Complex analytical structure of Stokes wave for two‐dimensional potential flow of the ideal incompressible fluid with free surface and infinite depth is analyzed. Stokes wave is the fully nonlinear periodic gravity wave prop agating with the constant velocity. Simulations with the quadruple (32 digits) and variable precisions (more than 200 digits) are performed to find Stokes wave with high accuracy and study the Stokes wave approaching its limiting form with radians angle on the crest. A conformal map is used that maps a free fluid surface of Stokes wave into the real line with fluid domain mapped into the lower complex half‐plane. The Stokes wave is fully characterized by the complex singularities in the upper complex half‐plane. These singularities are addressed by rational (Padé) interpolation of Stokes wave in the complex plane. Convergence of Padé approximation to the density of complex poles with the increase in the numerical precision and subsequent increase in the number of approximating poles reveals that the only singularities of Stokes wave are branch points connected by branch cuts. The converging densities are the jumps across the branch cuts. There is one square‐root branch point per horizontal spatial period λ of Stokes wave located at the distance from the real line. The increase in the scaled wave height from the linear limit to the critical value marks the transition from the limit of almost linear wave to a strongly nonlinear limiting Stokes wave (also called the Stokes wave of the greatest height). Here, H is the wave height from the crest to the trough in physical variables. The limiting Stokes wave emerges as the singularity reaches the fluid surface. Tables of Padé approximation for Stokes waves of different heights are provided. These tables allow to recover the Stokes wave with the relative accuracy of at least 10−26. The number of poles in tables increases from a few for near‐linear Stokes wave up to about hundred poles to highly nonlinear Stokes wave with
Metabolites in stored platelets associated with platelet recoveries and survivals
Authors: Zimring James C. , Slichter Sherrill , Odem‐Davis Katherine , Felcyn Jacob R. , Kapp Linda M. , Bell Lauren N. , Gunst P. Ross , Corson Jill , Jones Mary Kay , Pellham Esther , Bailey S. Lawrence , Fu Xiaoyun
Published: May 2016

BACKGROUND

Transfusion of platelets (PLTs) is a common therapy in a number of clinical settings. However, it is well understood that there is substantial donor‐to‐donor variation in how well PLTs store and thus the quality of the products that are transfused. The basis of such variation is poorly understood, and there are limited metrics by which units of PLTs can be assessed for their posttransfusion performance. It has repeatedly been demonstrated that myriad biologic changes take place during PLT storage; however, which of the changes correlate with quality of the stored PLTs and/or are mechanistically involved in PLT function remains undetermined.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

The current study tested stored PLTs from 21 normal subjects, combining high‐resolution metabolomics of stored PLTs with in vivo PLT recoveries and survivals. Both individual analytes and metabolic pathways that correlate with posttransfusion PLT viability were identified.

RESULTS

Caffeine metabolites were associated with poor PLT recovery; caffeine metabolism was not ongoing in the PLT bag and remained at prestorage levels. Acylcarnitines, particular fatty acid metabolites, and oxidized fatty acids were associated with poor PLT survivals. Of the myriad metabolic changes during PLT storage, these are the first reported metabolic findings to begin distinguishing which changes are of functional importance regarding posttransfusion PLT performance.

CONCLUSIONS

Together, these findings provide novel mechanistic insights into the functional biology of the PLT storage lesion as well as identifying potential targets for modifying donor environment (e.g., caffeine consumption) and also metrics of quality assessment for stored human PLTs.
A Game Theoretic Study of Enterprise Mergers and Acquisitions: The Case of RJR Nabisco Being Acquired by KKR
Authors: Jiang Yanqing , Yuan Jian , Zeng Mengmeng
Published: May 2016

There are both macro- and micro-level studies concerning enterprise mergers and acquisitions (M&A). Past studies have focused on M&A valuation, utility of the M&A motives and the strategic behavior during of the M&A process. Few game theory methods in the application of M&A stay mostly in the analysis of Nash equilibrium under the complete information static game. This paper thus aims to analyze the M&A behavior of enterprises within the framework of incomplete information dynamic game, combined with sub-game perfect Nash equilibrium of complete information dynamic game and Bayesian Nash equilibrium of incomplete information.
Diesoline, Diesohol, and Diesosene Fuelled HCCI Engine Development
Authors: Pratap Singh Akhilendra , Agarwal Avinash Kumar
Published: May 2016

Compression ignition (CI) engines are facing strong restrictive emission norms globally, which demand extremely low oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and particulate matter (PM) emissions. Homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) engine is a very attractive solution to meet these stringent emission challenges due to its capability to simultaneously reduce NOx and PM. In this study, HCCI combustion was investigated using different test fuels such as diesoline (15% v/v gasoline with diesel), diesohol (15% v/v ethanol with diesel), and diesosene (15% v/v kerosene with diesel) vis-a-vis baseline mineral diesel. A dedicated fuel vaporizer was used for homogeneous fuel–air mixture preparation. The experiments were performed at constant intake charge temperature (180 °C), fixed exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) (15%) at different engine loads. Stable combustion characteristics were determined for diesosene at lower engine loads, however, diesoline and diesohol yielded improved emissions compared to baseline diesel HCCI combustion. At higher loads, diesoline and diesosene showed higher knocking tendency compared to baseline diesel and diesohol. Diesohol showed lower NOx and smoke opacity, however, diesoline and diesosene showed slightly lower hydrocarbon (HC) and carbon monoxide (CO) emissions compared to baseline diesel HCCI combustion. Performance results of diesohol and diesosene were slightly inferior compared to diesel and diesoline HCCI combustion. Physical characterization of exhaust particulates was done for these test fuels using engine exhaust particle sizer (EEPS). Particle number-size distribution showed that most particles emitted from diesoline and diesohol were in ultrafine size range and baseline diesel and diesosene emitted relatively larger particles. Reduction in total particle number concentration with addition of volatile fuel components in mineral diesel was another important observation of this study.
Compensation for a lip-tube perturbation in 4-year-olds: Articulatory, acoustic, and perceptual data analyzed in comparison with adults
Authors: Ménard Lucie , Perrier Pascal , Aubin Jérôme
Published: May 2016

The nature of the speech goal in children was investigated in a study of compensation strategies for a lip-tube perturbation. Acoustic, articulatory, and perceptual analyses of the vowels /y/ and /u/ produced by ten 4-year-old French speakers and ten adult French speakers were conducted under two conditions: normal and with a large tube inserted between the lips. Ultrasound and acoustic recordings of isolated vowels were made in the normal condition before any perturbation, for each of the trials in the perturbed condition, and in the normal condition after the perturbed trials. Data revealed that adult participants moved their tongues in the perturbed condition more than children did. The perturbation was generally at least partly compensated for during the perturbed trials in adults, but children did not show a typical learning effect. In particular, unsystematic improvements were observed during the sequence of perturbed trials, and after-effects were not clear in the articulatory domain. This suggests that children may establish associative links between multisensory phonemic representations and articulatory maneuvers, but those links may mainly rely on trial-to-trial, error-based feedback correction mechanisms rather than on the internal model of the speech production apparatus, as they are in adults.
Automatic grunt detector and recognizer for Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua)
Authors: Urazghildiiev Ildar R. , Van Parijs Sofie M.
Published: May 2016

Northwest Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) have been heavily overfished in recent years and have not yet recovered. Passive acoustic technology offers a new approach to identify the spatial location of spawning fish, as well as their seasonal and long term persistence in an area. To date, the lack of a species-specific detector has made searching for Atlantic cod grunts in large amounts of passive acoustic data cumbersome. To address this problem, an automatic grunt detection and recognition algorithm that processes yearlong passive acoustic data recordings was designed. The proposed technique is a two-stage hypothesis testing algorithm that includes detecting and recognizing all grunt-like sounds. Test results demonstrated that the algorithm provided a detection probability of 0.93 for grunts with a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) higher than 10 dB, and a detection probability of 0.8 for grunts with the SNR ranging from 3 to 10 dB. This detector is being used to identify cod in current and historical data from U.S. waters. Its use has significantly reduced the time required to find and validate the presence of cod grunts.
Yoichiro Nambu: Remembering an unusual physicist, a mentor and a friend
Authors: Jona-Lasinio G.
Published: May 2016

I was lucky to meet Yoichiro Nambu at the beginning of my scientific activity. The experience of working with him influenced my subsequent research and in the following I will try to convey what he transmitted to me. It was also a friendship that continued for decades in spite of the rare occasions to meet after our collaboration.
Review and Critique of the Use of Immunoglobulins in Prevention and Treatment of Infection in Critically Ill Patients
Authors: Zanetti Geogrio , Glauser Michel P , Baumgartner Jean-Daniel
Published: May 2016

The study of standard intravenous immunoglobulin G (IVIG) preparations as adjunctive therapy
in seriously ill patients is motivated by the possible need to: restore immunoglobulin G levels depleted after
trauma or surgery; and/or to provide patients with specific antibodies directed against various microorganisms.
Whereas no therapeutic efficacy has been shown in clinical studies with standard IVIG, some
data suggest a benefit in prophylactic use. Antisera or IVIG hyperimmune against the biologically active.
highly conserved core portion of the endotoxin of Gram‐negative bacteria have demonstrated variable
degrees of protection in animal models and clinical trials. Two clinical trials using monoclonal antibodies
against core lipopolysaccharide have been completed. Only subsets of patients with the Gram‐negative
sepsis syndrome were protected, but both studies gave discrepant results concerning the type of patients
that were reported to benefit from administration of these antibodies. Further studies will be necessary to
establish whether application of this therapy can be recommended.
Monoclonal Antibodies as Immune Modulators for Cancer Therapy
Authors: Dillman Robert O
Published: May 2016

Monoclonal antibodies may modulate immune and/or biological responses
alone, or as carriers of specific agents. Monoclonal antibodies directed against tumours may be indirectly
cytotoxic by modulation of antibody‐dependent, cell‐mediated cytotoxicity or complement‐mediated
cytotoxicity. Monoclonal antibodies directed against certain tumour cell receptors may alter the biological
behaviour of tumour cells such as blocking or downregulation of growth factors essential to tumour cell
proliferation. Monoclonal antibodies directed to certain receptors on host immune cells. such as the CD3
receptor on T lymphocytes. may activate those cells and increase their cytotoxicity. Antitumour monoclonal
antibodies can serve as carriers of interferons, interleukin‐2, tumour necrosis factor and other lymphokines
and cytokines to modulate selectively the cytotoxic potential of immune cells in the vicinity of tumour cells.
Cytotoxic chemotherapy agents conjugated to antitumour monoclonal antibodies may be processed
differently so that they bypass certain mechanisms of drug resistance. The penultimate application of
monoclonal antibodies in cancer therapy is to combine various monoclonal antibodies and immunoconjugates
for selective combination therapy based on known antigenic tumour cell determinants and the
status of the host immune system.