bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Generalization of intravoxel incoherent motion model by introducing the notion of continuous pseudodiffusion variable
Authors: Kuai Zi‐Xiang , Liu Wan‐Yu , Zhang Yan‐Li , Zhu Yue‐Min
Published: November 2015

Purpose

A generalized intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) model, called the GIVIM, was proposed to better account for complex perfusion present in the tissues having various vessels and flow regimes, such as the liver.

Theory and Methods

The notions of continuous pseudodiffusion variable as well as perfusion fraction density function were introduced to describe the presence of multiple perfusion components in a voxel. The mean and standard deviation of Gaussian perfusion fraction density function were then used to define two new parameters, the mean pseudodiffusivity (
) and pseudodiffusion dispersion (σ). The GIVIM model was evaluated by testing whether or not it can reflect hepatic perfusion difference caused by flow‐compensated imaging sequences having different diffusion times. Also,
was compared with D* in the standard IVIM model.

Results

The values of both D* and
decreased after flow compensation and further decreased when shortening diffusion time.
exhibited reduced variance in comparison with D*. In addition, σ also showed its sensitivity to hepatic perfusion difference caused by the flow‐compensated imaging sequences.

Conclusion

The GIVIM model has the ability to better describe multicomponent perfusion without lengthening acquisition time and knowing in advance the number and/or the variety of perfusion components. Magn Reson Med 76:1594–1603, 2016. © 2015 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine
Neutral lipid‐storage disease with myopathy and extended phenotype with novel PNPLA2 mutation
Authors: Massa Roberto , Pozzessere Simone , Rastelli Emanuele , Serra Laura , Terracciano Chiara , Gibellini Manuela , Bozzali Marco , Arca Marcello
Published: November 2015

Introduction

Neutral lipid‐storage disease with myopathy is caused by mutations in PNPLA2, which produce skeletal and cardiac myopathy. We report a man with multiorgan neutral lipid storage and unusual multisystem clinical involvement, including cognitive impairment.

Methods

Quantitative brain MRI with voxel‐based morphometry and extended neuropsychological assessment were performed. In parallel, the coding sequences and intron/exon boundaries of the PNPLA2 gene were screened by direct sequencing.

Results

Neuropsychological assessment revealed global cognitive impairment, and brain MRI showed reduced gray matter volume in the temporal lobes. Molecular characterization revealed a novel homozygous mutation in exon 5 of PNPLA2 (c.714C>A), resulting in a premature stop codon (p.Cys238*).

Conclusions

Some PNPLA2 mutations, such as the one described here, may present with an extended phenotype, including brain involvement. In these cases, complete neuropsychological testing, combined with quantitative brain MRI, may help to characterize and quantify cognitive impairment. Muscle Nerve 53: 644–648, 2016
Efficacy and safety of onabotulinumtoxinA therapy are sustained over 4 years of treatment in patients with neurogenic detrusor overactivity: Final results of a long‐term extension study
Authors: Kennelly Michael , Dmochowski Roger , Schulte‐Baukloh Heinrich , Ethans Karen , Del Popolo Giulio , Moore Courtenay , Jenkins Brenda , Guard Steven , Zheng Yan , Karsenty Gilles ,   On Behalf of 191622‐094 Investigators
Published: November 2015

Aims

To present final efficacy/safety results from a prospective, long‐term extension trial of onabotulinumtoxinA for urinary incontinence (UI) due to neurogenic detrusor overactivity (NDO); patients received treatment for up to 4 years.

Methods

Patients who completed a 52‐week, phase III trial of onabotulinumtoxinA for NDO were eligible to enter a 3‐year, multicenter, open‐label extension study of intradetrusor onabotulinumtoxinA (200U or 300U). Patients were treated “as needed” based on their request and fulfillment of prespecified qualification criteria (≥12 weeks since previous treatment and a UI episode threshold). Assessments included change from study baseline in UI episodes/day (primary efficacy measure), volume/void, and Incontinence Quality of Life (I‐QOL) total score (week 6); duration of effect; adverse events (AEs); and initiation of de novo clean intermittent catheterization (CIC). Data are presented for up to six treatments.

Results

OnabotulinumtoxinA 200U consistently reduced UI episodes/day; reductions from baseline ranged from –3.2 to –4.1 across six treatments. Volume/void consistently increased, nearly doubling after treatment. I‐QOL improvements were consistently greater than twice the minimally important difference (+11 points). Overall median duration of effect was 9.0 months (200U). Results were similar for onabotulinumtoxinA 300U. Most common AEs were urinary tract infections and urinary retention. De novo CIC rates were 29.5, 3.4, and 6.0% (200U), and 43.0, 15.0, and 4.8% (300U) for treatments 1–3, respectively; de novo CIC rates were 0% for treatments 4–6.

Conclusions

OnabotulinumtoxinA treatments consistently improve UI, volume/void, and QOL in patients with UI due to NDO in this 4‐year study, with no new safety signals. Neurourol. Urodynam. 36:368–375, 2017. © 2015 The Authors. Neurourology and Urodynamics Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Obesity and the extent of liver damage among adult New Zealanders: findings from a national survey
Authors: Coppell K. J. , Miller J. C. , Gray A. R. , Schultz M. , Mann J. I. , Parnell W. R.
Published: November 2015

Objective

Non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), defined as excessive fat accumulation in hepatocytes when no other pathologic causes are present, is an increasingly common obesity‐related disorder. We sought to describe the prevalence of elevated liver enzymes, a marker of liver damage, among New Zealand adults, and high‐risk subgroups including those with an elevated body mass index and those with pre‐diabetes or diabetes, to gain a better understanding of the burden of liver disease.

Methods

A total of 4,721 New Zealanders aged 15+ years participated in a nationally representative nutrition survey. Liver enzymes, alanine transaminase (ALT) and gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) were measured in serum. Results were available for 3,035 participants, of whom 10.8% were Māori and 4.5% Pacific.

Results

Overall, the prevalence of elevated ALT and elevated GGT was 13.1% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 11.2 – 15.0) and 13.7% (95% CI: 12.0 – 15.4), respectively. Odds ratios for an elevated ALT or GGT markedly increased with increasing body mass index. Men with obesity had the highest elevated ALT prevalence (28.5%; 95% CI: 21.7–35.4), and women with diabetes had the highest elevated GGT prevalence (36.5%; 95% CI: 26.0–47.0). Adding alcohol consumption categories to each of the adjusted models did not meaningfully change any results, although for women, heavy alcohol consumption was associated with an elevated GGT (overall p = 0.03).

Conclusions

Obesity‐related liver disease is likely to increasingly burden the New Zealand health sector and contribute to health disparities unless effective obesity treatment and prevention measures are given high priority. © 2015 The Authors. Obesity Science & Practice published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd, World Obesity and The Obesity Society.
Maintenance Treatment With Low‐Dose Mercaptopurine in Combination With Allopurinol in Children With Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and Mercaptopurine‐Induced Pancreatitis
Authors: Zerra Patricia , Bergsagel John , Keller Frank G. , Lew Glen , Pauly Melinda
Published: November 2015

Mercaptopurine (6‐mercaptopurine, 6MP) is a mainstay of curative therapy in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), and contributes to its 90% overall survival rate. We present two patients with ALL who suffered with severe pancreatitis secondary to 6MP. Through the use of allopurinol in conjunction with reduced dose 6MP, we were able to continue 6MP without further pancreatitis. This report contributes to the small body of literature on 6MP associated pancreatitis in childhood ALL and describes a novel approach to continued use of 6MP during therapy.
Orbital Metastasis Is Associated With Decreased Survival in Stage M Neuroblastoma
Authors: Harreld Julie H. , Bratton Emily M. , Federico Sara M. , Li Xingyu , Grover William , Li Yimei , Kerr Natalie C. , Wilson Matthew W. , Hoehn Mary E.
Published: November 2015

Background

Approximately 30% of patients with metastatic (stage M) neuroblastoma present with periorbital ecchymosis from orbital osseous disease. Though locoregional disease is staged by imaging, the prognostic significance of metastatic site in stage M disease is unknown. We hypothesize that, compared to nonorbital metastasis, orbital metastasis is associated with decreased survival in patients with stage M neuroblastoma, and that periorbital ecchymosis reflects location and extent of orbital disease.

Procedure

Medical records and imaging from 222 patients with stage M neuroblastoma seen at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital between January 1995 and May 2009 were reviewed. Thirty‐seven patients were <18 months of age at diagnosis and 185 were ≥18 months of age. Overall survival (OS) and 5‐year survival (5YS) were compared for patients with and without orbital, calvarial and nonorbital osseous metastasis, and with and without periorbital ecchymosis (log‐rank test). Associations of periorbital ecchymosis with orbital metastasis location/extent were explored (Fisher's exact test, t‐test).

Results

In patients ≥18 months of age, only orbital metastasis was associated with decreased 5YS (P = 0.0323) and OS (P = 0.0288). In patients <18 months of age, neither orbital, calvarial, or nonorbital bone metastasis was associated with OS or 5YS. Periorbital ecchymosis was associated with higher number of involved orbital bones (P = 0.0135), but not location or survival.

Conclusions

In patients ≥ 18 months of age with stage M neuroblastoma, orbital metastatic disease is associated with decreased 5YS and OS. In future clinical trials, orbital disease may be useful as an imaging‐based risk factor for substratification of stage M neuroblastoma.
Developing alerting thresholds for prospective drug safety monitoring
Authors: Wangge Grace , Schneeweiss Sebastian , Glynn Robert J. , Gagne Joshua J.
Published: November 2015

Background

Current methods for prospective drug safety monitoring focus on determining whether and when to generate safety alerts indicating that a new drug may be less safe than a comparator. Approaches are needed to develop safety thresholds that can be used to define whether a new drug is no less than or equally safe as the comparator.

Objectives

Our aim is to develop a framework for determining which safety statements can be made about a new drug and when they can be made during prospective monitoring.

Methods

We developed a two‐pronged approach to establish safety thresholds for active monitoring. First, we adapted concepts from setting margins in non‐inferiority (NI) trials (“NI approach”). Second, we summarized NI margins used in published randomized trials and reviewed publicly available data from the US FDA's website to identify the type and magnitude of evidence used in regulatory decisions involving withdrawals and black box warnings between 2009 and 2013 (“benchmark approach”). We applied the framework to a case study of dabigatran versus warfarin and major bleed.

Results

We provide formulas on both risk ratio and risk difference scales for the NI approach that are analogous to threshold setting in NI trials but based on point estimates and using a maximum tolerable increase rather than a preservation factor. Using this approach, we established a safety threshold for the dabigatran case study that was within range of the findings from the benchmark approach (1.18 to 7.30). Comparing the safety threshold with post‐approval studies of dabigatran versus warfarin indicated that no safety statement can be made.

Conclusions

The proposed framework expands the safety statements that can be made in current prospective drug safety monitoring systems. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Principles in the Evaluation of Systematic Reviews
Authors: Haber Stacy L. , Fairman Kathleen A. , Sclar David Alexander
Published: November 2015

Literature reviews summarize information from individual studies and are an important tool in the practice of evidence‐based medicine. Various types of reviews, including narrative and systematic reviews, may be found within the biomedical literature. Systematic reviews are the strongest type and are often rated as the highest level of evidence. Thus it is important that clinicians understand how to evaluate them critically. This article is intended to enhance clinicians' understanding of the unique methods commonly used in systematic reviews by using the reporting standards to formulate evaluation principles. Explanations of the statistical tests and types of biases that are frequently encountered in systematic reviews are discussed. Lastly, an evaluation of a meta‐analysis using these principles is provided.
APPLYING BEHAVIOR ANALYTIC PROCEDURES TO EFFECTIVELY TEACH LITERACY SKILLS IN THE CLASSROOM
Authors: Joseph Laurice M. , Alber‐Morgan Sheila , Neef Nancy
Published: November 2015

The purpose of this article is to discuss the application of behavior analytic procedures for advancing and evaluating methods for teaching literacy skills in the classroom. Particularly, applied behavior analysis has contributed substantially to examining the relationship between teacher behavior and student literacy performance. Teacher behaviors that are aligned with applied behavior analysis and that have been shown to improve students’ literacy performance include creating task analyses; modeling, prompting, and fading; providing frequent active response opportunities; giving performance feedback; using reinforcement contingencies; providing systematic review; and programming for generalization. These behaviors are discussed using examples from research.
Plasma‐Assisted Synthesis of Chlorinated Polyvinyl Chloride (CPVC) Using a Plasma Circulating Fluidized Bed Reactor (PCFBR)
Authors: Yang Qianli , Lu Wei , Mao Ding , Yang Rui , Cheng Yi
Published: November 2015

A novel gas‐solid method to synthesize chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC) is realized using a plasma circulating fluidized bed reactor (PCFBR), which decouples the plasma‐assisted chlorination process into two steps i) the fast step for chlorination activation in the riser; ii) the slow step for gas‐solid chlorination and chlorine migration inside particles in the accompanying bed. Experiments are carried out to investigate the influences of different parameters on the chlorination process. The synthesized CPVC has the chlorine content at about 67.5 wt% with the glass transition temperature of 130.4 °C. The characterization results by Raman Spectra, Py‐GC‐MS and solid‐state 13C‐NMR prove that the products have homogeneous chlorine distribution and low content of defect structure in.
Treatment of Ribonucleoside Solution With Atmospheric‐Pressure Plasma
Authors: Zhang Xianhui , Zhou Renwu , Zhou Rusen , Chen Maodong , Li Jiangwei , Sun Yue , Chen Qiang , Yang Size , Liu Qing Huo
Published: November 2015

A self‐made microplasma jet array device is used to treat deoxyadenosine (dA) and adenosine (Ado) solutions to avoid the effect of air on genetic materials. Results show that Ado is easily converted into dA through deoxidation reaction. In addition, dA solution is treated with different microplasma arrays (i.e., atmospheric‐pressure Ar, N2, air, and O2­) for comparative analysis. The dA molecule is relatively stable within the Ar plasma for 3 min treatment time. This molecule can be modified into different structures with N2, air, and O2 microplasma arrays. The results obtained in this study provide references for the application of plasma in biology and the effect of oxygen‐containing free radicals in biological plasma.
Anti‐Cancer Effects of Nonequilibrium Atmospheric Pressure Plasma on Cancer‐Initiating Cells in Human Endometrioid Adenocarcinoma Cells
Authors: Ikeda Jun‐Ichiro , Tsuruta Yoko , Nojima Satoshi , Sakakita Hajime , Hori Masaru , Ikehara Yuzuru
Published: November 2015

To examine the effect of NEAPP on cancer‐initiating cells (CICs) that are believed to cause recurrence or metastasis due to their resistance to anti‐cancer drugs, the treatment of nonequilibrium atmospheric pressure plasma (NEAPP) combined with anti‐cancer drug cisplatin and NEAPP irradiation of tumor xenograft mice are performed in human uterine endometrioid adenocarcinoma cells. NEAPP treatment affects both ALDH‐low (non‐CICs) and ALDH‐high cells (CICs) more efficiently than cisplatin. In tumor xenograft mice, ALDH expression reduces in tumor with NEAPP irradiation. These results suggest that NEAPP treatment is effective not only on non‐CICs but also on CICs.
Review of Low Pressure Plasma Processing of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Electrocatalysts
Authors: Brault Pascal
Published: November 2015

The present review is describing recent advances in plasma deposition and treatment of low temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells electrocatalysts. Interest of plasma processing for growth of platinum based, non‐precious and metal free electrocatalysts is highlighted. Electrocatalysts properties are tentatively correlated to plasma parameters.
A control scheme to enhance low voltage ride‐through of brushless doubly‐fed induction generators
Authors: Tohidi S. , Oraee H. , Zolghadri M. R. , Rahimi M.
Published: November 2015

The use of brushless doubly‐fed induction generator has been recently proposed for wind turbines because of its variable speed operation with fractional size converter without the need to brush and slip ring. This paper introduces a control scheme to improve low voltage ride‐through capability of doubly‐fed induction generator considering grid code requirements. The proposed control strategy is based on analysis of flux linkages and back electromotive forces and intends to retain the control‐winding current below the safety limit (typically 2 pu) during severe voltage dips. The time‐domain simulations validate effectiveness of the proposed scheme to protect the converter against failure as well as support reactive power required by German grid code. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Data discretization: taxonomy and big data challenge
Authors: Ramírez‐Gallego Sergio , García Salvador , Mouriño‐Talín Héctor , Martínez‐Rego David , Bolón‐Canedo Verónica , Alonso‐Betanzos Amparo , Benítez José Manuel , Herrera Francisco
Published: November 2015

Discretization of numerical data is one of the most influential data preprocessing tasks in knowledge discovery and data mining. The purpose of attribute discretization is to find concise data representations as categories which are adequate for the learning task retaining as much information in the original continuous attribute as possible. In this article, we present an updated overview of discretization techniques in conjunction with a complete taxonomy of the leading discretizers. Despite the great impact of discretization as data preprocessing technique, few elementary approaches have been developed in the literature for Big Data. The purpose of this article is twofold: a comprehensive taxonomy of discretization techniques to help the practitioners in the use of the algorithms is presented; the article aims is to demonstrate that standard discretization methods can be parallelized in Big Data platforms such as Apache Spark, boosting both performance and accuracy. We thus propose a distributed implementation of one of the most well‐known discretizers based on Information Theory, obtaining better results than the one produced by: the entropy minimization discretizer proposed by Fayyad and Irani. Our scheme goes beyond a simple parallelization and it is intended to be the first to face the Big Data challenge. WIREs Data Mining Knowl Discov 2016, 6:5–21. doi: 10.1002/widm.1173

This article is categorized under:

Technologies > Classification

Technologies > Data Preprocessing
The Magnetospheric Multiscale Constellation
Authors: Tooley C. R. , Black R. K. , Robertson B. P. , Stone J. M. , Pope S. E. , Davis G. T.
Published: November 2015

The Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission is the fourth mission of the Solar Terrestrial Probe (STP) program of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The MMS mission was launched on March 12, 2015. The MMS mission consists of four identically instrumented spin-stabilized observatories which are flown in formation to perform the first definitive study of magnetic reconnection in space. The MMS mission was presented with numerous technical challenges, including the simultaneous construction and launch of four identical large spacecraft with 100 instruments total, stringent electromagnetic cleanliness requirements, closed-loop precision maneuvering and pointing of spinning flexible spacecraft, on-board GPS based orbit determination far above the GPS constellation, and a flight dynamics design that enables formation flying with separation distances as small as 10 km. This paper describes the overall mission design and presents an overview of the design, testing, and early on-orbit operation of the spacecraft systems and instrument suite.
Study of Multi-phase Flow in Porous Media: Comparison of SPH Simulations with Micro-model Experiments
Authors: Kunz P. , Zarikos I. M. , Karadimitriou N. K. , Huber M. , Nieken U. , Hassanizadeh S. M.
Published: November 2015

We present simulations and experiments of drainage processes in a micro-model. A direct numerical simulation is introduced which is capable of describing wetting phenomena on the pore scale. A numerical smoothed particle hydrodynamics model was developed and used to simulate the two-phase flow of immiscible fluids. The experiments were performed in a micro-model which allows the visualization of interface propagation in detail. We compare the experiments and simulations of a quasistatic drainage process and pure dynamic drainage processes. For both, simulation and experiment, the interfacial area and the pressure at the inflow and outflow are tracked. The capillary pressure during the dynamic drainage process was determined by image analysis.
Quantitative Analysis of Sunflower Lecithin Adulteration with Soy Species by NMR Spectroscopy and PLS Regression
Authors: Monakhova Yulia B. , Diehl Bernd W. K.
Published: November 2015

NMR spectroscopy was used to distinguish pure sunflower lecithin from that blended with soy species, and to quantify the degree of such adulteration. Sample preparation included liquid extraction of lecithin blends and measurement of polar and non‐polar fractions using 31P and 1H NMR spectrometry. Several phospholipid species, linolenic acid and stachyose were found to be characteristic for sunflower lecithin authentication. For quantitative analysis, partial least squares regression (PLS) was utilized for modeling NMR data of authentic lecithin samples and in‐house prepared blends (n = 80). The models based on phospholipid, fatty acid and saccharide distributions were validated using independent test sets. PLS based on saccharide composition is able to estimate lecithin falsification regarding its vegetable origin with the sensitivity and root mean square error of validation below 1 % w/w and 3.5 % w/w, respectively. Prediction error was improved by modeling the whole lecithin profile (phospholipids, fatty acids, and saccharides). Repeatability and precision expressed in coefficients of variations was estimated to be below 8 %. The developed approach allowed the evaluation of the composition of lecithin blends of unknown soy and sunflower content on the basis of multiple chemical components.
Down‐regulation of 5S rRNA by miR‐150 and miR‐383 enhances c‐Myc–rpL11 interaction and inhibits proliferation of esophageal squamous carcinoma cells
Authors: Wang Xinyu , Ren Yanli , Wang Zhiqiong , Xiong Xiangyu , Han Sichong , Pan Wenting , Chen Hongwei , Zhou Liqing , Zhou Changchun , Yuan Qipeng , Yang Ming
Published: November 2015

5S rRNA plays an important part in ribosome biology and is over‐expression in multiple cancers. In this study, we found that 5S rRNA is a direct target of miR‐150 and miR‐383 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Overexpression of miR‐150 and miR‐383 inhibited ESCC cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, 5S rRNA silencing by miR‐150 and miR‐383 might intensify rpL11–c‐Myc interaction, which attenuated role of c‐Myc as an oncogenic transcriptional factor and dysregulation of multiple c‐Myc target genes. Taken together, our results highlight the involvement of miRNAs in ribosomal regulation during tumorigenesis.
The selection of contracts in supply chains: An empirical analysis
Authors: Sluis Stephan , De Giovanni Pietro
Published: November 2015

This paper seeks to empirically identify the key drivers for firms in selecting a contract in a supply chain by investigating their performance, supply chain orientation, and supply chain integration. A conceptual model is drawn up based on the existing literature in supply chain coordination contracts, performance, supply chain orientation, and supply chain integration and tested on a large sample of European firms. Multiple and multinomial logistic regression models allow for estimating the relationships between these variables. Our results demonstrate that the selection of contracts and the probability of their adoption depend on several combinations of firms' performance, supply chain orientation, and integration. Overall, the research provides an empirical contribution to the literature on coordination with contracts, which turns out to be mainly game theory based.
The clinical prognostic value of molecular intrinsic tumor subtypes in older breast cancer patients: A FOCUS study analysis
Authors: Engels Charla C. , Kiderlen Mandy , Bastiaannet Esther , Mooyaart Antien L. , van Vlierberghe Ronald , Smit Vincent T.H.B.M. , Kuppen Peter J.K. , van de Velde Cornelis J.H. , Liefers G.J.
Published: November 2015

Introduction: It was recently proposed that the molecular breast tumor subtypes are differently distributed in the elderly breast cancer patients, and also lack prognostic value. Given the limited number of elderly patients in previous studies, the aim of this study was to determine the prognostic effect of the molecular intrinsic subtypes in a large older breast cancer population.

Material and method: Older breast cancer patients with invasive, non‐metastatic breast cancer with tumor material available for immunohistochemical determination of Ki67, EGFR, CK5/6 and HER‐2 were included. ER and PR expression was retrieved from the pathology report. Molecular subtypes were: Luminal A, Luminal B, ERBB2, Basal‐like and Unclassified. Primary endpoint was Relapse Free Period (RFP), taking into account the competing risk of mortality, and adjusted for the most important patient, tumor and treatment characteristics. Secondary endpoint was Relative Survival (RS).

Results: Overall, 1362 patients were included. Patients with a Luminal A subtype had the lowest risk of recurrence (11% at 5 yrs). Patients with a Basal (24% at 5yrs) or ERBB2 (34% at 5yrs) molecular breast tumor subtype had the highest risk of recurrence. The ERBB2 subtype had the worst prognosis in terms of RFP (SHR 2.07, 95% CI 1.35–3.20; p = 0.001). The worst RS was again observed for the ERBB2 subtype (48% at 10 yrs). In multivariable analyses, the relative excess risk of death for all molecular subtypes was significantly worse compared to the Luminal A subtype.

Conclusion: Molecular intrinsic breast tumor subtypes have significant prognostic value in the elderly population, even after taking competing mortality into account.
Effects of manipulative therapy on the longissimus dorsi in the equine back
Authors: Wakeling James M , Barnett Kate , Price Sarah , Nankervis Kathryn
Published: November 2015

Pain, atrophy and dysfunction of thelongissimus dorsiin the equine back can lead to poor performance and altered biomechanics. Back problems are often treated by manipulative therapy to this muscle. The purpose of this study was to identify if manipulative therapy resulted in changes to muscle tone or electromyographic (EMG) activity immediately after treatment. We measured the muscle tone during standing using a mechanical tissue indenter and the EMG activity (both at the T16 level in thelongissimus dorsi) during walking around a figure-of-eight course in 26 horses. The horses were randomly assigned into three groups that received: (a) spinal (McTimoney) manipulations, (b) reflex inhibition therapy or (c) a control group that was not manipulated. The muscle tone and activity were measured immediately after treatment. Both the McTimoney and the reflex inhibition groups showed significant decreases in muscle tone (c.12%) and walking EMG activity (c.19%). The control group showed no significant change in tone or EMG activity. These results document how thelongissimus dorsimuscle responds immediately after manipulative therapy. Further studies would be needed to identify how long such changes persist or if such changes caused a reduction in pain or an increase in performance.
Two types of presidentialization in the party politics of Central Eastern Europe
Authors: Hloušek Vít
Published: November 2015

Introduzione

Central Eastern European party politics offers a good example of the trend towards centralizing internal party decision making, as well as encouraging strong personalities in the role of party leader. This trend is visible in all three major spheres of party activity: election campaigning, the internal organization of parties, and governmental politics. This paper focusses on the party systems of the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia to demonstrate that there are actually two processes of presidentialization that occur in party politics. On the one hand, the role of the leader is gaining importance in more traditional, well-established parties such as the Civic and Social Democrats in the Czech Republic and Fidesz in Hungary. On the other hand, perhaps an even clearer presidentialization process is evident in the emergence of new protest parties focussed around strong personalities that often make no attempt to establish and maintain a more complex internal party organization.
Personal leaders and party change: Italy in comparative perspective
Authors: Musella Fortunato
Published: November 2015

Introduzione

Party leaders have become more powerful and autonomous actors in recent years by developing a direct and personal relationship with citizens. As anticipated in the United States (Lowi, 1985), the rise of the ‘personal leader’ seems to have occurred in many European democracies, both in old parties and in more recently formed parties, with a widespread tendency for them to be promoted and controlled by individual leaders. Nevertheless, party leadership remains quite a neglected theme in political science. Through a data set including ~500 party presidents in 13 democracies, this article focusses on the personalization of party leadership by comparing Italy with other Western countries. More particularly, new procedures for the selection of party chairs, the centralization of power in political parties, and the new role of party leaders in the legislative/governmental arena are analysed, given their importance to such a process. The article summarizes new data on the party leaders’ characteristics, with regards to their political backgrounds, how they are elected, how long they stay in office, and whether they become prime minister or enter the executive. In this way, we are able to see how some new parties are created from the outset as highly personalized and centralized parties (Forza Italia being the paradigmatic case), whereas other older parties have also evolved in a personalized direction.
The discursive use of the concept of ‘corruption’ in parliamentary debates during the PortugueseEstado Novo(1935–74)
Authors: De Sousa Luís , Moriconi Marcelo
Published: November 2015

Corruption is deviant behaviour from legal and social norms, observable in both dictatorships and democracies, and salient in different periods of the history of mankind. Studying corruption in dictatorships is particularly challenging due to the fact that freedom of expression is censored and there is little (if any) reliable information about the enforcement of legal provisions. This article provides a contribution to the growing literature on the role of legislatures in dictatorships by focusing on parliamentary debates on corruption as a discourse control mechanism. The case of the Portuguese legislature during theEstado Novois paradigmatic in that regard. The National Assembly, as it will be demonstrated in this article, was able to shift the debate on corruption from the legal to the moral dimension and, thus, deprive citizens, and in particular the opposition, of objective standards to hold regime elites accountable for their misconduct.
Non-verbal cues as a test of gender and race bias in politics: the Italian case
Authors: Iyengar Shanto , Barisione Mauro
Published: November 2015

Gender and race biases persist in western democracies, with male and white candidates still being the norm. Voters may be more inclined to express sexist and racist attitudes in countries with a traditionally male-dominated political system and a majority-white population. As sexism and racism are notoriously difficult to document, and because many people are unaware of their biases toward social groups, we bypass conventional survey measurement and observe voters’ willingness to support candidates whose physical features have been manipulated to make them appear more prototypically feminine or non-white. We implemented this approach in the context of the 2013 Italian election, by presenting a national sample of Italian voters with pictures of male and female parliamentary candidates – both unknown and well known. Overall, we found no main effects of gender or race bias in political judgment. For Italian voters, party cues are by far the most powerful indicators of out-group status, and therefore the strongest predictors of candidate perception and support. This result may be of particular interest to other political contexts characterized by strong partisan polarization.
The fate of random initial vorticity distributions for two-dimensional Euler equations on a sphere
Authors: Newton Paul K.
Published: November 2015

The paper by Dritschel et al. (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 783, 2015, pp. 1–22) describes the long-time behaviour of inviscid two-dimensional fluid dynamics on the surface of a sphere. At issue is whether the flow settles down to an equilibrium or whether, for generic (random) initial conditions, the long-time solution is periodic, quasi-periodic or chaotic. While it might be surprising that this issue is not settled in the literature, it is important to keep in mind that the Euler equations form a dissipationless Hamiltonian system, hence the set of equations only redistributes the initial vorticity, generating smaller and smaller scales, while keeping kinetic energy, angular impulse and an infinite family of vorticity moments (Casimirs) intact. While special solutions that never settle down to an equilibrium state can be constructed using point vortices, vortex patches and other distributions, the fate of random initial conditions is a trickier problem. Previous statistical theories indicate that the long-time state should be a stationary large-scale distribution of vorticity. By carrying out careful numerical simulations using two different methods, the authors make a compelling case that the generic long-time state resembles a large-scale oscillating quadrupolar vorticity field, surrounded by persistent small-scale vortices. While numerical simulations can never conclusively settle this issue, the results might help guide future theories that seek to prove the existence of such an interesting dynamical long-time state.
Flutter instability of a thin flexible plate in a channel
Authors: Shoele Kourosh , Mittal Rajat
Published: November 2015

The stability of a thin flexible plate confined inside an inviscid two-dimensional channel is examined using a nonlinear eigenvalue analysis method. A new Green’s function for the vortex wake of the flexible plate inside the channel, as well as its rapidly convergent series approximation, is proposed. Comparison with a fully coupled Navier–Stokes fluid–structure interaction model indicates that the current inviscid model successfully predicts the flutter boundary for a confined flexible plate. The analysis also shows that confinement has a destabilizing effect on heavy plates. Furthermore, as the confinement is increased, the oscillating frequency of the plate increases and new peaks appear in its stability curve. Asymmetric placement of the plate within the channel, especially when the plate is very close to one wall, also modifies the stability curve of the system by shifting the mode transition points toward smaller fluid-to-plate inertia ratios. Our study suggests that the degree of confinement and asymmetric placement of the plate in the channel could be used to alter the flutter instability of the plate, and to adjust the frequency of flutter.
Linear stability analysis for monami in a submerged seagrass bed
Authors: Singh Ravi , Bandi M. M. , Mahadevan Amala , Mandre Shreyas
Published: November 2015

The onset of monami – the synchronous waving of seagrass beds driven by a steady flow – is modelled as a linear instability of the flow. Unlike previous works, our model considers the drag exerted by the grass in establishing the steady flow profile, and in damping out perturbations to it. We find two distinct modes of instability, which we label modes 1 and 2. Mode 1 is closely related to Kelvin–Helmholtz instability modified by vegetation drag, whereas mode 2 is unrelated to Kelvin–Helmholtz instability and arises from an interaction between the flow in the vegetated and unvegetated layers. The vegetation damping, according to our model, leads to a finite threshold flow for both of these modes. Experimental observations for the onset and frequency of waving compare well with model predictions for the instability onset criteria and the imaginary part of the complex growth rate respectively, but experiments lie in a parameter regime where the two modes can not be distinguished.
Mechanical Behavior Characterization of Magnesium Alloy Sheets at Warm Temperature
Authors: Huang J. , Yuan Y. , Liu H. , Cao J.
Published: November 2015

Magnesium (Mg) alloy sheet has received increasing attention in automotive, transportation, and aerospace industries. It is widely recognized that magnesium sheet has a poor formability at room temperature. While at elevated temperature, its formability can be dramatically improved. To better understand the warm forming properties of magnesium alloy sheet, an accurate description of the mechanical behavior at elevated temperature is required.

In this paper, both uniaxial tensile tests and uniaxial compression tests were carried out at warm temperature for Mg AZ31B alloy sheets. The tensile tests were conducted under various strain rates and material orientations, while the compression tests only considered different material orientations. Based on the orthotropic yield criterion for hexagonal close packed (HCP) metals proposed by Cazacu et al., 2006, a viscoplasticity model has been developed to describe the initial yield anisotropy and asymmetry hardening behavior in tensile and compression of Mg sheet. This model was incorporated into ABAQUS through a user-defined material subroutine. The numerical results show a good agreement with experimental data in a large range of deformation.
Mood improvement in young adult males following supplementation with gold kiwifruit, a high-vitamin C food
Authors: Carr Anitra C. , Bozonet Stephanie M. , Pullar Juliet M. , Vissers Margreet C. M.
Published: November 2015

Enhanced intakes of fruit and vegetables have been associated with improved psychological well-being. We investigated the potential mood-enhancing effects of kiwifruit, a fruit rich in vitamin C and a number of other important micronutrients. Young adult males (n35) were supplemented with either half or two kiwifruit/d for 6 weeks. Profile of Mood States questionnaires were completed at baseline and following the intervention. No effect on overall mood was observed in the half a kiwifruit/d group; however, a 35 % (P = 0·06) trend towards a decrease in total mood disturbance and a 32 % (P = 0·063) trend towards a decrease in depression were observed in the two kiwifruit/d group. Subgroup analysis indicated that participants with higher baseline mood disturbance exhibited a significant 38 % (P = 0·029) decrease in total mood disturbance, as well as a 38 % (P = 0·048) decrease in fatigue, 31 % (P = 0·024) increase in vigour and a 34 % (P = 0·075) trend towards a decrease in depression, following supplementation with two kiwifruit/d. There was no effect of two kiwifruit/d on the mood scores of participants with lower baseline mood disturbance. Dietary intakes and body status of specific micronutrients indicated a significant increase in the participants' vitamin C intakes and corresponding plasma levels of the vitamin. The results indicate that enhanced intake of kiwifruit by individuals with moderate mood disturbance can improve overall mood.
African Universities in Crisis and the Promotion of a Democratic Culture: The Political Economy of Violence in African Educational Systems
Authors: Nyamnjoh Francis B. , Jua Nantang B.
Published: November 2015

This article argues that education in Africa, from colonial times to the postcolony, has been the victim of various forms of violence, the most devastating of which is the violence of cultural and political conversion: externally and internally driven initiatives and processes intended to domesticate, harness, transform, alter, remodel, adapt, or reconstruct Africa and Africans through schools and universities to suit new ways of being, seeing, doing, and thinking. As a result of such violence, educational systems have privileged mimicry and transformed epistemologies informed by partial theories to metanarratives of arrogance, superiority, and intolerance of creative differences. Even when clear alternatives are imagined to the current irrelevance in education, economic difficulties render their realization extremely difficult. Repressive states have perpetuated and capitalized upon this predicament by manipulating desperate academics into compliance and complicity with mediocrity. This article examines some epistemological consequences of such alienation and irrelevance and looks at their implications for theorizing Africa. It calls for a global conversation of universities and scholars in which Africa participates on its own terms, with the interests and concerns of ordinary Africans as its guiding principle.
Avebury saved?
Authors: Fielden Kate
Published: November 2015

Kate Fielden, archaeologist and free-lance editor, has taken an active interest in planning at Stonehenge and Avebury since moving to Wiltshire in 1988.
Upper Palaeolithic fibre technology: interlaced woven finds from Pavlov I, Czech Republic, c. 26,000 years ago
Authors: Adovasio James M. , Soffer Olga , Klíma Bohuslav
Published: November 2015

The later Palaeolithic sites of Moravia, the region of the Czech Republic west of Prague and north of Vienna, continue to provide remarkable new materials. To the art mobilier for which Dolní Věstonice and Pavlov have been celebrated, there has recently been added the technologies of groundstone and ceramics — and now woven materials, interlaced basketry or textiles, again of a kind one expects only from a quite later era.
Beyond the radiocarbon limit in Australian archaeology and Quaternary research
Authors: Chappell John , Head John , Magee John
Published: November 2015

Allen (1994) and Allen & Holdaway (1995), noticing the pattern in early radiocarbon dates from Australia, have advanced the notion their limit records the human settlement of the continent. A critical analysis of context and content in those carbon determinations leads to a different view. The results may be disconcerting for every region which builds its late Pleistocene chronologies on radiocarbon!
Democracy by Demand? Reinvestigating the Effect of Self-expression Values on Political Regime Type
Authors: Dahlum Sirianne , Knutsen Carl Henrik
Published: November 2015

The notion that cultural characteristics influence political regimes remains popular, despite mixed supporting evidence. In particular, democracy is argued to emerge and thrive in countries where liberal or freedom-oriented values (so-called self-expression values) are widespread. Inglehart and Welzel, for instance, report such an effect, mainly drawing inferences from cross-country comparisons. Yet cross-country correlations between self-expression values and democracy could stem from different processes. Reinvestigating this relationship, this article finds no empirical support when employing models accounting for sample-selection bias, country-specific effects and the endogeneity of values to democracy. Self-expression values do not enhance democracy levels or democratization chances, and neither do they stabilize existing democracies. In contrast, this study finds indications that a country’s experience with democracy enhances self-expression values.
Managerial Entrenchment and Firm Value: A Dynamic Perspective
Authors: Chang Xin , Zhang Hong Feng
Published: November 2015

We examine the impact of managerial entrenchment on firm value using a dynamic model with firm fixed effects. To estimate the model, we employ the long-difference technique, which is shown by our simulation to deliver the least biased estimates. Based on a large sample of U.S. companies, we document a significantly negative and causal effect of managerial entrenchment on firm value after taking into account omitted variables, reverse causality, and highly persistent endogenous variables. Additional analysis suggests that the causality running from managerial entrenchment to firm value is more pronounced than that for reverse causality.
Reproductive biology of the abyssal holothurian Amperima rosea: an opportunistic response to variable flux of surface derived organic matter?
Authors: Wigham B.D. , Tyler P.A. , Billett D.S.M.
Published: November 2015

A radical change in the abundance of invertebrate megafauna has occurred over a vast area of the Porcupine Abyssal Plain, north-east Atlantic, in recent years. In particular, the holothurian Amperima rosea has increased in abundance by three orders of magnitude. The sudden increase in abundance of A. rosea appears to be the result of environmental forcing rather than localized stochastic population variations. Amperima rosea produces small eggs ([les ]200 μm) indicating (1) planktotrophic larval development or (2) lecithotrophic larval development with an abbreviated larval stage. It also reaches maturity at a very small size. The reproductive biology of A. rosea indicates that it can increase rapidly in population size and can colonize large areas quickly. It has high fecundity, as predicted by gonad indices and observed in histological studies. Fecundity was greater in winter than in summer months, but there was no clear evidence of seasonal or episodic reproductive events. All males, irrespective of sample season or year, were mature with spermatozoa. Most oocytes were of an intermediate size (70 to 120 μm), either at the late previtellogenic (70–90 μm) or early vitellogenic (100–120 μm) stage of development. It is postulated that development of full vitellogenesis, leading to episodic spawning, might be dependent on certain environmental stimuli. The most likely stimulus is food supply. Amperima rosea has been shown to feed preferentially on phytodetritus and to have a requirement for certain sterols in its diet. Qualitative changes in the flux of organic matter to the sea-floor may control vitellogenesis and fecundity, and hence have an effect on the population dynamics of the species.