bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Novel Flexible Model for the Extraction of Features from Brain Signals in the Time-Frequency Domain
Authors: Heideklang R. , Ivanova G.
Published: January 2013

Electrophysiological signals such as the EEG, MEG, or LFPs have been extensively studied over the last decades, and elaborate signal processing algorithms have been developed for their analysis. Many of these methods are based on time-frequency decomposition to account for the signals’ spectral properties while maintaining their temporal dynamics. However, the data typically exhibit intra- and interindividual variability. Existing algorithms often do not take into account this variability, for instance by using fixed frequency bands. This shortcoming has inspired us to develop a new robust and flexible method for time-frequency analysis and signal feature extraction using the novelsmooth natural Gaussian extension (snaGe)model. The model is nonlinear, and its parameters are interpretable. We propose an algorithm to derive initial parameters based on dynamic programming for nonlinear fitting and describe an iterative refinement scheme to robustly fit high-order models. We further present distance functions to be able to compare different instances of our model. The method’s functionality and robustness are demonstrated using simulated as well as real data. ThesnaGemodel is a general tool allowing for a wide range of applications in biomedical data analysis.
Energy-Efficient Node Selection for Target Tracking in Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Wang Yong , Wang Dianhong
Published: January 2013

Saving energy while preserving accuracy is of paramount importance to target tracking in wireless sensor networks. This paper presents an energy-efficient selection of cooperative nodes. In the proposed method, the target detection probability is estimated by single-node processing based on particle filter. Then, an objective function for collaborative target tracking in wireless sensor networks is constructed according to the information utility and the remaining energy of sensor nodes. With this understanding, a dynamic node selection scheme based on genetic algorithms is proposed, which can optimize the tradeoff between the accuracy of tracking and the energy cost of nodes. Simulations demonstrate its superior performance in estimating the target location and saving sensor nodes energy.
Usefulness of Transnasal Argon Plasma Coagulation for Esophageal Varices Compared with the Peroral Method: A Randomized and Prospective Clinical Study
Authors: Furuichi Yoshihiro , Kawai Takashi , Ichimura Shigeki , Miyata Yuki , Sano Takatomo , Murashima Eigaku , Taira Junichi , Sugimoto Katsutoshi , Imai Yasuharu , Nakamura Ikuo , Moriyasu Fuminori
Published: January 2013

Background: Argon plasma coagulation (APC) is very useful as a consolidation treatment for reducing the recurrence of esophageal varices (EVs). However, repeated sedation in endoscopic treatment has the risk of prolonging hepatic encephalopathy and affects the respiratory state of liver cirrhosis (LC) patients, in whom pulmonary arteriovenous shunts are observed. We evaluated prospectively whether transnasal endoscopic APC without sedation is more effective than peroral endoscopic APC with sedation. Patients and Methods: LC patients (n = 101), treated by endoscopic injection sclerotherapy to eradicate EVs, were randomly divided into a transnasal APC group (n = 50) and a peroral APC group (n = 51). The primary efficacy endpoint was the cumulative recurrence rate of EVs. The secondary endpoints were blood pressure (BP), heart rate, oxygen saturation during APC and complications. Results: There was no significant difference in the cumulative recurrence rate of EVs at 36 months between the transnasal APC and peroral APC groups (35.0 vs. 40.8%, p = 0.39, log-rank test), indicating that transnasal APC is not inferior to peroral APC. The transnasal APC group showed more stable intraoperative BP and oxygen saturation values, and a lower incidence of epigastralgia (56.0 vs. 74.5%, p = 0.04). Conclusion: The efficacy of reducing the recurrence of EVs in the transnasal APC group was not significantly different from that in the peroral APC group. Transnasal APC caused less distress and required no sedation. Therefore, this method was more advantageous for LC patients at risk of suffering from prolongation of hepatic encephalopathy.
Predictive Factors Associated with the Success of Pneumatic Dilatation in Japanese Patients with Primary Achalasia: A Study Using High-Resolution Manometry
Authors: Yamashita Hiroshi , Ashida Kiyoshi , Fukuchi Takumi , Nagatani Yoshiaki , Koga Hideaki , Senda Kasane , Eguchi Takaaki , Ubukata Satoshi , Kawaguchi Shinpei , Ueda Aya , Tanaka Toshio , Ohashi Rina , Ito Dai
Published: January 2013

Background/Aims: A new classification of achalasia using high-resolution manometry (HRM) has recently been suggested. Pneumatic dilatation (PD) is a common treatment for primary achalasia. The usefulness of the new classification and HRM for the treatment and follow-up of patients after PD is unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate the PD effectiveness and the predictive factors of success in Japanese patients with achalasia using HRM and the new classification of achalasia. Methods: Twenty-five patients were diagnosed with primary achalasia using HRM and treated by PD in our hospital. We evaluated symptom scores and esophageal manometry 6 and 12 months after the first PD. Results: After the first PD treatment, remission occurred in 24 out of 25 (96.0%) patients at 6 months and in 19 out of 25 (76.0%) patients at 12 months. With the new classification of achalasia, the success rates were 83.3, 80.0 and 50% for types I, II and III, respectively, 12 months after PD. The median age of the successful group was significantly greater than that of the failure group (47.1 vs. 37.0 years, p <0.05). The median residual lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure 6 months after PD in the successful group was significantly lower than that of the failure group (9.0 vs. 15.5 mm Hg, p <0.05). Conclusion: Good predictors of PD success were old age (>40 years) and residual LES pressures less than 15 mm Hg 6 months after PD.
Retrospective Study as First-Line Chemotherapy Combined Anti-VEGF Antibody with Fluoropyrimidine for Frail Patients with Unresectable or Metastatic Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Yoshida Motoki , Goto Masahiro , Kii Takayuki , Nishitani Hitoshi , Kawabe Shinichiro , Kuwakado Shin , Asaishi Ken , Miyamoto Takahiro , Higuchi Kazuhide
Published: January 2013

Background/Aim: Combination chemotherapies of oxaliplatin or irinotecan with fluoropyrimidine and molecular target drug were reported to be active in several clinical studies and so regarded as a first-line standard therapy for unresectable or metastatic colorectal cancer. However, the incidence of adverse events is not so low. We investigated the efficacy and safety of chemotherapy combined bevacizumab with fluoropyrimidine as a first-line treatment for frail patients. Methods: Twenty-six patients with unresectable or metastatic colorectal cancer who were treated with first-line chemotherapy combined bevacizumab with S-1 or 5FU/LV (modified Roswell Park Memorial Institute regimen) at our hospital between October 2007 and December 2010 were retrospectively investigated. Results: The median age was 72 years (range 66–84). Performance status was 0, 1 and 2 in 8, 17 and 1 patient, respectively. The primary lesion was located in the colon in 14 patients and in the rectum in 12. Twenty patients were with resection of the primary lesion and 6 were without, 8 were with postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy and 18 were without. The number of metastasized organs was 1, 2 and 3 in 17, 9 and 0 patients, respectively. The liver, lung, lymph node and peritoneum were metastasized in 9, 9, 11 and 5 patients, respectively. The KRAS gene was wild in 11, mutated in 7 and unknown in 8 patients. Bevacizumab with S-1 was used in 17 patients and bevacizumab with 5FU/LV was used in 9. Response and disease control rates were 50 and 100%, respectively. The median duration of progression-free survival was 9.1 months and the median time to treatment failure was 9.0 months. The incidences of all grades of neutropenia and hypertension were 31%, those of grade 3 or severer were 12%, and those of other adverse events were low. Grade 3 cerebral hemorrhage, grade 4 pulmonary embolism and grade 5 febrile neutropenia each occurred in 1 patient. Conclusion: The first-line chemotherapy combined bevacizumab with fluoropyrimidine for frail patients with unresectable or metastatic colorectal cancer in Japan was comparable to the safety and efficacy of combination therapy reported previously in Western countries.
Effect of White Matter Hyperintensity on Medial Temporal Lobe Atrophy in Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Jang Jae-Won , Kim SangYun , Na Hye Yeon , Ahn Seha , Lee Sang Jin , Kwak Ki-Hyeon , Lee Min-A. , Hsiung Ging-Yuek Robin , Choi Byung-Sun , Youn Young Chul
Published: January 2013

Background: Medial temporal atrophy (MTA) is a recognized marker of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and white matter hyperintensities (WMH) are frequently observed on MRI of AD. The purpose of this study was to understand the role of WMH in MTA. Methods: Subjects were 94 probable AD patients and 51 cognitively normal subjects. WMH was assessed based on the severity of deep WMH (DWMH) and periventricular WMH (PWMH). Each structural volume was evaluated using the Individual Brain Atlases from the Statistical Parametric Mapping Toolbox. Results: There were no significant differences between subjects with and without WMH in terms of general cognitive function scales. Subjects with AD with WMH had decreased volume in the bilateral orbital frontal gyrus, frontal rectus gyrus, and olfactory gyrus, but not in the medial temporal lobes. After correcting for differences in DWMH, age and Clinical Dementia Rating Scale (CDR), AD with PWMH showed decreased volumes in the bilateral hippocampi. AD with PWMH showed worse scores on the Clinical Dementia Rating-Sum of Boxes and Barthel-ADL, and some frontal executive function tests. Those with DWMH did not show any reductions in the medial temporal lobes. Conclusion: WMH in AD is not associated with medial temporal lobe atrophy, but PWMH is independently correlated with hippocampal volume reduction.
Patterns of Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Admissions in England, 2008–2011
Authors: Shiue Ivy
Published: January 2013

Background: To investigate hospital admissions for subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) across regions in England in recent years, with the hypothesis that deprived areas have higher admissions. Methods: Hospital episode statistics between July 2008 and June 2011 were retrieved. Hospital admissions by geographic and seasonal variations were examined. Data on prevalence of deprivation were extracted from the English Indices of Deprivation. Comparisons were made by using linear regression models to test associations between deprivation and classical risk contributors and SAH admissions at the area level. Results: SAH admissions were observed to be higher in warm months and lower in cold months. There was not much variation in SAH admissions across regions. Areas with higher prevalence of risk contributors had higher SAH admissions (all p < 0.05), but no relation with deprivation was found. Additionally, over the last 13 years, SAH admissions have decreased (beta: –0.011, 95% CI: –0.015 to –0.008, p < 0.001) annually, but the proportion of male patient admissions has increased (beta: 0.022, 95% CI: 0.008–0.036, p = 0.005). Conclusion: SAH admissions varied across seasons but not geographically. Additionally, they were correlated with known risk contributors. Policies attending to lifestyle change are suggested in reducing this disease.
Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma after Treatment with Extended Dosing Temozolomide and Radiotherapy for a Glioblastoma: A Case Report
Authors: Van Ginderachter Laura , Cox Tony , Drijkoningen Ria , Achten Ruth , Joosens Eric , Maes Annelies , Theunissen Koen , Mebis Jeroen
Published: January 2013

Temozolomide (TMZ) is an alkylating agent, used for the treatment of high-grade gliomas. This case report describes the development of a non-Hodgkin lymphoma in a patient treated with extended-dose temozolomide and radiotherapy. In addition to the possible mutagenic effect of temozolomide – as described for all alkylating agents – there might have been an immunosuppressive effect of TMZ. The pathological appearance of the lymphoma as well as the presence of a grade 3 lymphopenia early in treatment supports this hypothesis. As the use of TMZ increases, the awareness that TMZ may induce secondary malignancies should increase as well.
Hepatozoon langii n. sp. and Hepatozoon vacuolatus n. sp. (Apicomplexa: Adele­orina: Hepatozoidae) from the crag lizard (Sauria: Cordylidae) Pseudocordylus langi from the North Eastern Drakensberg escarpment, Eastern Free State, South Africa
Authors: VAN AS JOHANN , DAVIES ANGELA J. , SMIT NICO J.
Published: January 2013

Two new haemogregarine species, Hepatozoon langii n. sp. and Hepatozoon vacuolatus n. sp., are described from the pe-ripheral blood of the high altitude crag lizard, Pseudocordylus langi, collected between October 2006 and April 2009 from the North Eastern Drakensberg, Eastern Free State. Hepatozoon langii n. sp. has maturing and mature gamonts that appear encapsulated and have narrow, curved tails. Their cytoplasm stains pinkish-purple with Giemsa, while their nuclei are pur-ple stained with stranded chromatin. Mature gamonts measure 19.1 ± 1.0 (15.4–28.1) μm long by 6.2 ± 1.1 (3.5–7.9) μm wide. Hepatozoon vacuolatus n. sp. gamonts are mostly broader at one pole than the other, have bluish-pink cytoplasm characterised by distinctive rounded and oval vacuoles, and demonstrate pink granules with Giemsa staining. Nuclei stain purple and are mainly coarsely granular. Mature gamonts measure 16.5 ± 1.0 (14.7 - 17.6) μm long by 5.9 ± 1.2 (4.0 - 7.7) μm wide. Both species parasitize erythroblasts, as well as erythrocytes and can dehaemoglobinize the cytoplasm of their host cells. Hepatozoon langii n. sp occurred in the absence of H. vacuolatus n. sp., but the latter haemogregarine always formed mixed infections with the former; no stages intermediate between the two haemogregarine types were observed.
Biogeographical implications of Zambezian Cichlidogyrus species (Platyhelminthes: Monogenea: Ancyrocephalidae) parasitizing Congolian cichlids
Authors: VANHOVE MAARTEN P.M. , VAN STEENBERGE MAARTEN , DESSEIN STEVEN , VOLCKAERT FILIP A.M. , SNOEKS JOS , HUYSE TINE , PARISELLE ANTOINE
Published: January 2013

Fishes normally restricted to inland waters are valuable model systems for historical biogeography, inter alia, because of their limited dispersal abilities and concordance with the distribution patterns of other freshwater taxa (Zogaris et al. 2009). The comparison of fish species assemblages has been the major biogeographical tool for delineating African aquatic ecoregions as the fossil record is often meagre and merely offers complementary information. This is, for example, the case for the Zambezian and Congolian ichthyofaunal provinces, which display substantial contemporary fish diversity (Stewart 2001). Between both regions lies the Bangweulu-Mweru ecoregion (sensu Scott 2005), known for its high percentage of endemicity. Although hydrographically belonging to the Congo Basin, the Bangweulu-Mweru ecoregion has a high affinity with the Zambezi province (Scott 2005), due to historical river connections (Tweddle 2010). Studies comparing the Zambezi and Congo ichthyofaunal provinces are rare and hampered by lack of data from the Congo Basin. The latter harbours more than 1250 fish species (Snoeks et al. 2011) while in the Zambezi, only 120 freshwater fishes are found (Tweddle 2010). Indeed, species richness declines in all major African teleost families from the Congo Basin southwards, riverine haplochromine cichlids forming a notable exception to this rule (Joyce et al. 2005). Although it was hypothesized by Tweddle (2010) that the origin of many Zambezian fish species is in the Congo Basin, the haplochromines Serranochromis Regan, Sargochromis Regan, Pharyngochromis Greenwood and Chetia Trewavas, together forming the serranochromines, have their centre of diversity in the rivers of the Zambezian ichthyofaunal province (Joyce et al. 2005). Therefore, the biogeographical history of Cichlidae across the Zambezi- Congo watershed is not only key to cichlid biogeography on an African scale, but also complementary to biogeography of all other teleosts in the region. Yet, colonisation and speciation patterns are difficult to unravel due to complex hydrological history (Katongo et al. 2007; Schwarzer et al. 2012).
Intercomparison of Meteorological Forcing Data from Empirical and Mesoscale Model Sources in the North Fork American River Basin in Northern Sierra Nevada, California*
Authors: Wayand Nicholas E. , Hamlet Alan F. , Abel Mimi R. , Feld Shara I. , Lundquist Jessica D.
Published: January 2013

The data required to drive distributed hydrological models are significantly limited within mountainous terrain because of a scarcity of observations. This study evaluated three common configurations of forcing data: 1) one low-elevation station, combined with empirical techniques; 2) gridded output from the Weather Research and Forecasting Model (WRF); and 3) a combination of the two. Each configuration was evaluated within the heavily instrumented North Fork American River basin in California during October–June 2000–10. Simulations of streamflow and snowpack using the Distributed Hydrology Soil and Vegetation Model (DHSVM) highlighted precipitation and radiation as variables whose sources resulted in significant differences. The best source of precipitation data varied between years. On average, the WRF performed as well as the single station distributed using the Parameter Regression on Independent Slopes Model (PRISM). The average percent biases in simulated streamflow were 3% and 1%, for configurations 1 and 2, respectively, even though precipitation compared directly with gauge measurements was biased high by 6% and 17%, suggesting that gauge undercatch may explain part of the bias. Simulations of snowpack using empirically estimated longwave irradiance resulted in melt rates lower than those observed at high-elevation sites, while at lower elevations the same forcing caused significant midwinter melt that was not observed. These results highlight the complexity of how forcing data sources impact hydrology over different areas (high- versus low-elevation snow) and different time periods. Overall, results support the use of output from the WRF model over empirical techniques in regions with limited station data.
Global Calibration of the GEOS-5 L-Band Microwave Radiative Transfer Model over Nonfrozen Land Using SMOS Observations
Authors: De Lannoy Gabriëlle J. M. , Reichle Rolf H. , Pauwels Valentijn R. N.
Published: January 2013

A zero-order (tau-omega) microwave radiative transfer model (RTM) is coupled to the Goddard Earth Observing System, version 5 (GEOS-5) catchment land surface model in preparation for the future assimilation of global brightness temperatures (Tb) from the L-band (1.4 GHz) Soil Moisture Ocean Salinity (SMOS) and Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) missions. Simulations using literature values for the RTM parameters result in Tb biases of 10–50 K against SMOS observations. Multiangular SMOS observations during nonfrozen conditions from 1 July 2011 to 1 July 2012 are used to calibrate parameters related to the microwave roughness h, vegetation opacity τ and/or scattering albedo ω separately for each observed 36-km land grid cell. A particle swarm optimization is used to minimize differences in the long-term (climatological) mean values and standard deviations between SMOS observations and simulations, without attempting to reduce the shorter-term (seasonal to daily) errors. After calibration, global Tb simulations for the validation year (1 July 2010 to 1 July 2011) are largely unbiased for multiple incidence angles and both H and V polarization [e.g., the global average absolute difference is 2.7 K for TbH(42.5°), i.e., at 42.5° incidence angle]. The calibrated parameter values depend to some extent on the specific land surface conditions simulated by the GEOS-5 system and on the scale of the SMOS observations, but they also show realistic spatial distributions. Aggregating the calibrated parameter values by vegetation class prior to using them in the RTM maintains low global biases but increases local biases [e.g., the global average absolute difference is 7.1 K for TbH(42.5°)].
Square Root and Perturbed Observation Ensemble Generation Techniques in Kalman and Quadratic Ensemble Filtering Algorithms
Authors: Hodyss Daniel , Campbell William F.
Published: January 2013

The main goal of this work is to present a new square root ensemble generation technique that is consistent with a recently developed extension of Kalman-based linear regression algorithms such that they may perform nonlinear polynomial regression (i.e., includes a quadratically nonlinear term in the mean update equation) and that is applicable to ensemble data assimilation in the geosciences. Along the way the authors present a unification of the theories of square root and perturbed observation (sometimes referred to as stochastic) ensemble generation in data assimilation algorithms configured to perform both linear (Kalman) regression as well as quadratic nonlinear regression. The performance of linear and nonlinear regression algorithms with both ensemble generation techniques is explored in the three-variable Lorenz model as well as in a nonlinear model configured to simulate shear layer instabilities.
Radar Data Assimilation with WRF 4D-Var. Part I: System Development and Preliminary Testing
Authors: Wang Hongli , Sun Juanzhen , Zhang Xin , Huang Xiang-Yu , Auligné Thomas
Published: January 2013

The major goal of this two-part study is to assimilate radar data into the high-resolution Advanced Research Weather Research and Forecasting Model (ARW-WRF) for the improvement of short-term quantitative precipitation forecasting (QPF) using a four-dimensional variational data assimilation (4D-Var) technique. In Part I the development of a radar data assimilation scheme within the WRF 4D-Var system (WRF 4D-Var) and the preliminary testing of the scheme are described. In Part II the performance of the enhanced WRF 4D-Var system is examined by comparing it with the three-dimensional variational data assimilation system (WRF 3D-Var) for a convective system over the U.S. Great Plains. The WRF 4D-Var radar data assimilation system has been developed with the existing framework of an incremental formulation. The new development for radar data assimilation includes the tangent-linear and adjoint models of a Kessler warm-rain microphysics scheme and the new control variables of cloud water, rainwater, and vertical velocity and their error statistics. An ensemble forecast with 80 members is used to produce background error covariance. The preliminary testing presented in this paper includes single-observation experiments as well as real data assimilation experiments on a squall line with assimilation windows of 5, 15, and 30 min. The results indicate that the system is able to obtain anisotropic multivariate analyses at the convective scale and improve precipitation forecasts. The results also suggest that the incremental approach with successive basic-state updates works well at the convection-permitting scale for radar data assimilation with the selected assimilation windows.
Verification of Convection-Allowing WRF Model Forecasts of the Planetary Boundary Layer Using Sounding Observations
Authors: Coniglio Michael C. , Correia James , Marsh Patrick T. , Kong Fanyou
Published: January 2013

This study evaluates forecasts of thermodynamic variables from five convection-allowing configurations of the Weather Research and Forecasting Model (WRF) with the Advanced Research core (WRF-ARW). The forecasts vary only in their planetary boundary layer (PBL) scheme, including three “local” schemes [Mellor–Yamada–Janjić (MYJ), quasi-normal scale elimination (QNSE), and Mellor–Yamada–Nakanishi–Niino (MYNN)] and two schemes that include “nonlocal” mixing [the asymmetric cloud model version 2 (ACM2) and the Yonei University (YSU) scheme]. The forecasts are compared to springtime radiosonde observations upstream from deep convection to gain a better understanding of the thermodynamic characteristics of these PBL schemes in this regime. The morning PBLs are all too cool and dry despite having little bias in PBL depth (except for YSU). In the evening, the local schemes produce shallower PBLs that are often too shallow and too moist compared to nonlocal schemes. However, MYNN is nearly unbiased in PBL depth, moisture, and potential temperature, which is comparable to the background North American Mesoscale model (NAM) forecasts. This result gives confidence in the use of the MYNN scheme in convection-allowing configurations of WRF-ARW to alleviate the typical cool, moist bias of the MYJ scheme in convective boundary layers upstream from convection. The morning cool and dry biases lead to an underprediction of mixed-layer CAPE (MLCAPE) and an overprediction of mixed-layer convective inhibition (MLCIN) at that time in all schemes. MLCAPE and MLCIN forecasts improve in the evening, with MYJ, QNSE, and MYNN having small mean errors, but ACM2 and YSU having a somewhat low bias. Strong observed capping inversions tend to be associated with an underprediction of MLCIN in the evening, as the model profiles are too smooth. MLCAPE tends to be overpredicted (underpredicted) by MYJ and QNSE (MYNN, ACM2, and YSU) when the observed MLCAPE is relatively small (large).
Flexing Some Muscle: Strategy and Outcomes in the Queensland Health and Fitness Industry
Authors: Maconachie Glenda , Sappey Jennifer
Published: January 2013

In 1993, contrary to the trend towards enterprise bargaining, and despite an employment environment favouring strong managerial prerogative, a small group of employers in the Queensland commercial health and fitness industry sought industrial regulation through an industry-specific award. A range of factors, including increased competition and unscrupulous profiteers damaging the industry’s reputation, triggered the actions as a business strategy. The strategic choices of the employer group, to approach a union to initiate a consent award, are the inverse of behaviours expected under strategic choice theory. This article argues that organizational size, collective employer action, focus on industry rather than organizational outcomes and the traditional industrial relations system providing broader impacts explain their atypical behaviour.
Returning to Work After Maternity Leave: Childcare and Workplace Flexibility
Authors: Nowak Margaret J , Naude Marita , Thomas Gail
Published: January 2013

This article explores how responsibilities for childcare are managed as part of family decisions made around the return to work following a period of maternity leave. We surveyed all women health professionals identified as on maternity leave on payroll records of the Health Department, Western Australia, and one private sector national provider of hospital services. Survey questions were designed following a review of the literature and prior empirical work. The design enabled us to collect both quantitative information and interpretive qualitative responses from participants. Over 50% of respondents expected to have childcare provided wholly by family members, while 15% anticipated the use of formal arrangements alone. The planned arrangements for care can best be understood within a framework of a ‘family budget’ of time to be allocated between market-based work and childcare. Attitudes to childcare are central to this ‘time economies’ framework. Respondents experienced dissonance between the stated organizational family-friendly policy of their workplaces and practices at the management level. Employer-centred flexibility often disrupted their child-care arrangements. We identify important employment policy issues for workplaces that would facilitate the optimal return to the workforce by professional women following maternity leave.
Bridges or Traps? Casualisation and Labour Market Transitions in Australia
Authors: Watson Ian
Published: January 2013

In this article, I re-examine the familiar debate on whether casual jobs represent a ‘bridge’ into permanent employment or a ‘trap’ that keeps workers locked into ongoing casualised work or joblessness. My analysis looks at the labour market destinations of casual workers over time, making use of the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey data for the period 2001 to 2009. The novelty of my approach is twofold. First, I examine an extensive range of individual, locality and job characteristics to assess which of these are most strongly associated with various labour market destinations. Second, I conduct the analysis using longitudinal panel data, in which I make use of random intercepts multinomial logit panel models to estimate various conditional predicted probabilities for these destinations. The findings show that as far as individual characteristics are concerned, age and years in paid employment matter a great deal, while education matters much less. Increasing age leads to worse outcomes, more years in paid employment lead to better outcomes, and increased levels of educational qualification have only a modest link to better outcomes. In regard to locality, the more disadvantaged the area, the more likely that casual jobs will persist, transitions to permanent jobs will diminish and transitions to joblessness will increase. In regard to the jobs themselves, casualisation persists in those industries where casual density is high, where organisations are small, where the work is part-time and where skills development is limited. These findings suggest that systemic influences count for a great deal, while human capital elements count for much less. I conclude that the very nature of casual jobs is itself responsible for perpetuating casualised employment.
Informal Skill Formation and the Division of Labour: The Case of Korean Tiling Workers in Sydney
Authors: Shin Joon Shik , McGrath-Champ Susan
Published: January 2013

To improve our understanding of skill requirements and skill formation, this article tracks long-term skill changes in the tiling sector of the Sydney construction industry from the 1950s to 2009. It examines how and why management changed the labour process and upgraded or degraded the skills and autonomy of employees. The late 1980s marked a dividing point in the circumstances and terms of employment for skilled tile-layers in this sector. Since then, a new component in the contractual chain has been established, that of ‘middlepersons’. Middlepersons have become the employers of tiling workers and, in contrast to prior comprehensive skilling of tiling workers, have implemented a subdivided and lower-skilled system of employment. This article reveals that management adjusts skill requirements and skill formation to the prevailing employment relations system, in this case, deploying new migrant workers to enhance profits.
The Reflexivity of Individual and Group Identity within Identity-Based Movements
Authors: Longard Shelby
Published: January 2013

In early 2011, students at a Christian liberal arts university won a nearly two-year battle for the official university recognition of a faith-based student organization centered on fostering a spiritual dialogue regarding lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) identity and student sexuality. This article utilizes in-depth personal stories of the founding group members to examine current gaps in the identity-based social movement literature. The author argues that individual and group identities are formed reflexively through interaction and self- and group-reflection. Additionally, the author examines respondent stories to shed light on the various collective action frames made possible through discursive opportunity structures. Unforeseen openings within repressive environments may ultimately open the door to social change formerly thought unattainable. Possible implications for future research, specifically that pertaining to LGBT populations and movements, are also discussed.
Introduction: Neoliberal housing policy – time for a critical re-appraisal
Authors: Hodkinson Stuart , Watt Paul , Mooney Gerry
Published: January 2013

This paper introduces the themed section of Critical Social Policy on social housing, privatization and neoliberalism. In tracing the key elements in the development of privatization and residualization since 1979, it argues that these can only be fully understood as part of a wider neoliberalizing agenda, an agenda that is driven by a particular class project. The paper also seeks to re-assert the importance of a critical approach to successive decades of social housing policies in the devolved UK, arguing that the classed basis of housing privatization policies has been largely overlooked by academics in favour of an evolutionary and ‘modernizing’ framework which isolates developments in social housing provision from other wider shifts in social welfare and in labour markets. Understanding such processes, it is claimed, is a necessary step in the development of a more socially just and sustainable form of housing provision.
Transfer Dependence of Northeast States: Are the Growth Effects of Grants Uniform Across States?
Authors: Debnath Avijit , Roy Niranjan , Bhattacharjee Nairita
Published: January 2013

After decades of intergovernmental transfers in India, studies to analyse the impacts of central government transfers on regional growth are inadequate. Even the limited studies that have been done have excluded the northeastern region (NER) from their analysis, except for the state of Assam. This article examines the impact of central government grants on economic growth in northeast India. In addition, we analyse if the growth impact of grants, if any, is uniform across states. Our analysis, based on official secondary data from eight northeastern states for the period 1991 to 2010, shows that per capita real central grant is positively associated with economic growth, but conditional on other variables being held constant. However, the effects of such grants are not uniform across the states. The growth effect of grants is estimated to be highest in Assam and lowest in Mizoram.
Are better defined rules enough? An assessment of the post-crisis reforms of the governance of EMU
Authors: Begg Iain
Published: January 2013

The extensive economic governance reforms in the euro area since 2010 have put in place a system (EMU 2) that is intended to be more intrusive, prescriptive and enforceable in constraining Member State economic policies. It can be characterized as a recasting of the stability-orientated framework which is intended to correct the acknowledged shortcomings of the original set-up (EMU 1), but does not fundamentally alter the policy model. Rather its ambition is to be more effective, notably in implementation. This article revisits the economic arguments for monetary integration and considers whether the core features of the new model and the economic logic that underpins them will improve the governance of EMU in assuring macroeconomic stability. It draws attention to remaining gaps in the governance system and discusses possible further reforms.
Monetary union and the stakes for democracy and social policy
Authors: Pochet Philippe , Degryse Christophe
Published: January 2013

The democratic and social aspects of the new European governance are not really separable. In the 1970s monetary union was seen as the successful culmination of political and social integration; subsequently, it was regarded as the trigger for such integration. Finally, the Maastricht Treaty opted for monetary union in the absence of political union, on a basis of rule-based governance for the public finances and with social policy playing the role of shock absorber. Since 2008 the crises in the euro area have shown that this route does not lead to increased convergence and their result has been to exacerbate the dismantling of social models. Today the question of political integration has come once again to the surface, albeit accompanied so far by scant democratic debate. The authors of this contribution consider that EMU will never be stable in the absence of real debate on the varying options and of a strengthening of the European social model.
Remote living: Exploring online (and offline) experiences of young people living in rural areas
Authors: Awan Fatimah , Gauntlett David
Published: January 2013

This article investigates the online and offline experiences of young people living in rural communities. It draws upon data from the AHRC-funded research project, ‘Young people’s creative understanding of their mediaworlds’ (2008–10), in which young people aged 14–15 created ‘identity boxes’ to explore the place of media in their lives. The article demonstrates that many young people in rural areas were disengaged with new media and highlights why, for some individuals, online inclusion increased their feelings of cultural exclusion. The article reveals that many young people in rural areas made use of new media technologies only when they saw them as having a practical value relevant to their lives. The article further demonstrates the use of a creative visual method as a process which elicits reflective comments about a taken-for-granted world, and contributes empirically to knowledge about young people’s uses of new media within their everyday lives.
The 360 deal and the ‘new’ music industry
Authors: Marshall Lee
Published: January 2013

In the last few years the so-called ‘360 deal’, in which record labels receive a portion of income from revenue streams such as merchandising and publishing, have become increasingly common in the recording industry. However, the most publicised 360 deals have been made not by labels but by Live Nation, the world’s largest live music promoter, and some have argued that the emergence of the 360 deal reflects a shift in the balance of power within the music industry. This article provides an overview of 360 deals, discussing their emergence and overall structure as well as arguments for and against the 360 approach. It examines the broader implications of the 360 deal, concluding that the current situation of the major labels may not be quite as bad as is commonly perceived, and that the 360 approach may help them manage the challenges that they have faced in the last decade.
Sculpture as deconstruction: the aesthetic practice of Ron Mueck
Authors: Cranny-Francis Anne
Published: January 2013

This article analyses recent (2009) work of Australian-born, British-based hyperrealist sculptor, Ron Mueck, in order to show how it not only engages with a range of specific contemporary concerns and debates, but also operates as a visual deconstruction of Cartesian subjectivity. In order to identify Mueck’s deconstructive practice, the article uses a combination of multimodal, sensory and discourse analyses to situate Mueck’s work discursively and institutionally, and to explore the ways in which it provokes reader engagement. As the author identifies, each of the works – Youth, Still life and Drift – addresses specific issues and they all provoke a self-reflexive engagement that brings together all aspects of viewer engagement (sensory, emotional, intellectual, spiritual), challenging the mind/body dichotomy that characterizes the Cartesian subject.
Prediction of B-cell epitopes using evolutionary information and propensity scales
Authors: Lin Scott Yi-Heng , Cheng Cheng-Wei , Su Emily Chia-Yu
Published: January 2013

Background

Development of computational tools that can accurately predict presence and location of B-cell epitopes on pathogenic proteins has a valuable application to the field of vaccinology. Because of the highly variable yet enigmatic nature of B-cell epitopes, their prediction presents a great challenge to computational immunologists.

Methods

We propose a method, BEEPro (B-cell e pitope prediction by e volutionary information and pro pensity scales), which adapts a linear averaging scheme on 16 properties using a support vector machine model to predict both linear and conformational B-cell epitopes. These 16 properties include position specific scoring matrix (PSSM), an amino acid ratio scale, and a set of 14 physicochemical scales obtained via a feature selection process. Finally, a three-way data split procedure is used during the validation process to prevent over-estimation of prediction performance and avoid bias in our experiment results.

Results

In our experiment, first we use a non-redundant linear B-cell epitope dataset curated by Sollner et al. for feature selection and parameter optimization. Evaluated by a three-way data split procedure, BEEPro achieves significant improvement with the area under the receiver operating curve (AUC) = 0.9987, accuracy = 99.29%, mathew's correlation coefficient (MCC) = 0.9281, sensitivity = 0.9604, specificity = 0.9946, positive predictive value (PPV) = 0.9042 for the Sollner dataset. In addition, the same parameters are used to evaluate performance on other independent linear B-cell epitope test datasets, BEEPro attains an AUC which ranges from 0.9874 to 0.9950 and an accuracy which ranges from 93.73% to 97.31%. Moreover, five-fold cross-validation on one benchmark conformational B-cell epitope dataset yields an accuracy of 92.14% and AUC of 0.9066.

Conclusions

Compared with other current models, our method achieves a significant improvement with respect to AUC, accuracy, MCC, sensitivity, specificity, and PPV. Thus, we have shown that an appropriate combination of evolutionary information and propensity scales with a support vector machine model can significantly enhance the prediction performance of both linear and conformational B-cell epitopes.
Prediction of peptides binding to MHC class I and II alleles by temporal motif mining
Authors: Meydan Cem , Otu Hasan H , Sezerman Osman Uğur
Published: January 2013

Background

MHC (Major Histocompatibility Complex) is a key player in the immune response of most vertebrates. The computational prediction of whether a given antigenic peptide will bind to a specific MHC allele is important in the development of vaccines for emerging pathogens, the creation of possibilities for controlling immune response, and for the applications of immunotherapy. One of the problems that make this computational prediction difficult is the detection of the binding core region in peptides, coupled with the presence of bulges and loops causing variations in the total sequence length. Most machine learning methods require the sequences to be of the same length to successfully discover the binding motifs, ignoring the length variance in both motif mining and prediction steps. In order to overcome this limitation, we propose the use of time-based motif mining methods that work position-independently.

Results

The prediction method was tested on a benchmark set of 28 different alleles for MHC class I and 27 different alleles for MHC class II. The obtained results are comparable to the state of the art methods for both MHC classes, surpassing the published results for some alleles. The average prediction AUC values are 0.897 for class I, and 0.858 for class II.

Conclusions

Temporal motif mining using partial periodic patterns can capture information about the sequences well enough to predict the binding of the peptides and is comparable to state of the art methods in the literature. Unlike neural networks or matrix based predictors, our proposed method does not depend on peptide length and can work with both short and long fragments. This advantage allows better use of the available training data and the prediction of peptides of uncommon lengths.
Identifying cross-category relations in gene ontology and constructing genome-specific term association networks
Authors: Peng Jiajie , Chen Jin , Wang Yadong
Published: January 2013

Background

Gene Ontology (GO) has been widely used in biological databases, annotation projects, and computational analyses. Although the three GO categories are structured as independent ontologies, the biological relationships across the categories are not negligible for biological reasoning and knowledge integration. However, the existing cross-category ontology term similarity measures are either developed by utilizing the GO data only or based on manually curated term name similarities, ignoring the fact that GO is evolving quickly and the gene annotations are far from complete.

Results

In this paper we introduce a new cross-category similarity measurement called CroGO by incorporating genome-specific gene co-function network data. The performance study showed that our measurement outperforms the existing algorithms. We also generated genome-specific term association networks for yeast and human. An enrichment based test showed our networks are better than those generated by the other measures.

Conclusions

The genome-specific term association networks constructed using CroGO provided a platform to enable a more consistent use of GO. In the networks, the frequently occurred MF-centered hub indicates that a molecular function may be shared by different genes in multiple biological processes, or a set of genes with the same functions may participate in distinct biological processes. And common subgraphs in multiple organisms also revealed conserved GO term relationships. Software and data are available online at http://www.msu.edu/~jinchen/CroGO.
Adaptive bi-level programming for optimal gene knockouts for targeted overproduction under phenotypic constraints
Authors: Ren Shaogang , Zeng Bo , Qian Xiaoning
Published: January 2013

Background

Optimization procedures to identify gene knockouts for targeted biochemical overproduction have been widely in use in modern metabolic engineering. Flux balance analysis (FBA) framework has provided conceptual simplifications for genome-scale dynamic analysis at steady states. Based on FBA, many current optimization methods for targeted bio-productions have been developed under the maximum cell growth assumption. The optimization problem to derive gene knockout strategies recently has been formulated as a bi-level programming problem in OptKnock for maximum targeted bio-productions with maximum growth rates. However, it has been shown that knockout mutants in fact reach the steady states with the minimization of metabolic adjustment (MOMA) from the corresponding wild-type strains instead of having maximal growth rates after genetic or metabolic intervention. In this work, we propose a new bi-level computational framework--MOMAKnock--which can derive robust knockout strategies under the MOMA flux distribution approximation.

Methods

In this new bi-level optimization framework, we aim to maximize the production of targeted chemicals by identifying candidate knockout genes or reactions under phenotypic constraints approximated by the MOMA assumption. Hence, the targeted chemical production is the primary objective of MOMAKnock while the MOMA assumption is formulated as the inner problem of constraining the knockout metabolic flux to be as close as possible to the steady-state phenotypes of wide-type strains. As this new inner problem becomes a quadratic programming problem, a novel adaptive piecewise linearization algorithm is developed in this paper to obtain the exact optimal solution to this new bi-level integer quadratic programming problem for MOMAKnock.

Results

Our new MOMAKnock model and the adaptive piecewise linearization solution algorithm are tested with a small E. coli core metabolic network and a large-scale iAF1260 E. coli metabolic network. The derived knockout strategies are compared with those from OptKnock. Our preliminary experimental results show that MOMAKnock can provide improved targeted productions with more robust knockout strategies.