bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pitfalls of Contracting for Policy Advice: Preparing Performance Budgeting Reform in Estonia
Authors: Raudla Ringa
Published: November 2012

The goal of this article is to analyze the challenges involved in contracting for policy advice with the example of performance budgeting reform in Estonia in 2009–2011. The Estonian Ministry of Finance has sought to prepare a major change in the budgeting system by outsourcing the analytical preparation of different aspects of the reform to various private sector organizations. The case study seeks to identify the challenges and pitfalls involved in contracting for policy and management advice in the area of a major public sector reform. The Estonian experience shows that such a reform strategy can run into serious problems, including fragmented and inconsistent reform plan, limited learning, and high transaction costs. The contractualization of reform preparation has constrained deliberations on the planned changes to the strategic planning and budgeting system among the stakeholders and undermined the democratic legitimacy of the reform.
New Directions for Measurement in Management Research
Authors: Scherbaum Charles A. , Meade Adam W.
Published: November 2012

Despite its importance, measurement has received less attention in the management sciences than it deserves. Currently, there is an over‐reliance on a narrow set of methods of measuring cognitive, affective, motivational, attitudinal and individual difference constructs that are often of interest in behavioural management research. The authors argue that there is a need to expand the scope of the measurement methods commonly employed by management researchers and that a greater diversity of measurement methods would benefit the field by contributing to theory development and the pursuit of new areas of research. The goals of this review are twofold: (1) to increase awareness among management researchers of the alternative measurement methods that can capture many of the cognitive, affective, motivational, attitudinal and individual difference constructs of interest; (2) to critically evaluate how these methods can and should be used, with a focus on both the strengths and limitations of each method. This review focuses on three classes of measures: physiological and biological measures; experience‐sampling measures; and implicit measures. These measures have had a tremendous impact on the research and theories of other fields such as marketing and economics, despite still being in their infancy. The authors believe that these three classes of measures have the potential to impact the nature and scope of management research and theory as well.
Safety of no bowel preparation before ileal urinary diversion
Authors: Hashad Mohamed Mohie Eldin , Atta Mohamed , Elabbady Ahmed , Elfiky Souzan , Khattab Amr , Kotb Ahmed
Published: November 2012

Study Type – Harm (case series)

Level of Evidence 4

What's known on the subject? and What does the study add?

Recent studies show no advantage of bowel preparation before ileal urinary diversion and that avoidance of bowel preparation led to early restoration of intestinal function and shorter hospital stay. However, this was not tested in a prospective comparison.

The current study is a prospective comparison to test for the safety of omitting bowel preparation before ileal urinary diversion. This study also examines simultaneous effects of bowel preparation on the ileal flora and mucosa.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the safety of no bowel preparation before ileal reconstructive procedures of the lower urinary tract, in comparison to standard 3‐day bowel preparation. The present study also examines the effects of bowel preparation on small bowel wall and bacterial flora.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This study enrolled 40 patients scheduled for radical cystectomy and ileal urinary diversion, presenting to the department of urology, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt during the period from January 2009 to September 2010.

Patients were prospectively randomized into two groups: Group (I) had standard 3‐day bowel preparation. Group (II) had only over‐night fasting before surgery.

Intra‐operatively, one ml of ileal fluid was collected for bacteriological studies and an ileal wall biopsy was taken for histopathological examination.

Postoperative complications were reported for all patients using modified Clavien system.

RESULTS

Both groups showed insignificant difference regarding the frequency and Clavien grade of postoperative complications (P = 0.30).

Under aerobic and anaerobic conditions, 5 cases in group (I) had bacterial overgrowth of E. coli (>105) versus none in group (II) (P = 0.04). Eight patients in group (I) had sterile ileal fluid cultures versus 18 patients (90%) in group (II). No correlation could be made between would infections and the organisms isolated in ileal fluid cultures.

Histopathological examination of ileal biopsies revealed mucosal edema and submucosal congestion in 9 cases in group (I) versus 2 cases in group (II) (P = 0.0310).

CONCLUSIONS

Omitting bowel preparation before ileal urinary diversion is safe, with no added complications.

Non‐preparation of the small bowel is not associated with bacterial overgrowth.
Habitat loss and the disassembly of mutalistic networks
Authors: Fortuna Miguel A. , Krishna Abhay , Bascompte Jordi
Published: November 2012

Recent studies have described the architecture of plant–animal mutualistic networks, but little is known on how such networks disassemble as a consequence of global change. This is a relevant question because 1) species interactions seem to be very susceptible to habitat loss, and 2) the loss of a critical fraction of interactions can abruptly change the topology of the entire network with potential consequences for its functioning. Here we develop a spatially explicit metacommunity model based on the structure of 30 real mutualistic networks. We find that there is a critical value of habitat destruction beyond which interactions are lost very fast. Second, there is a homogeneous distribution of the number of interactions per patch when the habitat is pristine, while this becomes very skewed at the brink of extinction. This increase in skewness is discussed in the context of potential indicators of network collapse.
Brucella abortus and Brucella canis in captive wild felids in Brazil
Authors: Almeida A. B. P. F. , Silva C. P. A. , Pitchenin L. C. , Dahroug M. A. A. , da Silva G. C. P. , Sousa V. R. F. , de Souza R. L. , Nakazato L. , Dutra V.
Published: November 2012

Brucellosis is a zoonosis. The aim of this study was to check the health status of felids kept at the zoo of the Federal University of Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, Brazil. Blood samples were taken from seven Puma Puma concolor, five Jaguar Panthera onca, four Ocelot Leopardus pardalis and one Lion Panthera leo. Brucellosis serology and polymerase chain reaction were performed. The presence of antibodies and DNA of Brucella abortus and Brucella canis were not detected in P. leo. The amplification of DNA from B. abortus and B. canis was observed in the four Ocelot. DNA from B. abortus was detected in one Jaguar, and DNA from B. canis in two Puma and one Jaguar. Serology for B. abortus was positive in two Puma and two Jaguar, while B. canis was observed in one Ocelot and two Jaguar. Although not considered a source of infection to staff, multidisciplinary studies should be carried out to elucidate the role of domestic animals in the epidemiology of this zoonosis.
Temporal dynamics and network analysis
Authors: Blonder Benjamin , Wey Tina W. , Dornhaus Anna , James Richard , Sih Andrew
Published: November 2012

1. Network analysis is widely used in diverse fields and can be a powerful framework for studying the structure of biological systems. Temporal dynamics are a key issue for many ecological and evolutionary questions. These dynamics include both changes in network topology and flow on the network. Network analyses that ignore or do not adequately account for the temporal dynamics can result in inappropriate inferences.

2. We suggest that existing methods are currently under‐utilized in many ecological and evolutionary network analyses and that the broader incorporation of these methods will considerably advance the current field. Our goal is to introduce ecologists and evolutionary biologists interested in studying network dynamics to extant ideas and methodological approaches, at a level appropriate for those new to the field.

3. We present an overview of time‐ordered networks, which provide a framework for analysing network dynamics that addresses multiple inferential issues and permits novel types of temporally informed network analyses. We review available methods and software, discuss the utility and considerations of different approaches, provide a worked example analysis and highlight new research opportunities in ecology and evolutionary biology.
Impact of cigarette smoking on impaired insulin secretion and insulin resistance in Japanese men: The Saku Study
Authors: Morimoto Akiko , Tatsumi Yukako , Deura Kijyo , Mizuno Shoichi , Ohno Yuko , Watanabe Shaw
Published: November 2012

Aims/Introduction

To assess the impact of smoking on impaired insulin secretion and insulin resistance in Japanese men.

Materials and Methods

This study included 1,199 men aged 30–79 years without diabetes, impaired insulin secretion and insulin resistance at baseline who underwent a comprehensive medical check‐up between April 2006 and March 2007 at Saku Central Hospital. Smoking status was categorized as current, ex‐smoker and never‐smoker. Insulinogenic index and homeostasis model assessment‐insulin resistance were determined using a standard 75‐g oral glucose tolerance test. The Japan Diabetes Society criteria were used to define impaired insulin secretion and insulin resistance. Participants were followed up until March 2011.

Results

A total of 449 and 99 men developed impaired insulin secretion and insulin resistance during 3,403 and 4,092 person‐years follow up, respectively. The multivariable‐adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for impaired insulin secretion were 1.06 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.84–1.33) in ex‐smokers and 1.95 (95% CI 1.44–2.63) in current smokers compared with never‐smokers after adjustment for age, familial history of diabetes, alcohol consumption, exercise, systolic blood pressure, triglyceride, γ‐glutamyltransferase, waist circumference, leukocyte count, changes in smoking status and changes in waist circumference. The number of pack‐years was positively associated with the risk for impaired insulin secretion in a dose‐dependent manner (P‐values for trend <0.001). The multivariable‐adjusted HRs for insulin resistance were 0.95 (95% CI 0.56–1.61) in ex‐smokers and 1.11 (95% CI 0.67–1.79) in current smokers compared with never‐smokers.

Conclusions

Cigarette smoking is a modifiable risk factor for impaired insulin secretion. The findings might also be important for other Asian populations, which have low insulin secreting ability.
Cardiovascular disease and non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drug prescribing in the midst of evolving guidelines
Authors: Pham Timothy T. , Miller Michael J. , Harrison Donald L. , Lloyd Ann E. , Crosby Kimberly M. , Johnson Jeremy L.
Published: November 2012

Rationale, aims and objectives

Responding to safety concerns, the American Heart Association (AHA) published guidelines for non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drug (NSAID) use in patients with pre‐existing cardiovascular disease (CVD) during 2005 and revised them in 2007. In the revision, a stepped approach to pain management recommended non‐selective NSAIDs over highly selective NSAIDs. This research evaluated NSAID prescribing during and after guideline dissemination.

Method

A cross‐sectional sample of 8666 adult, community‐based practice visits with one NSAID prescription representing approximately 305 million visits from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS) from 2005 to 2010 was studied. Multivariable logistic regression controlling for patient, provider and visit characteristics assessed the associations between diagnosis of CVD and NSAID type prescribed during each calendar year. Visits were stratified by arthritis diagnosis to model short‐term/intermittent and long‐term NSAID use.

Results

Approximately one‐third (36.8%) of visits involving a NSAID prescription included at least one of four diagnoses for CVD (i.e. hypertension, congestive heart failure, ischaemic heart disease or cerebrovascular disease). Visits involving a CVD diagnosis had increased odds of a prescription for celecoxib, a highly selective NSAIDs, overall [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.29, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.06–1.57] and in the subgroup of visits without an arthritis diagnosis (AOR = 1.45, 95% CI: 1.11–1.89). Results were not statistically significant for visits with an arthritis diagnosis (AOR = 1.10, 95% CI: 0.47–2.57). When analysed by year, the relationship was statistically significant in 2005 and 2006, but not statistically significant in each subsequent year.

Conclusion

National prescribing trends suggest partial implementation of AHA guidelines for NSAID prescribing in CVD from 2005 to 2010.
A guide for using functional diversity indices to reveal changes in assembly processes along ecological gradients
Authors: Mason Norman W.H. , de Bello Francesco , Mouillot David , Pavoine Sandrine , Dray Stéphane
Published: November 2012

Question

Which functional diversity indices have the power to reveal changes in community assembly processes along abiotic stress gradients? Is their power affected by stochastic processes and variations in species richness along stress gradients?

Methods

We used a simple community assembly model to explore the power of functional diversity indices across a wide range of ecological contexts. The model assumes that with declining stress the influence of niche complementarity on species fitness increases while that of environmental filtering decreases. We separately incorporated two trait‐independent stochastic processes – mass and priority effects – in simulating species occurrences and abundances along a hypothetical stress gradient. We ran simulations where species richness was constant along the gradient, or increased, decreased or varied randomly with declining stress. We compared observed values for two indices of functional richness – total functional dendrogram length (FD) and convex hull volume (FRic) – with a matrix‐swap null model (yielding indices SESFD and SESFRic) to remove any trivial effects of species richness. We also compared two indices that measure both functional richness and functional divergence – Rao quadratic entropy (Rao) and functional dispersion (FDis) – with a null model that randomizes abundances across species but within communities. This converts them to pure measures of functional divergence (SESRao and SESFDis).

Results

When mass effects operated, only SESRao and SESFDis gave reasonable power, irrespective of how species richness varied along the stress gradient. FD, FRic, Rao and FDis had low power when species richness was constant, and variation in species richness greatly influenced their power. SESFRic and SESFD were unaffected by variation in species richness. When priority effects operated, FRic, SESFRic, Rao and FDis had good power and were unaffected by variation in species richness. Variation in species richness greatly affected FD and SESFD. SESRao and SESFDis had low power in the priority effects model but were unaffected by variation in species richness.

Conclusions

Our results demonstrate that a reliable test for changes in assembly processes along stress gradients requires functional diversity indices measuring either functional richness or functional divergence. We recommend using SESFRic as a measure of functional richness and either SESRao or SESFDis (which are very closely related mathematically) as a measure of functional divergence. Used together, these indices of functional richness and functional divergence provide good power to test for increasing niche complementarity with declining stress across a broad range of ecological contexts.
Restoring the Climate by Realizing Rights: The Role of the International Human Rights System
Authors: Cameron Edward , Limon Marc
Published: November 2012

In recent years human rights have begun to feature prominently as a tool to address climate change. This article explores how the institutions and tools of the human rights system are being deployed to complement the negotiations within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, close the emissions gap and hold the increase in global average temperature below 2 °C or 1.5 °C above pre‐industrial levels. It offers an explanation of how the interface between rights and climate change has helped to evolve our analysis of socio‐ecological thresholds, created a strong and compelling narrative centered on climate justice, and enhanced political processes to better account for the experience of vulnerable populations. The article shows that the various Special Procedures and Universal Periodic Review of the Human Rights Council are already advancing the cause of urgent and ambitious climate action and suggests ways in which they can become more influential in a wider climate change regime complex.
Expanding role of ATP as a versatile messenger at carotid and aortic body chemoreceptors
Authors: Piskuric Nikol A. , Nurse Colin A.
Published: November 2012

Abstract  In mammals, peripheral arterial chemoreceptors monitor blood chemicals (e.g. O2, CO2, H+, glucose) and maintain homeostasis via initiation of respiratory and cardiovascular reflexes. Whereas chemoreceptors in the carotid bodies (CBs), located bilaterally at the carotid bifurcation, control primarily respiratory functions, those in the more diffusely distributed aortic bodies (ABs) are thought to regulate mainly cardiovascular functions. Functionally, CBs sense partial pressure of O2 (), whereas ABs are considered sensors of O2 content. How these organs, with essentially a similar complement of chemoreceptor cells, differentially process these two different types of signals remains enigmatic. Here, we review evidence that implicates ATP as a central mediator during information processing in the CB. Recent data allow an integrative view concerning its interactions at purinergic P2X and P2Y receptors within the chemosensory complex that contains elements of a ‘quadripartite synapse’. We also discuss recent studies on the cellular physiology of ABs located near the aortic arch, as well as immunohistochemical evidence suggesting the presence of pathways for P2X receptor signalling. Finally, we present a hypothetical ‘quadripartite model’ to explain how ATP, released from red blood cells during hypoxia, could contribute to the ability of ABs to sense O2 content.
Hyperpolarization of resting membrane potential causes retraction of spontaneous transients during mouse embryonic circuit development
Authors: Watari Hirofumi , Tose Amanda J. , Bosma Martha M.
Published: November 2012

Key points

A wave of electrical activity occurs in the developing brain for a certain period of time before sensory, motor and cognitive functions mature.

This electrical activity, or spontaneous activity, originates, spreads, then later retracts and disappears in specific areas of the brain at specific time points, but how it retracts is unknown.

We report that retraction in the mouse embryonic hindbrain is caused by a reduced excitability in the network of cells. This process can be reversed by bath application of high K+ solution, which increases excitability.

This reduced excitability is probably caused by increased number of K+ pores that are always open in individual cells.

These results help us understand how the spread of spontaneous activity is regulated and ultimately help us better understand the role of electrical activity during development of the fetal brain.

Abstract  Spontaneous activity supports developmental processes in many brain regions during embryogenesis, and the spatial extent and frequency of the spontaneous activity are tightly regulated by stage. In the developing mouse hindbrain, spontaneous activity propagates widely and the waves can cover the entire hindbrain at E11.5. The activity then retracts to waves that are spatially restricted to the rostral midline at E13.5, before disappearing altogether by E15.5. However, the mechanism of retraction is unknown. We studied passive membrane properties of cells that are spatiotemporally relevant to the pattern of retraction in mouse embryonic hindbrain using whole‐cell patch clamp and imaging techniques. We find that membrane excitability progressively decreases due to hyperpolarization of resting membrane potential and increased resting conductance density between E11.5 and E15.5, in a spatiotemporal pattern correlated with the retraction sequence. Retraction can be acutely reversed by membrane depolarization at E15.5, and the induced events propagate similarly to spontaneous activity at earlier stages, though without involving gap junctional coupling. Manipulation of [K+]o or [Cl−]o reveals that membrane potential follows EK more closely than ECl, suggesting a dominant role for K+ conductance in the membrane hyperpolarization. Reducing membrane excitability by hyperpolarization of the resting membrane potential and increasing resting conductance are effective mechanisms to desynchronize spontaneous activity in a spatiotemporal manner, while allowing information processing to occur at the synaptic and cellular level.
Mechanical Degradation Mechanism of Membrane Electrode Assemblies in Buckling Test Under Humidity Cycles
Authors: Uchiyama Tomoaki , Kato Manabu , Ikogi Yoshihiro , Yoshida Toshihiko
Published: November 2012

Membrane electrode assembly (MEA) buckling tests in microscopic clearances under humidity cycles and numerical analyses by finite element method (FEM) were conducted. The NR211 (Dupont, 25-μm thickness, equivalent weight (EW) = 1100) sandwiched between catalyst layers (CLs) was used as the MEA. Based on tensile tests of the NR211 and NR211-CL and FEM simulation of tensile tests, the Young’s modulus and yield point of CL were estimated. While the CL had a higher Young’s modulus than the NR211 in water vapor, the CL indicated a lower Young’s modulus than the NR211 in liquid water at 80 °C. The buckling tests in microscopic diameter of 200 μm in polyimide film were carried out. The heights of bulge in the NR211 and NR211-CL after five humidity cycles were measured with a laser microscope. The height of the NR211-CL was lower than that of the NR211, due to the stiffer CL and the lower swelling ratio of the NR211-CL. Moreover, when the humidity cycles were repeated less than 1000 times, cracks were formed in the CL. The stress-strain behaviors of the NR211-CL buckling test under a humidity cycle were investigated by using the FEM. When the NR211-CL swelled, higher stress was developed at the topside of bulge and topside of bulge round. These portions corresponded to the CL crack-formed portions in the buckling test. When the NR211-CL deswelled, the tensile stress was induced in the entire NR211. The mechanical degradation mechanisms were considered as follows: Firstly, cracks initiate and propagate in the CL when the MEA swells in repeating humidity cycles. Moreover, the tensile stress is induced in the polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) under deswelling and the CL cracks propagate into the PEM from the CL, which results in pinholes in the PEM.
A Family of Butterfly Flexural Joints: Q-LITF Pivots
Authors: Pei Xu , Yu Jingjun , Zong Guanghua , Bi Shusheng
Published: November 2012

The typical leaf-type isosceles-trapezoidal flexural (LITF) pivot consists of two flexural beams and two rigid-bodies. The single LITF pivot has the small range of motion and relatively large center shift. However, the vacancy in the pivot point makes LITF pivots much easier to be cascaded than other commonly used flexure joints. The performances of LITF pivots will be greatly improved by connecting them together in series. This paper presents an innovative design of LITF pivots. The single LITF pivot is regarded as a basic configurable module, and four of them can be used to construct new types of flexure joint, which are referred to here as quadri-LITF (Q-LITF) pivot. Ten types of Q-LITF pivots are synthesized in this paper. Compared with a single LIFT pivot, the stroke of a Q-LITF pivot is larger, and stiffness of the mechanism becomes smaller. The center-shift of the Q-LIFT pivot can be optimized by tuning geometric parameters of its single LITF modules. Based on the pseudorigid-body (PRB) model of the single LITF pivot, the method for analyzing the Q-LITF pivots is proposed. One type of the Q-LITF pivots is selected as an example to demonstrate the proposed method for the Q-LITF pivot analysis. The comparison between the results of PRB model analysis and the finite element analysis (FEA) shows the feasibility and efficiency of the analysis procedure.
Determining Atmospheric Pressure Using a Water Barometer
Authors: Lohrengel C. Frederick , Larson Paul R.
Published: November 2012

The atmosphere is an envelope of compressible gases that surrounds Earth. Because of its compressibility and nonuniform heating by the Sun, it is in constant motion. The atmosphere exerts pressure on Earth's surface, but that pressure is in constant flux. This experiment allows students to directly measure atmospheric pressure by measuring the mass of the water that is used as the fluid medium in the barometer. Simple calculations based upon the mass of water collected from the barometer yield the mass of the atmosphere per square unit of area at the site where the experiment is conducted.
Role of the Mmr Efflux Pump in Drug Resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Authors: Rodrigues Liliana , Villellas Cristina , Bailo Rebeca , Viveiros Miguel , Aínsa José A.
Published: November 2012

Efflux pumps are membrane proteins capable of actively transporting a broad range of substrates from the cytoplasm to the exterior of the cell. Increased efflux activity in response to drug treatment may be the first step in the development of bacterial drug resistance. Previous studies showed that the efflux pump Mmr was significantly overexpressed in strains exposed to isoniazid. In the work to be described, we constructed mutants lacking or overexpressing Mmr in order to clarify the role of this efflux pump in the development of resistance to isoniazid and other drugs in
M. tuberculosis
. The
mmr
knockout mutant showed an increased susceptibility to ethidium bromide, tetraphenylphosphonium, and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB). Overexpression of
mmr
caused a decreased susceptibility to ethidium bromide, acriflavine, and safranin O that was obliterated in the presence of the efflux inhibitors verapamil and carbonyl cyanide
m
-chlorophenylhydrazone. Isoniazid susceptibility was not affected by the absence or overexpression of
mmr
. The fluorometric method allowed the detection of a decreased efflux of ethidium bromide in the knockout mutant, whereas the overexpressed strain showed increased efflux of this dye. This increased efflux activity was inhibited in the presence of efflux inhibitors. Under our experimental conditions, we have found that efflux pump Mmr is mainly involved in the susceptibility to quaternary compounds such as ethidium bromide and disinfectants such as CTAB. The contribution of this efflux pump to isoniazid resistance in
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
still needs to be further elucidated.
MICROSTRUCTURAL DEPENDENCE OF MAGNETIC PROPERTIES OF Sb5+ SUBSTITUTED LITHIUM FERRITES
Authors: MEHER M. V. K. , SAMATHA K. , RAMESH K. V. , KUMAR A. SATISH
Published: November 2012

This paper reports the influence of antimony substitution on the magnetic properties of Lithium ferrite sintered at 1200°C. The samples with compositional formula [ Li 0.5+x Sb x Fe 2.5-2x] O 4 (where x = 0.0, 0.1, 0.3, 0.6, 0.8 and 1.0) were prepared by standard ceramic route method. The Curie temperature (Tc) was found to be highest at 720°C for x = 0 compound and decreased with increasing x (i.e., Sb 5+ substitution). Saturation magnetization, coericivity, remanent magnetization were studied as a function of Sb content and grain size. The results of initial permeability showed anomalous variations as x varied from 0.0 to 1.0. The maximum initial permeability was observed for x = 0.3 compound. The morphological studies were performed by SEM and the mean diameter of the grain size of the samples was determined and showed correlation with magnetic properties.
Agda-curious?
Authors: McBride Conor Thomas
Published: November 2012

I explore programming with the dependently typed functional language, AGDA. I present the progress which AGDA has made, demonstrate its usage in a small development, reflect critically on the state of the art, and speculate about the way ahead. I do not seek to persuade you to adopt AGDA as your primary tool for systems development, but argue that AGDA stimulates new useful ways to think about programming problems and deserves not just curiosity but interest, support and contribution.
Sneaking around concatMap
Authors: Höner zu Siederdissen Christian
Published: November 2012

We present a framework of dynamic programming combinators that provides a high-level environment to describe the recursions typical of dynamic programming over sequence data in a style very similar to algebraic dynamic programming (ADP). Using a combination of type-level programming and stream fusion leads to a substantial increase in performance, without sacrificing much of the convenience and theoretical underpinnings of ADP.

We draw examples from the field of computational biology, more specifically RNA secondary structure prediction, to demonstrate how to use these combinators and what differences exist between this library, ADP, and other approaches.

The final version of the combinator library allows writing algorithms with performance close to hand-optimized C code.
Nested data-parallelism on the gpu
Authors: Bergstrom Lars , Reppy John
Published: November 2012

Graphics processing units (GPUs) provide both memory bandwidth and arithmetic performance far greater than that available on CPUs but, because of their
Single-Instruction-Multiple-Data
(SIMD) architecture, they are hard to program. Most of the programs ported to GPUs thus far use traditional data-level parallelism, performing only operations that operate uniformly over vectors.

NESL is a first-order functional language that was designed to allow programmers to write irregular-parallel programs - such as parallel divide-and-conquer algorithms - for wide-vector parallel computers. This paper presents our port of the NESL implementation to work on GPUs and provides empirical evidence that nested data-parallelism (NDP) on GPUs significantly outperforms CPU-based implementations and matches or beats newer GPU languages that support only flat parallelism. While our performance does not match that of hand-tuned CUDA programs, we argue that the notational conciseness of NESL is worth the loss in performance. This work provides the first language implementation that directly supports NDP on a GPU.
Automatic amortised analysis of dynamic memory allocation for lazy functional programs
Authors: Simões Hugo , Vasconcelos Pedro , Florido Mário , Jost Steffen , Hammond Kevin
Published: November 2012

This paper describes the first successful attempt, of which we are aware, to define an automatic, type-based static analysis of resource bounds for lazy functional programs. Our analysis uses the automatic amortisation approach developed by Hofmann and Jost, which was previously restricted to eager evaluation. In this paper, we extend this work to a lazy setting by capturing the costs of unevaluated expressions in type annotations and by amortising the payment of these costs using a notion of
lazy potential
. We present our analysis as a proof system for predicting heap allocations of a minimal functional language (including higher-order functions and recursive data types) and define a formal cost model based on Launchbury's natural semantics for lazy evaluation. We prove the soundness of our analysis with respect to the cost model. Our approach is illustrated by a number of representative and non-trivial examples that have been analysed using a prototype implementation of our analysis.
Bolt
Authors: Kling Michael , Misailovic Sasa , Carbin Michael , Rinard Martin
Published: November 2012

We present Bolt, a novel system for escaping from infinite and long-running loops. Directed by a user, Bolt can attach to a running process and determine if the program is executing an infinite loop. If so, Bolt can deploy multiple strategies to escape the loop, restore the responsiveness of the program, and enable the program to deliver useful output.

Bolt operates on stripped x86 and x64 binaries, dynamically attaches and detaches to and from the program as needed, and dynamically detects loops and creates program state checkpoints to enable exploration of different escape strategies. Bolt can detect and escape from loops in off-the-shelf software, without available source code, and with no overhead in standard production use.
AutoMan
Authors: Barowy Daniel W. , Curtsinger Charlie , Berger Emery D. , McGregor Andrew
Published: November 2012

Humans can perform many tasks with ease that remain difficult or impossible for computers. Crowdsourcing platforms like Amazon's Mechanical Turk make it possible to harness human-based computational power at an unprecedented scale. However, their utility as a general-purpose computational platform remains limited. The lack of complete automation makes it difficult to orchestrate complex or interrelated tasks. Scheduling more human workers to reduce latency costs real money, and jobs must be monitored and rescheduled when workers fail to complete their tasks. Furthermore, it is often difficult to predict the length of time and payment that should be budgeted for a given task. Finally, the results of human-based computations are not necessarily reliable, both because human skills and accuracy vary widely, and because workers have a financial incentive to minimize their effort.

This paper introduces AutoMan, the first fully automatic crowdprogramming system. AutoMan integrates human-based computations into a standard programming language as ordinary function calls, which can be intermixed freely with traditional functions. This abstraction lets AutoMan programmers focus on their programming logic. An AutoMan program specifies a confidence level for the overall computation and a budget. The AutoMan runtime system then transparently manages all details necessary for scheduling, pricing, and quality control. AutoMan automatically schedules human tasks for each computation until it achieves the desired confidence level; monitors, reprices, and restarts human tasks as necessary; and maximizes parallelism across human workers while staying under budget.
Transient Serotonin Syndrome by Concurrent Use of Electroconvulsive Therapy and Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Okamoto Nagahisa , Sakamoto Kota , Yamada Maki
Published: November 2012

The serotonin syndrome, which is characterized by psychiatric, autonomic nervous and neurological symptoms, is considered to be caused by excessive stimulation of the 5-HT1A and 5-HT2 receptors in the gray matter and spinal cord of the central nervous system, after the start of dosing or increase of the dose of a serotoninergic drug. There have been hardly any reports of induction of serotonin syndrome by electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in combination with antidepressant. We present the case of a female patient with major depressive disorder (MDD) who developed transient serotonin syndrome soon after the first session of ECT in combination with paroxetine. Paroxetine was discontinued, and her psychiatric, autonomic nervous and neurological symptoms were gradually relieved and disappeared within 2 days. We performed the second ECT session 5 days after the initial session and performed 12 sessions of ECT without any changes in the procedure of ECT and anesthesia, but no symptoms of SS were observed. Finally, her MDD remitted. ECT might cause transiently increased blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability and enhance the transmissivity of the antidepressant in BBB. Therefore, it is necessary to pay attention to rare side effect of serotonin syndrome by ECT in combination with antidepressant.
Altered CD38/Cyclic ADP-Ribose Signaling Contributes to the Asthmatic Phenotype
Authors: Jude Joseph A. , Dileepan Mythili , Panettieri Reynold A. , Walseth Timothy F. , Kannan Mathur S.
Published: November 2012

CD38 is a transmembrane glycoprotein expressed in airway smooth muscle cells. The enzymatic activity of CD38 generates cyclic ADP-ribose from β-NAD. Cyclic ADP-ribose mobilizes intracellular calcium during activation of airway smooth muscle cells by G-protein-coupled receptors through activation of ryanodine receptor channels in the sarcoplasmic reticulum. Inflammatory cytokines that are implicated in asthma upregulate CD38 expression and increase the calcium responses to contractile agonists in airway smooth muscle cells. The augmented intracellular calcium responses following cytokine exposure of airway smooth muscle cells are inhibited by an antagonist of cyclic ADP-ribose. Airway smooth muscle cells from CD38 knockout mice exhibit attenuated intracellular calcium responses to agonists, and these mice have reduced airway response to inhaled methacholine. CD38 also contributes to airway hyperresponsiveness as shown in mouse models of allergen or cytokine-induced inflammatory airway disease. In airway smooth muscle cells obtained from asthmatics, the cytokine-induced CD38 expression is significantly enhanced compared to expression in cells from nonasthmatics. This differential induction of CD38 expression in asthmatic airway smooth muscle cells stems from increased activation of MAP kinases and transcription through NF-κB, and altered post-transcriptional regulation through microRNAs. We propose that increased capacity for CD38 signaling in airway smooth muscle in asthma contributes to airway hyperresponsiveness.
Diagnostic Workup of Small B Cell Lymphomas: A Laboratory Perspective
Authors: Rizzo Kathryn , Nassiri Mehdi
Published: November 2012

Small B cell lymphoma is a morphological designation to a group of B cell lymphomas which are composed of a clonal population of small lymphoid cells. The subtypes of this category have diagnostically distinct characteristics and different clinical behaviors and treatment. Correct diagnosis and classification of these subsets depend on the integration of morphologic, immunophenotypic, and molecular genetic features. In this paper, differential diagnosis of this category of tumors and a practical approach based on biomarker evaluation are discussed.
The Initial Hours of Metastasis: The Importance of Cooperative Host–Tumor Cell Interactions during Hematogenous Dissemination
Authors: Labelle Myriam , Hynes Richard O.
Published: November 2012

Tumor cells transit from the primary tumor via the blood circulation to form metastases in distant organs. During this process, tumor cells encounter a number of environmental challenges and stimuli that profoundly impact their metastatic potential. Here, we review the cooperative and dynamic host–tumor cell interactions that support and promote the hematogenous dissemination of cancer cells to sites of distant metastasis. In particular, we discuss what is known about the cross-talk occurring among tumor cells, platelets, leukocytes, and endothelial cells and how these cell–cell interactions are organized both temporally and spatially at sites of extravasation and in the early metastatic niche.

Significance: Metastasis is a function not only of tumor cells but also involves cooperative interactions of those cells with normal cells of the body, in particular platelets and leukocytes. These other cell types alter the behavior of the tumor cells themselves and of endothelial cells lining the vasculature and assist in tumor cell arrest and extravasation at sites of metastasis and subsequently in the establishment of tumor cells in the early metastatic niche. A better understanding of the important role that these contact and paracrine interactions play during metastasis will offer new opportunities for therapeutic intervention. Cancer Discov; 2(12); 1091–9. ©2012 AACR.
A Trial of 2 Strategies to Reduce Nocturnal Blood Pressure in Blacks With Chronic Kidney Disease
Authors: Rahman Mahboob , Greene Tom , Phillips Robert A. , Agodoa Lawrence Y. , Bakris George L. , Charleston Jeanne , Contreras Gabriel , Gabbai Francis , Hiremath Leena , Jamerson Kenneth , Kendrick Cynthia , Kusek John W. , Lash James P. , Lea Janice , Miller Edgar R. , Rostand Stephen , Toto Robert , Wang Xulei , Wright Jackson T. , Appel Lawrence J.
Published: November 2012

The objective of our study was to determine the effects of 2 antihypertensive drug dose schedules (PM dose and add-on dose) on nocturnal blood pressure (BP) in comparison with usual therapy (AM dose) in blacks with hypertensive chronic kidney disease and controlled office BP. In a 3-period, crossover trial, former participants of the African American Study of Kidney Disease were assigned to receive the following 3 regimens, each lasting 6 weeks, presented in random order: AM dose (once-daily antihypertensive medications taken in the morning), PM dose (once-daily antihypertensives taken at bedtime), and add-on dose (once-daily antihypertensives taken in the morning and an additional antihypertensive medication before bedtime [diltiazem 60–120 mg, hydralazine 25 mg, or additional ramipril 5 mg]). Ambulatory BP monitoring was performed at the end of each period. The primary outcome was nocturnal systolic BP. Mean age of the study population (n=147) was 65.4 years, 64% were men, and mean estimated glomerular filtration rate was 44.9 mL/min per 1.73 m
2
. At the end of each period, mean (SE) nocturnal systolic BP was 125.6 (1.2) mm Hg in the AM dose, 123.9 (1.2) mm Hg in the PM dose, and 123.5 (1.2) mm Hg in the add-on dose. None of the pairwise differences in nocturnal, 24-hour, and daytime systolic BP was statistically significant. Among blacks with hypertensive chronic kidney disease, neither PM (bedtime) dosing of once-daily antihypertensive nor the addition of drugs taken at bedtime significantly reduced nocturnal BP compared with morning dosing of antihypertensive medications.
Ovarian Cycle and Sympathoexcitation in Premenopausal Women
Authors: Carter Jason R. , Fu Qi , Minson Christopher T. , Joyner Michael J.
Published: November 2012

The influence of the ovarian cycle on muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) remains controversial. Some studies report an increase of resting MSNA during the mid luteal (ML) phase of the ovarian cycle compared with the early follicular phase, whereas other studies do not. These inconsistent findings may be attributable, in part, to the variable surges in estradiol and progesterone. We tested the hypothesis that the degree of sympathoexcitation during the ML phase (ΔMSNA) is associated with changes in estradiol (ΔE
2
) and progesterone (ΔP). Multiple regression analysis of data from previous studies with complete recordings of mean arterial pressure, MSNA, E
2
, and P during both early follicular and ML phases were available from 30 eumenorrheic women (age, 28±1 years; body mass index, 23±0 kg/m
2
). ML phase increased E
2
(37±2 to 117±9 pg/mL;
P
<0.001), P (1±0 to 11±1 ng/mL;
P
<0.001), and MSNA (12±1 to 15±1 bursts/min;
P
=0.02), but did not alter mean arterial pressure (83±2 to 83±2 mm Hg;
P
=0.91). ΔMSNA was correlated with ΔE
2
(
r
=−0.50,
P
=0.003) and ΔE
2
/ΔP (
r
=−0.52,
P
=0.002) but not ΔP (
r
=0.21,
P
=0.13). There was no association between Δmean arterial pressure and ΔE
2
(
r
=−0.13,
P
=0.49), ΔP (
r
=−0.04,
P
=0.83), or ΔE
2
/ΔP (
r
<0.01,
P
=0.98). In conclusion, sympathoexcitation during the ML phase of the ovarian cycle seems to be dependent, in part, on the degree of sex steroid surges. This dynamic interaction among E
2
, P, and MSNA likely explains previously reported inconsistencies in the field; it remains possible that other sex steroids, such as testosterone, might explain further variance.
“Shortly They Will Play Me in What Forms They List upon the Stage”: Hamlet, Conscience, and the Earl of Essex
Authors: Venema Jeremy
Published: November 2012

Abstract

This essay explores the theme of conscience inHamletas it relates to Elizabethan Catholics and their hopes for Robert Devereux, second earl of Essex. Hamlet may represent Essex, the second half of the play being either a study of why Essex, put under house arrest in 1599, might delay taking bold action, or perhaps a negative example of how Essex ought not to proceed. Hamlet exhibits two traits that lead to delay, both applicable to Essex: rashness, and an overweening trust in Providence. These traits lead to tragedy in the play, as they would for Essex.
Listening for “The Silence of the Night”: Reading Kevin Hart’s “The Voice of Brisbane”
Authors: Brown Lachlan
Published: November 2012

Abstract

This essay undertakes a close reading of Kevin Hart’s poem “The Voice of Brisbane” alongside three pertinent voices. The first voice belongs to Yves Bonnefoy and concerns his translation of the French termévidence. Taking into account Hart’s own admiration of Bonnefoy, this essay contrasts the kinds of experiential and poetic claims that the two poets make. The second voice belongs to St. John of the Cross. Hart’s poem owes much to the kinds of mystical meditation that St. John advocates. The third voice belongs to Synesius of Cyrene, a fifth-century Platonist and bishop, whose poem “Awake My Soul” bears an uncanny resemblance to the pattern of Hart’s work.
The Metaphysical Lyric of the Six Dynasties
Authors: Williams Nicholas Morrow
Published: November 2012

In the third and fourth centuries there flourished in China a literary tradition that integrated abstruse philosophizing into pentasyllabic verse: xuanyan shi or the “metaphysical lyric.” Xuanyan verse was mostly ignored in the great wave of literary critique and classification during the succeeding centuries, and much has been lost, but by using a variety of sources, ranging from the Shishuo xinyu to later imitations, we can ascertain its features and assess its later impact. Xuanyan verse played a key role in the development of early medieval poetry, providing a philosophical foundation to undergird poetic genres from which it at first appears quite alien. This article first describes the ideological and cultural context of xuanyan poetry, then surveys its major exemplars, and finally demonstrates its enduring influence.
Ritual Propriety and Political Intrigue in the Xuande Gate Incident
Authors: Yang Xiaoshan
Published: November 2012

The 1073 incident at the Xuande Gate, involving Wang Anshi's alleged breach of imperial protocol, was a turning point both in his career and in emperor Shenzong's policies. By filling in the gaps and reconciling the discrepancies in various accounts of the incident, this essay demonstrates that, whereas on the surface the controversy centered on the ritual question of whether Wang should have dismounted before entering the gate, what was really at play was the particular political dynamics of the time. Direct instigation came from the ranks of senior eunuchs, among whom there was considerable aversion to Wang. Such aversion reflected the attitude of the conservative members of the imperial family. The incident also marked the beginning of Shenzong's shifting away from his exclusive reliance on Wang in formulating and implementing reform policies.