bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mindful Walking in Psychologically Distressed Individuals: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Teut M. , Roesner E. J. , Ortiz M. , Reese F. , Binting S. , Roll S. , Fischer H. F. , Michalsen A. , Willich S. N. , Brinkhaus B.
Published: July 2013

Background. The aim of this randomized, controlled study was to investigate the effectiveness of a mindful walking program in patients with high levels of perceived psychological distress.Methods. Participants aged between 18 and 65 years with moderate to high levels of perceived psychological distress were randomized to 8 sessions of mindful walking in 4 weeks (each 40 minutes walking, 10 minutes mindful walking, 10 minutes discussion) or to no study intervention (waiting group). Primary outcome parameter was the difference to baseline on Cohen’s Perceived Stress Scale (CPSS) after 4 weeks between intervention and control.Results. Seventy-four participants were randomized in the study; 36 (32 female, 52.3 ± 8.6 years) were allocated to the intervention and 38 (35 female, 49.5 ± 8.8 years) to the control group. Adjusted CPSS differences after 4 weeks were −8.8 [95% CI: −10.8; −6.8] (mean 24.2 [22.2; 26.2]) in the intervention group and −1.0 [−2.9; 0.9] (mean 32.0 [30.1; 33.9]) in the control group, resulting in a highly significant group difference ().Conclusion. Patients participating in a mindful walking program showed reduced psychological stress symptoms and improved quality of life compared to no study intervention. Further studies should include an active treatment group and a long-term follow-up.
HMM and Rule-Based Hybrid Intruder Detection Approach by Synthesizing Decisions of Sensors
Authors: Kim Kyungmin , Park Kwang Il , Jeong Yewon , Hong June Seok , Kim Hak-Jin , Kim Wooju
Published: July 2013

Combining individual sensor decisions can be an effective way for the enhancement of the final decision on sensor fields for intruder detection. This paper proposes a novel methodology to unify the decisions from individual sensors on a sensor field through the (hidden Markov model) HMM and rules. The HMM especially provides a stochastic decision out of the individual sensor decisions on the sensor field; then it is filtered through rule inferences reflecting the knowledge of movement patterns on the level of the sensor field, such as spatial-temporal information and factual information on the movement of objects. This use of contextual knowledge remarkably improves the final decision for the detection. Also, this paper proposes the discretization method to express the state space of sensor field, and the performance evaluation is given by simulations.
Infinitely Many Elliptic Solutions to a Simple Equation and Applications
Authors: Wei Long , Wang Yang
Published: July 2013

Based on auxiliary equation method and Bäcklund transformations, we present an idea to find infinitely many Weierstrass and Jacobi elliptic function solutions to some nonlinear problems. First, we give some nonlinear iterated formulae of solutions and some elliptic function solutions to a simple auxiliary equation, which results in infinitely many Weierstrass and Jacobi elliptic function solutions of the simple equation. Then applying auxiliary equation method to some nonlinear problems and combining the results with exact solutions of the auxiliary equation, we obtain infinitely many elliptic function solutions to the corresponding nonlinear problems. The employed approach is powerful and can be also applied to solve other nonlinear differential equations.
Optimal Design of an Ultrasmall SOI‐Based 1 × 8 Flat‐Top AWG by Using an MMI
Authors: Li Hongqiang , Bai Yaoting , Dong Xiaye , Li Enbang , Li Yang , Liu Yu , Zhou Wenqian
Published: July 2013

Four methods based on a multimode interference (MMI) structure are optimally designed to flatten the spectral response of silicon‐on‐insulator‐ (SOI‐) based arrayed‐waveguide grating (AWG) applied in a demodulation integration microsystem. In the design for each method, SOI is selected as the material, the beam propagation method is used, and the performances (including the 3 dB passband width, the crosstalk, and the insertion loss) of the flat‐top AWG are studied. Moreover, the output spectrum responses of AWGs with or without a flattened structure are compared. The results show that low insertion loss, crosstalk, and a flat and efficient spectral response are simultaneously achieved for each kind of structure. By comparing the four designs, the design that combines a tapered MMI with tapered input/output waveguides, which has not been previously reported, was shown to yield better results than others. The optimized design reduced crosstalk to approximately −21.9 dB and had an insertion loss of −4.36 dB and a 3 dB passband width, that is, approximately 65% of the channel spacing.
A Hybrid Distributed Mutual Exclusion Algorithm for Cluster-Based Systems
Authors: Challenger Moharram , Haytaoglu Elif , Tokatli Gorkem , Dagdeviren Orhan , Erciyes Kayhan
Published: July 2013

Distributed mutual exclusion is a fundamental problem which arises in various systems such as grid computing, mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs), and distributed databases. Reducing key metrics like message count per any critical section (CS) and delay between two CS entrances, which is known as synchronization delay, is a great challenge for this problem. Various algorithms use either permission-based or token-based protocols. Token-based algorithms offer better communication costs and synchronization delay. Raymond's and Suzuki-Kasami's algorithms are well-known token-based ones. Raymond's algorithm needs onlyO(log2(N)) messages per CS and Suzuki-Kasami's algorithm needs just one message delivery time between two CS entrances. Nevertheless, both algorithms are weak in the other metric, synchronization delay and message complexity correspondingly. In this work, a new hybrid algorithm is proposed which gains from powerful aspects of both algorithms. Raysuz's algorithm (the proposed algorithm) uses a clustered graph and executes Suzuki-Kasami's algorithm intraclusters and Raymond's algorithm interclusters. This leads to have better message complexity than that of pure Suzuki-Kasami's algorithm and better synchronization delay than that of pure Raymond's algorithm, resulting in an overall efficient DMX algorithm pure algorithm.
Age-Related Increase in Electromyography Burst Activity in Males and Females
Authors: Theou Olga , Edwards Darl , Jones Gareth R. , Jakobi Jennifer M.
Published: July 2013

The rapid advancement of electromyography (EMG) technology facilitates measurement of muscle activity outside the laboratory during daily life. The purpose of this study was to determine whether bursts in EMG recorded over a typical 8-hour day differed between young and old males and females. Muscle activity was recorded from biceps brachii, triceps brachii, vastus lateralis, and biceps femoris of 16 young and 15 old adults using portable surface EMG. Old muscles were active 16–27% of the time compared to 5–9% in young muscles. The number of bursts was greater in old than young adults and in females compared to males. Burst percentage and mean amplitude were greater in the flexor muscles compared with the extensor muscles. The greater burst activity in old adults coupled with the unique activity patterns across muscles in males and females provides further understanding of how changes in neuromuscular activity effects age-related functional decline between the sexes.
Personal Recommendation Using a Novel Collaborative Filtering Algorithm in Customer Relationship Management
Authors: Xu Chonghuan
Published: July 2013

With the rapid development of customer relationship management, more and more user recommendation technologies are used to enhance the customer satisfaction. Although there are many good recommendation algorithms, it is still a challenge to increase the accuracy and diversity of these algorithms to fulfill users’ preferences. In this paper, we construct a user recommendation model containing a new method to compute the similarities among users on bipartite networks. Different from other standard similarities, we consider the influence of each object node including popular degree, preference degree, and trust relationship. Substituting these new definitions of similarity for the standard cosine similarity, we propose a modified collaborative filtering algorithm based on multifactors (CF-M). Detailed experimental analysis on two benchmark datasets shows that the CF-M is of high accuracy and also generates more diversity.
Robust Iterative Learning Control for a Class of Linear Systems with Data Dropouts
Authors: Rui Wang , Xinghe Ma , Xuhui Bu
Published: July 2013

A robust iterative learning control algorithm is proposed for a class of intermittent systems with disturbances and uncertain initial conditions. Based on the contraction mapping approach, the convergence condition for the proposed algorithm is first given, and then the bounds on control input and output trajectories can be obtained. It is shown that these bounds depend on bounds on the initial condition errors and disturbances, and the bounds are zero in the absence of these disturbances. A numerical example is also given to verify the theoretical result.
Fault Diagnosis Method of Polymerization Kettle Equipment Based on Rough Sets and BP Neural Network
Authors: Gao Shu-zhi , Wang Jie-sheng , Zhao Na
Published: July 2013

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) polymerizing production process is a typical complex controlled object, with complexity features, such as nonlinear, multivariable, strong coupling, and large time-delay. Aiming at the real-time fault diagnosis and optimized monitoring requirements of the large-scale key polymerization equipment of PVC production process, a real-time fault diagnosis strategy is proposed based on rough sets theory with the improved discernibility matrix and BP neural networks. The improved discernibility matrix is adopted to reduct the attributes of rough sets in order to decrease the input dimensionality of fault characteristics effectively. Levenberg-Marquardt BP neural network is trained to diagnose the polymerize faults according to the reducted decision table, which realizes the nonlinear mapping from fault symptom set to polymerize fault set. Simulation experiments are carried out combining with the industry history datum to show the effectiveness of the proposed rough set neural networks fault diagnosis method. The proposed strategy greatly increased the accuracy rate and efficiency of the polymerization fault diagnosis system.
Idiopathic Central Precocious Puberty Associated with 11 MbDe NovoDistal Deletion of the Chromosome 9 Short Arm
Authors: Cisternino Mariangela , Della Mina Erika , Losa Laura , Madè Alexandra , Rossetti Giulia , Bassi Lorenzo Andrea , Pieri Giovanni , Bayindir Baran , Messa Jole , Zuffardi Orsetta , Ciccone Roberto
Published: July 2013

We report a girl with ade novodistal deletion of 9p affected by idiopathic central precocious puberty and intellectual disability. Genome-wide array-CGH revealed a terminal deletion of about 11 Mb, allowing to define her karyotype as 46; XX, del(9)(p23-pter). To our knowledge, this is the second reported case of precocious puberty associated with 9p distal deletion. A third case associates precocious puberty with a more proximal 9p deletion del(9)(p12p13,3). In our case, more than 40 genes were encompassed in the deleted region, among which, DMRT1 which is gonad-specific and has a sexually dimorphic expression pattern and ERMP1 which is required in rats for the organization of somatic cells and oocytes into discrete follicular structures. Although we cannot exclude that precocious puberty in our del(9p) patient is a coincidental finding, the report of the other two patients with 9p deletions and precocious puberty indeed suggests a causative relationship.
Unintentional Weakness of Cancers: The MEK–ERK Pathway as a Double-Edged Sword
Authors: Suda Kenichi , Mitsudomi Tetsuya
Published: July 2013

Recent advances in molecular targeted therapies have greatly improved treatment outcomes for cancers driven by oncogenic mutations. Despite initial and dramatic clinical responses, tumors eventually acquire resistance to these targeted therapies, showing flexible and diverse responses. Interestingly, cancer cells sometimes overadapt to the drug treatment environment, leading to a state in which cancer cells cannot survive without the drug. This interesting phenomenon (often called “drug dependency” or “drug addiction”) is exemplified in preclinical acquired resistance models of BRAF-mutated melanoma treated with vemurafenib and EGFR-mutated lung cancer treated with EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors. A number of intriguing parallels in drug-addicted cancers became apparent in a comparison of the two models: (i) overexpression of driver oncogenes as causes of acquired resistance; (ii) overexpression of driver oncogenes causing MEK—ERK hyperactivation under drug-free conditions; (iii) hyperactivation of the MEK—ERK pathway as critical to this drug addiction phenomenon; (iv) ongoing dependence on the oncogenic driver; and (v) morphologic changes in resistant cells under drug-free conditions. This Perspective article not only focuses on this interesting and peculiar phenomenon but also discusses weapon strategies to exploit this unintentional weakness of cancers. Mol Cancer Res; 11(10); 1125–8. ©2013 AACR.
Cell-Autonomous and Non–Cell-Autonomous Mechanisms of HGF/MET–Driven Resistance to Targeted Therapies: From Basic Research to a Clinical Perspective
Authors: Corso Simona , Giordano Silvia
Published: July 2013

Targeted therapies have opened new perspectives in clinical oncology. However, clinicians have observed a lack of response in a relevant percentage of patients and frequent relapse in patients who initially respond. Therefore, a compelling challenge is to identify mechanisms underlying resistance and strategies to circumvent these hurdles. A growing body of evidence indicates that MET, the tyrosine kinase receptor for hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), is frequently implicated in resistance to targeted therapies. In this review, we highlight cell-autonomous and non–cell-autonomous mechanisms through which MET drives resistance, and we discuss some unsolved issues related to the selection of patients who could benefit from combined therapies.

Significance: Resistance is, at present, the major limitation to the efficacy of targeted therapies. Inappropriate MET activation is very frequently implicated in the onset of primary and secondary resistance to these therapies. Deciphering the role of the HGF/MET axis in resistance to different drugs could guide the design of new clinical trials based on combinatorial therapies, and it might help to overcome, or possibly prevent, the onset of resistance. Cancer Discov; 3(9); 978–92. ©2013 AACR.
Renal Carcinoma Cell-Derived Exosomes Induce Human Immortalized Line of Jurkat T Lymphocyte Apoptosis in vitro
Authors: Yang Lin , Wu Xiaohou , Wang Dan , Luo Chunli , Chen Lixue
Published: July 2013

Objective: Tumor-derived exosomes usually contain some molecules that can help immune evasion by tumors. This study is aimed at investigating the potential effect of exosomes from human kidney adenocarcinoma cells on a human immortalized line of Jurkat T lymphocytes in vitro. Methods: Exosomes were purified from human kidney adenocarcinoma ACHN cells by sequential centrifugations and ultrafiltrations, and characterized by transmission electron microscopy. The effects of exosomes on the proliferation, cytokine production and apoptosis of Jurkat T cells were determined using flow cytometry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The relative levels of pro- and anti-apoptotic molecules were determined by Western blotting. Results: Exosomes were purified from ACHN cells and exhibited typical characteristics. Treatment with exosomes inhibited Jurkat T cell proliferation and induced Jurkat T cell apoptosis in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Treatment with exosomes reduced spontaneous interleukin-2 (IL-2), interferon-γ, IL-6 and IL-10 production by Jurkat T cells. Treatment with exosomes increased the relative levels of cleaved caspase-3, -8 and -9 as well as Bax, but reduced the levels of Bcl-2 in Jurkat T cells. The purified exosomes contained Fas ligand, and treatment with soluble Fas abrogated exosome-mediated Jurkat T cell apoptosis. Conclusions: Our data indicate that exosomes from kidney adenocarcinoma cells contain Fas ligand and trigger Jurkat T cell apoptosis, contributing to the immune evasion of tumors.
Conservatively Managed Fetal Goiter: An Alternative to in utero Therapy
Authors: Blumenfeld Yair J. , Davis Alexis , Milan Kristina , Chueh Jane , Hudgins Louanne , Barth Richard A. , Hintz Susan R.
Published: July 2013

Fetal goiter may arise from a variety of etiologies including iodine deficiency, overtreatment of maternal Graves' disease, inappropriate maternal thyroid replacement and, rarely, congenital hypothyroidism. Fetal goiter is often associated with a retroflexed neck and polyhydramnios, raising concerns regarding airway obstruction in such cases. Prior reports have advocated for cordocentesis and intra-amniotic thyroid hormone therapy in order to confirm the diagnosis of fetal thyroid dysfunction, reduce the size of the fetal goiter, reduce polyhydramnios, aid with the assistance of maternal thyroid hormone therapy and reduce fetal malpresentation. We report two cases of conservatively managed fetal goiter, one resulting in a vaginal delivery, and no evidence of postnatal respiratory distress despite the presence of polyhydramnios and a retroflexed neck on prenatal ultrasound.
The Success of Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy in Children: Analysis of Prognostic Factors
Authors: Furlanetti Luciano Lopes , Santos Marcelo Volpon , de Oliveira Ricardo Santos
Published: July 2013

Objective: The treatment of hydrocephalus in children with endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) has particular features and is associated with different success rates (SR). The aim of this study was to identify putative factors that could influence the outcome of ETV in children. Methods: Clinical data of 114 consecutive patients under 18 years of age who underwent 116 consecutive ETVs from January 2000 to January 2010 were reviewed. Data were analyzed with regards to clinical and radiological SR. The actual long-term SR was compared to that predicted by the ETV Success Score (ETVSS) model. Results: The study group included 49 males (43%) and 65 females (57%) with a mean age of 6.17 ± 1.02 years (ranging from 11 days to 18 years) at surgery. Concerning the etiology of hydrocephalus, tumors and aqueductal stenosis (AS) were the most frequently observed, with each occurring in 33 cases (29%), followed by malformations in 24 (21%), cystic lesions in 6 (5%) and other etiologies in 18 patients (16%). The overall SR at the first ETV attempt was 80% (91/114), compared to 74.8% (variance 14.35, 95% CI 69.37-78.22) predicted by the ETVSS. Regarding age, SR was 58% in patients under 6 months of age, 65% in children between 6 months and 1 year, and 86% in children older than 1 year. SR for AS and hydrocephalus associated with posterior fossa tumors were 88 and 90%, respectively. Unsatisfactory results were related to previous intraventricular hemorrhage and infection. The overall complication rate in this series was 13%. Conclusion: ETV is safe and effective in children. In this series, the age of the patient and etiology of hydrocephalus were related to SR. Also, the ETVSS was accurate to predict outcome. In a long-term follow-up, surgical experience was statistically significant in reducing complications.
Incidence and Clinical Impact of Stroke Complicating Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
Authors: Werner Nicolas , Bauer Timm , Hochadel Matthias , Zahn Ralf , Weidinger Franz , Marco Jean , Hamm Christian , Gitt Anselm K. , Zeymer Uwe
Published: July 2013

Background—

Stroke is a rare but serious complication of percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs). So far, scant information is available about the incidence and outcome of patients developing stroke after PCI for stable angina or acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in daily clinical practice in Europe today.

Methods and Results—

Between 2005 and 2008, 46 888 patients undergoing PCI were enrolled into the PCI Registry of the Euro Heart Survey Programme (176 centers in 33 European countries) to document patient’s characteristics, PCI details, and hospital complications in different PCI indications. Stroke was observed in 0.4% of the procedures in the total population, in 0.3% of PCIs in elective patients, and in 0.6% in PCIs performed for ACS. The overall in-hospital mortality was 19.2% for patients who developed stroke (elective PCIs, 10.0%; PCI for ACS, 23.2%) compared with 1.3% for those without stroke (elective PCIs, 0.2%; PCI for ACS, 2.3%). In multivariate analysis hemodynamic instability, age ≥75 years, history of stroke, and congestive heart failure were found to be independent predictors for periprocedural stroke in ACS, whereas only PCI of a bypass graft and renal failure could be identified as independent predictors for stroke in elective patients.

Conclusions—

Stroke as complication of PCI occurs rarely (0.4%) in clinical practice in Europe today. However, peri-interventional stroke is still associated with an exceedingly high in-hospital mortality rate. Most predictors for periprocedural stroke are not modifiable and cannot be diminished before PCI. Therefore, treatment of patients with stroke after PCI needs further research.
Stent Thrombosis With Ticagrelor Versus Clopidogrel in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndromes
Authors: Steg P. Gabriel , Harrington Robert A. , Emanuelsson Håkan , Katus Hugo A. , Mahaffey Kenneth W. , Meier Bernhard , Storey Robert F. , Wojdyla Daniel M. , Lewis Basil S. , Maurer Gerald , Wallentin Lars , James Stefan K.
Published: July 2013

Background—

We aimed to describe the effects of ticagrelor versus clopidogrel on stent thrombosis in the Platelet Inhibition and Patient Outcomes (PLATO) trial.

Methods and Results—

Of 18 624 patients hospitalized for acute coronary syndromes, 11 289 (61%) had at least 1 intracoronary stent. Ticagrelor reduced stent thrombosis compared with clopidogrel across all definitions: definite, 1.37% (n=71) versus 1.93% (n=105; hazard ratio [HR], 0.67; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.50–0.90;
P
=0.0091); definite or probable, 2.21% (n=118) versus 2.87% (n=157; HR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.59–0.95;
P
=0.017); and definite, probable, and possible, 2.94% (n=154) versus 3.77 (n=201; HR, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.62–0.95). The reduction in definite stent thrombosis was consistent regardless of acute coronary syndrome type, presence of diabetes mellitus, stent type (drug-eluting or bare metal stent), CYP2C19 genetic status, loading dose of aspirin, dose of clopidogrel before randomization, and use of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors at randomization. The reduction in stent thrombosis with ticagrelor was numerically greater for late (>30 days; HR, 0.48; 95% CI, 0.24–0.96) and subacute (4 hours–30 days; HR, 0.60; 95% CI, 0.39–0.93) compared with acute (<24 hours; HR, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.43–2.05) stent thrombosis or for patients compliant to therapy (ie, taking blinded study treatment ≥80% of the time) compared with less compliant patients. Randomization to ticagrelor was a strong independent inverse predictor of definite stent thrombosis (HR, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.48–0.88).

Conclusion—

Ticagrelor compared with clopidogrel reduces the incidence of stent thrombosis in patients with acute coronary syndromes, with consistent benefit across a broad range of patient, stent, and treatment characteristics.

Clinical Trial Registration—

URL:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT00391872.
Under-Reporting of Socioeconomic Status of Patients in Stroke Trials
Authors: Magin Parker , Victoire Anousha , Zhen Xi May , Furler John , Pirotta Marie , Lasserson Daniel S. , Levi Christopher , Tapley Amanda , van Driel Mieke
Published: July 2013

Background and Purpose—

The 2001 Revised Consolidated Standards of Reporting of Trials (CONSORT) statement requires reporting of Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) to include participants’ baseline demographics. This enables comparison of intervention and control groups on potential confounding variables as well as assessment of study generalizability. Socioeconomic status (SES) is associated with access to care and outcomes (mortality, functional outcome, recurrent stroke, and hospital readmission) poststroke. We aimed to document the reporting of baseline SES in reports of RCTs of stroke and transient ischemic attack.

Methods—

Measures of SES were extracted from studies reporting trials of stroke or transient ischemic attack published in 12 major journals in the disciplines of general medicine, general neurology, cerebrovascular disease, and rehabilitation subsequent to revised CONSORT. Percentages of studies reporting SES measures were calculated. Differences in reporting between journal categories, and temporal trends in reporting, were tested.

Results—

Only 12% of studies reported any SES measure. Journal categories did not differ in rate of SES reporting. SES reporting did not increase over time.

Conclusions—

Improving reporting of SES could enhance clinicians’ ability to evaluate RCT findings and apply them to their patients.
Incidence and Risks of Subarachnoid Hemorrhage in China
Authors: Zhang Jingfen , Liu Guorong , Arima Hisatomi , Li Yuechun , Cheng Guojuan , Shiue Ivy , Lv Lin , Wang Huiling , Zhang Chunyang , Zhao Jianchun , Anderson Craig S.
Published: July 2013

Background and Purpose—

To determine incidence and risks of subarachnoid hemorrhage in China.

Methods—

A prospective, population-based, 1:2 matched case–control study in Baotou, Inner Mongolia (≈2 million population) in 2009–2011. Multiple variable models used to determine relative risk and population-attributable risks for exposures.

Results—

For a total of 226 patients (mean age, 59 years; 65% women; 434 controls), crude annual incidence (per 100 000) of subarachnoid hemorrhage was 6.2 (95% confidence intervals, 5.4–7.0); 4.3 (3.3–5.2) for men and 8.2 (6.9–9.6) for women. Compared with nonsmokers, adjusted relative risk of subarachnoid hemorrhage in current smokers was 2.31 (95% confidence interval, 1.31–4.09) but was 4.00 (1.62–9.89) in women. Population-attributable risk for smoking, hypertension, and low income were 18%, 36% and 59%, respectively.

Conclusions—

The incidence of subarachnoid hemorrhage in China is slightly lower than in Western countries and is related to smoking, hypertension, and poor socioeconomic status.
On the taxonomic validity of Pristimantis tepuiensis (Schlüter & Rödder, 2007) and P. stegolepis (Schlüter & Rödder, 2007), with remarks on the type series of P. guaiquinimensis (Schlüter & Rödder, 2007)
Authors: KOK PHILIPPE J.R. , BARRIO-AMORÓS CÉSAR L.
Published: July 2013

The type series of Pristimantis guaiquinimensis (Schlüter & Rödder, 2007), P. tepuiensis (Schlüter & Rödder, 2007) and P. stegolepis (Schlüter & Rödder, 2007) have been thoroughly examined. We highlight a number of discrepancies in the original descriptions that do not support the recognition of P. stegolepis and P. tepuiensis as valid species. We demonstrate that P. stegolepis should be considered a junior synonym of P. vilarsi (Melin, 1941), and that P. tepuiensis should be considered a junior synonym of P. guaiquinimensis. We also point out that the sex of the holotype and paratype of P. guaiquinimensis have been wrongly determined.
Influence of MODIS-Derived Dynamic Vegetation on VIC-Simulated Soil Moisture in Oklahoma
Authors: Ford Trent W. , Quiring Steven M.
Published: July 2013

Soil moisture–vegetation interactions are an important component of land–atmosphere coupling, especially in semiarid regions such as the North American Great Plains. However, many land surface models parameterize vegetation using an interannually invariant leaf area index (LAI). This study quantifies how utilizing a dynamic vegetation parameter in the variability infiltration capacity (VIC) hydrologic model influences model-simulated soil moisture. Accuracy is assessed using in situ soil moisture observations from 20 stations from the Oklahoma Mesonet. Results show that VIC simulations generated with an interannually variant LAI parameter are not consistently more accurate than those generated with the invariant (static) LAI parameter. However, the static LAI parameter tends to overestimate LAI during anomalously dry periods. This has the greatest influence on the accuracy of the soil moisture simulations in the deeper soil layers. Soil moisture drought, as simulated with the static LAI parameter, tends to be more severe and persist for considerably longer than drought simulated using the interannually variant LAI parameter. Dynamic vegetation parameters can represent interannual variations in vegetation health and growing season length. Therefore, simulations with a dynamic LAI parameter better capture the intensity and duration of drought conditions and are recommended for use in drought monitoring.
Subsistence Fades, Capitalism Deepens
Authors: Bush Caleb M.
Published: July 2013

Relying on archival research and an historical sociological approach, this essay argues the Navajo–Hopi land dispute demonstrates the highly uneven and porous character of what the author calls the “net of incorporation.” As capitalism expands into new regions, people and economic processes are “captured” and altered, while some also evade such incorporation. As such, the argument envisions capitalism’s expansion as a net, highly porous but also effective over time. Struggles over mineral royalties and leasing in the 1950s and later also displayed tribal leaders’ heightened awareness of land as commodity, as capital. Juxtaposed against these leaders, many Diné (Navajo) who faced relocation held fast to “traditional” values concerning the land that provided them with resources to resist incorporation. The discussion utilizes a rethought incorporation to link the history of the land dispute with the broader, contested origins of the Navajo Reservation and its people.
Humor and Dissonance in California’s Native American Genocide
Authors: Lindsay Brendan C.
Published: July 2013

The originator of cognitive dissonance theory, Leon Festinger, and those who have followed him in revising, expanding, and clarifying his theories over the past five decades provide historians investigating cases of genocide a useful lens for viewing some of the social and psychological forces acting within and upon its perpetrators. This essay takes the contemporary findings of behavioral scientists on dissonance theory and applies their theoretical models to look at the case of genocide in California. Specifically, how did the perpetrators of genocide resolve the cognitive dissonance created by their conflicting attitudes and behaviors? How could one believe that murder was wrong, particularly the murder of defenseless persons such as children or the aged, yet commit the mass murder of Native American populations, or at least allow such to be committed in their communities? Part of the answer appears to be through the dissonance-reducing strategy of trivialization in the form of humor. What the confluence of behavioral theory and historical evidence reveals is that mid-19th-century Euro-Americans—mostly White males from the United States—living in California used forms of humor to trivialize Indian humanity, to achieve a state of psychological consonance even while being the perpetrators of or bystanders to a very visible and brutally effective campaign of genocide.
Visualizing Uncertainty
Authors: Kirschenbaum Susan S. , Trafton J. Gregory , Schunn Christian D. , Trickett Susan B.
Published: July 2013

Objective:

This work investigated the impact of uncertainty representation on performance in a complex authentic visualization task, submarine localization.

Background:

Because passive sonar does not provide unique course, speed, and range information on a contact, the submarine operates under significant uncertainty. There are many algorithms designed to address this problem, but all are subject to uncertainty. The extent of this solution uncertainty can be expressed in several ways, including a table of locations (course, speed, range) or a graphical area of uncertainty.

Method:

To test the hypothesis that the representation of uncertainty that more closely matches the experts’ preferred representation of the problem would better support performance, even for the nonexpert., performance data were collected using displays that were either stripped of the spatial or the tabular representation.

Results:

Performance was more accurate when uncertainty was displayed spatially. This effect was only significant for the nonexperts for whom the spatial displays supported almost expert-like performance. This effect appears to be due to reduced mental effort.

Conclusion:

These results suggest that when the representation of uncertainty for this spatial task better matches the expert’s preferred representation of the problem even a nonexpert can show expert-like performance.

Application:

These results could apply to any domain where performance requires working with highly uncertain information.
Teachers in an Interdisciplinary Learning Community
Authors: Hardré Patricia L. , Ling Chen , Shehab Randa L. , Nanny Mark A. , Nollert Matthias U. , Refai Hazem , Ramseyer Christopher , Herron Jason , Wollega Ebisa D.
Published: July 2013

This study examines the inputs (processes and strategies) and outputs (perceptions, skill development, classroom transfer, disciplinary integration, social networking, and community development) of a yearlong, interdisciplinary teacher learning and development experience. Eleven secondary math and science teachers partnered with an interdisciplinary team of university engineering mentors in a yearlong engineering education and project implementation program. It consisted of a 6-week on-site resident professional development and collaboration experience, with an ongoing support and follow-up including digital systems. Mixed-method, multisource data indicate that teachers engaged with motivations combining personal, intrinsic interest and classroom integration goals. They formed and sustained an active community of learning and practice that supported their success, on-site and through classroom integration, thereby promoting innovations. Teachers reported positive perceptions throughout the program and demonstrated significant, productive trajectories of change-over-time. Teachers learned and transferred task-specific engineering and scientific skills, as well as more general inquiry-based pedagogical strategies to their secondary classrooms.
Progressive Aspect in Nigerian English
Authors: Gut Ulrike , Fuchs Robert
Published: July 2013

This study explores the system of progressive aspect marking in educated adult speakers of Nigerian English (NigE), which has been claimed to differ distinctly from that of other varieties of English. A total of 4,813 progressive constructions drawn from the International Corpus of English (ICE)–Nigeria were analyzed and compared with data from the ICE–Great Britain and previous studies. In addition, the acceptability of progressive constructions was tested in a questionnaire study. The results show both distinct stylistic variation in the use of progressives in NigE and some systematic differences from their use in British English. The corpus-based study further reveals some extended use of the progressive in NigE such as in connection with verbs referring to habitual nonbounded durative activities or stative verbs. Many of these patterns of extended use might be explained by referring to the interplay between aspects of first and second language usage (such as that of Igbo and English). Results from the questionnaire survey suggest that only a subgroup of these extended progressives is considered acceptable by NigE speakers.
The Performance of Local Dependence Measures With Psychological Data
Authors: Houts Carrie R. , Edwards Michael C.
Published: July 2013

The violation of the assumption of local independence when applying item response theory (IRT) models has been shown to have a negative impact on all estimates obtained from the given model. Numerous indices and statistics have been proposed to aid analysts in the detection of local dependence (LD). A Monte Carlo study was conducted to evaluate the relative performance of selected LD measures in conditions considered typical of studies collecting psychological assessment data. Both the Jackknife Slope Index and likelihood ratio statistic G2 are available across the two IRT models used and displayed adequate to good performance in most simulation conditions. The use of these indices together is the final recommendation for applied analysts. Future research areas are discussed.
Social enterprises as local development actors
Authors: Eversole Robyn
Published: July 2013

The social enterprise sector is attracting policy and academic interest internationally for its promise to meet development challenges across social and economic domains. This article discusses findings from applied research in Tasmania, Australia, that aimed to understand whether social enterprises were present, what distinguished them as a sector, and the kinds of development roles they sought to play. Findings revealed that numerous Tasmanian organisations identified as social enterprises yet these organisations shared no common organisational structure, development mission or industry. Rather, what they shared was a common approach to addressing local development issues: one that involved crossing boundaries and working across sectoral silos to leverage resources and support.
Efficient base station connectivity area discovery
Authors: Twigg Jeffrey N. , Fink Jonathan R. , Yu Paul L. , Sadler Brian M.
Published: July 2013

Many applications of autonomy are significantly complicated by the need for wireless networking, with challenges including scalability and robustness. Radio accomplishes this in a complex environment, but suffers from rapid signal strength variation and attenuation typically much worse than free space loss. In this paper, we propose and test algorithms to autonomously discover the connectivity area for a base station in an unknown environment using an average of received signal strength (RSS) values and a RSS threshold to delineate the goodness of the channel. We combine region decomposition and RSS sampling to cast the problem as an efficient graph search. The nominal RSS in a sampling region is obtained by averaging local RSS samples to reduce the small-scale fading variation. The RSS gradient is exploited during exploration to develop an efficient approach for discovery of the base station connectivity boundary in an unknown environment. Indoor and outdoor experiments demonstrate the proposed techniques. The results can be used for sensing and collaborative autonomy, building base station coverage maps in unknown environments, and facilitating multi-hop relaying to a base station.
Imaging requirements for medical applications of additive manufacturing
Authors: Huotilainen Eero , Paloheimo Markku , Salmi Mika , Paloheimo Kaija-Stiina , Björkstrand Roy , Tuomi Jukka , Markkola Antti , Mäkitie Antti
Published: July 2013

Additive manufacturing (AM), formerly known as rapid prototyping, is steadily shifting its focus from industrial prototyping to medical applications as AM processes, bioadaptive materials, and medical imaging technologies develop, and the benefits of the techniques gain wider knowledge among clinicians. This article gives an overview of the main requirements for medical imaging affected by needs of AM, as well as provides a brief literature review from existing clinical cases concentrating especially on the kind of radiology they required. As an example application, a pair of CT images of the facial skull base was turned into 3D models in order to illustrate the significance of suitable imaging parameters. Additionally, the model was printed into a preoperative medical model with a popular AM device. Successful clinical cases of AM are recognized to rely heavily on efficient collaboration between various disciplines – notably operating surgeons, radiologists, and engineers. The single main requirement separating tangible model creation from traditional imaging objectives such as diagnostics and preoperative planning is the increased need for anatomical accuracy in all three spatial dimensions, but depending on the application, other specific requirements may be present as well. This article essentially intends to narrow the potential communication gap between radiologists and engineers who work with projects involving AM by showcasing the overlap between the two disciplines.
Violence and the State at the Urban Margins
Authors: Auyero Javier , Burbano de Lara Agustín , Berti María Fernanda
Published: July 2013

Based on thirty months of ethnographic fieldwork in a violence-ridden, low-income district located in the metropolitan area of Buenos Aires, this article examines the state’s presence at the urban margins and its relationships to widespread depacification of poor people’s daily life. Contrary to descriptions of destitute urban areas in the Americas as either governance voids deserted by the state or militarized spaces firmly controlled by the state’s iron fist, this article argues that law enforcement in Buenos Aires’s high-poverty zones is intermittent, selective, and contradictory. By putting the state’s fractured presence at the urban margins under the ethnographic microscope, the article reveals its key role in the perpetuation of the violence it is presumed to prevent.
Communication Traps
Authors: Michael-Tsabari Nava , Weiss Dan
Published: July 2013

Using game theory to expand our understanding of the interaction between a founder and a successor in a family business, we explore the impact of poor interpersonal communication on family harmony during the succession process. Results show how deficient communication leads to disagreements and clashes between the founder and the successor and systematically reduces family harmony during the succession process. We term these situations communication traps. The findings demonstrate how inadequate communication hampers a transition process above and beyond psychological effects, even when the involved individuals share the same priorities, attitude, and interests.
Intra-party dynamics in mixed-member electoral systems: How strategies of candidate selection impact parliamentary behaviour
Authors: Hennl Annika
Published: July 2013

This paper contributes to our understanding of legislative behaviour in mixed-member electoral systems through a simple game-theoretic model. It argues that legislators seeking re-election in mixed-member electoral systems need to take into account the interests of two distinct selectorates rather than an electorate in order to maximize the probability of regaining a legislative mandate. Assuming that the policy interests of list and district selectorates systematically differ, legislators may face diverging demands from two principals whose relative capability to sanction incumbents crucially hinges upon the reward they may offer. Such reward, I argue, is best understood as the strength of the nomination, which refers to the probability of subsequent election. A simple game-theoretic model then shows how variation in the relative strength of both selectorates induces three different scenarios with distinct equilibrium outcomes and thus effectively impacts patterns of representation.
Digital tryout based on the optimal blank design toward realization of beadless stamping
Authors: Shim Hyun B
Published: July 2013

As the shapes of stamped parts become more complicated and the trend toward light weight continues, making a stamping die becomes more difficult because of inevitably poor formability. Poor formability can be improved if the material flow during stamping is carefully controlled. The application of a drawbead has become common to retard metal flow into the die cavity at the region where a wrinkle is expected. However, the effects of drawbeads are contradictory; for example, one effect prevents wrinkling and another aggravates fracture. Since the blank’s shape also controls the material flow, the beadless stamping process has been devised. In this process, the role of the drawbead is replaced by the shape of the blank. The author developed a digital tryout that emulates a real tryout process wherein a deformation process analysis has been iteratively carried out with a trial blank and the analysis result is carefully investigated. Since the control variable of the proposed digital tryout is the deformed shape, the trial blank shape that corresponds to the desired deformed shape is determined with an optimal blank design method. The present digital tryout was iteratively performed by changing the desired deformed shape until the analysis results predicted no wrinkling and no fracture. The validity of the proposed method was confirmed through an application using a real automotive part.
Combining the Bees Algorithm and shape grammar to generate branded product concepts
Authors: Ang MC , Ng KW , Pham DT
Published: July 2013

Generating product design concepts to meet functional requirements while maintaining a specific brand identity is a daunting task for a designer. Shape grammars have been applied to describe the creation of branded product shapes via a set of shape rules and were manually used to create a family of new design concepts, which maintain the product brand identity. Nevertheless, shape grammars are not able to evaluate whether the generated new product concepts can fulfil specified functional requirements of a product. In this research work, shape grammar is combined with an optimisation technique known as the Bees Algorithm to derive a computational architecture for generating branded design concepts that can meet a specified functional requirement. This combination approach allows shape rules to evolve while evaluating how well the outcomes of the new design concepts meet a specified functional requirement. This paper describes how the combination of the Bees Algorithm with shape grammar is created to generate branded product concepts, and shows that this approach can outperform a combination of shape grammar with an evolutionary algorithm.
Design and calibration method for a novel six-component piezoelectric balance
Authors: Jia Zhenyuan , Gao Yifei , Ren Zongjin , Gao Shengnan , Shang Yongyan
Published: July 2013

Wind tunnel balance is one of the most important measurement equipments in aerodynamic testing. In this paper, a new six-component piezoelectric balance is developed to measure the dynamic impact loading force in the wind tunnel. The arrangement mode of the triaxial piezoelectric load cells is confirmed based on the theory analysis. Furthermore, the mathematical model is established according to the calibration experimental results. Support vector machine is proposed to develop the piezoelectric balance calibration. It is an effective method to predict the model using small samples and reduce the duration of the calibration. The results of prediction are compared to the conventional calibration and the dynamic step response. The linearity and repeatability of the balance are within 0.2% and 0.5%, respectively, and the interference error has been reduced using the support vector machine method. The experimental results have shown that the four supports arrangement mode can reduce the area of attack and enhance the measuring range of the balance. The dynamic characteristics of the piezoelectric balance performed by the step response test show that the designed balance is feasible to measure the dynamic impact airloads in a wind tunnel.