bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A New Feature Selection Algorithm Based on the Mean Impact Variance
Authors: Cheng Weidong , Wang Tianyang , Wen Weigang , Li Jianyong , Gao Robert X.
Published: June 2014

The selection of fewer or more representative features from multidimensional features is important when the artificial neural network (ANN) algorithm is used as a classifier. In this paper, a new feature selection method called the mean impact variance (MIVAR) method is proposed to determine the feature that is more suitable for classification. Moreover, this method is constructed on the basis of the training process of the ANN algorithm. To verify the effectiveness of the proposed method, the MIVAR value is used to rank the multidimensional features of the bearing fault diagnosis. In detail, (1) 70‐dimensional all waveform features are extracted from a rolling bearing vibration signal with four different operating states, (2) the corresponding MIVAR values of all 70‐dimensional features are calculated to rank all features, (3) 14 groups of 10‐dimensional features are separately generated according to the ranking results and the principal component analysis (PCA) algorithm and a back propagation (BP) network is constructed, and (4) the validity of the ranking result is proven by training this BP network with these seven groups of 10‐dimensional features and by comparing the corresponding recognition rates. The results prove that the features with larger MIVAR value can lead to higher recognition rates.
Biological Assessment of a Calcium Silicate Incorporated Hydroxyapatite-Gelatin Nanocomposite: A Comparison to Decellularized Bone Matrix
Authors: Lee Dong Joon , Padilla Ricardo , Zhang He , Hu Wei-Shou , Ko Ching-Chang
Published: June 2014

Our laboratory utilized biomimicry to develop a synthetic bone scaffold based on hydroxyapatite-gelatin-calcium silicate (HGCS). Here, we evaluated the potential of HGCS scaffold in bone formationin vivousing the rat calvarial critical-sized defect (CSD). Twelve Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized to four groups: control (defect only), decellularized bone matrix (DECBM), and HGCS with and without multipotent adult progenitor cells (MAPCs). DECBM was prepared by removing all the cells using SDS and NH4OH. After 12 weeks, the CSD specimens were harvested to evaluate radiographical, histological, and histomorphometrical outcomes. Thein vitroosteogenic effects of the materials were studied by focal adhesion, MTS, and alizarin red. Micro-CT analysis indicated that the DECBM and the HGCS scaffold groups developed greater radiopaque areas than the other groups. Bone regeneration, assessed using histological analysis and fluorochrome labeling, was the highest in the HGCS scaffold seeded with MAPCs. The DECBM group showed limited osteoinductivity, causing a gap between the implant and host tissue. The group grafted with HGCS+MAPCs resulting in twice as much new bone formation seems to indicate a role for effective bone regeneration. In conclusion, the novel HGCS scaffold could improve bone regeneration and is a promising carrier for stem cell-mediated bone regeneration.
Nonstandard Methods in Measure Theory
Authors: Ciurea Grigore
Published: June 2014

Ideas and techniques from standard and nonstandard theories of measure spaces and Banach spaces are brought together to give a new approach to the study of the extension of vector measures. Applications of our results lead to simple new proofs for theorems of classical measure theory. The novelty lies in the use of the principle of extension by continuity (for which we give a nonstandard proof) to obtain in an unified way some notable theorems which have been obtained by Fox, Brooks, Ohba, Diestel, and others. The methods of proof are quite different from those used by previous authors, and most of them are realized by means of nonstandard analysis.
Trichinella spiralisExcretory-Secretory Products Protect against Polymicrobial Sepsis by Suppressing MyD88 via Mannose Receptor
Authors: Du Linlin , Liu Lihua , Yu Yang , Shan Hui , Li Leiqing
Published: June 2014

Trichinella spiralis(T. spiralis) or its excretory-secretory products (TsES) protect hosts from autoimmune diseases, which depend on inducing host T helper (Th) 2 immune response and inhibiting inflammatory factors. Sepsis is a systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) evoked by infection. Little is known about the effects of helminths or their excretory-secretory products on sepsis. Here, we investigated the effects of TsES in a mice model of polymicrobial sepsis. TsES improved survival, reduced organ injury, and enhanced bacterial clearance in septic mice. To investigate the molecular mechanism, macrophages from septic patients or the control group were incubated with TsES. TsES reduced sepsis-inducing inflammatory cytokines mediated by Toll-like receptors (TLR)in vitroby suppressing TLR adaptor-transducer myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88) and nuclear factor- (NF-)-κB. Furthermore, TsES upregulated mannose receptor (MR) expression during sepsis. MR blocking attenuated the effects of TsES on MyD88 and NF-κB expression.In vivo, MR RNAi reduced the survival rate of septic mice treated with TsES, suggesting that TsES-mediated protection against polymicrobial sepsis is dependent on MR. Thus, TsES administration might be a potential therapeutic strategy for treating sepsis.
Existence and Uniqueness Results for Hadamard-Type Fractional Differential Equations with Nonlocal Fractional Integral Boundary Conditions
Authors: Thiramanus Phollakrit , Ntouyas Sotiris K. , Tariboon Jessada
Published: June 2014

We study the existence and uniqueness of solutions for a fractional boundary value problem involving Hadamard-type fractional differential equations and nonlocal fractional integral boundary conditions. Our results are based on some classical fixed point theorems. Some illustrative examples are also included.
Machine Fault Classification Based on Local Discriminant Bases and Locality Preserving Projections
Authors: He Qingbo , Ding Xiaoxi , Pan Yuanyuan
Published: June 2014

Machine fault classification is an important task for intelligent identification of the health patterns for a mechanical system being monitored. Effective feature extraction of vibration data is very critical to reliable classification of machine faults with different types and severities. In this paper, a new method is proposed to acquire the sensitive features through a combination of local discriminant bases (LDB) and locality preserving projections (LPP). In the method, the LDB is employed to select the optimal wavelet packet (WP) nodes that exhibit high discrimination from a redundant WP library of wavelet packet transform (WPT). Considering that the obtained discriminatory features on these selected nodes characterize the class pattern in different sensitivity, the LPP is then applied to address mining inherent class pattern feature embedded in the raw features. The proposed feature extraction method combines the merits of LDB and LPP and extracts the inherent pattern structure embedded in the discriminatory feature values of samples in different classes. Therefore, the proposed feature not only considers the discriminatory features themselves but also considers the dynamic sensitive class pattern structure. The effectiveness of the proposed feature is verified by case studies on vibration data‐based classification of bearing fault types and severities.
Muscle-Type Specific Autophosphorylation of CaMKII Isoforms after Paced Contractions
Authors: Eilers Wouter , Gevers Wouter , van Overbeek Daniëlle , de Haan Arnold , Jaspers Richard T. , Hilbers Peter A. , van Riel Natal , Flück Martin
Published: June 2014

We explored to what extent isoforms of the regulator of excitation-contraction and excitation-transcription coupling, calcium/calmodulin protein kinase II (CaMKII) contribute to the specificity of myocellular calcium sensing between muscle types and whether concentration transients in its autophosphorylation can be simulated. CaMKII autophosphorylation at Thr287 was assessed in three muscle compartments of the rat after slow or fast motor unit-type stimulation and was compared against a computational model (CaMuZclE) coupling myocellular calcium dynamics with CaMKII Thr287 phosphorylation. Qualitative differences existed between fast- (gastrocnemius medialis) and slow-type muscle(soleus)for the expression pattern of CaMKII isoforms. Phospho-Thr287 content ofδA CaMKII, associated with nuclear functions, demonstrated a transient and compartment-specific increase after excitation, which contrasted to the delayed autophosphorylation of the sarcoplasmic reticulum-associatedβM CaMKII. In soleus muscle, excitation-inducedδA CaMKII autophosphorylation demonstrated frequency dependence (P= 0.02). In the glycolytic compartment ofgastrocnemius medialis, CaMKII autophosphorylation after excitation was blunted.In silicoassessment emphasized the importance of mitochondrial calcium buffer capacity for excitation-induced CaMKII autophosphorylation but did not predict its isoform specificity. The findings expose that CaMKII autophosphorylation with paced contractions is regulated in an isoform and muscle type-specific fashion and highlight properties emerging for phenotype-specific regulation of CaMKII.
Damage Detection Based on Cross‐Term Extraction from Bilinear Time‐Frequency Distributions
Authors: Yuchao Ma , Weiming Yan , Haoxiang He , Kai Wang
Published: June 2014

Abundant damage information is implicated in the bilinear time‐frequency distribution of structural dynamic signals, which could provide effective support for structural damage identification. Signal time‐frequency analysis methods are reviewed, and the characters of linear time‐frequency distribution and bilinear time‐frequency distribution typically represented by the Wigner‐Ville distribution are compared. The existence of the cross‐term and its application in structural damage detection are demonstrated. A method of extracting the dominant term is proposed, which combines the short‐time Fourier spectrum and Wigner‐Ville distribution; then two‐dimensional time‐frequency transformation matrix is constructed and the complete cross‐term is extracted finally. The distribution character of which could be applied to the structural damage identification. Through theoretical analysis, model experiment and numerical simulation of the girder structure, the change rate of cross‐term amplitude is validated to identify the damage location and degree. The effectiveness of the cross‐term of bilinear time‐frequency distribution for damage detection is confirmed and the analytical method of damage identification used in structural engineering is available.
Nonamplified FGFR1 Is a Growth Driver in Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma
Authors: Marek Lindsay A. , Hinz Trista K. , von Mässenhausen Anne , Olszewski Kyle A. , Kleczko Emily K. , Boehm Diana , Weiser-Evans Mary C. , Nemenoff Raphael A. , Hoffmann Hans , Warth Arne , Gozgit Joseph M. , Perner Sven , Heasley Lynn E.
Published: June 2014

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is associated with asbestos exposure and is a cancer that has not been significantly affected by small molecule-based targeted therapeutics. Previously, we demonstrated the existence of functional subsets of lung cancer and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cell lines in which fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) autocrine signaling functions as a nonmutated growth pathway. In a panel of pleural mesothelioma cell lines, FGFR1 and FGF2 were coexpressed in three of seven cell lines and were significantly associated with sensitivity to the FGFR-active tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), ponatinib, both in vitro and in vivo using orthotopically propagated xenografts. Furthermore, RNAi-mediated silencing confirmed the requirement for FGFR1 in specific mesothelioma cells and sensitivity to the FGF ligand trap, FP-1039, validated the requirement for autocrine FGFs. None of the FGFR1-dependent mesothelioma cells exhibited increased FGFR1 gene copy number, based on a FISH assay, indicating that increased FGFR1 transcript and protein expression were not mediated by gene amplification. Elevated FGFR1 mRNA was detected in a subset of primary MPM clinical specimens and like MPM cells; none harbored increased FGFR1 gene copy number. These results indicate that autocrine signaling through FGFR1 represents a targetable therapeutic pathway in MPM and that biomarkers distinct from increased FGFR1 gene copy number such as FGFR1 mRNA would be required to identify patients with MPM bearing tumors driven by FGFR1 activity.

Implications: FGFR1 is a viable therapeutic target in a subset of MPMs, but FGFR TKI-responsive tumors will need to be selected by a biomarker distinct from increased FGFR1 gene copy number, possibly FGFR1 mRNA or protein levels. Mol Cancer Res; 12(10); 1460–9. ©2014 AACR.
L-Asparginase Administration Reduces White Blood Cell Count and Prevents Tumor Lysis Syndrome in Children with Hyperleukocytic Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
Authors: Sondhi Vishal , Sharma Aditi , Taneja Manish , Arora Brijesh , Banavali Sripad D.
Published: June 2014

Background: The management of hyperleukocytosis currently involves intensive supportive care for preventing tumor lysis syndrome (TLS)-associated metabolic abnormalities as well as cytoreduction procedures to reduce the white blood cell (WBC) count. These procedures are often equipment-intensive and may not be practised in developing countries with limited resources. Hence, it is not clear what would be the most effective strategy to manage hyperleukocytosis and prevent TLS. Procedure: All children ≤12 years, diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and hyperleukocytosis (WBC count >100 × 109/l) were administered L-asparginase (L-asp, 6,000 U/m2, i.m.) along with standard supportive care consisting of hydration, oral allopurinol administration and alkalization. The complete blood counts and biochemical parameters were monitored for 72 h. After 48 h, if the WBC count was >100 × 109/l, a repeat dose of L-asp was administered. Results: Twenty-one children (9 boys and 12 girls) with hyperleukocytic ALL were treated with L-asp. The median age of the children was 5.3 years (range 2-11 years). The median initial WBC count was 249 × 109/l (range 151-476 × 109/l). Twenty children received only one dose of L-asp. The mean reduction in WBC count achieved by treatment was 15.7, 42.0, 61.0, 76.4, 85.5 and 90.8% at 12, 24, 36, 48, 60 and 72 h, respectively. None of the patients developed TLS. Conclusions: Chemical cytoreduction by administering L-asp is an effective means of managing hyperleukocytosis and preventing TLS.
Cerebral Microbleeds Are Associated with the Progression of Ischemic Vascular Lesions
Authors: Akoudad Saloua , Ikram Mohammad Arfan , Koudstaal Peter J. , Hofman Albert , Niessen Wiro J. , Greenberg Steven M. , van der Lugt Aad , Vernooij Meike W.
Published: June 2014

Background: Despite their different appearance on imaging, hemorrhagic and ischemic vascular lesions frequently co-occur in the brain and are hypothesized to progress concurrently. Although silent hemorrhagic and ischemic vascular brain lesions are highly prevalent in the general population, the concomitant progression of these lesions has only been studied to a limited extent in this population. We therefore aimed to investigate whether pre-existing and incident cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) are related to the progression of ischemic lesions in the general population. Methods: In the prospective population-based Rotterdam Scan Study, 803 individuals aged ≥60 years underwent magnetic resonance imaging at baseline and after an average interval of 3.4 years. The presence of microbleeds and lacunes was visually rated by trained research physicians, and white matter lesions (WMLs) were automatically segmented at both time points. Logistic regression was used to investigate the association of microbleeds with incident lacunes, and linear regression was used to investigate the relation between microbleeds and progression of WML volume. All analyses were adjusted for age, sex and the time interval between baseline and follow-up scanning. The analyses were repeated after additional adjustments for cardiovascular risk factors: blood pressures; total and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol; smoking; diabetes mellitus; lipid lowering, antihypertensive and antiplatelet medications, and apolipoprotein E ε4. The analyses involving WMLs were also adjusted for intracranial volume. Results: We found that pre-existing microbleeds in any location of the brain were related to a higher incidence of lacunes (odds ratio [OR] adjusted for age, sex and scan interval: 4.67; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.84-11.85). Pre-existing microbleeds were not related to progression of WML volume (mean difference in WML volume increase: -0.03; 95% CI: -0.15 to 0.09). Additional adjustments for cardiovascular risk factors did not change the results considerably. Incident microbleeds in any location of the brain were associated with a higher incidence of lacunes (OR: 9.18; 95% CI: 3.61-23.35), whereas only incident microbleeds located in cortico-subcortical regions were related to progression of WML volume (mean difference in WML volume increase: 0.41; 95% CI: 0.21-0.62). Again, adjustments for cardiovascular risk factors did not change the results significantly. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that in the general population, CMBs serve as a predictor of ischemic brain lesions and may represent an imaging marker of active vasculopathy. These results support the hypothesis of a common underlying pathway in the development of ischemic and hemorrhagic brain lesions.
Spectroscopic Measurements in Patients with Completely Ruptured Anterior Cruciate Ligament before and after RegentK and Physiotherapy
Authors: Litscher Daniela , Litscher Gerhard , Ofner Michael , Gaischek Ingrid , Malliga Daniela-Eugenia
Published: June 2014

Background: The goal of this study was to investigate acute effects of a special kind of manual therapy developed by Mohamed Khalifa (RegentK) compared to standard physiotherapy on regional oxygen saturation (rSO2) of knee tissues in patients with completely ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). Methods: Twenty patients were enrolled in this study and randomly assigned to receive either RegentK (group A; n = 10, 8 female, 2 male, mean age ± SD 31.3 ± 8.5 years) or physiotherapy (group B; n = 10, 6 female, 4 male, mean age 34.8 ± 10.2 years). The values of rSO2, assessed using near-infrared spectroscopy, were registered anterolaterally and anteromedially on both the injured and the healthy (control) knee. Results: rSO2 increased significantly (p < 0.001) after RegentK on both registration sites of the injured knee, whereas after physiotherapy only the anterolateral side showed significant increases. Interestingly, we found significant increases in rSO2 also on the control knee after RegentK; in group B, these results were insignificant. Conclusion: We conclude that manual therapy influences the hemodynamics of muscles and deeper structures. The results will also serve to quantify the effects of nonpharmacological and nonsurgical interventions (e.g. RegentK) on the microvascular circulation in deep tissue after a complete rupture of the ACL.
Platelet demand modulates the type of intravascular protrusion of megakaryocytes in bone marrow
Authors: Kowata Shugo , Isogai Sumio , Murai Kazunori , Ito Shigeki , Tohyama Koujiro , Ema Masatsugu , Hitomi Jiro , Ishida Yoji
Published: June 2014

Megakaryocytes (MKs) generate platelets via intravascular protrusions termed proplatelets, which are tandem arrays of platelet-sized swellings with a beaded appearance. However, it remains unclear whether all intravascular protrusions in fact become proplatelets, and whether MKs generate platelets without forming proplatelets. Here, we visualised the sequential phases of intravascular MK protrusions and fragments in living mouse bone marrow (BM), using intravital microscopy, and examined their ultrastructure. The formation of intravascular protrusions was observed to be a highly dynamic process, in which the size and shape of the protrusions changed sequentially prior to the release of platelet progenitors. Among these intravascular protrusions, immature thick protrusions were distinguished from proplatelets by their size and the dynamic morphogenesis seen by time-lapse observation. In ultrastructural analyses, the thick protrusions and their fragments were characterised by a peripheral zone, abundant endoplasmic reticulum and demarcation membrane system, and random microtubule arrays. Proplatelets were predominant among BM sinusoids in the physiological state; however, during an acute thrombocytopenic period, thick protrusions increased markedly in the sinusoids. These results strongly suggested that BM MKs form and release two types of platelet progenitors via distinct intravascular protrusions, and that platelet demand modulates the type of intravascular protrusion that is formed in vivo.
The role of platelets in sepsis
Authors: van ’t Veer Cornelis , Poll Tom van der , de Stoppelaar Sacha
Published: June 2014

Platelets are small circulating anucleate cells that are of crucial importance in haemostasis. Over the last decade, it has become increasingly clear that platelets play an important role in inflammation and can influence both innate and adaptive immunity. Sepsis is a potentially lethal condition caused by detrimental host response to an invading pathogen. Dysbalanced immune response and activation of the coagulation system during sepsis are fundamental events leading to sepsis complications and organ failure. Platelets, being major effector cells in both haemostasis and inflammation, are involved in sepsis pathogenesis and contribute to sepsis complications. Platelets catalyse the development of hyperinflammation, disseminated intravascular coagulation and microthrombosis, and subsequently contribute to multiple organ failure. Inappropriate accumulation and activity of platelets are key events in the development of sepsis-related complications such as acute lung injury and acute kidney injury. Platelet activation readouts could serve as biomarkers for early sepsis recognition; inhibition of platelets in septic patients seems like an important target for immune-modulating therapy and appears promising based on animal models and retrospective human studies.
Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Assessment of Interstitial Myocardial Fibrosis and Cardiomyocyte Hypertrophy in Hypertensive Mice Treated With Spironolactone
Authors: Coelho‐Filho Otavio R. , Shah Ravi V. , Neilan Tomas G. , Mitchell Richard , Moreno Heitor , Kwong Raymond , Jerosch‐Herold Michael
Published: June 2014

Background

Nearly 50% of patients with heart failure (
HF
) have preserved
LV
ejection fraction, with interstitial fibrosis and cardiomyocyte hypertrophy as early manifestations of pressure overload. However, methods to assess both tissue characteristics dynamically and noninvasively with therapy are lacking. We measured the effects of mineralocorticoid receptor blockade on tissue phenotypes in
LV
pressure overload using cardiac magnetic resonance (
CMR
).

Methods and Results

Mice were randomized to
l
‐nitro‐ω‐methyl ester (
l
‐
NAME
, 3 mg/
mL
in water; n=22), or
l
‐
NAME
with spironolactone (50 mg/kg/day in subcutaneous pellets; n=21). Myocardial extracellular volume (
ECV
; marker of diffuse interstitial fibrosis) and the intracellular lifetime of water (τ
ic
; marker of cardiomyocyte hypertrophy) were determined by
CMR
T1 imaging at baseline and after 7 weeks of therapy alongside histological assessments. Administration of
l
‐
NAME
induced hypertensive heart disease in mice, with increases in mean arterial pressure,
LV
mass,
ECV
, and τ
ic
compared with placebo‐treated controls, while
LV
ejection fraction was preserved (>50%). In comparison, animals receiving both spironolactone and
l
‐
NAME
(“
l
‐
NAME
+S”) showed less concentric remodeling, and a lower myocardial
ECV
and τ
ic
, indicating decreased interstitial fibrosis and cardiomyocyte hypertrophy (
ECV
: 0.43±0.09 for
l
‐
NAME
versus 0.25±0.03 for
l
‐
NAME
+S,
P
<0.001; τ
ic
: 0.42±0.11 for
l
‐
NAME
groups versus 0.12±0.05 for
l
‐
NAME
+S group). Mice treated with a combination of
l
‐
NAME
and spironolactone were similar to placebo‐treated controls at 7 weeks.

Conclusions

Spironolactone attenuates interstitial fibrosis and cardiomyocyte hypertrophy in hypertensive heart disease.
CMR
can phenotype myocardial tissue remodeling in pressure‐overload, furthering our understanding of
HF
progression.
Atrial Fibrillation in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: Prevalence, Clinical Correlations, and Mortality in a Large High‐Risk Population
Authors: Siontis Konstantinos C. , Geske Jeffrey B. , Ong Kevin , Nishimura Rick A. , Ommen Steve R. , Gersh Bernard J.
Published: June 2014

Background

Atrial fibrillation (
AF
) is a common sequela of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (
HCM
), but evidence on its prevalence, risk factors, and effect on mortality is sparse. We sought to evaluate the prevalence of
AF
, identify clinical and echocardiographic correlates, and assess its effect on mortality in a large high‐risk
HCM
population.

Methods and Results

We identified
HCM
patients who underwent evaluation at our institution from 1975 to 2012. AF was defined by known history (either chronic or paroxysmal), electrocardiogram, or Holter monitoring at index visit. We examined clinical and echocardiographic variables in association with
AF
. The effect of
AF
on overall and cause‐specific mortality was evaluated with multivariate Cox proportional hazards models. Of 3673 patients with
HCM
, 650 (18%) had AF. Patients with
AF
were older and more symptomatic (
P
<0.001).
AF
was less common among patients with obstructive
HCM
phenotype and was associated with larger left atria, higher E/e’ ratios, and worse cardiopulmonary exercise tolerance (all
P
values<0.001). During median (interquartile range) follow‐up of 4.1 (0.2 to 10) years, 1069 (29%) patients died. Patients with
AF
had worse survival compared to those without AF (
P
<0.001). In multivariate analysis adjusted for established risk factors of mortality in
HCM
, the hazard ratio (95% confidence interval) for the effect of
AF
on overall mortality was 1.48 (1.27 to 1.71). AF did not have an effect on sudden or nonsudden cardiac death.

Conclusions

In this large referral
HCM
population, approximately 1 in 5 patients had
AF
.
AF
was a strong predictor of mortality, even after adjustment for established risk factors.
Reinventing Courts as Democratic Institutions
Authors: Resnik Judith
Published: June 2014

Eighteenth-century constitutional commitments guaranteeing rights-to-remedies were shaped when members of the propertied classes were the prototypical litigants and governments' criminal justice systems were nascent. Twentieth-century egalitarian norms expanded the imagination of what justice could produce, and courts turned into sites of democracy. The particular and peculiar practices of adjudication produce, redistribute, and curb power among disputants who disagree in public about the import of legal rights. But new procedures—alternative dispute resolution (ADR)—encourage, and sometimes require, disputants to mediate or to arbitrate disputes privately as a predicate to or in lieu of using the public forum of courts. Some initiatives delegate adjudication to administrative tribunals, and others outsource binding decision-making to private providers. The resulting fragmentation and privatization of adjudication have profound implications for the newly minted democratic character of courts. The durability of courts as active and disciplined sites of public exchange ought not to be taken for granted. Like other venerable institutions of the eighteenth century—such as the postal service and the press, which served in parallel fashion to disseminate information and support democratic competency—courts are vulnerable.
State Courts: Enabling Access
Authors: Lippman Jonathan
Published: June 2014

In New York, millions of civil litigants each year fight for the necessities of life without the aid of a lawyer because they are unable to afford one. While the state courts strive to provide access to justice for all constituents, this ideal becomes a promise unfulfilled due to the lack of available civil legal services for low-income populations. In this essay, I discuss access to justice in the state courts from the perspective of my role as Chief Judge of the State of New York. I examine the enormity of the unmet need in New York and around the country and discuss the measures I have taken as head of the New York State court system to address the crisis. These efforts have resulted in a substantial increase in state funding for civil legal services, the establishment of the Task Force to Expand Access to Civil Legal Services in New York, annual hearings in each of New York's four Judicial Departments, and the development of programs designed to spur the legal community (including law students) to greater involvement in pro bono work.
Trusting the Courts: Redressing the State Court Funding Crisis
Authors: Graetz Michael J.
Published: June 2014

In recent years, state courts have suffered serious funding reductions that have threatened their ability to resolve criminal and civil cases in a timely fashion. Proposals for addressing this state court funding crisis have emphasized public education and the creation of coalitions to influence state legislatures. These strategies are unlikely to succeed, however, and new institutional arrangements are necessary. Dedicated state trust funds using specific state revenue sources to fund courts offer the most promise for adequate and stable state court funding.
A Grin without a Cat: The Continuing Decline & Displacement of Trials in American Courts
Authors: Galanter Marc , Frozena Angela M.
Published: June 2014

Over the past half-century, the number of cases entering American federal and state courts has multiplied. But, largely unobserved by the public, the percentage of those cases that are disposed of by trial has steadily decreased. In recent decades, as the increase in filings has leveled off but the percentage of cases reaching trial has continued to fall, the absolute number of trials has decreased as well. Conducting trials is a shrinking portion of what judges do. The effects of this turn away from trials on judges, on litigants, and on public perceptions of the legal system remain to be explored.
Analyzing the BBOB Results by Means of Benchmarking Concepts
Authors: Mersmann O. , Preuss M. , Trautmann H. , Bischl B. , Weihs C.
Published: June 2014

We present methods to answer two basic questions that arise when benchmarking optimization algorithms. The first one is: which algorithm is the “best” one? and the second one is: which algorithm should I use for my real-world problem? Both are connected and neither is easy to answer. We present a theoretical framework for designing and analyzing the raw data of such benchmark experiments. This represents a first step in answering the aforementioned questions. The 2009 and 2010 BBOB benchmark results are analyzed by means of this framework and we derive insight regarding the answers to the two questions. Furthermore, we discuss how to properly aggregate rankings from algorithm evaluations on individual problems into a consensus, its theoretical background and which common pitfalls should be avoided. Finally, we address the grouping of test problems into sets with similar optimizer rankings and investigate whether these are reflected by already proposed test problem characteristics, finding that this is not always the case.
The Relative Chronology of the nivids and praiṣas and the Standardisation of Vedic Ritual
Authors: Proferes Theodore N.
Published: June 2014

Analysis of the language and formulaics of the Vedic liturgical prose texts known as nivids and praiṣas reveals that they presuppose a complete, multi-lineage collection of the Ṛgveda, yet are linguistically more archaic than the bulk of mantras incorporated into the standarised śrauta ritual. This conclusion does not contradict the findings of others according to which various words, phrases, and even sentences contained in the nivids and praiṣas bear the stamp of great antiquity, since certain elements may be more ancient than the structural scheme in which they are embedded. Furthermore, the nivids and the praiṣas are to be recognised as the oldest direct evidence for the formation of certain key features of the standardised śrauta rituals, while the praiṣas contain a vestige of an important Ṛgvedic-period ritual not preserved in the systematised śrauta descriptions.
Nobel’s Russian Connection
Authors: Bergman Yoel
Published: June 2014

Nobel’s Russian connection has surfaced recently in a letter sent by him to the Russian Minister of War, reporting on progress during 1889 and 1890 on his new smokeless powder, Ballistite. The letter was found in Swedish archives with other documents, indicating that Russian army officials maintained ties with Nobel, and received a large number of Ballistite samples. Nobel’s involvement with Russian development was not described before by major written sources in English. The documents have also exposed Nobel’s difficulties in production and marketing across Europe, from mid 1889 to mid 1890. The new findings are useful in understanding the ‘longue durée’ aspect of Ballistite, described only briefly in the literature.
Suburban Growth in the Atomic West
Authors: Karafantis Layne
Published: June 2014

One company—Sandia Laboratories—transformed the economic geography, demographics, and future of postwar Albuquerque. Sandia’s construction and expansion during and after World War II drew thousands of educated newcomers to town while creating an instant housing shortage. After 1950, the growing presence of Sandia, nearby Kirtland Air Force Base, and the huge technological complex that emerged on the desolate foothills of the Sandia Mountains thrust Albuquerque northeastward in a new direction. Over time, this wave of suburbanization set the precedent for a northward building trend that, by the 1970s, would spill northwestward from Bernalillo into neighboring Sandoval County. It all began with Sandia. The so-called “science suburbs” of the 1950s and 1960s gradually filled the Northeast Heights with a new population of white-collar, upper-middle-class families and individuals that made Albuquerque a dynamic, modern city characterized by scientific research, higher education, and a strong federal presence. Local boosters used the introduction of the Lab to portray Duke City as a diverse metropolis, welcoming industry and growth. “Duke City” is a nickname for Albuquerque that hearkens to the Spanish Duke of Alburquerque for whom the town was named. The first “r” in Alburquerque was eventually dropped from the city’s name.
Taxonomic studies on the genus Premna (Lamiaceae) in China—I: the identities of P. fulva and P. tapintzeana
Authors: Tan Yunhong , Li Bo
Published: June 2014

With 46 species recognized in the Flora of China, Premna is now one of the fifth largest genera in the mint family in China. Current classifications have placed Premna in the family Lamiaceae removing it from the family Verbenaceae, leaving the identity of many of the Chinese species difficult to resolve. In this study, based on protologues, and consulting both herbarium (including the types) and fresh specimens, P. crassa is reduced to synonymy of P. fulva; P. calcicola (ined.), P. crassa var. bijiangensis (ined.), P. crassa var. yuii, P. dopii, P. puerensis, P. shunningensis (ined.), P. straminicaulis, P. yuanjiangensis (ined.) and P. yunnanensis (nom. illeg.) are recognized as P. tapintzeana. Premna fulva and P. tapintzeana are similar to each other by having small corymbs, subequal stamens enclosed by the corolla tube, and equal or slightly 2-lipped calyces with 5 obtuse lobes, but also different in the shape of leaf blades and upper corolla lips, the indumentum of branchlets, petioles and peduncles, and their habitat. The present investigation provides complete taxonomic treatments, geographic distributions and ecological observations of P. fulva and P. tapintzeana.
Aspidistra xuansonensis (Asparagaceae), a new species from northern Vietnam
Authors: Vislobokov Nikolay Aleksandrovich , Sokoloff Dmitry , Degtjareva Galina , Valiejo-Roman Carmen , Kuznetsov Andrey
Published: June 2014

The genus Aspidistra is the most diverse in southern China and northern Vietnam. We describe a new species Aspidistra xuansonensis from northern Vietnam including two varieties: A. xuansonensis var. xuansonensis with greenish white perianth and A. xuansonensis var. violiflora with purple perianth. We present DNA barcoding data of plastid psbA-trnH and nuclear 5SNTS regions for these two varieties in comparison with three other species of Aspidistra. Morphology of monopodial shoots of A. xuansonensis is described in detail. A. xuansonensis resembles recently described A. lingyunensis but differs in longer leaf petioles, longer lamina, perianth tube shape (tubular, widened at the base vs. funnel-shaped), higher anther position, and pistil shape (suddenly obconic to nearly umbrella-shaped vs. obconic gradually widened to stigma).
Evaluation of a recovery-oriented care training program for mental healthcare professionals: Effects on mental health consumer outcomes
Authors: Wilrycx Greet , Croon Marcel , Van den Broek Anneloes , van Nieuwenhuizen Chijs
Published: June 2014

Objectives:

To examine the effects of a recovery-oriented care training program for mental healthcare professionals on mental health consumer outcomes.

Methods:

The Mental Health Recovery Measure (MHRM) and the Recovery-Promoting Relationship Scale (RPRS) were administered to a sample of 142 consumers with severe mental illness. A repeated measurement design with six measurement occasions was used.

Analyses:

Separate analyses were performed for the MHRM and RPRS subscales. Data were analyzed by means of the software package AMOS for structural equation modeling. First, the means of the five scales were computed at each measurement occasion. Next, two series of regression analyses were conducted: the first series aimed to ascertain whether gender and age have a significant effect on the MHRM and RPRS scores, and the second series aimed to detect a systematic trend in the average scale response of the MHRM and RPRS.

Results:

Scores showed a significant change over time for the subscale ‘Learning & new potentials’ of the MHRM. Significant effects were also found for gender, with men scoring higher than women on the subscales ‘Self-empowerment’ and ‘Learning & new potentials’. Age had no effect on the MHRM and RPRS. The scores on the RPRS showed no significant change over time.

Conclusions:

One year after completion of the recovery-oriented training program for professionals, positive results were found for two subscales of the MHRM, that is, ‘Self- empowerment’ and ‘Learning & new potentials’.
Legislative processes as sequences: exploring temporal trajectories of Italian law-making by means of sequence analysis
Authors: Borghetto Enrico
Published: June 2014

The study of time in legislative processes has so far understood time mainly as duration (of the process as a whole or of its single stages). This work contributes to existing research by presenting a new approach to the study of time which takes as the unit of analysis the whole temporal trajectory followed by a bill from its introduction to the floor to its final adoption. Legislative processes are conceived of as sequences of stages a bill has to go through before its final adoption. The relative time spent in each of these stages varies considerably. This work aims to explore the determinants of variation in the observed trajectories of relative duration. To this end, it applies the tools of discrepancy sequence analysis, a method commonly employed for the study of occupational histories or life courses. The analysis was conducted on a sample of Italian legislative acts adopted in Italy from 1987 to 2008.

Points for practitioners

The greater availability of longitudinal data and the increased focus of social science theory on temporal change have contributed to heightening the attention given by social science scholars to the tools of sequence analysis. Scholars are increasingly recognizing that this set of methods may effectively complement existing techniques for the study of temporal data, by allowing new questions to be addressed. This article shows an example of how sequence analysis may be extended beyond the study of life or career histories, where it has been mainly confined. What is more, it presents an application of a novel technique, discrepancy analysis, which allows the study of the relationship between the trajectories and covariates of interest in an explanatory framework.
Guaranteed cost control of linear uncertain discrete-time impulsive systems
Authors: Liu Changqing , Chen Wu-Hua
Published: June 2014

The guaranteed cost control problem for a class of linear uncertain discrete-time impulsive systems is considered. The parametric uncertainties are assumed to be time-varying and norm-bounded. The problem is to design a robust state feedback controller such that the resulting closed-loop system is robustly exponentially stable, and the closed-loop value of a specified quadratic cost function is not more than a certain upper bound for all admissible uncertainties and for all admissible impulse time sequences. A sufficient condition for the existence of guaranteed cost state feedback controllers is derived via a time-varying Lyapunov function approach. This condition is expressed in terms of linear matrix inequalities. Furthermore, the problem of selecting a suboptimal guaranteed cost controller is formulated as a convex optimization problem. An example is provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed results.
Anxiety in musicians: On and off stage
Authors: Nicholson D. Riley , Cody Meghan W. , Beck J. Gayle
Published: June 2014

Music performance anxiety (MPA) is a prevalent problem for musicians. MPA has been conceptualized as a type of social anxiety and also as a discrete focal anxiety with normal functioning outside of specific music performance situations. In an effort to examine unique and overlapping components of MPA and social anxiety, 130 professional musicians were assessed concerning self-reported MPA in three different musical performance settings (solo, group, and practice) using the Performance Anxiety Questionnaire and also completed measures of general social anxiety. Results showed that the expression of MPA varies by performance setting, with the most anxiety reported during solo performances. Regression models demonstrated that general measures of social anxiety increasingly predicted MPA from practice, to group, to solo settings, with fear of negative evaluation uniquely predicting anxiety in all three contexts. These results highlight fear of negative evaluation as a core component of MPA. Based on these findings, the relationship between MPA in various performance contexts and social evaluative anxiety is discussed.
Finding Color in Conformity
Authors: Shepherd Stephane M.
Published: June 2014

This article outlines the current utility of Indigenous culturally specific risk factors for violence and the ramifications for cross-cultural risk prediction. The Indigenous culturally specific violence risk factor literature has provided a rich body of contextual information outlining Indigenous patterns of criminal behaviour. This information has the capacity to facilitate offender responsivity and treatment targets in addition to assisting clinicians identify the presence of risk markers among Indigenous clients. However, if intended for inclusion in risk prediction models, culturally specific risk items then require further quantitative analysis to establish robust associations and probability estimates for recidivistic outcome.
A.S.P.E.N. Standards for Nutrition Support
Authors: Durfee Sharon M. , Adams Stephen C. , Arthur Elaine , Corrigan Mandy L. , Hammond Kathleen , Kovacevich Debra S. , McNamara Kevn , Pasquale Jack A. ,   Home and Alternate Site Care Standards Task Force, American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (A.S.P.E.N.)
Published: June 2014

The American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (A.S.P.E.N.) is a professional society of physicians, nurses, dietitians, pharmacists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, other allied health professionals, and researchers. A.S.P.E.N. envisions an environment in which every patient receives safe, efficacious, and high‐quality nutrition care. A.S.P.E.N.'s mission is to improve patient care by advancing the science and practice of clinical nutrition and metabolism. These combined Standards for Nutrition Support: Home Care and Alternate Site Care are an update of the 2005 and 2006 standards.
Measuring Financial Strain in the Lives of Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence
Authors: Hetling Andrea , Stylianou Amanda Mathisen , Postmus Judy L.
Published: June 2014

Agencies serving survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) often include economic empowerment programs and approaches as a way to assist survivors struggling with avoiding poverty and gaining financial independence. Understanding and addressing the economic needs of IPV survivors are more complex than just knowing their income. Indeed, survivors’ ability to manage their finances and any financial stress or strain should also be assessed to fully understand their needs. The Financial Strain Survey (FSS) provides a useful tool for screening and understanding survivors’ complex financial needs. Using data from 457 IPV survivors from seven U.S. states and Puerto Rico, the current study evaluates the factor structure, reliability, and validity of using the FSS with IPV survivors. Findings indicate that the FSS is a reliable instrument for use with IPV survivors. The conclusion discusses the FSS as a practical tool for both practice and research with this population.
Effect of friction model on simulation of hydraulic actuator
Authors: Tran XB , Khaing WH , Endo H , Yanada H
Published: June 2014

This article examines the effect of friction model on the simulation accuracy of hydraulic cylinders by using three friction models: a steady-state friction model, the LuGre model, and the new modified LuGre model. Hydraulic cylinder’s behaviors are measured under different sinusoidal inputs to the servo valve. Simulations are conducted under the same conditions as the experiments. The comparisons of simulated results with measured ones show that the new modified LuGre model can predict accurately the hydraulic cylinder’s behaviors while the LuGre model may cause high-frequency oscillations in velocity, friction force, and pressures, which are not observed in experiments.
Study of radial vibrations in cylindrical bone in the framework of transversely isotropic poroelasticity
Authors: Reddy Perati Malla , Bandari Sandhya Rani
Published: June 2014

In this paper, a cylindrical thick-walled hollow bone filled with marrow is modeled as a transversely isotropic poroelastic thick-walled hollow cylinder filled with a fluid, and analytical solutions for radial vibrations in the same have been obtained. Considering the boundaries to be stress free, frequency equations are obtained in the cases of bone without marrow and bone with marrow for permeable and impermeable boundaries. Limiting the case when the ratio of thickness to inner radius is very small is investigated numerically. The accessible information of bony material has been used for the numerical evaluation. Attenuation versus ratio of outer and inner radii of bone at various anisotropic ratios are computed. Phase velocity and group velocity are computed as a function of wavenumber. These values are depicted graphically and then discussed.