bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Relationship Between Brand‐Specific Alcohol Advertising on Television and Brand‐Specific Consumption Among Underage Youth
Authors: Ross Craig S. , Maple Emily , Siegel Michael , DeJong William , Naimi Timothy S. , Ostroff Joshua , Padon Alisa A. , Borzekowski Dina L. G. , Jernigan David H.
Published: July 2014

Background

Being able to investigate the relationship between underage drinkers' preferences for particular brands and their exposure to advertising for those brands would represent a significant advance in alcohol marketing research. However, no previous national study has examined the relationship between underage youth exposure to brand‐specific alcohol advertising and consumption of those brands.

Methods

We conducted a cross‐sectional, Internet‐based survey of a national sample of 1,031 youth, ages 13–20, who had consumed at least 1 drink of alcohol in the past 30 days. We ascertained all alcohol brands consumed by respondents in the past 30 days. The main outcome measure was brand‐specific consumption during the past 30 days, measured as a dichotomous variable. The main predictor variable was exposure to brand‐specific alcohol advertising on television. The respondents reported which of 20 television shows popular with youth they had watched during the past 30 days. For each respondent, we calculated a standard measure of potential exposure to the brand‐specific alcohol advertising that aired on those shows during the preceding 12 months, based on Nielsen (New York, NY) estimates of the youth audience for each show's telecasts.

Results

Compared to no brand‐specific advertising exposure, any exposure was associated with an increased likelihood of brand‐specific consumption (adjusted odds ratio 3.02; 95% confidence interval: 2.61–3.49) after controlling for several individual‐ and brand‐level variables. When measured as a continuous variable, the relationship between advertising exposure and brand consumption was nonlinear, with a large association at lower levels of exposure and diminishing incremental effects as the level of exposure increased.

Conclusions

There is a robust relationship between youth's brand‐specific exposure to alcohol advertising on television and their consumption of those same alcohol brands during the past 30 days. This study provides further evidence of a strong association between alcohol advertising and youth drinking behavior.
Therapeutic interventions in sepsis: current and anticipated pharmacological agents
Authors: Shukla Prashant , Rao G Madhava , Pandey Gitu , Sharma Shweta , Mittapelly Naresh , Shegokar Ranjita , Mishra Prabhat Ranjan
Published: July 2014

Sepsis is a clinical syndrome characterized by a multisystem response to a pathogenic assault due to underlying infection that involves a combination of interconnected biochemical, cellular and organ–organ interactive networks. After the withdrawal of recombinant human‐activated protein C (rAPC), researchers and physicians have continued to search for new therapeutic approaches and targets against sepsis, effective in both hypo‐ and hyperinflammatory states. Currently, statins are being evaluated as a viable option in clinical trials. Many agents that have shown favourable results in experimental sepsis are not clinically effective or have not been clinically evaluated. Apart from developing new therapeutic molecules, there is great scope for for developing a variety of drug delivery strategies, such as nanoparticulate carriers and phospholipid‐based systems. These nanoparticulate carriers neutralize intracorporeal LPS as well as deliver therapeutic agents to targeted tissues and subcellular locations. Here, we review and critically discuss the present status and new experimental and clinical approaches for therapeutic intervention in sepsis.
Self‐Socialization of Gender in African American, Dominican Immigrant, and Mexican Immigrant Toddlers
Authors: Zosuls Kristina M. , Ruble Diane N. , Tamis‐LeMonda Catherine S.
Published: July 2014

This article advances a self‐socialization perspective demonstrating that children's understanding of both gender categories represents an intergroup cognition that is foundational to the development of gender‐stereotyped play. Children's (N = 212) gender category knowledge was assessed at 24 months and play was observed at 24 and 36 months. Higher levels of gender category knowledge and, more specifically, passing multiple measures of knowledge of both gender categories at 24 months was related to increases in play over time with gender‐stereotyped toys (doll, truck), but not gender‐stereotyped forms of play (nurturing, motion). In contrast to the long‐standing focus on self‐labeling, findings indicate the importance of intergroup cognitions in self‐socialization processes and demonstrate the generalizability of these processes to a diverse sample.
Non‐thermal plasmas: novel preventive and curative therapy against melanomas?
Authors: Gesbert Franck , Larue Lionel
Published: July 2014

Malignant melanoma is a very aggressive cancer with a very poor short‐term prognosis once metastatic. For years, there was no efficient adjuvant therapy after surgery. Chemotherapy and immunotherapy provided hope, but not victory. Further efforts are therefore required, to find new ways to cure this disease. Physics has, once again, opened up new possibilities for treatment, through the use of non‐equilibrium atmospheric pressure plasma (NEAPP). The curative potential of this technique was initially assessed on cancer cells, among which melanoma. In a recent issue, Yajima et al. use NEAPP on benign nevi, as a preventive treatment.
Optimising environmental watering of floodplain wetlands for fish
Authors: Beesley Leah , King Alison J. , Gawne Ben , Koehn John D. , Price Amina , Nielsen Daryl , Amtstaetter Frank , Meredith Shaun N.
Published: July 2014

Flow alteration has reduced connectivity between many of the world's rivers and their floodplains, causing changes in riverine productivity and the isolation of floodplain wetlands. Environmental water is being increasingly used to help restore wetland habitats and their biota, including fish. However, some of these managed deliveries of water occur into discrete wetlands via artificial structures or at unseasonal times and may not deliver the expected gains in fish production.

In the Murray River, south‐eastern Australia, we examined the relationship between attributes of watering and fish production (species‐specific recruitment, total abundance), at two time intervals: short term (6–8 weeks after watering) and at the end of the spawning season (April) for 26 discrete watering events. The study also recognised the importance of habitat in mediating fish responses to watering and examined whether fish abundance after environmental water delivery is better predicted by attributes of watering or wetland characteristics?

We found that attributes of watering, including water source, its method of delivery and timing, best described fish recruitment (0+ abundance) and total fish abundance. Managers of environmental water may be able to optimise fish recruitment and abundance if they source their water from the river and deliver it during the spawning period of the target species via means that facilitate fish passage.
A Randomized, blinded assessor study to Evaluate the efFIcacy and safety of etanercept 50 mg once weekly plus as Needed topical agent vs. Etanercept 50 mg twice weekly in patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis (REFINE)
Authors: Papp K.A. , Barber K. , Bissonnette R. , Bourcier M. , Lynde C.W. , Poulin Y. , Shelton J. , Toole J. , Vieira A. , Poulin‐Costello M.
Published: July 2014

Background

Topical corticosteroids are used with systemic therapies for treatment of plaque psoriasis, but data from randomized clinical trials to document efficacy of combination therapy are lacking.

Objective

To evaluate efficacy and safety of adding topical corticosteroid therapy from the time that etanercept dosage is reduced from initial label dose [50 mg twice weekly (BIW)] to maintenance dose [50 mg once weekly (QW)].

Methods

In this phase 3b, multicentre, randomized, open‐label study, patients with moderate‐to‐severe plaque psoriasis received etanercept 50 mg BIW for 12 weeks, and then were randomized to etanercept 50 mg BIW or 50 mg QW plus topical agent as needed to achieve static physician global assessment (sPGA) status of clear for 12 weeks. Endpoints included percentage change in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score from week 12 to week 24 (primary endpoint); proportion of patients achieving 50% improvement in (PASI 50), PASI 75 and PASI 90; patients achieving sPGA of clear/almost clear; and change in affected body surface area (BSA).

Results

Mean difference [95% confidence interval (CI)] between etanercept arm (n = 140) and etanercept plus topical arm (n = 142) in change in PASI score from week 12 to week 24 was 16.2% (−3.5%, 35.8%). PASI response rates were similar between groups. Percentage (95% CI) of patients achieving sPGA status of clear/almost clear was 40.6% (32.5%, 48.6%) and 45.8% (37.6%, 54.0%) at week 12 for patients in etanercept and etanercept plus topical arms, respectively, and 53.5% (45.3%, 61.7%) and 45.4% (37.2%, 53.6%) at week 24. Difference (95% CI) between groups in change in affected BSA from week 12 to week 24 was 4.9% (−23.4%, 33.2%).

Conclusion

Patients who received etanercept 50 mg QW at week 12 plus as‐needed topical therapy and those who stayed on etanercept 50 mg BIW maintained clinical response through week 24 with no notable differences in PASI responses.
Potential of the bean α‐amylase inhibitor αAI‐1 to inhibit α‐amylase activity in true bugs (Hemiptera)
Authors: Lüthi C. , Álvarez‐Alfageme F. , Li Y. , Naranjo S. E. , Higgins T. J. V. , Romeis J.
Published: July 2014

True bugs (Hemiptera) are an important pest complex not controlled by Bt‐transgenic crops. An alternative source of resistance includes inhibitors of digestive enzymes, such as protease or amylase inhibitors. αAI‐1, an α‐amylase inhibitor from the common bean, inhibits gut‐associated α‐amylases of bruchid pests of grain legumes. Here we quantify the in vitro activity of α‐amylases of 12 hemipteran species from different taxonomic and functional groups and the in vitro inhibition of those α‐amylases by αAI‐1. α‐Amylase activity was detected in all species tested. However, susceptibility to αAI‐1 varied among the different groups. α‐Amylases of species in the Lygaeidae, Miridae and Nabidae were highly susceptible, whereas those in the Auchenorrhyncha (Cicadellidae, Membracidae) had a moderate susceptibility, and those in the Pentatomidae seemed to be tolerant to αAI‐1. The species with αAI‐1 susceptible α‐amylases represented families which include both important pest species but also predatory species. These findings suggest that αAI‐1‐expressing crops have potential to control true bugs in vivo.
Mortality due to a retained circle hook in a longfin mako shark Isurus paucus (Guitart‐Manday)
Authors: Adams D H , Borucinska J D , Maillett K , Whitburn K , Sander T E
Published: July 2014

A female longfin mako shark Isurus paucus (Guitart‐Manday, 1966) was found moribund on the Atlantic Ocean beach near Canaveral National Seashore, Florida; the shark died shortly after stranding. Macroscopic lesions included a partially healed bite mark on the left pectoral fin, a clefted snout, pericardial effusion and a pericardial mass surrounding a 12/0 circle fishing hook. The heart, pericardial mass, gills, ovary, oviduct, shell gland, epigonal organ, liver, kidney and intrarenal and interrenal glands were processed for histopathology and examined by brightfield microscopy. Microscopic examination revealed chronic proliferative and pyogranulomatous pericarditis and myocarditis with rhabdomyolysis, fibrosis and thrombosis; scant bacteria and multifocal granular deposits of iron were found intralesionally. In addition, acute, multifocal infarcts within the epigonal organ and gill filaments were found in association with emboli formed by necrocellular material. The ovary had high numbers of atretic follicles, and the liver had diffuse, severe hepatocellular degeneration, multifocal spongiosis and moderate numbers of melanomacrophage cells. This report provides evidence of direct mortality due to systemic lesions associated with retained fishing gear in a prohibited shark species. Due to the large numbers of sharks released from both recreational and commercial fisheries worldwide, impact of delayed post‐release mortality on shark populations is an important consideration.
Ontogeny of the female femur: geometric morphometric analysis applied on current living individuals of a Spanish population
Authors: Pujol Aniol , Rissech Carme , Ventura Jacint , Badosa Joaquim , Turbón Daniel
Published: July 2014

In this study we describe the development of the female femur based on the analysis of high‐resolution radiographic images by means of geometric morphometrics, while assessing the usefulness of this method in these kinds of studies. The material analysed consisted of digital images in DICOM format (telemetries), corresponding to 184 left femora in anterior view, obtained from the database of the Hospital Sant Joan de Déu of Barcelona (Spain). Bones analysed corresponded to individuals from 9 to 14 years old. Size and shape variation of the entire femur was quantified by 22 two‐dimensional landmarks. Landmark digitisation errors were assessed using Procrustes anova test. Centroid size (CS) variation with age was evaluated by an anova test. Shape variation was assessed by principal component analysis. A mancova test between the first five principal components and age, using the CS as covariable, was applied. Results indicated that both size and shape vary significantly with age. Several age‐related shape changes remained significant after removing the allometric effect. In general, an increase in the robustness of the bone and noticeable phenotypic changes in certain areas of the femur were observed. During growth in the proximal region of the femur, the collo‐diaphyseal angle decreases, the neck of the femur widens and the fovea moves to a lower position, standing more in line with the plane of the neck. Likewise, the size of the greater and lesser trochanters increase. In the distal region, a significant increase of epiphyseal dimensions was recorded, mainly in the medial condyle. The angular remodelling of the neck and the bicondylar region of the femur in females continues until 13 years old. The information provided in the present study increases our knowledge on the timing and morphology of the femur during development, and in particular the morphology of the different femoral ossification centres during development.
Landscape resistance and habitat combine to provide an optimal model of genetic structure and connectivity at the range margin of a small mammal
Authors: Marrotte R. R. , Gonzalez A. , Millien V.
Published: July 2014

We evaluated the effect of habitat and landscape characteristics on the population genetic structure of the white‐footed mouse. We develop a new approach that uses numerical optimization to define a model that combines site differences and landscape resistance to explain the genetic differentiation between mouse populations inhabiting forest patches in southernQuébec. We used ecological distance computed from resistance surfaces withCircuitscape to infer the effect of the landscape matrix on gene flow. We calculated site differences using a site index of habitat characteristics. A model that combined site differences and resistance distances explained a high proportion of the variance in genetic differentiation and outperformed models that used geographical distance alone. Urban and agriculture‐related land uses were, respectively, the most and the least resistant landscape features influencing gene flow. Our method detected the effect of rivers and highways as highly resistant linear barriers. The density of grass and shrubs on the ground best explained the variation in the site index of habitat characteristics. Our model indicates that movement of white‐footed mouse in this region is constrained along routes of low resistance. Our approach can generate models that may improve predictions of future northward range expansion of this small mammal.
‘DEMOCRATIZING’ PUBLIC SERVICES? REPRESENTATION AND ELECTIONS IN THE SCOTTISH NHS
Authors: GREER SCOTT L. , WILSON IAIN , STEWART ELLEN , DONNELLY PETER D.
Published: July 2014

In representative democracies most public administration is actually directed by unelected appointees. These appointees are accountable to voters only indirectly through a minister. In Scotland, many decisions on healthcare provision are made by regional health boards. The Scottish government authorized experimental elections to two of these health boards in the hope of democratizing health service administration. Our research uncovered many unexpected consequences of holding direct elections to health boards, but they did not revolutionize the accountability structure in the ways we might have expected. New members largely accepted inherited norms which discouraged them from acting as conduits for public opinion.
Determination of Feeder Cell‐Based Cellular Niches Supporting the Colonization and Maintenance of Spermatogonial Stem Cells from Prepubertal Domestic Cat Testes
Authors: Han NR , Park YH , Yun JI , Park HJ , Park MH , Kim MS , Choi JH , Lee E , Gong SP , Lim JM , Lee ST
Published: July 2014

Contents

Recently, isolation and in vitro culture of putative spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) in the domestic cat have been conducted. However, the cellular niche conditions that facilitate the establishment and long‐term maintenance of feline SSCs (FSSCs) have not been described. Therefore, we investigated the type of feeder cells used to stimulate colony formation and growth of FSSCs among the various factors in the FSSC niche. Spermatogonial stem cells isolated from feline testes were cultured on mitotically inactivated testicular stromal cells (TSCs) derived from cats, dogs and mice, and mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs). The formation and growth of colonies derived from SSCs cultured on each type of feeder cell were identified at passage 0, and the morphology, alkaline phosphatase (AP) activity and expression of SSC‐specific genes in surviving colonies were investigated at passage 4. Among these diverse feeder cells, TSCs from cat showed the greatest colony formation, growth and maintenance of FSSCs, and SSC colonies cultured by passage 4 showed a typical dome‐shaped morphology, AP activity and expression of SSC‐specific genes (NANOG, OCT4, SOX2 and CD9). Accordingly, these results demonstrate that feline TSCs could be used as feeder cells to support the establishment and maintenance of SSCs from domestic cats.
Response to: Sufficiently entangled polymers do show shear strain localization at high enough Weissenberg numbers”
Authors: Li Yanfei , Hu Miao , McKenna Gregory B. , Dimitriou Christopher J. , McKinley Gareth H. , Mick Rebecca M. , Venerus David C. , Archer Lynden A.
Published: July 2014

In response to the Letter Wang et al. (2014) challenging the results of Li et al. (2013), the present letter addresses the specific concerns in the order that they are raised. (1) Whether the material properties (molecular weight, concentration, and polydispersity index) of the samples used in [Li et al. (2013)] agree with Table I in the same paper? (2) What is the true shear banding phase diagram, if any? (3) Are the shear cessation tests carried out by Li et al. (2013) in the regime where nonquiescent relaxation is expected? (4) How to minimize edge effects? (5) How would other factors, such as location of particle tracking velocimetry observation, plastic film on meniscus, misalignment, and surface treatment, affect the velocity profiles?
Spatiotemporal Aquatic Field Reconstruction Using Cyber-Physical Robotic Sensor Systems
Authors: Wang Yu , Tan Rui , Xing Guoliang , Tan Xiaobo , Wang Jianxun , Zhou Ruogu
Published: July 2014

Monitoring important aquatic processes like harmful algal blooms is of increasing interest to public health, ecosystem sustainability, marine biology, and aquaculture industry. This article presents a novel approach to spatiotemporal aquatic field reconstruction using inexpensive, low-power mobile sensing platforms called
robotic fish
. Robotic fish networks are a typical example of cyber-physical systems where the design of cyber components (sensing, communication, and information processing) must account for inherent physical dynamics of the robots and the aquatic environment. Our approach features a
rendezvous-based
mobility control scheme where robotic fish collaborate in the form of a
swarm
to sense the aquatic environment in a series of carefully chosen rendezvous regions. We design a novel feedback control algorithm that maintains the desirable level of wireless connectivity for a sensor swarm in the presence of significant environment and system dynamics. Information-theoretic analysis is used to guide the selection of rendezvous regions so that the spatiotemporal field reconstruction accuracy is maximized subject to the limited sensor mobility. The effectiveness of our approach is validated via implementation on sensor hardware and extensive simulations based on real data traces of water surface temperature field and on-water ZigBee wireless communication.
Pricing link by time
Authors: Lai Chengdi , Low Steven H. , Leung Ka-Cheong , Li Victor O.K.
Published: July 2014

The combination of loss-based TCP and drop-tail routers often results in full buffers, creating large queueing delays. The challenge with parameter tuning and the drastic consequence of improper tuning have discouraged network administrators from enabling AQM even when routers support it. To address this problem, we propose a novel design principle for AQM, called the pricing-link-by-time (PLT) principle. PLT increases the link price as the backlog stays above a threshold β, and resets the price once the backlog goes below β. We prove that such a system exhibits cyclic behavior that is robust against changes in network environment and protocol parameters. While β approximately controls the level of backlog, the backlog dynamics are invariant for β across a wide range of values. Therefore, β can be chosen to reduce delay without undermining system performance. We validate these analytical results using packet-level simulation.
Error estimating codes for insertion and deletion channels
Authors: Huang Jiwei , Yang Sen , Lall Ashwin , Romberg Justin , Xu Jun , Lin Chuang
Published: July 2014

Error estimating codes (EEC) have recently been proposed for measuring the bit error rate (BER) in packets transmitted over wireless links. They however can provide such measurements only when there are no insertion and deletion errors, which could occur in various wireless network environments. In this work, we propose ``idEEC'', the first technique that can do so even in the presence of insertion and deletion errors. We show that idEEC is provable robust under most bit insertion and deletion scenarios, provided insertion/deletion errors occur with much lower probability than bit flipping errors. Our idEEC design can build upon any existing EEC scheme. The basic idea of the idEEC encoding is to divide the packet into a number of segments, each of which is encoded using the underlying EEC scheme. The basic idea of the idEEC decoding is to divide the packet into a few slices in a randomized manner -- each of which may contain several segments -- and then try to identify a slice that has no insertion and deletion errors in it (called a ``clean slice''). Once such a clean slice is found, it is removed from the packet for later processing, and this ``randomized divide and search'' procedure will be iteratively performed on the rest of the packet until no more clean slices can be found. The BER will then be estimated from all the clean slices discovered through all the iterations. A careful analysis of the accuracy guarantees of the idEEC decoding is provided, and the efficacy of idEEC is further validated by simulation experiments.
CApRI
Authors: Ding Wei , Kandemir Mahmut
Published: July 2014

Caches play a critical role in today's computer systems and optimizing their performance has been a critical objective in the last couple of decades. Unfortunately, compared to a plethora of work in software and hardware directed code/data optimizations, much less effort has been spent in understanding the fundamental characteristics of data access patterns exhibited by application programs and their interaction with the underlying cache hardware. Therefore, in general it is hard to reason about cache behavior of a program running on a target system. Motivated by this observation, we first set up a "locality model" that can help us determine the theoretical bounds of the cache misses caused by irregular data accesses. We then explain how this locality model can be used for different data locality optimization purposes. After that, based on our model, we propose a data reordering (data layout reorganization) scheme that can be applied after any existing data reordering schemes for irregular applications to improve cache performance by further reducing the cache misses. We evaluate the effectiveness of our scheme using a set of 8 programs with irregular data accesses, and show that it brings significant improvements over the state-of-the-art on two commercial multicore machines.
Rumor source detection with multiple observations
Authors: Wang Zhaoxu , Dong Wenxiang , Zhang Wenyi , Tan Chee Wei
Published: July 2014

This paper addresses the problem of a single rumor source detection with multiple observations, from a statistical point of view of a spreading over a network, based on the susceptible-infectious model. For tree networks, multiple sequential observations for one single instance of rumor spreading cannot improve over the initial snapshot observation. The situation dramatically improves for multiple independent observations. We propose a unified inference framework based on the union rumor centrality, and provide explicit detection performance for degree-regular tree networks. Surprisingly, even with merely two observations, the detection probability at least doubles that of a single observation, and further approaches one, i.e., reliable detection, with increasing degree. This indicates that a richer diversity enhances detectability. For general graphs, a detection algorithm using a breadth-first search strategy is also proposed and evaluated. Besides rumor source detection, our results can be used in network forensics to combat recurring epidemic-like information spreading such as online anomaly and fraudulent email spams.
Revisiting caching in content delivery networks
Authors: Shafiq Muhammad Zubair , Liu Alex X. , Khakpour Amir R.
Published: July 2014

Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) differ from other caching systems in terms of both workload characteristics and performance metrics. However, there has been little prior work on large-scale measurement and characterization of content requests and caching performance in CDNs. For workload characteristics, CDNs deal with extremely large content volume, high content diversity, and strong temporal dynamics. For performance metrics, other than hit ratio, CDNs also need to minimize the disk operations and the volume of traffic from origin servers. In this paper, we conduct a large-scale measurement study to characterize the content request patterns using real-world data from a commercial CDN provider.
Family-based performance measurement
Authors: Siegmund Norbert , von Rhein Alexander , Apel Sven
Published: July 2014

Most contemporary programs are customizable. They provide many features that give rise to millions of program variants. Determining which feature selection yields an optimal performance is challenging, because of the exponential number of variants. Predicting the performance of a variant based on previous measurements proved successful, but induces a trade-off between the measurement effort and prediction accuracy. We propose the alternative approach of
family-based performance measurement
, to reduce the number of measurements required for identifying feature interactions and for obtaining accurate predictions. The key idea is to create a variant simulator (by translating compile-time variability to run-time variability) that can simulate the behavior of all program variants. We use it to measure performance of individual methods, trace methods to features, and infer feature interactions based on the call graph. We evaluate our approach by means of five feature-oriented programs. On average, we achieve accuracy of 98%, with only a single measurement per customizable program. Observations show that our approach opens avenues of future research in different domains, such an feature-interaction detection and testing.
How Could SNARE Proteins Open a Fusion Pore?
Authors: Fang Qinghua , Lindau Manfred
Published: July 2014

The SNARE (Soluble NSF Attachment protein REceptor) complex, which in mammalian neurosecretory cells is composed of the proteins synaptobrevin 2 (also called VAMP2), syntaxin, and SNAP-25, plays a key role in vesicle fusion. In this review, we discuss the hypothesis that, in neurosecretory cells, fusion pore formation is directly accomplished by a conformational change in the SNARE complex via movement of the transmembrane domains.
The Physiology of Mechanoelectrical Transduction Channels in Hearing
Authors: Fettiplace Robert , Kim Kyunghee X.
Published: July 2014

Much is known about the mechanotransducer (MT) channels mediating transduction in hair cells of the vertrbrate inner ear. With the use of isolated preparations, it is experimentally feasible to deliver precise mechanical stimuli to individual cells and record the ensuing transducer currents. This approach has shown that small (1–100 nm) deflections of the hair-cell stereociliary bundle are transmitted via interciliary tip links to open MT channels at the tops of the stereocilia. These channels are cation-permeable with a high selectivity for Ca2+; two channels are thought to be localized at the lower end of the tip link, each with a large single-channel conductance that increases from the low- to high-frequency end of the cochlea. Ca2+influx through open channels regulates their resting open probability, which may contribute to setting the hair cell resting potential in vivo. Ca2+also controls transducer fast adaptation and force generation by the hair bundle, the two coupled processes increasing in speed from cochlear apex to base. The molecular intricacy of the stereocilary bundle and the transduction apparatus is reflected by the large number of single-gene mutations that are linked to sensorineural deafness, especially those in Usher syndrome. Studies of such mutants have led to the discovery of many of the molecules of the transduction complex, including the tip link and its attachments to the stereociliary core. However, the MT channel protein is still not firmly identified, nor is it known whether the channel is activated by force delivered through accessory proteins or by deformation of the lipid bilayer.
Novel Intermode Prediction Algorithm for High Efficiency Video Coding Encoder
Authors: Park Chan-seob , Hong Gwang-Soo , Kim Byung-Gyu
Published: July 2014

The joint collaborative team on video coding (JCT-VC) is developing the next-generation video coding standard which is called high efficiency video coding (HEVC). In the HEVC, there are three units in block structure: coding unit (CU), prediction unit (PU), and transform unit (TU). The CU is the basic unit of region splitting like macroblock (MB). Each CU performs recursive splitting into four blocks with equal size, starting from the tree block. In this paper, we propose a fast CU depth decision algorithm for HEVC technology to reduce its computational complexity. In2N×2N PU, the proposed method compares the rate-distortion (RD) cost and determines the depth using the compared information. Moreover, in order to speed up the encoding time, the efficient merge SKIP detection method is developed additionally based on the contextual mode information of neighboring CUs. Experimental result shows that the proposed algorithm achieves the average time-saving factor of 44.84% in the random access (RA) at Main profile configuration with the HEVC test model (HM) 10.0 reference software. Compared to HM 10.0 encoder, a small BD-bitrate loss of 0.17% is also observed without significant loss of image quality.
Attribute Extended Algorithm of Lattice‐Valued Concept Lattice Based on Congener Formal Context
Authors: Yang Li , Xu Yang
Published: July 2014

This paper is the continuation of our research work about lattice‐valued concept lattice based on lattice implication algebra. For a better application of lattice‐valued concept lattice into data distributed storage and parallel processing, it is necessary to research attribute extended algorithm based on congener formal context. The definitions of attribute extended formal context and congener formal context are proposed. On condition that the extent set stays invariable when the new attribute is increased, the necessary and sufficient conditions of forming attribute values are researched. Based on these conditions, the algorithms of generating lattice‐valued congener formal context and establishing concept lattice are given, by which we can provide a useful basis for union algorithm and constructing algorithm of lattice‐valued concept lattices in distributed and parallel system.
Measurement of International Roughness Index by Using Z‐Axis Accelerometers and GPS
Authors: Du Yuchuan , Liu Chenglong , Wu Difei , Jiang Shengchuan
Published: July 2014

The International Roughness Index (IRI) is a well‐recognized standard in the field of pavement management. Many different types of devices can be used to measure the IRI, but these devices are mainly mounted on a full‐size automobile and are complicated to operate. In addition, these devices are expensive. The development of methods for IRI measurement is a prerequisite for pavement management systems and other parts of the road management industry. Based on the quarter‐car model and the vehicle vibration caused by road roughness, there is a strong correlation between the in‐car Z‐axis acceleration and the IRI. The variation of speed of the car during the measurement process has a large influence on IRI estimation. A measurement system equipped with Z‐axis accelerometers and a GPS device was developed. Using the self‐designing measurement system based on the methodology proposed in this study, we performed a small‐scale field test. We used a one‐wheel linear model and two‐wheel model to fit the variation of the Z‐axis acceleration. The test results demonstrated that the low‐cost measurement system has good accuracy and could enhance the efficiency of IRI measurement.
Analytical Fragility Functions for Horizontally Curved Steel I-Girder Highway Bridges
Authors: AmiriHormozaki Ebrahim , Pekcan Gokhan , Itani Ahmad
Published: July 2014

Horizontally curved bridges were investigated following a statistical evaluation of typical details commonly used in the United States. Both seismically and non-seismically designed bridges are considered where the primary differences are in column confinement, type of bearings and abutment support length. Columns and bearings were found to be the most seismically vulnerable components for both categories. Central angle was identified as an important factor that increases the demand on various components, particularly columns. Furthermore, larger angles lead to increased deformations at the supports which adversely affect the seismic vulnerability. Consistent with the fragility curves that account for the central angle explicitly, a second set of system fragility curves were introduced for cases when central angle is not specified such as the case in the National Bridge Inventory. Comparison of fragility parameters to those suggested by HAZUS-MH highlighted the need for revisions to account for current design practices and central angle.
The power of language
Authors: Shirley Karen E , Mander Rosemary
Published: July 2014

Language controls professional woman and inter-professional relationships, creating and maintaining power differentials. This article describes the relationship of language to power/knowledge. Words, when silent and controlling, maintain the asymmetry of power. Feminism and consumerism aim to correct the imbalance.
Use of SMS and tablet computer improves the electronic collection of elective orthopaedic patient reported outcome measures
Authors: Roberts N , Bradley B , Williams D
Published: July 2014

Introduction

Electronic patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) enable real time reporting back to the patient and medical team, comparison between similar patient cohorts and long-term cost effective outcome measurement. The primary objective of this three-phase pilot study was to measure uptake using a web-based PROM system following the introduction of two separate process improvements.

Methods

Eighty consecutive new elective orthopaedic patients in a single surgeon’s practice were recruited for the study. Patients in Group 1 (n=26) received only a letter reminding them to complete a symptom score. Those in Group 2 (n=31) also received a reminder SMS (short message service) message via their mobile or home telephone and those in Group 3 (n=23) also had access to a tablet computer in clinic.

Results

The mean patient age in Group 1 was 55 years (range: 24–80 years), in Group 2 it was 60 years (range: 23–85 years) and in Group 3 it was 58 years (range: 37–78 years) (p>0.05). Overall, 79% of patients had internet access, and 35% of Group 1, 55% of Group 2 and 74% of Group 3 recorded an electronic PROM score (p=0.02). In Group 3, 94% of patients listed for an operation completed an electronic PROM score (p=0.006).

Conclusions

Collecting PROM data effectively in everyday clinical practice is challenging. Electronic collection should meet that challenge and improve healthcare delivery but it is in its infancy. This pilot study shows that the combination of an SMS reminder and access to a Wi-Fi enabled tablet computer in the clinic setting enabled 94% of patients listed for an operation to complete a score on a web-based clinical outcomes system. Additional staff training and telephone call reminders may further improve uptake.
Colégio da Santíssima Trindade de Coimbra
Authors: Cartaxo Capelo Ludovina
Published: July 2014

ResumoO Colégio da Santíssima Trindade de Coimbra, tinha por objetivo albergar os estudantes da Ordem da Santíssima Trindade da Redenção dos Cativos que vinham estudar para Coimbra.A sua formosa igreja tinha cinco altares; o Altar-mor, o Altar de Nossa Senhora da Encarnação; o Altar de São Miguel; o Altar de Santo António e a Capela do Senhor Crucificado e era nela que o culto religioso da Universidade se realizava, sempre que a Capela da Universidade estava impedida. Em 1627, o colégio obtém licença da câmara para fazer um arco de pedraria e um passadiço de acesso ao pátio da Universidade.O arquivo deste Colégio diz essencialmente respeito à gestão administrativa e patrimonial dos seus bens e rendimentos. O presente catálogo tem por objetivo último divulgar todo o manancial de informação registada nesta documentação, que se encontra no Arquivo da Universidade de Coimbra. AbstractThe College of the Holy Trinity of Coimbra was designed to accommodate students of the Order of the Holy Trinity of the Redemption of Captives who came to study in Coimbra.Its beautiful church had five altars; the main altar, the altar of Our Lady of the Incarnation, the Altar of St. Michael, the Altar of St. Anthony and the Chapel of the Crucified Lord, and it was where the religious cult at the University was held, whenever it was impossible to be held at the University Chapel. In 1627, the college obtained a license from the Mayor’s Office to make a stone arch and an access bridge to the University’s courtyard.This College’s archive relates mainly to the administrative and patrimonial management of its assets and income. The present catalog is designed to make public all sources of information registered in this documentation, which is on the Coimbra’s University Archive.
OS LIVROS DO REI Administração e cultura no tempo de D. Afonso III*
Authors: Ventura Leontina , De Oliveira António Resende
Published: July 2014

@font-face { font-family: "Times New Roman"; }@font-face { font-family: "Cambria"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria; }table.MsoNormalTable { font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; } Indiferente ao dinamismo cultural que percorria alguns círculos senhoriais, a corte régia portuguesa, sob Afonso III, pela produção escriturária saída da sua chancelaria, denotava uma idêntica azáfama, embora a sua orientação apresentasse um pendor político-administrativa mais evidente. Os autores debruçam-se sobre essa produção, procurando enquadrar o novo papel da escrita no meio cortesão e as principais áreas da governação que a ela recorreram. E concluem com a sua possível influência sobre a própria cultura nobiliárquica
Inventário do arquivo do Convento de Nossa Senhora de Campos de Sandelgas
Authors: Antunes Adriana Duarte
Published: July 2014

Resumo   O Convento de Nossa Senhora de Campos situa-se em Sandelgas, no conselho de Montemor-o-Velho, distrito de Coimbra e pertence à Terceira Regra de S. Francisco de Assis. O arquivo deste Convento diz essencialmente respeito à gestão patrimonial dos respetivos bens e rendimentos, sendo escassa a documentação eclesiástica, no entanto, existem ainda vários traslados de documentos emitidos pela Santa Sé, tais como bulas papais. É constituído ainda por documentos de carácter probatório, tais como alvarás, doações, privilégios, etc. Este estudo tem como meta final dar a conhecer a documentação que foi produzida, recebida e recolhida pelo Convento de Nossa Senhora de Campos de Sandelgas, no decurso das suas atividades conventuais, devidamente tratada, ordenada e sistematizada, existente no AUC.   Abstract The Convent of Nossa Senhora de Campos is situated in Sandelgas belonged to the Order of St. Francis. The archive of this Monastery essentially concerns the patrimony management of the assets and incomes. It also includes documents of probative value, such as permits, grants, privileges, etc.. This work aims to reveal the existing documentation in the AUC that was produced, received and collected by the Convent of Nossa Senhora de Campos, treated properly, orderly and systematically.
Lower Rates of EMR Use in Rural Hospitals Represent a Previously Unexplored Child Health Disparity
Authors: Andrews Annie Lintzenich , Kazley Abby Swanson , Basco William T. , Teufel Ronald J.
Published: July 2014

Objectives:

Rural hospitals face significant barriers to adoption of advanced-stage electronic medical records (EMRs), which may translate to an unexplored disparity for children in rural hospitals. Our objective was to determine whether children hospitalized in rural settings are less likely to be cared for using advanced-stage EMRs.

Methods:

We merged the 2009 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Kids Inpatient Dataset with the 2009 Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society database. Logistic regression determined the independent relationship between receiving care in a rural hospital and advanced-stage EMRs.

Results:

A total of 430 055 (9.3%) of the 4 605 454 pediatric discharges were rural. Logistic regression analysis determined that even when an extensive list of various patient and hospital characteristics are accounted for, rurality continues to be a strong predictor of a child’s care without advanced-stage EMRs (odds ratio 0.3; 95% confidence interval, 0.2–0.5).

Conclusions:

Children hospitalized in a rural hospital are less than half as likely to be treated using advanced-stage EMRs. A focus of government and hospital policies to expand the use of EMRs among rural hospitals may reduce this child health care disparity.
Knowledge and policy action in urban development: if we know so much, why is the urban condition not improving?
Authors: Wilson Robert H.
Published: July 2014

In spite of the wealth generation potential of the world's large metropolitan cities, poor living conditions for much of the world's urban population persist. Although the city has been widely studied, urban policy often remains ineffective. The paper adopts a policy process approach to analyze the relationship between knowledge and governmental action. Impediments to improving urban policy are found in the inadequate capacity of government to act and in the politics of democratic decision-making. The paper recommends that a pragmatic view of knowledge generation be adopted.
Conhecendo o "valor do cliente" de um jornal on-line
Authors: Leão André Luiz Maranhão de Souza , Mello Sérgio C. Benício de
Published: July 2014

Com o advento da Internet, uma questão parece peculiar ao marketing: conhecer o comportamento de um "novo" consumidor, o on-line. Uma proposta é o conhecimento do "valor do cliente", que é a percepção do consumidor sobre como atributos de produtos podem propiciar benefícios que o ajudem a atingir suas metas. A teoria de cadeias de meios-fim é a forma de se pensar sistematicamente nessa representação. O método mais amplamente utilizado para atingir as cadeias de meios-fim é o laddering. A pesquisa foi realizada com uma amostra de 78 usuários de um grande jornal on-line. Os principais "valores do cliente" dos usuários do jornal propiciaram conclusões importantes. Foram identificados leitores que se preocupam muito com seus objetivos pessoais, mas que também desejam interagir com os outros e que demonstraram interesse com questões sociais. Com base nisso, implicações gerenciais são discutidas e sugestões para futuras pesquisas são indicadas.
Transferindo práticas: construindo conhecimento arquitetural localmente
Authors: Prochno Paulo
Published: July 2014

O artigo traz um estudo qualitativo dos processos organizacionais que deram suporte à transferência de conhecimento para uma nova fábrica, detalhando os maiores desafios que a organização teve de enfrentar durante seu primeiro ano de operações. Apesar do sucesso obtido na transferência de conhecimento individual para cada área em separado, a empresa enfrentou muitos desafios em sua aplicação, uma vez que não tinha desenvolvido o conhecimento arquitetural - relativo à junção e aplicação das várias bases individuais de conhecimento. Conhecimento este que teve de ser desenvolvido localmente por meio de mecanismos de experiência, negociação e sensemaking. O estudo ressalta a importância do conhecimento arquitetural, uma dimensão até agora não considerada nos estudos de transferência de conhecimento.
Access to information: assessment of the use of automated interaction technologies in call centers
Authors: Barth Nelson Lerner , Meirelles Fernando de Souza
Published: July 2014

With the purpose of at lowering costs and reendering the demanded information available to users with no access to the internet, service companies have adopted automated interaction technologies in their call centers, which may or may not meet the expectations of users. Based on different areas of knowledge (man-machine interaction, consumer behavior and use of IT) 13 propositions are raised and a research is carried out in three parts: focus group, field study with users and interviews with experts. Eleven automated service characteristics which support the explanation for user satisfaction are listed, a preferences model is proposed and evidence in favor or against each of the 13 propositions is brought in. With balance scorecard concepts, a managerial assessment model is proposed for the use of automated call center technology. In future works, the propositions may become verifiable hypotheses through conclusive empirical research.