bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF A PERITONEAL DIALYSIS SERVICE: LEARNING FROM EXPERIENCE
Authors: Kazancioglu Rumeyza
Published: March 2013

Background

Different trends in peritoneal dialysis (PD) utilisation are observed all over the world. The primary aim of all of these dialysis programmes is to provide a quality service to the patients, which depends in part in careful planning of the structure and organisation of the dialysis unit.

Aim

The aim of this paper is to review the available literature on the development and evaluation of PD programmes and to provide recommendations about how to start a new PD unit.

Findings

The essentials of a quality PD service are pre‐dialysis education and timely start on dialysis, adequate training for the physicians and nurses, full support from complementary disciplines, effective programme size and continuous quality improvement strategies. Those working in PD should make maximum use of limited resources to improve their dialysis programme penetration as well as clinical outcomes.
THE CLUSTERING OF IPO SPREADS IN KOREAN IPO MARKET: COMPETITION OR COLLUSION?
Authors: SOHN PANDO , SEO JI‐YONG
Published: March 2013

This paper examines whether the clustering of initial public offering (IPO) spreads in the IPO market occurs through competition or collusion, using the period from January 2000 to July 2006 as the analytical range. It finds that the Korean IPO market spread is clustered at 3.5% on moderately sized IPOs (i.e., IPOs between 9 (KRW billion) and 33 (KRW billion)), representing a 74% overall rate that increases gradually over time. Our empirical results refute the collusion theory. The Korean IPO market is characterised by low concentration. A 3.5% spread does not represent abnormal profits relative to other IPOs. Cost saving (i.e. an inverse U shape) is confirmed by the use of 3.5% offers. Our results also show that factors typically related to underwriters and issuers – such as proceeds, secondary sales, earnings and reputation – affect the 3.5% spread used both positively and negatively. Thus, consistent with the efficient contract theory, the use of a 3.5% contract becomes less likely as proceeds increase but becomes more likely for IPOs of over 35 (KRW billion). On the one hand, the use of a 3.5% contract becomes more likely the more insider shares an IPO contains and the higher the volatility of the stock return (an insignificant factor). On the other hand, the use of a 3.5% contract becomes less likely the higher the earnings and debt (insignificant factors) and the more reputable the underwriter. Underpricing in 3.5% IPOs is conditioned by proceeds and secondary sales, not reputation and IPO market concentration. Thus, we conclude – against the cartel theory – that there is no collusive conspiracy in the Korean IPO market and that underwriters do not reap excess profits from 3.5% IPOs.
HIV/AIDS AND POVERTY IN SOUTH AFRICA: A BAYESIAN ESTIMATION OF SELECTION MODELS WITH CORRELATED FIXED‐EFFECTS
Authors: MURTIN FABRICE , MARZO FEDERICA
Published: March 2013

In this paper, we estimate the causal impact of human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) on monetary poverty using a panel database from South Africa. We treat endogeneity and selection problems associated with HIV/AIDS by a selection model that includes correlated fixed effects both in the level and in the participation equations, which are estimated simultaneously via original Bayesian methods. We model the consequences of the illness on both labour income and income transfers, and disentangle between urban and rural households. While no significant impact of HIV/AIDS on labour income is found because of households' recomposition, we find a substantial fall in received transfers among rural population and a dramatic increase in chronic poverty.
Efficacy of α‐glucosidase inhibitors combined with dipeptidyl‐peptidase‐4 inhibitor (alogliptin) for glucose fluctuation in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus by continuous glucose monitoring
Authors: Kurozumi Akira , Okada Yosuke , Mori Hiroko , Arao Tadashi , Tanaka Yoshiya
Published: March 2013

Aims/Introduction

The combination therapy of dipeptidyl‐peptidase (DPP)‐4 inhibitor and α‐glucosidase inhibitors (α‐GIs) is highly effective in suppressing postprandial hyperglycemia. The aim of the present study was to compare the effects of voglibose and miglitol on glucose fluctuation, when used in combination with DPP‐4 inhibitor by using continuous glucose monitoring (CGM).

Materials and Methods

In a randomized cross‐over study, 16 patients with type 2 diabetes who presented with postprandial hyperglycemia despite alogliptin (25 mg) were treated with voglibose (0.9 mg) or miglitol (150 mg). We measured standard deviation (SD); mean amplitude of glycemic excursions (MAGE), and mean, minimum and maximum glucose measured by CGM during three phases (alogliptin monotherapy, dual therapy of alogliptin and voglibose, and dual therapy of alogliptin and miglitol). The primary outcome measure was SD between α‐GIs.

Results

SD was significantly improved by the addition of either voglibose (18.9 ± 10.1) or miglitol (19.6 ± 8.2) to alogliptin monotherapy (36.2 ± 8.7). MAGE improved significantly with the addition of either voglibose (57.5 ± 26.1, P < 0.01) or miglitol (64.6 ± 26.2, P < 0.01) to alogliptin monotherapy (101.5 ± 21.5). There was no significant difference in glucose fluctuation between α‐GIs. There were no differences between two groups in mean (132.6 ± 21.4 and 138.7 ± 25.4) and maximum (184.3 ± 48.7 and 191.9 ± 38.3). The minimum glucose under alogliptin plus voglibose (94.9 ± 20.2) was significantly lower than that under alogliptin and miglitol (105.3 ± 21.0).

Conclusions

Glucose fluctuation was improved by the addition of voglibose or miglitol to alogliptin. Glucose fluctuations and postprandial hyperglycemia were similar between α‐GIs. This trial was registered with the University Hospital Medical Information Network (no. UMIN R000010028).
The association between trauma and melanoma in the Chinese population: a retrospective study
Authors: Zhang N. , Wang L. , Zhu G.N. , Sun D.J. , He H. , Luan Q. , Liu L. , Hao F. , Li C.Y. , Gao T.W.
Published: March 2013

Background

The association between trauma and melanoma has been a controversial issue.

Objectives

To analyse the profiles of melanoma, and to determine whether trauma is associated with development of acral melanoma in the Chinese population.

Patients and Methods

Retrospective analysis of 685 cases of cutaneous melanoma in the dermatology departments of Xijing Hospital in northwestern China and Xinan Hospital in southwestern China from 1982 to 2011.

Results

Of the 685 patients included in the study, 437 (63.8%) suffered from melanoma on the extremities. A total of 104 patients (15.2%) exhibited an association between trauma and melanoma. The primary anatomic sites of the tumours were the upper extremities (17, 16.3%), lower extremities (74, 71.2%) and other sites (13, 12.5%). Among these cases, the extremities were with remarkably higher risks of post‐trauma melanoma than the other sites [adjusted odds ratio (OR) 3.968; 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.267–5.592]. Notably, patients in the south part of China were with a stronger risk of post‐trauma melanoma on the lower extremities than those in the north (adjusted OR 1.764; 95% CI 1.192–2.666) part. In addition, a significant higher risk of post‐trauma melanoma on the extremities was observed in the male gender (adjusted OR 1.848; 95% CI 1.186–2.887).

Conclusions

Our findings provide epidemiological evidence for a potential association between traumatic events and melanoma of the extremities, especially the lower limbs, where a history of trauma is more likely.
Geography of the circadian gene clock and photoperiodic response in western North American populations of the three‐spined sticklebackGasterosteus aculeatus
Authors: O'Brien C. , Unruh L. , Zimmerman C. , Bradshaw W. E. , Holzapfel C. M. , Cresko W. A.
Published: March 2013

Controlled laboratory experiments were used to show that Oregon and Alaskan three‐spined sticklebackGasterosteus aculeatus, collected from locations differing by 18° of latitude, exhibited no significant variation in length of the polyglutamine domain of the clock protein or in photoperiodic response within or between latitudes despite the fact that male and femaleG. aculeatusare photoperiodic at both latitudes. Hence, caution is urged when interpreting variation in the polyglutamine repeat (PolyQ) domain of the geneclockin the context of seasonal activities or in relationship to photoperiodism along geographical gradients.
Assessment of DNA damage in sperm after repeated non‐invasive sampling in zebrafish Danio rerio
Authors: Reinardy H. C. , Skippins E. , Henry T. B. , Jha A. N.
Published: March 2013

Repeated non‐invasive sampling of zebrafish Danio rerio sperm was conducted, sperm counts were obtained and a method for measurement of DNA damage in sperm was developed and validated (single‐cell gel electrophoresis, comet, assay). DNA damage in sperm increased with concentration of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2, 0–200 µM), and in vitro exposure of sperm to 200 µM H2O2 produced 88·7 ± 3·9% tail DNA compared to unexposed controls [12 ± 0·7% tail DNA (mean ± s.e., n = 3)]. Frequency of sperm sampling (sampled every 2, 4 or 7 days) did not affect DNA damage in sperm, but sperm counts decreased 57 and 22% for fish sampled every 2 or 4 days, respectively.
Comparative biology of tropical Lethrinus species (Lethrinidae): challenges for multi‐species management
Authors: Currey L. M. , Williams A. J. , Mapstone B. D. , Davies C. R. , Carlos G. , Welch D. J. , Simpfendorfer C. A. , Ballagh A. C. , Penny A. L. , Grandcourt E. M. , Mapleston A. , Wiebkin A. S. , Bean K.
Published: March 2013

Life‐history characteristics of six tropical Lethrinus species sampled from the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area were compared. Two species groups were identified based on fork length (LF): large species with maximum LF > 640 mm (longface emperor Lethrinus olivaceus, yellowlip emperor Lethrinus xanthochilus and spangled emperor Lethrinus nebulosus) and small species with maximum LF < 480 mm (Pacific yellowtail emperor Lethrinus atkinsoni, pink ear emperor Lethrinus lentjan and ornate emperor Lethrinus ornatus). Lifespan was not correlated with LF. Early growth for all species was rapid and similar during the first few years of life, but coefficients of the von Bertalanffy growth function varied considerably among species. Growth also differed between sexes for L. atkinsoni. Reproductive characteristics varied among species, with peak periods of spawning occurring in November to December for L. atkinsoni, July to August for L. nebulous, September to October for L. olivaceus and a protracted season for L. lentjan, although fewer samples were available for the last two species. Sex‐specific LF and age distributions and gonad histology of L. lentjan were suggestive of a functional protogynous reproductive pattern, as observed in other lethrinids. Gonad histology indicated non‐functional protogynous hermaphroditism for L. atkinsoni and L. nebulosus. The diversity of life histories among these closely related species emphasizes the difficulty in devising single management strategies appropriate for multi‐species fisheries and illustrates the importance of understanding species‐specific life histories to infer responses to exploitation.
See me, feel me. Using physiology to validate behavioural observations of emotions of people with severe or profound intellectual disability
Authors: Vos P. , De Cock P. , Petry K. , Van Den Noortgate W. , Maes B.
Published: March 2013

Background

Behavioural observations are the most frequently used source of information about emotions of people with severe or profound intellectual disabilities but have not yet been validated against other measures of emotion. In this study we wanted to validate the behavioural observations of emotions using respiration (rib cage contribution, total breath duration, inspiratory time, expiratory time, tidal volume, mean inspiratory flow, minute ventilation) and heart rate variability.

Method

Twenty‐seven participants were presented with four negative and four positive stimuli. During the presentation the participants' respiration and heart rate variability was measured. Each behaviour of the participant was coded as emotive or not.

Results

We found the hypothesised higher percentage rib cage contribution, marginal lower mean inspiratory flow and lower heart rate variability when the expressed emotions became more positive.

Conclusions

These results validate the use of behavioural observations to make inferences about emotions.
Time to get rid of the ‘Modular’ in neuropsychology: A unified theory of anosognosia as aberrant predictive coding
Authors: Fotopoulou Aikaterini
Published: March 2013

Cognitive neuroscience, being more inclusive and ambitious in scope than cognitive neuropsychology, seems to have taken the place of the latter within the modern neurosciences. Nevertheless, recent advances in the neurosciences afford neuropsychology with epistemic possibilities that simply did not exist even 15 years ago. Human lesion studies still have an important role to play in shaping such possibilities, particularly when combined with other methods of enquiry. I first outline theoretical and methodological advances within the neurosciences that can inform and shape the rebirth of a dynamic, non‐modular neuropsychology. I then use an influential computational theory of brain function, the free energy principle, to suggest an unified account of anosognosia for hemiplegia as a research example of the potential for transition from a modular, cognitive neuropsychology to a dynamic, computational and even restorative neuropsychology. These and many other adjectives that can flexibly, take the place of ‘cognitive’ next to ‘neuropsychology’ will hopefully designate the much needed rebirth and demarcation of a field, neuropsychology itself, that has somehow lost its place within the modern neurosciences and yet seems to have a unique and important role to play in the future understanding of the brain.
National Narrative and Social Psychological Influences in Turks’ Denial of the Mass Killings of Armenians as Genocide
Authors: Bilali Rezarta
Published: March 2013

This article sheds light on the nature of the Turkish denial of Armenian mass killings. A survey study investigates Turkish students’ construals (i.e., attributions of responsibility and perceived severity of harm) of Turkish massacres of Armenians at the beginning of the 20th century. The results demonstrated a high correspondence between participants’ individual construals and the Turkish official narrative of the events. Structural equation modeling indicated that in‐group glorification, perceived in‐group threat, and positive attitudes toward war predicted less acknowledgment of in‐group responsibility, which in turn predicted less support for reparations of the harm inflicted on Armenians. The study highlights the influence of government‐sponsored national self‐images in the production and endorsement of legitimizing narratives of the in‐group's violence. The findings call for research that examines the combined influence of psychological and societal mechanisms on people's beliefs about in‐group actions.
Thou Shall Not Kill…Your Brother: Victim−Perpetrator Cultural Closeness and Moral Disapproval of Polish Atrocities against Jews after the Holocaust
Authors: Kofta Miroslaw , Slawuta Patrycja
Published: March 2013

This paper addresses the role of collective memory of post‐Holocaust crimes in contemporary Polish−Jewish relations. We examined how reminding Polish participants of ingroup atrocities affects constructive as well as destructive attitudes and behavioral intentions toward the Jewish victim group. We address the question of how experimentally induced feelings of cultural closeness between the outgroup and the ingroup modify the effects of these reminders on intergroup relations. Our two experiments suggest that perceived sharing of culture is a crucial factor in dealing constructively with the “problematic past” in intergroup relations. In the baseline condition (where cultural closeness of Jews and Poles was not made salient), reminders of ingroup atrocities activated group‐defensive strategies, resulting in more negative intergroup attitudes and dehumanization of Jews. In stark contrast, in the “culturally close” condition (where feelings of shared culture were induced), reminders of ingroup atrocities actually resulted in more positive intergroup attitudes and humanization of Jews.
The “Never Again” State of Israel: The Emergence of the Holocaust as a Core Feature of Israeli Identity and Its Four Incongruent Voices
Authors: Klar Yechiel , Schori‐Eyal Noa , Klar Yonat
Published: March 2013

For the vast majority of contemporary Israelis, the Holocaust is an acquired memory. However, over the years its presence has not diminished but rather is on the rise. We describe how perceptions of the Holocaust have changed from “what Israeliness is not” in the 1940s and 1950s to a core element in Israeli identity. Inspired by Bauer, we present four different and sometimes incompatible voices related to the Holocaust that greatly affect the Israeli society. They are: Never be a passive victim; never forsake your brothers; never be passive bystander; and never be a perpetrator. Experimental evidence related to these voices is also described.
Reconciliation through the Righteous: The Narratives of Heroic Helpers as a Fulfillment of Emotional Needs in Polish−Jewish Intergroup Contact
Authors: Bilewicz Michal , Jaworska Manana
Published: March 2013

Postwar Polish−Jewish relations are heavily affected by divergent narratives about the Holocaust. Debates about the role of Poles as passive bystanders or perpetrators during the Holocaust have deeply influenced mutual perceptions of Poles and Jews. Previous research has shown that historical issues raised during Polish−Jewish encounters inhibit positive consequences of intergroup contact, mostly due to frustrated emotional needs related to past genocide. The aim of the present intervention was to reconcile young Poles and Israelis by presenting narratives that could change stereotypical thinking about the past. Our results indicate that the narratives of historical rescuers of Jews during WWII allowed overcoming the negative impact of the past on intergroup contact by fulfilling frustrated needs for acceptance among Polish participants. The article discusses the potential role of the heroic helpers’ narrative for reconciliation after mass violence, as it may prevent entitative categorizations of groups as victims, perpetrators, and bystanders.
The Aftermath of Genocide: History as a Proximal Cause
Authors: Glick Peter , Paluck Elizabeth Levy
Published: March 2013

The current volume represents a crucial first step in examining how past genocidal attacks continue to affect present intergroup relations, and what psychology can offer to help heal the wounds and prevent future violence. Studying the social psychology of genocide's aftermath, in all its messy, real‐world complexity, has not been as popular a topic in the intergroup relations literature. This volume begins to correct that neglect, presenting models for how to incorporate both basic theory and historical context into research on the aftermath of intergroup violence. Future work continuing in this tradition should also continue to seek out multidisciplinary collaborations to study genocide's aftermath.
Weathering of ordinary chondrites from the Atacama Desert, Chile, by Mössbauer spectroscopy and synchrotron radiation X‐ray diffraction
Authors: Munayco Pablo , Munayco Jimmy , de Avillez Roberto R. , Valenzuela Millarca , Rochette Pierre , Gattacceca Jérôme , Scorzelli Rosa B.
Published: March 2013

Some terrestrial areas have climatic and geomorphologic features that favor the preservation, and therefore, accumulation of meteorites. The Atacama Desert in Chile is among the most important of such areas, known as DCA. This desert is the driest on Earth, one of the most arid, uninhabitable localities with semiarid, arid, and hyper‐arid conditions. The meteorites studied here were collected from within the DCA of San Juan and Pampa de Mejillones, located, respectively, in the Central Depression and the Coastal Range of the Atacama Desert. 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy was used for quantitative analysis of the degree of weathering of the meteorites, through the determination of the proportions of the various Fe‐bearing phases and in particular the amount of oxidized iron in terrestrial alteration products. The abundance of ferric ions in weathered chondrites can be related to specific precursor compositions and to the level of terrestrial weathering. The aim of the study was the identification, quantification, and differentiation of the weathering products in the ordinary chondrites found in the San Juan and the Pampa de Mejillones areas of the Atacama Desert. The 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy study was complemented by synchrotron radiation X‐ray diffraction and magnetic susceptibility measurements. The results allow a clear differentiation of the rate of weathering in meteorite samples collected from the San Juan versus the Pampa de Mejillones areas of the Atacama Desert.
Long‐range movement by Hector's dolphins provides potential genetic enhancement for critically endangered Maui's dolphin
Authors: Hamner Rebecca M. , Constantine Rochelle , Oremus Marc , Stanley Martin , Brown Phillip , Scott Baker C.
Published: March 2013

For endangered populations with low genetic diversity, low levels of immigration could lead to genetic rescue, reducing the risk of inbreeding depression and enhancing chances of long‐term species survival. Our genetic monitoring of Maui's dolphins revealed the first contemporary dispersal of their sister subspecies, Hector's dolphin, from New Zealand's South Island into the Maui's dolphin distribution along ~300 km of the North Island's northwest coast. From 2010 to 2012, 44 individuals were sampled within the Maui's dolphin distribution, four of which were genetically identified as Hector's dolphins (two living females, one dead female, one dead male). We also report two Hector's dolphins (one dead female neonate, one living male) sampled along the North Island's southwest coast, outside the presumed range of either subspecies. Together, these records demonstrate long‐distance dispersal by Hector's dolphins (≥400 km) and the possibility of an unsampled Hector's dolphin population along the southwest coast of the North Island. Although two living Hector's dolphins were found in association with Maui's dolphins, there is currently no evidence of interbreeding between the subspecies. These results highlight the value of genetic monitoring for subspecies lacking distinctive physical appearances as such discoveries are not detected by other means, but have important conservation implications.
Use of data from the Health Survey for England in obesity policy making and monitoring
Authors: Oyebode O. , Mindell J.
Published: March 2013

Health data and statistics are the foundation of health policy. Over the last 20 years, numerous government documents have been commissioned and published to inform obesity strategies in the UK. The Health Survey for England, an annual cross‐sectional survey of a nationally representative random general population sample in England, collects information on health, lifestyle and socioeconomic factors, physical measurements and biological samples. Heights and weights measured by the Health Survey for England are believed to have played a major part in promoting, shaping and evaluating obesity strategies. A formal review of how these data have been used has not been conducted previously.

This paper reviews government documents demonstrating the contribution of Health Survey for England examination data to every stage of the policy making process:

quantifying the obesity problem in England (e.g. Chief Medical Officer's reports);

identifying inequalities in the burden of obesity (Acheson report);

modelling potential future scenarios (Foresight);

setting and monitoring specific, measurable, attainable targets (calorie reduction challenge in manufacturers' Responsibility Deal);

developing and informing strategies and clinical guidance; and

evaluating the success of obesity strategies (Healthy Weights, Healthy Lives progress report).

Measurement data are needed and used by governments to produce evidence‐based strategies to combat obesity.
Ion gradients in xylem exudate and guttation fluid related to tissue ion levels along primary leaves of barley
Authors: NAGAI MAKIKO , OHNISHI MIWA , UEHARA TAKEO , YAMAGAMI MUTSUMI , MIURA EIKO , KAMAKURA MAI , KITAMURA AKIRA , SAKAGUCHI SHU‐ICHI , SAKAMOTO WATARU , SHIMMEN TERUO , FUKAKI HIDEHIRO , REID ROBERT J. , FURUKAWA AKIO , MIMURA TETSURO
Published: March 2013

The concentration of ions in plant cells and tissues is an essential factor in determining physiological function. In the present study, we established that concentration gradients of mobile ions exist in both xylem exudates and tissues within a barley (Hordeum vulgare) primary leaf. For K+ and NO3−, ion concentrations generally decreased from the leaf base to the tip in both xylem exudates and tissues. Ion gradients were also found for Pi and Cl− in the xylem. The hydathode strongly absorbed Pi and re‐translocated it to the rest of the plant, whereas Cl− was extruded. The ion concentration gradients developed early during leaf growth, increased as the tissue aged and remained under both high and low transpiration conditions. Measurement of the expression profiles of Pi, K+ and NO3− transporters along the longitudinal axis of the leaf revealed that some transporters are more expressed at the hydathode, but for most transporters, there was no significant variation along the leaf. The mechanisms by which longitudinal ion gradients develop in leaves and their physiological functions are discussed.
The Relational Contexts of Migration: Mexican Women in New Destination Sites
Authors: Dreby Joanna , Schmalzbauer Leah
Published: March 2013

This article assesses Mexican immigrant women's experiences of isolation and autonomy in three new destination sites in Montana, Ohio, and New Jersey. We highlight six case studies from our cross‐comparative data set of in‐depth interviews and field work with 98 women to illustrate the intersections between contexts of reception and gender relations in shaping women's settlement experiences. We find that women in sites with a concentrated Mexican population and a well‐developed social service infrastructure are relatively autonomous in accomplishing daily activities independent of their relationships with husbands or partners. In contrast, for women living in sites with few social support services, relationships with the men in their lives, what we call their “relational contexts,” matter for women's experiences of isolation or autonomy outside the home. Relational contexts have not been emphasized in previous literature on gender and migration but may be significant in shaping women's experiences across varying contexts of reception.
Race and Reciprocity: Inter‐household Exchanges in a Multiracial Neighborhood
Authors: Ignatow Gabriel , Poulin Michelle , Hunter Caazena , Comeau Joseph
Published: March 2013

This study investigates the degree to which African‐American households are socially integrated into a multiracial, middle‐class suburban neighborhood near Dallas, Texas. Although U.S. neighborhoods are becoming increasingly heterogeneous in composition, little is known about black households' participation in social and informational networks within multiracial middle‐class neighborhoods. Drawing on theories of the gift and social capital, we view neighborhoods in terms of complex patterns of inter‐household exchanges of material and symbolic goods. We predict that black‐led households will exchange at a lower rate with their neighbors than will other households and test this prediction using survey data collected from 119 households and from follow‐up interviews with eight black heads of household. Our main finding from the survey is that black households exchanged at a significantly lower rate than did other households, ceteris paribus. The follow‐up interviews found little evidence of black racial homophily in neighboring or of racism within the neighborhood. However, the low rate of black inter‐household exchanges may be partly explained by black head of households' personal experiences of racism outside the neighborhood and by a racially constituted disposition against borrowing from neighbors. We discuss implications of our findings for research on racial integration and segregation.
LGBT Religious Activism: Predicting State Variations in the Number of Metropolitan Community Churches, 1974–2000
Authors: Kane Melinda D.
Published: March 2013

Armstrong and Bernstein (2008) critique the emphasis movement scholars place upon activism within the formal political sphere, proposing, instead, a multi‐institutional approach which argues that protest can occur within any social institution and that the desired outcomes of activism can include cultural outcomes. The goal of this article is to expand the range of social movement targets studied through an examination of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) activism within the institution of religion. In the United States, religion, particularly Christianity, is used as the primary justification for defining same‐sex sexuality as undesirable and denying LGBT individuals full citizenship. The LGBT community challenges these traditional Christian definitions of same‐sex sexuality in numerous ways, including through the creation of LGBT‐affirming congregations. I examine the development and spread of congregations affiliated with the United Federation of Metropolitan Community Churches (UFMCC), an LGBT‐affirmative denomination, across all 50 states from 1974 to 2000. Drawing upon organizational ecology, resource mobilization, political opportunity, and theories of religious switching, I find that the distribution of UFMCC congregations challenges the usefulness of traditional explanations for activism.
Getting Unstuck: Interdisciplinarity as a New Discipline
Authors: Scheff Thomas
Published: March 2013

Most disciplines and subdisciplines consider their particular specialization to be valuable in itself and superior to other disciplines. But compared with the huge leaps in the physical sciences, the social/behavioral sciences and humanities have made little progress. Since many of the physical science advances were the result of the merging of disciplines, perhaps interdisciplinarity should be tried. One path to connecting disciplines, subdisciplines, and micro‐macro levels is suggested by Spinoza's idea of part/whole methodology, exactly balancing concrete instances with abstract theses. Ideas by B. Pascal, A. Koestler, A. N. Whitehead, and E. O. Wilson may also be helpful. Any discipline, subdiscipline, or level can serve as a valuable stepping‐off place, but to advance further, integration with at least one other viewpoint may be necessary. Two brilliant examples are The Civilizing Process, by the sociologist Norbert Elias, and Freudian Repression, by the psychologist Michael Billig. Koestler's idea of “bi‐sociation” may prove to be particularly rewarding. The way that Virginia Woolf's depiction of role‐taking in interior monologue preceded the idea in social science is an extraordinary example. The need for integration may be the single most important issue facing social science, the humanities, and their subdisciplines. Given the scope of the social/behavioral problems faced by humanity, the sooner the better.
Retrospective Quarterly Cohort Monitoring for patients with Visceral Leishmaniasis in the Indian subcontinent: outcomes of a pilot project
Authors: Ostyn Bart , Malaviya Paritosh , Hasker Epco , Uranw Surendra , Singh Rudra P. , Rijal Suman , Sundar Shyam , Dujardin Jean‐Claude , Boelaert Marleen
Published: March 2013

Objective

To evaluate a new tool for the monitoring of Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) treatment outcomes in primary healthcare (PHC) settings, adapted from the standardised Retrospective Quarterly Cohort Monitoring done in tuberculosis control.

Methods

We developed standard case definitions for early and late VL treatment outcomes, a single register allowing for one‐line entry per patient as registration tool, and quarterly reporting formats for the clinical outcomes. We pilot‐tested these tools in three Indian Primary Health Centres and two Nepalese district hospitals, as well as in a charity VL treatment centre and a university hospital.

Results

Data collection for early treatment outcome was easily implemented but information on late treatment outcome was hard to obtain. Effectiveness of Miltefosine under routine care conditions was about 87% at end of treatment, and 76% at 6 months post‐treatment related to the high number of patients lost to follow up at the latter end point.

Conclusion

A retrospective cohort monitoring methodology is conceptually a good framework for monitoring clinical outcomes for chronic conditions as VL. The monitoring of early outcomes of VL treatment is perfectly feasible in Primary Care settings. The completeness of information on late outcomes can be improved by a number of strategies that remain to be field tested. Generally, clinical outcome monitoring should be strengthened in the VL control programmes.
Combining association mapping and transcriptomics identify HD2B histone deacetylase as a genetic factor associated with seed dormancy in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Yano Ryoichi , Takebayashi Yumiko , Nambara Eiji , Kamiya Yuji , Seo Mitsunori
Published: March 2013

Seed dormancy is an important adaptive trait that enables germination at the proper time, thereby ensuring plant survival after germination. In Arabidopsis, considerable variation exists in the degree of seed dormancy among wild‐type accessions (ecotypes). In this paper, we identify a plant‐specific HD2 histone deacetylase gene, HD2B (At5g22650), as a genetic factor associated with seed dormancy. First, genome‐wide association mapping of 113 accessions was used to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms that possibly explain natural variation for seed dormancy. Integration of genome‐wide association mapping and transcriptome analysis during cold‐induced dormancy cycling identified HD2B as the most plausible candidate gene, and quantitative RT‐PCR analysis demonstrated that HD2B expression was up‐regulated by cold and after‐ripening (dry storage of mature seed), treatments that are known to break seed dormancy. Interestingly, quantitative RT‐PCR analysis in 106 accessions revealed that the expression of HD2B in imbibed seeds was significantly suppressed in most of the dormant accessions compared with less‐dormant accessions, suggesting that suppression of HD2B expression may be important to maintain seed dormancy in dormant accessions. In addition, transgenic seeds of a dormant Cvi‐0 accession that carried a 2.5 kb genomic DNA fragment of HD2B cloned from a less‐dormant Col‐0 accession (ColHD2B/Cvi‐0) exhibited reduced seed dormancy accompanied by enhanced expression of HD2B when after‐ripened or cold‐imbibed. Endogenous levels of gibberellin were found to be increased in the imbibed seeds of after‐ripened ColHD2B/Cvi‐0 compared with wild‐type Cvi‐0. These results suggest that HD2B plays a role in seed dormancy and/or germinability in Arabidopsis thaliana.
The Pure Effects of European Integration on Intra‐EU Core and Periphery Trade
Authors: Egger Peter H. , Pfaffermayr Michael
Published: March 2013

This paper analyses the effects of EU integration on intra‐EU trade volumes with a special focus on the evolution of trade within and between the core and the periphery countries. In the early phases of EU integration, there have been sizable trade creation and diversion effects with respect to EFTA countries. Both the creation and the diversion effects of EU membership have declined as the EU and EFTA have integrated. In all phases of EU integration, both core–periphery and intraperiphery growth of trade have experienced stronger positive effects than intracore trade. Hence, the EU enlargements did not cause any kind of intra‐EU ‘peripherality’.
Metal–semiconductor–metal photodetector on as-deposited TiO2 thin films on sapphire substrate
Authors: Çalışkan Deniz , Bütün Bayram , Özcan Şadan , Özbay Ekmel
Published: March 2013

TiO2 thin films are prepared on c-plane sapphire substrates by the RF magnetron sputtering method. The performance of the Pt contact metal–semiconductor–metal (MSM) photodetector fabricated on as-deposited films is studied. The dark current density and the responsivity obtained were 1.57 × 10−9 A/cm2 at 5 V bias and 1.73 A/W at 50 V bias, respectively. Breakdown is not observed up to 50 V bias. Rise and fall times for the photocurrent were 7 and 3 s, respectively. Our results show that high quality MSM photodetectors can be fabricated without high temperature and complicated fabrication steps.
Experimental investigation into infrasonic emissions from atmospheric turbulence
Authors: Shams Qamar A. , Zuckerwar Allan J. , Burkett Cecil G. , Weistroffer George R. , Hugo Derek R.
Published: March 2013

Clear air turbulence (CAT) is the leading cause of in-flight injuries and in severe cases can result in fatalities. The purpose of this work is to design and develop an infrasonic array network for early warning of clear air turbulence. The infrasonic system consists of an infrasonic three-microphone array, compact windscreens, and data management system. Past experimental efforts to detect acoustic emissions from CAT have been limited. An array of three infrasonic microphones, operating in the field at NASA Langley Research Center, on several occasions received signals interpreted as infrasonic emissions from CAT. Following comparison with current lidar and other past methods, the principle of operation, the experimental methods, and experimental data are presented for case studies and confirmed by pilot reports. The power spectral density of the received signals was found to fit a power law having an exponent of −6 to −7, which is found to be characteristics of infrasonic emissions from CAT, in contrast to findings of the past.
Legendre and Laguerre polynomial approach for modeling of wave propagation in layered magneto-electro-elastic media
Authors: Bou Matar Olivier , Gasmi Noura , Zhou Huan , Goueygou Marc , Talbi Abdelkrim
Published: March 2013

A numerical method to compute propagation constants and mode shapes of elastic waves in layered piezoelectric-piezomagnetic composites, potentially deposited on a substrate, is described. The basic feature of the method is the expansion of particle displacement, stress fields, electric and magnetic potentials in each layer on different polynomial bases: Legendre for a layer of finite thickness and Laguerre for the semi-infinite substrate. The exponential convergence rate of the method for propagation of Love waves is numerically verified. The main advantage of the method is to directly determine complex wave numbers for a given frequency via a matricial eigenvalue problem, in a way that no transcendental equation has to be solved. Results are presented and the method is discussed.
Low complexity lossless compression of underwater sound recordings
Authors: Johnson Mark , Partan Jim , Hurst Tom
Published: March 2013

Autonomous listening devices are increasingly used to study vocal aquatic animals, and there is a constant need to record longer or with greater bandwidth, requiring efficient use of memory and battery power. Real-time compression of sound has the potential to extend recording durations and bandwidths at the expense of increased processing operations and therefore power consumption. Whereas lossy methods such as MP3 introduce undesirable artifacts, lossless compression algorithms (e.g., flac) guarantee exact data recovery. But these algorithms are relatively complex due to the wide variety of signals they are designed to compress. A simpler lossless algorithm is shown here to provide compression factors of three or more for underwater sound recordings over a range of noise environments. The compressor was evaluated using samples from drifting and animal-borne sound recorders with sampling rates of 16–240 kHz. It achieves >87% of the compression of more-complex methods but requires about 1/10 of the processing operations resulting in less than 1 mW power consumption at a sampling rate of 192 kHz on a low-power microprocessor. The potential to triple recording duration with a minor increase in power consumption and no loss in sound quality may be especially valuable for battery-limited tags and robotic vehicles.
Model-based imaging of damage with Lamb waves via sparse reconstruction
Authors: Levine Ross M. , Michaels Jennifer E.
Published: March 2013

Ultrasonic guided waves are gaining acceptance for structural health monitoring and nondestructive evaluation of plate-like structures. One configuration of interest is a spatially distributed array of fixed piezoelectric devices. Typical operation consists of recording signals from all transmit-receive pairs and subtracting pre-recorded baselines to detect changes, possibly due to damage or other effects. While techniques such as delay-and-sum imaging as applied to differential signals are both simple and capable of detecting flaws, their performance is limited, particularly when there are multiple damage sites. Here a very different approach to imaging is considered that exploits the expected sparsity of structural damage; i.e., the structure is mostly damage-free. Differential signals are decomposed into a sparse linear combination of location-based components, which are pre-computed from a simple propagation model. The sparse reconstruction techniques of basis pursuit denoising and orthogonal matching pursuit are applied to achieve this decomposition, and a hybrid reconstruction method is also proposed and evaluated. Noisy simulated data and experimental data recorded on an aluminum plate with artificial damage are considered. Results demonstrate the efficacy of all three methods by producing very sparse indications of damage at the correct locations even in the presence of model mismatch and significant noise.
Mapping underwater sound noise and assessing its sources by using a self-organizing maps method
Authors: Rako Nikolina , Vilibić Ivica , Mihanović Hrvoje
Published: March 2013

This study aims to provide an objective mapping of the underwater noise and its sources over an Adriatic coastal marine habitat by applying the self-organizing maps (SOM) method. Systematic sampling of sea ambient noise (SAN) was carried out at ten predefined acoustic stations between 2007 and 2009. Analyses of noise levels were performed for 1/3 octave band standard centered frequencies in terms of instantaneous sound pressure levels averaged over 300 s to calculate the equivalent continuous sound pressure levels. Data on vessels' presence, type, and distance from the monitoring stations were also collected at each acoustic station during the acoustic sampling. Altogether 69 noise surveys were introduced to the SOM predefined 2 × 2 array. The overall results of the analysis distinguished two dominant underwater soundscapes, associating them mainly to the seasonal changes in the nautical tourism and fishing activities within the study area and to the wind and wave action. The analysis identified recreational vessels as the dominant anthropogenic source of underwater noise, particularly during the tourist season. The method demonstrated to be an efficient tool in predicting the SAN levels based on the vessel distribution, indicating also the possibility of its wider implication for marine conservation.
A decision weight analysis of transition bandwidths
Authors: Berg Bruce G.
Published: March 2013

A decision weight analysis is used to investigate transition bandwidths [Berg (2007). J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 121, 3639–2645]. The psychophysical task is similar to a standard profile analysis experiment except that the spacing of the tones comprising the stimuli is linear and very narrow (e.g., 20 Hz). An increment in the level of the central tone constitutes the signal. Pitch cues and single channel energy cues are degraded with randomization procedures. Thresholds increase as the number of tones comprising the stimulus (n) increases up to a transition bandwidth and then decrease or stay constant with further increases in n. It is proposed that the transition bandwidth reflects a discrete change in the underlying process, with a temporal process (e.g., envelope processor) dominating for stimulus bandwidths less than the transition bandwidth and a process of spectral profile analysis at wider bandwidths. Estimates of decision weights support the proposal.
Informal speech processes can be categorical in nature, even if they affect many different words
Authors: Hanique Iris , Ernestus Mirjam , Schuppler Barbara
Published: March 2013

This paper investigates the nature of reduction phenomena in informal speech. It addresses the question whether reduction processes that affect many word types, but only if they occur in connected informal speech, may be categorical in nature. The focus is on reduction of schwa in the prefixes and on word-final /t/ in Dutch past participles. More than 2000 tokens of past participles from the Ernestus Corpus of Spontaneous Dutch and the Spoken Dutch Corpus (both from the interview and read speech component) were transcribed automatically. The results demonstrate that the presence and duration of /t/ are affected by approximately the same phonetic variables, indicating that the absence of /t/ is the extreme result of shortening, and thus results from a gradient reduction process. Also for schwa, the data show that mainly phonetic variables influence its reduction but its presence is affected by different and more variables than its duration, which suggests that the absence of schwa may result from gradient as well as categorical processes. These conclusions are supported by the distributions of the segments' durations. These findings provide evidence that reduction phenomena which affect many words in informal conversations may also result from categorical reduction processes.
Vibration and acoustic response of an orthotropic composite laminated plate in a hygroscopic environment
Authors: Zhao Xin , Geng Qian , Li Yueming
Published: March 2013

This paper is a study of the vibration and acoustic response characteristics of orthotropic laminated composite plate with simple supported boundary conditions excited by a harmonic concentrated force in a hygroscopic environment. First the natural vibration of the plate with the in-plane forces induced by hygroscopic stress is obtained analytically. Secondly, the sound pressure distribution of the plate at the far field is obtained using the Rayleigh integral. Furthermore, the sound radiation efficiency is deduced. Third, different ratios of elastic modulus in material principal directions are set to research the effects of increasing stiffness of the orthotropic plate on the vibration and acoustic radiation characteristics. Finally, to verify the theoretical solution, numerical simulations are also carried out with commercial finite software. It is found that the natural frequencies decrease with the increase of the moisture content and the first two order modes interconvert at high moisture content. The dynamic response and sound pressure level float to lower frequencies with elevated moisture content. Acoustic radiation efficiency generally floats to the low frequencies and decreases with an increase of moisture content. The dynamic and acoustic responses reduce and the coincidence frequency decreases with the enhanced stiffness.