bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A comparison of methods for analyzing time series of pulsatile hormone data
Authors: Carlson N.E. , Horton K.W. , Grunwald G.K.
Published: June 2013

Many endocrine systems are regulated by pulsatile hormones – hormones that are secreted intermittently in boluses rather than continuously over time. To study pulsatile secretion, blood is drawn every few minutes for an extended period. The result is a time series of hormone concentrations for each individual. The goal is to estimate pulsatile hormone secretion features such as frequency, location, duration, and amount of pulsatile and non‐pulsatile secretion and compare these features between groups. Various statistical approaches to analyzing these data have been proposed, but validation has generally focused on one hormone. Thus, we lack a broad understanding of each method's performance. By using simulated data with features seen in reproductive and stress hormones, we investigated the performance of three recently developed statistical approaches for analyzing pulsatile hormone data and compared them to a frequently used deconvolution approach. We found that methods incorporating a changing baseline modeled both constant and changing baseline shapes well; however, the added model flexibility resulted in a slight increase in bias in other model parameters. When pulses were well defined and baseline constant, Bayesian approaches performed similar to the existing deconvolution method. The increase in computation time of Bayesian approaches offered improved estimation and more accurate quantification of estimation variation in situations where pulse locations were not clearly identifiable. Within the class of deconvolution models for fitting pulsatile hormone data, the Bayesian approach with a changing baseline offered adequate results over the widest range of data. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Bias associated with using the estimated propensity score as a regression covariate
Authors: Hade Erinn M. , Lu Bo
Published: June 2013

The use of propensity score methods to adjust for selection bias in observational studies has become increasingly popular in public health and medical research. A substantial portion of studies using propensity score adjustment treat the propensity score as a conventional regression predictor. Through a Monte Carlo simulation study, Austin and colleagues. investigated the bias associated with treatment effect estimation when the propensity score is used as a covariate in nonlinear regression models, such as logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards models. We show that the bias exists even in a linear regression model when the estimated propensity score is used and derive the explicit form of the bias. We also conduct an extensive simulation study to compare the performance of such covariate adjustment with propensity score stratification, propensity score matching, inverse probability of treatment weighted method, and nonparametric functional estimation using splines. The simulation scenarios are designed to reflect real data analysis practice. Instead of specifying a known parametric propensity score model, we generate the data by considering various degrees of overlap of the covariate distributions between treated and control groups. Propensity score matching excels when the treated group is contained within a larger control pool, while the model‐based adjustment may have an edge when treated and control groups do not have too much overlap. Overall, adjusting for the propensity score through stratification or matching followed by regression or using splines, appears to be a good practical strategy. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Variable contribution of wood to the hydraulic resistance of headwater tropical streams
Authors: Cadol Daniel , Wohl Ellen
Published: June 2013

We investigated the relative contribution of wood to total flow resistance in a tropical setting by measuring wood load and hydraulic resistance in six forested headwater sites at a range of subformative discharges. We evaluated the effectiveness of wood in increasing resistance by comparing measured velocity with predicted velocity from nondimensional hydraulic geometry equations that include slope, unit discharge, and either bed grain size (D84) or bed elevation variation (σt). The predictive equation that uses D84 as the characteristic roughness length successfully predicts velocity in the steep, coarse‐bed study reaches, but greatly overpredicts velocity in the low‐energy, sand‐bed study reaches. The degree of overprediction correlates with a dimensionless wood load metric (α*), which incorporates projected area of wood per unit volume of flow in the reach (α) and average wood diameter (dave). We use this correlation to suggest a wood load adjustment factor for the D84‐based predictive equation. The equation that uses σt as the roughness length successfully predicted velocity in the sand‐bed reaches, where large wood pieces incorporated into the bed and oriented perpendicular to flow cause most bed elevation variation. In our study sites, frequent and flashy floods appear to reorganize the wood in high‐energy reaches, leaving wood that is concentrated in low‐velocity zones along the channel margins and streamlined to flow, thus reducing wood resistance compared to similar streams in snowmelt‐dominated or spring‐fed hydrologic settings. However, in our low‐energy, sand‐bed study reaches, wood contributes strongly to flow resistance by increasing channel bed and margin complexity.
On effects of skewed and asymmetric oscillatory flows on cohesive sediment flux: Numerical study
Authors: Son Minwoo , Lee Guan‐hong
Published: June 2013

To investigate the effects of wave shape on cohesive sediment flux in shallow water environments, a one‐dimensional vertical (1DV) model for cohesive sediment transport previously validated with field measurement is applied to conditions of skewed and asymmetric oscillatory flows. Cohesive sediments usually portray behaviors different from those of noncohesive sediments. This is mainly due to the flocculation process through which the density and the size of cohesive sediment change continuously. Therefore, a robust flocculation model is incorporated with a 1DV model in this study. Under the condition of skewed oscillatory flow (second‐order Stokes wave‐type oscillatory flow), the flux of cohesive sediment is significantly affected by the change of flow skewness, whereas the flux of noncohesive sediment of which size is 100 µm does not show a clear relationship with skewness. Under the condition of forward‐leaning asymmetric oscillatory flow (saw‐tooth wave‐type oscillatory flow), the direction of cohesive sediment flux is negative, whereas the flux of noncohesive sediment shows the positive direction. The phase‐lag effect is considered as the main mechanism of these behaviors. The interactional relationship between the settling velocity, the variation of concentration profile, and hydrodynamics of carrier fluid enhances the phase‐lag effect and causes different behaviors in cohesive sediment compared to the flux of fine noncohesive sediment.
Summer habitat use by adult female mule deer in a restoration‐treated ponderosa pine forest
Authors: Horncastle Valerie J. , Fenner Yarborough R. , Dickson Brett G. , Rosenstock Steven S.
Published: June 2013

Across ponderosa pine—(Pinus ponderosa) dominated forests of northern Arizona, USA, large‐scale restoration and fuels treatments are being implemented or planned to reduce wildfire threat and severity and improve ecosystem health. It is important to understand how these activities will affect animal populations, including species of economic and social importance, such as mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus). Forest treatments may improve foraging habitat for mule deer by opening forest canopy and stimulating shrub and herbaceous production, but also may reduce availability of day‐bed sites. In this context, we used a generalized linear mixed‐model approach and utilization distributions to estimate post‐treatment relative intensity of summer (Apr–Sep) use of multiple habitat attributes by adult female mule deer on the Grand Canyon‐Parashant National Monument in northern Arizona between 2003 and 2005. Based on 5,776 Global Positioning System collar locations from 10 individuals ( = 580 locations/individual), we identified intensive use of areas that received a thin‐and‐burn treatment in the previous season, were located on gentle slopes, and were proximate to reliable water sources. Female mule deer likely selected thin‐and‐burn treatment areas to take advantage of increased forage abundance. Because thin‐and‐burn treatments did not remove Utah juniper (Juniperus osteosperma) or Gambel oak (Quercus gambelii), substantial shrub and mid‐story vegetation cover remained post‐treatment. Our results indicated the potential value of a mosaic approach to ponderosa pine forest restoration, where untreated areas, as well as treated areas that retain Gambel oak and juniper, are heterogeneously distributed across the landscape. This approach also would provide important concealment cover and forage after thin‐and‐burn and thin‐only treatments. © 2013 The Wildlife Society.
Hydrolysis Products Generated by Lipoprotein Lipase and Endothelial Lipase Differentially Impact THP‐1 Macrophage Cell Signalling Pathways
Authors: Essaji Yasmin , Yang Yanbo , Albert Carolyn J. , Ford David A. , Brown Robert J.
Published: June 2013

Macrophages express lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and endothelial lipase (EL) within atherosclerotic plaques; however, little is known about how lipoprotein hydrolysis products generated by these lipases might affect macrophage cell signalling pathways. We hypothesized that hydrolysis products affect macrophage cell signalling pathways associated with atherosclerosis. To test our hypothesis, we incubated differentiated THP‐1 macrophages with products from total lipoprotein hydrolysis by recombinant LPL or EL. Using antibody arrays, we found that the phosphorylation of six receptor tyrosine kinases and three signalling nodes—most associated with atherosclerotic processes—was increased by LPL derived hydrolysis products. EL derived hydrolysis products only increased the phosphorylation of tropomyosin‐related kinase A, which is also implicated in playing a role in atherosclerosis. Using electrospray ionization‐mass spectrometry, we identified the species of triacylglycerols and phosphatidylcholines that were hydrolyzed by LPL and EL, and we identified the fatty acids liberated by gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry. To determine if the total liberated fatty acids influenced signalling pathways, we incubated differentiated THP‐1 macrophages with a mixture of the fatty acids that matched the concentrations of liberated fatty acids from total lipoproteins by LPL, and we subjected cell lysates to antibody array analyses. The analyses showed that only the phosphorylation of Akt was significantly increased in response to fatty acid treatment. Overall, our study shows that macrophages display potentially pro‐atherogenic signalling responses following acute treatments with LPL and EL lipoprotein hydrolysis products.
Fatty Acid Profile of Cardiac Muscle Phospholipid and Triacylglycerol in MDX Mice and C57BL/10ScSnJ Controls
Authors: Tuazon Marc A. , Henderson Gregory C.
Published: June 2013

The mdx mouse is a model for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), a debilitating disease affecting striated muscle. It is established that the fatty acid (FA) composition of skeletal muscle phospholipid (PL) is altered in mdx mice, but it is not known if cardiac muscle is similarly affected by dystrophin‐deficiency. We tested FA profiles in PL and triacylglycerol (TAG) in cardiac muscle of 12‐week old mdx and control (con) mice. Of 22 different FA, similar to our previous finding for skeletal muscle, the most abundant FA in heart PL were palmitic, stearic, cis‐vaccenic, linoleic, and docosahexaenoic acid, while for TAG the most abundant FA were palmitic, oleic, cis‐vaccenic, and linoleic acid. In comparing mdx and con, no significant group differences were detected for any FA in PL or TAG. Thus, unlike skeletal muscle, FA composition in cardiac muscle PL is not different between mdx and con at the age studied. The results can be understood in the context of tissue‐specific disease severity in mdx mice, as pathology is quite modest in cardiac compared with skeletal muscle.
Quantitative evaluation of brain development using anatomical MRI and diffusion tensor imaging
Authors: Oishi Kenichi , Faria Andreia V. , Yoshida Shoko , Chang Linda , Mori Susumu
Published: June 2013

The development of the brain is structure‐specific, and the growth rate of each structure differs depending on the age of the subject. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is often used to evaluate brain development because of the high spatial resolution and contrast that enable the observation of structure‐specific developmental status. Currently, most clinical MRIs are evaluated qualitatively to assist in the clinical decision‐making and diagnosis. The clinical MRI report usually does not provide quantitative values that can be used to monitor developmental status. Recently, the importance of image quantification to detect and evaluate mild‐to‐moderate anatomical abnormalities has been emphasized because these alterations are possibly related to several psychiatric disorders and learning disabilities. In the research arena, structural MRI and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) have been widely applied to quantify brain development of the pediatric population. To interpret the values from these MR modalities, a “growth percentile chart,” which describes the mean and standard deviation of the normal developmental curve for each anatomical structure, is required. Although efforts have been made to create such a growth percentile chart based on MRI and DTI, one of the greatest challenges is to standardize the anatomical boundaries of the measured anatomical structures. To avoid inter‐ and intra‐reader variability about the anatomical boundary definition, and hence, to increase the precision of quantitative measurements, an automated structure parcellation method, customized for the neonatal and pediatric population, has been developed. This method enables quantification of multiple MR modalities using a common analytic framework. In this paper, the attempt to create an MRI‐ and a DTI‐based growth percentile chart, followed by an application to investigate developmental abnormalities related to cerebral palsy, Williams syndrome, and Rett syndrome, have been introduced. Future directions include multimodal image analysis and personalization for clinical application.
Gaining insight of fetal brain development with diffusion MRI and histology
Authors: Huang Hao , Vasung Lana
Published: June 2013

Human brain is extraordinarily complex and yet its origin is a simple tubular structure. Its development during the fetal period is characterized by a series of accurately organized events which underlie the mechanisms of dramatic structural changes during fetal development. Revealing detailed anatomy at different stages of human fetal brain development provides insight on understanding not only this highly ordered process, but also the neurobiological foundations of cognitive brain disorders such as mental retardation, autism, schizophrenia, bipolar and language impairment. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and histology are complementary tools which are capable of delineating the fetal brain structures at both macroscopic and microscopic levels. In this review, the structural development of the fetal brains has been characterized with DTI and histology. Major components of the fetal brain, including cortical plate, fetal white matter and cerebral wall layer between the ventricle and subplate, have been delineated with DTI and histology. Anisotropic metrics derived from DTI were used to quantify the microstructural changes during the dynamic process of human fetal cortical development and prenatal development of other animal models. Fetal white matter pathways have been traced with DTI‐based tractography to reveal growth patterns of individual white matter tracts and corticocortical connectivity. These detailed anatomical accounts of the structural changes during fetal period may provide the clues of detecting developmental and cognitive brain disorders at their early stages. The anatomical information from DTI and histology may also provide reference standards for diagnostic radiology of premature newborns.
‘The sceptre of her pow'r’: nymphs, nobility, and nomenclature in early Victorian science
Authors: OPITZ DONALD L.
Published: June 2013

Only weeks following Queen Victoria's ascension to the throne on 20 June 1837, a controversy brewed over the naming of the ‘vegetable wonder’ known today asVictoria amazonica(Sowerby). This gargantuan lily was encountered by the Royal Geographical Society's explorer Robert Schomburgk in British Guyana on New Year's Day, 1837. Following Schomburgk's wishes, metropolitan naturalists sought Victoria's pleasure in naming the flower after her, but the involvement of multiple agents and obfuscation of their actions resulted in two royal names for the lily:Victoria regina(Gray) andVictoria regia(Lindley). To resolve the duplicity in names, the protagonists, John Edward Gray and John Lindley, made priority claims for their respective names, ultimately founding their authorities on conventions aligned with gentlemanly manners and deference to nobility. This article will analyse the controversy, hitherto unexamined by historians, and argue for its significance in repositioning Queen Victoria – and nobility generally – as central agents in the making of authority in early Victorian science.
Paraoxonase 1 activities and genetic variation in childhood obesity
Authors: Rupérez A. I. , López-Guarnido O. , Gil F. , Olza J. , Gil-Campos M. , Leis R. , Tojo R. , Cañete R. , Gil A. , Aguilera C. M.
Published: June 2013

Changes in paraoxonase 1 (PON1) activities have been observed in a variety of diseases involving oxidative stress, such as CVD. However, its role in obesity has not been fully established. In the present study, we aimed (1) to genotype sixteen PON1 SNP, (2) to measure serum PON1 activities and (3) to correlate these findings with the incidence of childhood obesity and related traits. We conducted a case–control study of 189 normal-weight and 179 obese prepubertal children, and we measured four different PON1 activities: lactonase; paraoxonase; arylesterase; diazoxonase. Although none of these activities was significantly different between the obese and normal-weight children, lactonase activity was found to be positively correlated with HDL-cholesterol and ApoA1 levels and negatively correlated with myeloperoxidase and fatty acid-binding protein 4 levels. Among the sixteen genotyped PON1 SNP, only the intronic SNP rs854566 exhibited a significant association with obesity (OR 0·61, 95 % CI 0·41, 0·91; P= 0·016). This genetic variant was also associated with increased diazoxonase, lactonase and arylesterase activities and decreased paraoxonase activity. Other genetic variants exhibited different association patterns with serum activities based on their location within the PON1 gene, and SNP that were located within the promoter were strongly associated with lactonase, arylesterase and diazoxonase activities. The functional variant Q192R exhibited the greatest effect on paraoxonase activity (P= 5·88 × 10− 42). In conclusion, SNP rs854566 was negatively associated with childhood obesity and with increased serum PON1 activities in prepubertal children. We determined that lactonase is a reliable indicator of PON1 activities and should be included in future studies of PON1 function.
Molecular phylogenetic evidence for paraphyly of Ceratovacuna and Pseudoregma (Hemiptera, Hormaphidinae) reveals late Tertiary radiation
Authors: Rui-ling Zhang , Xiao-lei Huang , Li-yun Jiang , Ge-xia Qiao
Published: June 2013

Ceratovacuna and Pseudoregma are important groups in Cerataphidini (Hemiptera, Hormaphidinae) that not only produce soldier aphids in galls on the primary hosts but also produce horned soldiers on the herbaceous secondary hosts. However, due to sampling bias in previous studies, the phylogenetic relationships of these two genera remain inconclusive. In this study, based on more extensive sampling and examination of both mitochondrial (cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI); cytochrome b (Cytb)) and nuclear (elongation factor-1α (EF-1α); long-wavelength opsin (LWO)) genes, we reconstructed the phylogenetic relationships of Ceratovacuna and Pseudoregma. Phylogenetic analyses, along with morphological evidence, suggested that these two genera belong to the paraphyletic groups with species clustered into three main groups. The monophyly of Ceratovacuna and Pseudoregma as a whole was generally supported by all analyses. Monophyly of Pseudoregma was also supported. The estimated divergence times demonstrated that diversification of Ceratovacuna and Pseudoregma occurred approximately at 10 mya. The relatively low resolution for the basal relationships of the three main clades may indicate that these two genera have experienced a rapid radiation along with speciation burst of their secondary hosts during the late Tertiary.
Tissue banking in ENT: challenges and methods
Authors: Warner E , Birchall M , Lowdell M W
Published: June 2013

Background:

Biobanking is the process of storing high quality human biospecimens alongside linked clinical data, for research purposes. The aim is to identify novel biomarkers with prognostic or diagnostic significance. However, the challenges implicit in the collection and storage of human tissue for research have curtailed the impact of this technique to date.

Aim:

This paper aims to summarise the challenges faced by biobanking within the ENT specialty in the UK, and to present protocols used for the routine collection, freezing and storage of tissue specimens at the Royal National Throat, Nose and Ear Hospital. These protocols could be used to guide other ENT departments (in the UK and worldwide) wishing to initiate the routine collection and storage of tissue samples. Their publication could also help to establish basic standards and ensure consistency in ENT tissue storage.

Methods:

Interviews conducted with industry experts, and a literature review of ‘best practice’ in biobanking.

Conclusion:

The ENT specialty must stay abreast of progress in human tissue research in order to ensure the best possible management of its patients. Our protocol for the routine banking of ENT tissue at the Royal National Throat, Nose and Ear Hospital could be used as a template for other ENT departments (in the UK and worldwide) to encourage widespread implementation of high quality tissue banking.
Simple and reliable preparation of immunodiagnostic antigens forTaenia soliumcysticercosis
Authors: SAKO YASUHITO , ITOH SONOYO , OKAMOTO MUNEHIRO , NAKAYA KAZUHIRO , ITO AKIRA
Published: June 2013

Cysticercosis caused by infection with the larval stage ofTaenia soliumis an important cause of neurological disease worldwide and immunodiagnosis is important for the control and elimination of cysticercosis. In the present study, we established a simple and reliable preparation of immunodiagnostic low-molecular-weight antigens (LMWAgs) fromT. soliumcyst fluids by a cation-exchange chromatography (CEC). Banding patterns of LMWAgs on SDS-PAGE were different between isolates from Ecuador and China. All cysticercosis patient sera and some echinococcosis patient sera recognized both LMWAgs by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), but sera from healthy persons were not positive. There was no statistical difference in immunodiagnostic performance of LMWAgs prepared from different geographical isolates. These results indicated that these novel immunodiagnostic antigen preparations could contribute the control and prevention of cysticercosis in endemic areas, especially developing countries.
An Improved Initial Alignment Method for Rocket Navigation Systems
Authors: Zhu Lihua , Cheng Xianghong
Published: June 2013

This paper proposes an algorithm for the initial alignment method for rocket navigation systems. It uses the inertial freezing alignment to resolve the attitude matrix with respect to its fast and robust characteristics. Due to disturbances from the swaying base environment, such as people walking and wind effect, which would consequently result in a great lever arm effect, a Finite Impulse Response (FIR) filter is utilized to decrease the noise in the accelerometers' measurement. In addition, there are sensor errors in the system; the online estimation of gyroscopes' drift with a Kalman filter is adopted to achieve compensation. Numerical results from a simulated rocket initial alignment experiment are reported to demonstrate the effectiveness of the method.
Autonomous Positioning of Satellite Constellations via X-ray Pulsar Measurements
Authors: Liu Li , Zheng Wei , Tang Guojian
Published: June 2013

A novel autonomous positioning approach based on X-ray pulsars is proposed in this paper. First, the principles of the pulsar–based measurement model and the inter-satellite range model in the autonomous positioning of satellite constellations are presented. The observability of the pulsar-based measurement model is then shown. Second, the autonomous positioning algorithms, including measurement models and orbital dynamics models, are formulated using an unscented Kalman filter to estimate the position vectors of satellites. Finally, the feasibility of the proposed measurement scheme compared with an inter-satellite range scheme is illustrated by numerical simulation. The results show that the proposed approach can keep the satellite state convergent, and achieve position accuracies of 2 m. The proposed scheme provides a promising approach for autonomous absolute positioning of constellation systems by using X-ray pulsars.
Introducing Unmanned Aircraft Systems into a High Reliability ATC System
Authors: Brooker Peter
Published: June 2013

Civil and military unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) operations are currently subject to restrictions that put major limits on their use of airspace. There is considerable debate about how to develop the safe, secure and efficient integration of UAS into non-segregated airspace and aerodromes. This paper examines a necessary safety aspect. Airlines and their passengers would obviously ask, “Is it still safe with all these unmanned aircraft around?” The spotlight must be on Air Traffic Control Systems as High Reliability Organizations (HRO). That status comes from industry characteristics: focus on safety, effective use of technological improvements, learning from feedback from accidents/incidents, and an underpinning safety culture. The safety of ATC Systems has improved dramatically: accidents are now the product of rare and complex ‘messes’ of multiple failures. It is therefore a major challenge to preserve the HRO status by ensuring at least current safety performance. The analysis sketches feasible processes of policy decision-making and safety analyses. Key factors are policies on UAS equipage and airspace usage, implementation of a Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS)-variant appropriate for UAS, use of an ‘Equivalent Level of Safety’ philosophy, small datalink latencies, proven HRO safety and learning cultures, and stress testing of system resilience by real-time simulations.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS IN THE EL PARAÍSO VALLEY: THE ROLE OF SECONDARY CENTERS IN THE MULTIETHNIC LANDSCAPE OF CLASSIC PERIOD COPAN
Authors: Canuto Marcello A. , Bell Ellen E.
Published: June 2013

Investigations of Classic period (a.d.400–900) settlement in the El Paraíso Valley, western Honduras, have identified a pattern of paired centers that suggests a previously unrecognized model of political organization in the Maya area. In the El Paraíso Valley, the largely contemporary, equally-sized, and proximate centers of El Cafetal and El Paraíso differ radically from one another in their spatial organization, construction techniques, architectural embellishment, use of open space, and portable material culture. Analysis of these differences suggests that El Cafetal was inhabited by an autochthonous population while El Paraíso was founded under the auspices of the Copan dynasty as an administrative outpost. We suggest that the juxtaposition of these two sites results from a regional strategy of sociopolitical integration implemented by Copan rulers that was adapted to the ethnically diverse regions along the edge of the Copan kingdom.
MEASURING THE LONG ARM OF THE STATE: TEOTIHUACAN'S RELATIONS IN THE BASIN OF MEXICO
Authors: Clayton Sarah C.
Published: June 2013

The city of Teotihuacan has long been viewed as a primate center, dominating surrounding settlements in the Basin of Mexico politically and economically, but its specific relationships with subordinate polities are not well understood. In this article I consider the diverse roles that two rural settlements played in the intraregional structure of the Teotihuacan state. Specifically, I investigate differences in architecture and ceramic assemblages at Axotlan, in the Cuauhtitlan region to the west, and Cerro Portezuelo, in the Texcoco region to the south. Results of this research demonstrate that Teotihuacan's relationships with smaller settlements in the Basin of Mexico differed considerably in intensity and changed through time. This variation reflects specific administrative and economic strategies crafted by the state as well as varying degrees of political and economic autonomy among rural settlements.
THE ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES OF CERRO PORTEZUELO
Authors: Hicks Frederic
Published: June 2013

Excavations at the site of Cerro Portezuelo, located on the lower slopes of a hill in Chimalhuacan, State of México, were begun by George Brainerd in 1954 and continued in 1955, but he died suddenly, before a projected third season could take place. With the exception of a few small structures higher on the hill, no signs of significant structures were visible on the surface. Architectural features revealed through excavation, however, included a platform with associated caches of the Middle Classic period, a platform and a burial area of the Epiclassic period, and a residential complex that appears to have spanned the Early and Late Postclassic periods. This complex included a sunken patio, a freestanding shrine, habitational rooms, and other features. Construction materials included stone, adobe brick, and tepetate.
Reassessment of the conservation status and protected area coverage of Taiwanese birds: How distribution modelling can help species conservation
Authors: WU TSAI-YU , WALTHER BRUNO A. , CHEN YI-HSIU , LIN RUEY-SHING , LEE PEI-FEN
Published: June 2013

Taiwan has 145 breeding bird species, but so far no comprehensive attempt has been made to model their distributions. For the first time, we bring together various datasets to model the distributions of the 116 bird species with sufficient sampling coverage. We improved on previous limited modelling efforts by using ensemble modelling, based on five well-performing modelling approaches: multiple discriminant analysis, logistic regression, genetic algorithm for rule-set production, ecological niche factor analysis and maximum-entropy. We then used these ensemble models to improve our knowledge of the status of each bird species by (1) calculating each species’s coverage of Taiwan, (2) calculating each species’s coverage by Taiwan’s protected area network, and (3) comparing these two conservation-relevant measures with already established measures to highlight those species whose status may need to be reassessed. We categorised each species’s coverage of the entire study area as measured by their modelled distributions into four quartiles, thus establishing a new measure of rarity called ‘range quartile’ which we used to highlight the 22 species with a limited distribution on mainland Taiwan. We also calculated that overall, 29.8% of the distribution ranges of the 116 modelled species are covered by Taiwanese protected areas. We then identified those species whose status may need to be reassessed because of possible conflicts between the respective conservation-relevant measures. Thus we identified 10 species which are first-quartile species < 5% of whose distributions are protected, of which only five are considered threatened. We also identified another 12 species with limited distributions, 30 species with limited protection and 19 species whose status may need to be reassessed for various reasons. We recommend that range quartile and protected area coverage be incorporated into future assessments of the conservation status and protected area coverage of Taiwanese birds.
Importance of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in ovarian physiology of mammals
Authors: Araújo Valdevane Rocha , Duarte Ana Beatriz Graça , Bruno Jamily Bezerra , Pinho Lopes Cláudio Afonso , de Figueiredo José Ricardo
Published: June 2013

Ovarian folliculogenesis in mammals is a complex process. Several compounds have been tested duringin vitroculture of follicular cells for a better understanding of the mechanisms and factors related to ovarian folliculogenesis in mammals. From these compounds, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) can be highlighted, as it is strongly associated with angiogenesis and, in recent years, its presence in ovarian cells has been investigated extensively. Previous studies have shown that the presence of VEGF protein, as well as mRNA expression of its receptor 2 (VEGFR-2) increases during follicular development. Therefore, it is likely that the interaction between VEGF and VEGFR-2 is crucial to promote follicular development. However, few studies on the influence of this factor on follicular development have been reported. This review addresses aspects related to the structural characterization and mechanism of action of VEGF and its receptors, and their biological importance in the ovary of mammals.
Government on the Silver Screen: Contemporary American Cinema's Depiction of Bureaucrats, Police Officers, and Soldiers
Authors: Pautz Michelle C. , Warnement Megan K.
Published: June 2013

Movies continue to be the most accessible art form to Americans and that reach allows films to have a tremendous effect on moviegoers. With more than a billion movie tickets sold annually in the United States, the ability of movies to influence the perceptions of moviegoers is pronounced. Frequently, the government is part of those depictions. Although film is routinely studied in a host of disciplines, a focus on the portrayal of government generally and government officials more specifically, remains elusive. Instead of using a case-study approach, we examine recent, popular films to investigate how government is portrayed generally and how individual governmental characters are depicted. For our sample, we use the top-10 box office grossing films from 2000 to 2009 to assess how government is depicted in the films most likely seen by the majority of movie-watching Americans. Perhaps unsurprisingly, we found that films generally have a mixed view of government with more negative depictions than positive. However, in examining bureaucrats, police officers, soldiers, and politicians, we found a much more positive depiction of these individual government characters. Americans may view government negatively, but in film they see positive depictions of individual civil servants.
Judicial Review and Constitutional Maintenance: John Marshall, Hans Kelsen, and the Popular Will
Authors: Wenzel Nikolai G.
Published: June 2013

Constitutional restraints on government are tricky and evanescent; government failure (a lapse into anarchy or leviathan) has historically been the norm, and constitutional success an infrequent exception. To shed light on constitutional maintenance, this article examines the concept of constitutional review by studying three competing systems: the American/Marshall system of judicial review; the Commonwealth/Westminster model of parliamentary sovereignty; and the Kelsen compromise between the two. Each system's strengths and weaknesses are assessed, as constitutional framers navigate the treacherous waters between the Scylla of parliamentary tyranny and Charybdis ofgouvernement des juges. In the end, neither extreme is perfect, but lessons are drawn from each of the three models.
Mitigating Mormonism: Overcoming Religious Identity Challenges with Targeted Appeals
Authors: Calfano Brian Robert , Friesen Amanda , Djupe Paul A.
Published: June 2013

A persistent challenge for minority candidates is mitigating negative effects attributed to their unpopular group identity. This was precisely the case for Mitt Romney, a Mormon, as he sought and captured the 2012 Republican presidential nomination. We draw on existing public opinion data about the tepid reaction to Romney's Mormonism from within Republican ranks. Then, we review our own experimental data to examine a potential mitigation strategy, “God Talk,” and its emotional costs to the GOP. We find that Romney and similar candidates may avoid direct penalty by party rank-and-file for their minority attributes when using God Talk, but the associated affective response supporters direct at their party may carry yet-unknown putative costs for both party and candidate.
The Ten Commandments of Experiments
Authors: McDermott Rose
Published: June 2013

Because political science draws heavily from other disciplines—psychology and economics—in its use of experimental methods, we often fail to note how each experimental tradition developed in ways, while serving those field's primary goals, that often present contradictory imperatives that may not serve political science equally well. I provide a brief history of experimental traditions in psychology and economics, and then suggest, in all humility, an integrated set of best practices for the use of experiments in political science.
Political Science Funding Black Out in North America? Trends in Funding Should not be Ignored
Authors: Plazek David J. , Steinberg Alan
Published: June 2013

Recent actions in Congress that threaten political science funding by the National Science Foundation (NSF) have caught the attention of political scientists, but this was not the first attack and not likely to be the last. Less than one year ago, the Harper government ended the Understanding Canada program, an important source of funding for academics in the United States and abroad. This article stresses the value of the program and the importance of this funding steam by demonstrating what the grants have done both more generally as well as for the authors individually. In addition, by looking at the political process that led to the end of the Understanding Canada program and the similarities in the attacks on NSF political science funding, this article identifies potential reasons why these funds were and are at risk. We conclude by arguing that normative action in support of political science is a necessity for all political scientists.
How and Why Implicit Attitudes Should Affect Voting
Authors: Glaser Jack , Finn Christopher
Published: June 2013

This article provides a foundation for understanding the role of implicit biases in political behavior, particularly implicit racial attitudes and voting behavior. Although racial attitudes have rarely played a major direct role in American presidential politics until 2008, numerous local, state, and federal elections are held every year in the United States that involve minority candidates. As a result, the implications are considerable.
Implicit and Explicit Measurement Approaches to Research on Policy Implementation: The Case of Race-Based Disparities in Criminal Justice
Authors: Borgida Eugene , Miller Andrea
Published: June 2013

In 2011, more than 3% of all black men in the United States were imprisoned, compared to only 0.5% of all white men. Among prisoners ages 18 to 24, black men were imprisoned at a rate more than seven times that of white men (Carson and Sabol 2012). It is becoming increasingly urgent for researchers to understand what accounts for these race-based disparities. While a broad constellation of social problems exist that likely contribute to these disparities in concert, different fields of social science tend to focus on different types of explanations. Political scientists and sociologists have tended to emphasize the role of institutional factors, including criminal justice policies and practices, in maintaining race-based disparities. Social psychologists, in contrast, have tended to emphasize individual factors, including punitive responses to crime by jurors, judges, and criminal justice professionals.
Editor's Introduction
Authors: Peabody Bruce
Published: June 2013

For more than four decades, Louis Fisher has been writing about, speaking to, and teaching scholars and political practitioners. His intellectual range has been remarkable (he moves easily from institutional research on all three federal branches to historical studies to detailed legal analyses) and his scholarly output intimidating.
Control over Executive Branch Information: Who “Judges”?
Authors: Kassop Nancy
Published: June 2013

You may be forgiven if you associate Lou Fisher's name primarily with his robust defense of Congress's preeminent authority in national security and budgetary matters, or with the idea that courts are only one of three co-equal players in the constitutional dialogue that occurs among all of the branches, or with the related effort to disabuse scholars, the press, and the public of the profoundly incorrect notion that courts have “the last word” in constitutional interpretation. All of these themes are, indeed, key components of Fisher's vast body of scholarly work and public testimony, and they will be forever linked to him as their progenitor. Just as solidly grounded in impeccable research and unassailable logic is Fisher's work on executive power. It fits snugly within his Madisonian emphasis on a government of limited and shared powers, enforced through effective checks and balances, where each institution exercises its respective power while overseeing the other branches to ensure respect for constitutional boundaries.
Editors' Report—Perspectives on Politics: A Political Science Public Sphere
Authors: Isaac Jeffrey C. , Moskowitz James , Morgan Margot
Published: June 2013

I am happy to report thatPerspectives on Politicscontinues to thrive. In the roughly three-and-a-half years since we assumed editorial control of the journal, in June 2009, we have succeeded in strengthening journal operations and procedures and in projecting a new and growing excitement aboutPerspectivesand the role it can play in contributing to the invigoration of the discipline.
APSA Fellowship with the Congressional Research Service
Authors: Madonna Anthony
Published: June 2013

Serving as an APSA Congressional Fellow had been a goal of mine since I started graduate school. The fellowship provided an opportunity to examine the congressional policy-making process first hand. And while I had worked on congressional campaigns, in state legislative offices, and supervised student internships, I had no direct experience working on Capitol Hill for Congress. In addition, the program was highly recommended by senior colleagues who had served as fellows themselves. Nearly all of them had worked on the staffs of individual congressional members and found the experience served to better inform both their research and teaching. When I found out I would be serving as a fellow for the 2012–13 academic year, my plan was to spend that year in a congressional member office as well.
How Do Trainees Rate the Impact of a Short Cognitive Behavioural Training Programme on their Knowledge and Skills?
Authors: Duffy Michael , Gillespie Kate , O’Shea James
Published: June 2013

Background:A strong evidence base for cognitive behavioural therapy has led to CBT models becoming available within mainstream mental health services. As the concept of stepped care develops, new less intensive mental health interventions such as guided self-help are emerging, delivered by staff not trained to the level of accredited Cognitive Behavioural Therapists.Aim:The aim of this study was to determine how mental health staff evaluated the usefulness of a short training programme in CBT concepts, models and techniques for routine clinical practice.Method:A cohort of mental health staff (n= 102) completed pre- and posttraining self-report questionnaires measuring trainee perceptions of the impact of a short training programme on knowledge and skills. Mentors and managers were also asked to comment on perceived impact of the training.Results:Trainees and mentors reported perceived gains in knowledge and skills posttraining and at 1-year follow-up. Managers and trainees reported perceived improvements in skills and practice.Conclusion: A short Cognitive Behavioural skills programme can enable mental health staff to integrate basic CB knowledge and skills into routine clinical practice.
Behavioral and Cognitive Predictors of Educational Outcomes in Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury
Authors: Arnett Anne B. , Peterson Robin L. , Kirkwood Michael W. , Taylor H. Gerry , Stancin Terry , Brown Tanya M. , Wade Shari L.
Published: June 2013

Research reveals mixed results regarding the utility of standardized cognitive and academic tests to predict educational outcomes in youth following a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Yet, deficits in everyday school-based outcomes are prevalent after pediatric TBI. The current study used path modeling to test the hypothesis that parent ratings of adolescents’ daily behaviors associated with executive functioning (EF) would predict long-term functional educational outcomes following pediatric TBI, even when injury severity and patient demographics were included in the model. Furthermore, we contrasted the predictive strength of the EF behavioral ratings with that of a common measure of verbal memory. A total of 132 adolescents who were hospitalized for moderate to severe TBI were recruited to participate in a randomized clinical intervention trial. EF ratings and verbal memory were measured within 6 months of the injury; functional educational outcomes were measured 12 months later. EF ratings and verbal memory added to injury severity in predicting educational competence post injury but did not predict post-injury initiation of special education. The results demonstrated that measurement of EF behaviors is an important research and clinical tool for prediction of functional outcomes in pediatric TBI. (JINS, 2013,19, 1–9)
Neuropsychologie der pathologischen Internetnutzung
Authors: Brand Matthias , Laier Christian
Published: June 2013

Zielsetzung: Ziel dieses Übersichtsartikels ist es, aktuelle Forschungsarbeiten zur Neuropsychologie der pathologischen Internetnutzung zusammenzufassen. Methodik: Kriteriengeleitete Literaturauswahl. Ergebnisse: Neuropsychologische Studien berichten, dass Personen mit pathologischer Internetnutzung unvorteilhafte Entscheidungen treffen, da sie kurzfristig belohnende Handlungsalternativen bevorzugen und dabei mögliche längerfristige, negative Konsequenzen, weniger beachten. Auch scheint die Verarbeitung von internetbezogenen Reizen mit kognitiven Funktionen, beispielsweise Arbeitsgedächtnisleistungen, zu interferieren. Bildgebungs- und neuropsychologische Befunde veranschaulichen, dass Cue-Reactivity, Craving und Entscheidungsverhalten wichtige Konzepte für das Verständnis des Phänomens der pathologischen Internetnutzung sind. Schlussfolgerungen: Befunde zu neurokognitiven Funktionen und zu Hirnkorrelaten der Verarbeitung internetbezogener Reize bei Personen mit spezifischer pathologischer Internetnutzung (z. B. von Onlinespielen) sind vergleichbar mit denen zu Personen mit Substanzabhängigkeit oder pathologischem Glücksspiel und sprechen für die Klassifikation einer pathologischen Internetnutzung als Verhaltenssucht.