bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Parallel Computing Framework for Finding the Supported Solutions to a Biobjective Network Optimization Problem
Authors: Medrano Fernando Antonio , Church Richard Lee
Published: April 2015

Solving multi‐objective combinatorial optimization problems can quickly become computationally challenging when applied to large networks generated from big data. Present‐day first‐rate Mixed Integer Programming (MIP) solvers have parallelism built‐in to take advantage of multicore architectures; but specialized network optimization algorithms that can often solve graph problems more efficiently than a general MIP solver are typically programmed serially. Thus, these network algorithm implementations do not take full advantage of modern multicore computer capabilities. Many parallel computing languages include a fork/join framework into their concurrency packages that allow for simple conversion of recursive serial algorithms to operate in parallel without having to use complicated low‐level message‐passing interfaces. Fork/join is particularly well suited to divide and conquer algorithms such as Non‐Inferior Set Estimation (NISE) method for computing the supported Pareto front of a multi‐objective optimization problem. This work develops a simple general parallel NISE (pNISE) implementation using the Java 7 concurrency tools, and then offers results from a specific implementation of solving a bi‐objective shortest path problem. The results indicate that this method is capable of sizeable speed‐ups on both small‐scale personal computers as well as large‐scale shared memory supercomputers. Finally, other network problems suitable to this method are discussed, including multi‐objective variants of the minimum spanning tree problem, transportation problem, assignment problem, maximum flow problem, and the minimum‐cost flow problem. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Economic evaluation of occupational therapy in Parkinson's disease: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Sturkenboom Ingrid H.W.M. , Hendriks Jan C.M. , Graff Maud J.L. , Adang Eddy M.M. , Munneke Marten , Nijhuis‐van der Sanden Maria W.G. , Bloem Bastiaan R.
Published: April 2015

Background

A large randomized clinical trial (the Occupational Therapy in Parkinson's Disease [OTiP] study) recently demonstrated that home‐based occupational therapy improves perceived performance in daily activities of people with Parkinson's disease (PD). The aim of the current study was to evaluate the cost‐effectiveness of this intervention.

Methods

We performed an economic evaluation over a 6‐month period for both arms of the OTiP study. Participants were 191 community‐dwelling PD patients and 180 primary caregivers. The intervention group (n = 124 patients) received 10 weeks of home‐based occupational therapy; the control group (n = 67 patients) received usual care (no occupational therapy). Costs were assessed from a societal perspective including healthcare use, absence from work, informal care, and intervention costs. Health utilities were evaluated using EuroQol‐5d. We estimated cost differences and cost utility using linear mixed models and presented the net monetary benefit at different values for willingness to pay per quality‐adjusted life‐year gained.

Results

In our primary analysis, we excluded informal care hours because of substantial missing data for this item. The estimated mean total costs for the intervention group compared with controls were €125 lower for patients, €29 lower for caregivers, and €122 higher for patient–caregiver pairs (differences not significant). At a value of €40,000 per quality‐adjusted life‐year gained (reported threshold for PD), the net monetary benefit of the intervention per patient was €305 (P = 0.74), per caregiver €866 (P = 0.01) and per patient–caregiver pair €845 (P = 0.24).

Conclusion

In conclusion, occupational therapy did not significantly impact on total costs compared with usual care. Positive cost‐effectiveness of the intervention was only significant for caregivers. © 2015 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Toward a Cancer Drug of Fungal Origin
Authors: Kornienko Alexander , Evidente Antonio , Vurro Maurizio , Mathieu Véronique , Cimmino Alessio , Evidente Marco , van Otterlo Willem A. L. , Dasari Ramesh , Lefranc Florence , Kiss Robert
Published: April 2015

Although fungi produce highly structurally diverse metabolites, many of which have served as excellent sources of pharmaceuticals, no fungi‐derived agent has been approved as a cancer drug so far. This is despite a tremendous amount of research being aimed at the identification of fungal metabolites with promising anticancer activities. This review discusses the results of clinical testing of fungal metabolites and their synthetic derivatives, with the goal to evaluate how far we are from an approved cancer drug of fungal origin. Also, because in vivo studies in animal models are predictive of the efficacy and toxicity of a given compound in a clinical situation, literature describing animal cancer testing of compounds of fungal origin is reviewed as well. Agents showing the potential to advance to clinical trials are also identified. Finally, the technological challenges involved in the exploitation of fungal biodiversity and procurement of sufficient quantities of clinical candidates are discussed, and potential solutions that could be pursued by researchers are highlighted.
Finite element method to fluid–solid interaction problems with unbounded periodic interfaces
Authors: Hu Guanghui , Rathsfeld Andreas , Yin Tao
Published: April 2015

Consider a time‐harmonic acoustic plane wave incident onto a doubly periodic (biperiodic) surface from above. The medium above the surface is supposed to be filled with a homogeneous compressible inviscid fluid of constant mass density, whereas the region below is occupied by an isotropic and linearly elastic solid body characterized by its Lamé constants. This article is concerned with a variational approach to the fluid–solid interaction problems with unbounded biperiodic Lipschitz interfaces between the domains of the acoustic and elastic waves. The existence of quasiperiodic solutions in Sobolev spaces is established at arbitrary frequency of incidence, while uniqueness is proved only for small frequencies or for all frequencies excluding a discrete set. A finite element scheme coupled with Dirichlet‐to‐Neumann mappings is proposed and the convergence analysis is performed. The Dirichlet‐to‐Neumann mappings are approximated by truncated Rayleigh series expansions. Finally, numerical tests in 2D are presented to confirm the convergence of solutions and the energy balance formula. In particular, the frequency spectrum of normally reflected signals is plotted for water–brass and water–brass–water interfaces. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq 32: 5–35, 2016
Outcome and toxicities associated to chemotherapy in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and Gilbert syndrome. Usefulness of UGT1A1 mutational screening
Authors: Berrueco R. , Alonso‐Saladrigues A. , Martorell‐Sampol L. , Català‐Temprano A. , Ruiz‐Llobet A. , Toll T. , Torrebadell M. , Naudó M. , Camós M. , Rives S.
Published: April 2015

Background

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most frequent cancer in childhood. Although intensive chemotherapy has improved survival in those patients, important side effects, including hyperbilirubinemia, are frequent. Gilbert syndrome (GS) is a frequent condition that causes a reduction in glucuronidation and intermittent hyperbilirubinemia episodes. This could provoke a greater exposure to some cytotoxic agents used in ALL, increasing the risk of toxicity. On the other hand, unexplained hyperbilirubinemia could lead to unnecessary modifications or even treatment withdrawals, which could increase the risk of relapse, but data regarding this in ALL pediatric population are scarce.

Methods

Retrospective study to analyze toxicity, outcome and treatment modifications related to GS in children diagnosed with ALL.

Results

A total of 23 of 159 patients were diagnosed with GS. They had statistically higher hyperbilirubinemias during all treatment phases (P < 0.0001) and a slower methotrexate clearance when it was administered during a 24‐hr infusion at high doses (patients with GS: 74 hr ± 19 vs. patients without GS: 64 hr ± 8; P < 0.002). However, no relevant toxicity or delays in treatment were found in them. Finally, changes in treatment due to hyperbilirubinemia were only done in 5 patients with GS.

Conclusions

Differences in outcome were not found in patients with GS. Universal screening for GS appears to be not necessary in pediatric patients with ALL. However, when hyperbilirubinemia is observed, it must be rule out in order to avoid unnecessary changes in treatment. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2015;62:1195–1201. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A new mutation in the KINDLIN‐3 gene ablates integrin‐dependent leukocyte, platelet, and osteoclast function in a patient with leukocyte adhesion deficiency‐III
Authors: Crazzolara Roman , Maurer Kathrin , Schulze Harald , Zieger Barbara , Zustin Jozef , Schulz Ansgar S.
Published: April 2015

Disabling mutations in integrin‐mediated cell signaling have been a major focus of interest over the last decade for patients affected with leukocyte adhesion deficiency‐III (LAD‐III). In this study, we identified a new C>T point mutation in exon 13 in the FERMT3 gene in an infant diagnosed with LAD‐III and showed that KINDLIN‐3 expression is required for platelet aggregation and leukocyte function, but also osteoclast‐mediated bone resorption. After allogeneic bone marrow transplant, all overt symptoms disappeared. This newly identified mutation along with its novel role in dysregulation of bone homeostasis extends our understanding of KINDLIN‐3 in humans. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2015;62:1677–1679. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Synthesis and properties of fluorine–silicon modified polyacrylate hybrid latex particles with core–shell structure obtained via emulsifier‐free emulsion polymerization
Authors: Zhou Jianhua , Chen Xin , Duan Hao , Ma Jianzhong
Published: April 2015

A core–shell fluorine–silicon modified polyacrylate hybrid latex was successfully prepared via emulsifier‐free emulsion polymerization. The chemical composition and core–shell morphology of the resultant hybrid particles were investigated using 1H NMR and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopies and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), respectively. TEM analysis indicated that the core–shell hybrid particles were uniform with narrow size distributions. The particle size and zeta potential decreased with an increase of alkylvinylsulfonate surfactant from 2.5 to 6.0 wt%. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy revealed that fluorine concentrated preferentially at the film surface during a film‐formation process. The film formed from the fluorine–silicon modified polyacrylate showed much higher thermal stability than a film formed from polyacrylate and fluorine‐modified polyacrylate. Contact angle results showed that a finished fabric had remarkable water repellency. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry
Marrying mussel inspired chemistry with SET‐LRP: A novel strategy for surface functionalization of carbon nanotubes
Authors: Tian Jianwen , Xu Dazhuang , Liu Meiying , Deng Fengjie , Wan Qing , Li Zhen , Wang Ke , He Xiaohui , Zhang Xiaoyong , Wei Yen
Published: April 2015

Surface functionalization of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with a thermo responsive polymer was achieved via combination of mussel inspired chemistry and surface initiated single electron transfer living radical polymerization (SET‐LRP). In this procedure, CNTs were first coated with polydopamine (PDA) through self polymerization under a rather mild condition. And then PDA functionalized CNTs bearing with amino and hydroxyl groups were further reacted with bromo isobutyryl bromide. Finally, a thermo responsive polymer poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) was introduced on the CNTs via SET‐LRP. The successful surface modification of CNT‐PDA‐PNIPAM was evidenced by a series of characterization techniques. The resulting CNT‐PDA‐PNIPAM showed significant enhancement of dispersibility in both aqueous and organic solvents. More importantly, these CNT‐polymer nanocomposites showed obvious thermo responsive behavior due to the surface coating CNTs with PNIPAM. As compared with previous methods, this method is not required oxidation of CNTs to introduce funcitonal groups for immobilization of the polymerization initiators. More importantly, this method could also be utilized for fabricating many other polymer nanocomposites because of the strong and universal adhesive of PDA to various materials. It is therefore, the novel strategy via marrying mussel inspired chemistry with SET‐LRP should be a simple, general and effective method for surface functionalization. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015, 53, 1872–1879
Gonadotropin‐releasing hormone receptor‐targeted paclitaxel–degarelix conjugate: synthesis and in vitro evaluation
Authors: Wang Chenhong , Ma Yongtao , Feng Siliang , Liu Keliang , Zhou Ning
Published: April 2015

To increase the selectivity of chemotherapeutic agents, receptor‐mediated tumor‐targeting approaches have been developed. Here, degarelix [Ac‐D‐Nal‐D‐Cpa‐D‐Pal‐Ser‐Aph(L‐Hor)‐D‐Aph(Cbm)‐Leu‐ILys‐Pro‐D‐Ala‐NH2], a gonadotropin‐releasing hormone antagonist, was employed as a targeting moiety for paclitaxel (PTX). Five PTX–degarelix conjugates were synthesized, in which PTX was attached via disulfide bond to the different position in the degarelix sequence. All of the PTX–degarelix conjugates exhibited a half‐life greater than 10 h determined in human serum. A fluorometric imaging plate reader assay showed that the conjugates LK‐MY‐9 and LK‐MY‐10 had an antagonism efficacy similar to that of degarelix. The in vitro cytostatic effects of the conjugates were determined by a (3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐5‐(3‐carboxymethoxyphenyl)‐2‐(4‐sulfophenyl)‐2H‐tetrazolium) (MTS) assay, and the 50% inhibitory concentration value of the conjugates on 3T3 mouse embryonic fibroblast cells were one order of magnitude higher than the 50% inhibitory concentration values of the conjugates on MCF‐7 human breast cancer cells and HT‐29 human colon cancer cells. Receptor saturation tests further demonstrated that pre‐incubation of the cells with degarelix reduced the efficacy of LK‐MY‐10 in a concentration‐dependent manner. In conclusion, degarelix is a valid and stable moiety that has great potential for targeting chemotherapy drugs. Copyright © 2015 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Tribulus terrestris (Linn.) Attenuates Cellular Alterations Induced by Ischemia in H9c2 Cells Via Antioxidant Potential
Authors: Reshma P. L. , Lekshmi V. S. , Sankar Vandana , Raghu K. G.
Published: April 2015

Tribulus terrestris L. was evaluated for its cardioprotective property against myocardial ischemia in a cell line model. Initially, methanolic extract was prepared and subjected to sequential extraction with various solvents. The extract with high phenolic content (T. terrestris L. ethyl acetate extract–TTME) was further characterized for its chemical constituents and taken forward for evaluation against cardiac ischemia. HPLC analysis revealed the presence of phenolic compounds like caffeic acid (12.41 ± 0.22 mg g−1), chlorogenic acid (0.52 ± 0.06 mg g−1) and 4‐hydroxybenzoic acid (0.60 ± 0.08 mg g−1). H9c2 cells were pretreated with TTME (10, 25, 50 and 100 µg/ml) for 24 h before the induction of ischemia. Then ischemia was induced by exposing cells to ischemia buffer, in a hypoxic chamber, maintained at 0.1% O2, 95% N2 and 5% CO2, for 1 h. A significant (p ≤ 0.05) increase in reactive oxygen species generation (56%), superoxide production (18%), loss of plasma membrane integrity, dissipation of transmembrane potential, permeability transition pore opening and apoptosis had been observed during ischemia. However, pretreatment with TTME was found to significantly (p ≤ 0.05) attenuate the alterations caused by ischemia. The overall results of this study partially reveal the scientific basis of the use of T. terrestris L. in the traditional system of medicine for heart diseases. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Hypericum perforatum Reduces Paracetamol‐Induced Hepatotoxicity and Lethality in Mice by Modulating Inflammation and Oxidative Stress
Authors: Hohmann Miriam S. N. , Cardoso Renato D. R. , Fattori Victor , Arakawa Nilton S. , Tomaz José C. , Lopes Norberto P. , Casagrande Rubia , Verri Waldiceu A.
Published: April 2015

Hypericum perforatum is a medicinal plant with anti‐inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which is commercially available for therapeutic use in Brazil. Herein the effect of H. perforatum extract on paracetamol (acetaminophen)‐induced hepatotoxicity, lethality, inflammation, and oxidative stress in male swiss mice were investigated. HPLC analysis demonstrated the presence of rutin, quercetin, hypericin, pseudohypericin, and hyperforin in H. perforatum extract. Paracetamol (0.15–3.0 g/kg, p.o.) induced dose‐dependent mortality. The sub‐maximal lethal dose of paracetamol (1.5 g/kg, p.o.) was chosen for the experiments in the study. H. perforatum (30–300 mg/kg, i.p.) dose‐dependently reduced paracetamol‐induced lethality. Paracetamol‐induced increase in plasma aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) concentrations, and hepatic myeloperoxidase activity, IL‐1β, TNF‐α, and IFN‐γ concentrations as well as decreased reduced glutathione (GSH) concentrations and capacity to reduce 2,2′‐azinobis‐(3‐ethylbenzothiazoline‐6‐sulfonate radical cation; ABTS˙+) were inhibited by H. perforatum (300 mg/kg, i.p.) treatment. Therefore, H. perforatum protects mice against paracetamol‐induced lethality and liver damage. This effect seems to be related to the reduction of paracetamol‐induced cytokine production, neutrophil recruitment, and oxidative stress. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Selecting public goods institutions: Who likes to punish and reward?
Authors: Drouvelis Michalis , Jamison Julian C.
Published: April 2015

We study the link between individual attitudes toward uncertainty on the one hand, and preferences over, as well as behavior within, various public goods institutions on the other hand. We incentive‐compatibly elicit preferences over voluntary contribution mechanisms with and without reward and punishment options and then randomly assign subjects to play in one of the four institutions. We find that payoffs are significantly greater when punishment is allowed but that only a small minority of participants prefers such an environment. Somewhat surprisingly, preferences over institutions are generally independent of individual characteristics. Conversely, individual characteristics, including institutional preferences, are significantly predictive of behavior in the public goods game. For instance, risk‐averse individuals preemptively punish more often. This suggests that when studying sanctions and rewards, it is important to consider individual attitudes toward risk and uncertainty—although they may not affect the original selection into institutions.
Stringlish: improved English string searching in binary files
Authors: Aycock J.
Published: April 2015

When analyzing binary files, printable strings are easy to find, but a naïve approach yields a large number of false positives: ‘uninteresting’ string‐like sequences that occur by chance in the binary. We present a lightweight yet surprisingly effective method of filtering printable strings for English or English‐like sequences. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
The selective dopamine D3 receptor antagonist SB‐277011A attenuates drug‐ or food‐deprivation reactivation of expression of conditioned place preference for cocaine in male sprague‐dawley rats
Authors: Ashby Charles R. , Rice Onarae V. , Heidbreder Christian A. , Gardner Eliot L.
Published: April 2015

We determined the effect of the selective dopamine D3 receptor antagonist SB‐277011A on reactivation of conditioned place preference (CPP) to cocaine elicited by priming injections of cocaine or exposure to food deprivation stress (21 h) in male Sprague–Dawley rats. Animals paired with the cocaine‐associated chamber displayed a robust and consistent CPP response. This CPP was extinguished after repeated pairings of the conditioned stimuli (cocaine‐paired chamber contextual cues) in the absence of the unconditioned stimulus (cocaine). Twenty‐four hours later, the administration of 5 mg kg−1 i.p. of cocaine (immediately before the test) or exposure to 21 h of food deprivation reactivated the expression of the cocaine‐induced CPP. In contrast, administration of 1 ml kg−1 i.p. of vehicle did not reactivate the CPP response. Administration of the selective dopamine D3 receptor antagonist SB‐277011A (3–24 mg kg−1 i.p.) 30 min before cocaine administration on the test day produced a significant attenuation of CPP reactivation. Reactivation of the CPP response produced by food deprivation was also significantly attenuated by SB‐277011A (6 or 12 mg kg−1 i.p.) given 30 min before the test session. SB‐277011A (12 or 24 mg kg−1 i.p.) did not itself produce reactivation of the CPP response. Overall, these results suggest that the reactivation of the incentive value of drug‐associated cues by cocaine or food deprivation is attenuated by selective antagonism of D3 receptors. Synapse 69:336–344, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Characterization of alternative plasticizers in poly(vinyl chloride) sheets for blood containers
Authors: Haishima Yuji , Kawakami Tsuyoshi , Fukui Chie , Tanoue Akito , Yuba Toshiyasu , Ozono Satoru , Kumada Hidehumi , Inoue Kaoru , Morikawa Tomomi , Takahashi Miwa , Fujisawa Ayano , Yamasaki Kayo , Nomura Yusuke , Isama Kazuo , Chung Ung‐il , Ogawa Kumiko , Niimi Shingo , Yoshida Midori
Published: April 2015

This study aimed to optimize the ratio of dioctyl 4‐cyclohexene‐1,2‐dicarboxylate (DOTH) and di‐isononyl‐cyclohexane‐1,2‐dicarboxylate (DINCH®) for use as plasticizers in poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) sheets. We also evaluated the biological safety of DOTH for its potential to be part of a safe PVC‐based blood container. The suppression of hemolysis in mannitol‐adenine‐phosphate / red cell concentrates (MAP/RCC) with DOTH/(DINCH®‐PVC) sheets and the elution of plasticizers from the sheets increased with higher DOTH compositions. The properties of the PVC sheet containing DOTH and DINCH® in the ratio of 25:33 parts against PVC 100 parts as a weight were almost identical to the PVC sheet made of di(2‐ethylhexyl) phthalate. From a subchronic toxicity test, DOTH did not show any adverse effects on all organs, including the testes, epididymis, liver, and kidneys. The no‐observed‐adverse‐effect level was 300 mg/kg body weight/day in a rat. These results suggest that DOTH/DINCH® (25:33) is a promising candidate for the replacement of di(2‐ethylhexyl) phthalate in blood containers. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 22:520–528, 2016. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers
Tumor necrosis factor‐α and its role as a mediator in myocardial infarction: A brief review
Authors: Tian Ming , Yuan Yun‐Chuan , Li Jia‐Yi , Gionfriddo Michael R. , Huang Rong‐Chong
Published: April 2015

Tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) contributes to myocardial infarction (MI) injury. Polymorphism of TNF‐α gene promoter region and secretion and release of TNF‐α and its transformation by a series of signaling pathways are all changed at different points of pathophysiological process in MI. Researches also investigated TNF‐α antagonists and their potential therapeutic role in the setting of MI and heart failure at both molecular and clinical level. This article briefly reviews TNF‐α and its mechanism as a mediator in MI.
A Practical Approach to Avoiding Iatrogenic Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) from Invasive Instruments
Authors: Brown Paul , Farrell Michael
Published: April 2015

Potential Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease instrument-contamination events continue to occur, causing widespread hospital and patient concern. We propose the use of a combination of diagnostic tests (ie, spinal fluid for 14-3-3 protein or nasal brushing for misfolded prion protein) and instrument handling procedures (ie, using a regional set of dedicated instruments), which if applied to all patients admitted with symptoms of either dementia or cerebellar disease, should eliminate the risk of iatrogenic instrument infection.

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2015;36(7):844–848
Subcritical versus supercritical transition to turbulence in curved pipes
Authors: Kühnen J. , Braunshier P. , Schwegel M. , Kuhlmann H. C. , Hof B.
Published: April 2015

Transition to turbulence in straight pipes occurs in spite of the linear stability of the laminar Hagen–Poiseuille flow if both the amplitude of flow perturbations and the Reynolds number $\mathit{Re}$ exceed a minimum threshold (subcritical transition). As the pipe curvature increases, centrifugal effects become important, modifying the basic flow as well as the most unstable linear modes. If the curvature (tube-to-coiling diameter $d/D$) is sufficiently large, a Hopf bifurcation (supercritical instability) is encountered before turbulence can be excited (subcritical instability). We trace the instability thresholds in the $\mathit{Re}-d/D$ parameter space in the range $0.01\leqslant d/D\leqslant 0.1$ by means of laser-Doppler velocimetry and determine the point where the subcritical and supercritical instabilities meet. Two different experimental set-ups are used: a closed system where the pipe forms an axisymmetric torus and an open system employing a helical pipe. Implications for the measurement of friction factors in curved pipes are discussed.
Investigating the Relationship Between Social Support and Durable Return to Work
Authors: Watt Bruce D. , Ford Lucas , Doley Rebekah M. , Ong Sabrina , Hicks Richard E. , Fritzon Katarina , Cacciola Tony
Published: April 2015

The aim of the current study was to investigate the relationship between social support and durable return to work (RTW) post occupational injury. A total of 1,179 questionnaires were posted to clients previously receiving vocational rehabilitation services from the Return to Work Assist program in Queensland, Australia. Participants were asked to indicate their current RTW status, in addition to completing questionnaires measuring their relationship with their superior, relationships with colleagues, and social support external to the workplace. The statistical analysis included 110 participants. An ANOVA indicated that participants in the RTW group reported significantly better relationships with their superiors and colleagues than participants in the non-durable RTW group. No significant differences were observed between the RTW, non-durable RTW and no RTW groups on a measure of social support external to the workplace. Although the findings were limited by the low response rate, an evaluation of demographics indicated the respondents were representative of the original target sample. The findings suggested that providing support in the workplace is an important area for intervention and may be a means of increasing durable RTW outcomes.
A Non-local Source of Irish Chalcolithic and Early Bronze Age Gold
Authors: Standish Christopher D. , Dhuime Bruno , Hawkesworth Chris J. , Pike Alistair W. G.
Published: April 2015

Lead isotope analyses of 50 Irish Chalcolithic and Early Bronze Age gold artefacts favour a gold source in southern Ireland. However when combined with major element analysis, the artefacts are not consistent with any Irish gold deposit analysed to date. Understanding the lead isotope signatures of ore deposits within a study region allows informed inferences to be drawn regarding the likelihood that an unanalysed ore deposit was exploited in the past. If an Irish gold source is assumed, then the gold is most likely to have originated from deposits hosted by Old Red Sandstone in the Variscan ore field of south-west Ireland. However, based on our current understanding of mineralisation in the region, this scenario is considered unlikely. A non-Irish source for the gold is therefore preferred – a scenario that may favour cosmologically-driven acquisition, ie, the deliberate procurement of a material from distant or esoteric sources. Available geochemical data, combined with current archaeological evidence, favour the alluvial deposits of south-west Britain as the most likely source of the gold.
Poverty and Immigration Policy
Authors: OBERMAN KIERAN
Published: April 2015

What are the ethical implications of global poverty for immigration policy? This article finds substantial evidence that migration is effective at reducing poverty. There is every indication that the adoption of a fairly open immigration policy by rich countries, coupled with selective use of immigration restrictions in cases of deleterious brain drain, could be of significant assistance to people living in poor countries. Empirically there is nothing wrong with using immigration policy to address poverty. The reason we have to reject such an approach is not empirical but normative. People have human rights to stay in their home country and to migrate elsewhere. Counter poverty measures that require people to move or to stay are likely to violate these rights. Everyone should be free to migrate but no one should be forced to migrate. Using immigration policy to address global poverty, in place of alternatives, fails on both these counts.
Prediction of fruit and vegetable intake from biomarkers using individual participant data of diet-controlled intervention studies
Authors: Souverein Olga W. , de Vries Jeanne H. M. , Freese Riitta , Watzl Bernhard , Bub Achim , Miller Edgar R. , Castenmiller Jacqueline J. M. , Pasman Wilrike J. , van het Hof Karin , Chopra Mridula , Karlsen Anette , Dragsted Lars O. , Winkels Renate , Itsiopoulos Catherine , Brazionis Laima , O'Dea Kerin , van Loo-Bouwman Carolien A. , Naber Ton H. J. , van der Voet Hilko , Boshuizen Hendriek C.
Published: April 2015

Fruit and vegetable consumption produces changes in several biomarkers in blood. The present study aimed to examine the dose–response curve between fruit and vegetable consumption and carotenoid (α-carotene, β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, lycopene, lutein and zeaxanthin), folate and vitamin C concentrations. Furthermore, a prediction model of fruit and vegetable intake based on these biomarkers and subject characteristics (i.e. age, sex, BMI and smoking status) was established. Data from twelve diet-controlled intervention studies were obtained to develop a prediction model for fruit and vegetable intake (including and excluding fruit and vegetable juices). The study population in the present individual participant data meta-analysis consisted of 526 men and women. Carotenoid, folate and vitamin C concentrations showed a positive relationship with fruit and vegetable intake. Measures of performance for the prediction model were calculated using cross-validation. For the prediction model of fruit, vegetable and juice intake, the root mean squared error (RMSE) was 258·0 g, the correlation between observed and predicted intake was 0·78 and the mean difference between observed and predicted intake was − 1·7 g (limits of agreement: − 466·3, 462·8 g). For the prediction of fruit and vegetable intake (excluding juices), the RMSE was 201·1 g, the correlation was 0·65 and the mean bias was 2·4 g (limits of agreement: − 368·2, 373·0 g). The prediction models which include the biomarkers and subject characteristics may be used to estimate average intake at the group level and to investigate the ranking of individuals with regard to their intake of fruit and vegetables when validating questionnaires that measure intake.
Urinary iodine level and its determinants in pregnant women of Shanghai, China
Authors: Wei Zhenzhen , Wang Weiye , Zhang Jun , Zhang Xiaohua , Jin Longmei , Yu Xiaodan
Published: April 2015

It is known that iodine deficiency during pregnancy can interfere with normal fetal growth and development. However, iodine levels of pregnant women in Shanghai, China, and factors that could influence its levels remain unclear. A total of 916 pregnant women were selected from the Maternal and Child Care Service Centre of Minhang District in Shanghai. Morning urinary iodine (UI) and iodine content of salt from the participants' home were measured, and UI concentration was adjusted by creatinine concentrations. Serum tri-iodothyronine, thyroxin, free tri-iodothyronine, free thyroxine and thyroid-stimulating hormone were tested in the second trimester of pregnancy by time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay. The median levels of UI in pregnant women were 156·3, 176·9 and 175·1 μg/g creatinine in the first, second and third trimesters of pregnancy, respectively. The prevalence of UI deficiency (UI < 150 μg/g creatinine) was 48·3, 34·2 and 36·2 % in the three trimesters of pregnancy, respectively. Factors that significantly influenced the UI levels include the following: iodine content of household salt; age; occupation; multivitamin supplement with iodine; seaweed intakes. Furthermore, UI and iodine content of salt were moderately correlated (r0·406,P< 0·001). In addition, there was no significant association between UI and thyroid hormone levels. The present study showed a high prevalence of UI deficiency in pregnant women in Shanghai, especially during the first trimester of pregnancy. Both iodine content of household salt and multivitamin supplement with iodine are the main determinants of UI levels in Shanghai.
Acute effects of calcium citrate with or without a meal, calcium-fortified juice and a dairy product meal on serum calcium and phosphate: a randomised cross-over trial
Authors: Bristow Sarah M. , Gamble Gregory D. , Stewart Angela , Kalluru Rama , Horne Anne M. , Reid Ian R.
Published: April 2015

Ca supplements, but not dietary Ca, have been associated with increased cardiovascular risk. This difference could be related to differences in their acute effects on serum Ca. We therefore examined the effects of Ca from different sources on serum Ca and phosphate in a randomised, cross-over trial of ten women (mean age of 69 years). Fasting participants received a single dose of 500 mg of Ca as citrate, citrate with a meal, fortified juice or a dairy product meal, with at least 6 d between each intervention. Blood was sampled before and 1, 2, 4 and 6 h after each intervention was ingested. Serum ionised and total Ca increased significantly from baseline over 6 h. Using calcium citrate fasting as a comparator, the elevations in ionised and total Ca were similar after fortified juice, delayed after calcium citrate with a meal and smaller after a dairy product meal. Serum phosphate and calcium–phosphate product increased from baseline after calcium citrate with a meal and after a dairy product meal, and they declined after calcium citrate fasting and after fortified juice. The elevations in serum Ca in the present study were only slightly different from those observed after the administration of 1000 mg of Ca in a previous study. These data indicate that different sources of Ca have different acute effects on serum Ca and support recommendations that dietary Ca might be safer than supplements. Whether these differences contribute to differences in cardiovascular risk requires further study.
Usual coffee intake in Brazil: results from the National Dietary Survey 2008–9
Authors: Sousa Alessandra Gaspar , da Costa Teresa Helena Macedo
Published: April 2015

Coffee is central to the economy of many developing countries, as well as to the world economy. However, despite the widespread consumption of coffee, there are very few available data showing the usual intake of this beverage. Surveying usual coffee intake is a way of monitoring one aspect of a population's usual dietary intake. Thus, the present study aimed to characterise the usual daily coffee intake in the Brazilian population. We used data from the National Dietary Survey collected in 2008–9 from a probabilistic sample of 34 003 Brazilians aged 10 years and older. The National Cancer Institute method was applied to obtain the usual intake based on two nonconsecutive food diaries, and descriptive statistical analyses were performed by age and sex for Brazil and its regions. The estimated average usual daily coffee intake of the Brazilian population was 163 (se 2·8) ml. The comparison by sex showed that males had a 12 % greater usual coffee intake than females. In addition, the highest intake was recorded among older males. Among the five regions surveyed, the North-East had the highest usual coffee intake (175 ml). The most common method of brewing coffee was filtered/instant coffee (71 %), and the main method of sweetening beverages was with sugar (87 %). In Brazil, the mean usual coffee intake corresponds to 163 ml, or 1·5 cups/d. Differences in usual coffee intake according to sex and age differed among the five Brazilian regions.
Impact of climate change and carbon dioxide fertilization effect on irrigation water demand and yield of soybean in Serbia
Authors: JANCIC M. , LALIC B. , MIHAILOVIC D. T. , JACIMOVIC G.
Published: April 2015

The Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer (DSSAT) v. 4·2 crop model was used to estimate climate change impacts on soybean yield in Serbia in simulations for 2030 and 2050 integration periods using three global climate change models (GCMs): the European Centre Hamburg Model (ECHAM), The Hadley Centre Coupled Model (HadCM) and the National Center for Atmospheric Research Parallel Climate Model (NCAR-PCM) under two scenarios from the IPCC Special Report on Emissions Scenarios (IPCC 2001): A1B SRES and A2 SRES. Input data included weather data from a 1971–2000 baseline period from ten weather stations assimilated from the Republic Hydrometeorological Service of Serbia. Output results from the three GCMs under the two scenarios for 2030 and 2050 were statistically downscaled with the ‘Met & Roll’ weather generator for predicted climate conditions. Mechanical and chemical soil properties were collected in the vicinity of weather stations and analysed by the Agency for Environmental Safety in Belgrade. Genetic coefficients, for the soybean maturity group II variety, were slightly modified using the DSSAT-SOYGRO model ones. The results showed a considerable benefit of carbon dioxide fertilization on soybean yield and yield increases at all locations. The greatest estimated yield increases obtained using outputs the HadCM model for 2030 both scenarios; in 2050, however, the A2 scenario resulted in smaller increase in yield at some locations. The highest increase in yield was in the central and eastern parts of Serbia. Analyses of the climate change impacts on irrigation demand showed a great increase in the irrigation demand amount per growing season. The average irrigation demand reached the highest values in the southern and eastern parts of Serbia. Water productivity reached highest values in eastern and central locations, while the minimum is expected in the most southern and northern location. According to all results it can be concluded that soybean will benefit greatly under climate change conditions and that soybean cropping, currently most concentrated in the Vojvodina region in northern Serbia, expanding in the central part and one location in eastern Serbia.
Managed Distribution Policies in Closed-End Funds and Shareholder Activism
Authors: Cherkes Martin , Sagi Jacob S. , Wang Z. Jay
Published: April 2015

In closed-end funds, a managed distribution policy (MDP) is a dividend commitment potentially requiring the liquidation of assets. We argue that MDPs lower managerial claims on fund assets and, when the fund is at a discount, increase shareholder value. This transfer of wealth can be rationalized by managers wishing to deter a challenge from activist shareholders through a costly proxy vote. We find strong empirical evidence that managers respond to the presence of activists using MDPs, that MDPs constitute an effective wealth transfer to shareholders, and that activists are less likely to challenge management when an MDP is in place.
Inside Debt and Mergers and Acquisitions
Authors: Phan Hieu V.
Published: April 2015

I empirically investigate the relation between chief executive officer (CEO) inside debt holdings and mergers and acquisitions (M&As), and find evidence consistent with the agency theory’s prediction of a negative relation between CEO inside debt holdings and corporate risk taking. Further analysis shows that CEO inside debt holdings are positively correlated with M&A announcement abnormal bond returns and long-term operating performance, but negatively correlated with M&A announcement abnormal stock returns. Finally, I find evidence that acquirers restructure the postmerger composition of CEO compensation that mirrors their capital structure in order to alleviate incentives for wealth transfer from shareholders to bondholders or vice versa.
Detecting Regime Shifts in Credit Spreads
Authors: Chun Olfa Maalaoui , Dionne Georges , François Pascal
Published: April 2015

Using an innovative random regime shift detection methodology, we identify and confirm two distinct regime types in the dynamics of credit spreads: a level regime and a volatility regime. The level regime is long lived and shown to be linked to Federal Reserve policy and credit market conditions, whereas the volatility regime is short lived and, apart from recessionary periods, detected during major financial crises. Our methodology provides an independent way of supporting structural equilibrium models and points toward monetary and credit supply effects to account for the persistence of credit spreads and their predictive power over the business cycle.
Reordering a Border Space: Relief, rehabilitation, and nation-building in northeastern India after the 1950 Assam earthquake
Authors: GUYOT-RÉCHARD BÉRÉNICE
Published: April 2015

On 15 August 1950, just as India was celebrating its third independence anniversary, an earthquake of 8.6 magnitude struck the remote northeastern state of Assam and its surrounding borderlands. Rivers burst their banks and landslides blocked Himalayan valleys, destroying towns, villages, roads, fields, and tea gardens in their wake. Beyond the disaster's shattering impact on the physical geography of the region, this article explores how it participated in another reconfiguration—that of Assam's place within India's political geography and national imaginary. The Indian public had hitherto known very little about India's remote ‘northeast frontier’; the cataclysm and subsequent relief measures served to carve out a space for it on Indian mental maps. Simultaneously, by forcing a large-scale encounter between Indian authorities and the people of the scarcely controlled eastern Himalayas, post-earthquake relief and rehabilitation led to unprecedented state expansion in this newly strategic borderland. Yet in the same breath, the aftermath of the disaster fuelled stereotypes about Assam and its hinterland that would eventually further their marginality within India and undermine their continued unity. The crystallization of Assam's image as a place irreducibly subject to the whims of nature and, more importantly, incapable of taking care of itself (and hence, of its highland dependencies), would poison centre–state relations for decades to come. Imperfect and contradictory, the reordering of this border space from a colonial frontier to a component of independent India's national space did not end marginality, but instead reinforced it.
Contested Rights of Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples in Conflicts over Biocultural Diversity: The case of Karen communities in Thung Yai, a World Heritage Site in Thailand
Authors: BUERGIN REINER
Published: April 2015

The conceptualization of interrelations between biological and cultural diversity since the 1980s indicates a biocultural turn in discourses and policies regarding nature conservation, sustainable development, and indigenous peoples. These interrelations frequently manifest as conflicts between local communities who derive their livelihoods and identity from their lands and resources, and external actors and institutions who claim control over these areas, invoking superior interests in nature conservation, development, and modernization. In these asymmetric conflicts over biocultural diversity, framed in discourses that demand the preservation of both biological and cultural diversity, the opportunities for local communities to assert their claims crucially depend on external discursive and legal frameworks.

Based on a study of the Karen ethnic minority groups in the Thung Yai World Heritage Site in Thailand, this article explores challenges and chances for local communities to assert claims and rights to lands, resources, and self-determination in the context of the biocultural turn in environment and development discourses as well as heterogeneous legal frameworks. Human rights as individual rights are widely recognized, but may be difficult to enforce and of limited suitability in conflicts over biocultural diversity. Group rights like indigenous rights are increasingly devised to protect ethnic minorities and perpetuate cultural diversity, but are often disputed on the national level and may be ambiguous regarding heterogeneous communities. In Thailand and globally, community rights provide another promising framework with regard to conflicts over biocultural diversity if the claims of communities to livelihoods and self-determination are respected.
DETECTING FOR SMOOTH STRUCTURAL CHANGES IN GARCH MODELS
Authors: Chen Bin , Hong Yongmiao
Published: April 2015

Detecting and modeling structural changes in GARCH processes have attracted increasing attention in time series econometrics. In this paper, we propose a new approach to testing structural changes in GARCH models. The idea is to compare the log likelihood of a time-varying parameter GARCH model with that of a constant parameter GARCH model, where the time-varying GARCH parameters are estimated by a local quasi-maximum likelihood estimator (QMLE) and the constant GARCH parameters are estimated by a standard QMLE. The test does not require any prior information about the alternatives of structural changes. It has an asymptotic N(0,1) distribution under the null hypothesis of parameter constancy and is consistent against a vast class of smooth structural changes as well as abrupt structural breaks with possibly unknown break points. A consistent parametric bootstrap is employed to provide a reliable inference in finite samples and a simulation study highlights the merits of our test.
Is cystic echinoccocosis re-emerging in western Spain?
Authors: LOPEZ-BERNUS A. , BELHASSEN-GARCÍA M. , CARPIO-PEREZ A. , PEREZ DEL VILLAR L. , ROMERO-ALEGRIA A. , VELASCO-TIRADO V. , MURO A. , PARDO-LLEDIAS J. , CORDERO-SÁNCHEZ M. , ALONSO-SARDÓN M.
Published: April 2015

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) remains an important health problem in many areas of the world, including the Mediterranean region. We performed a retrospective study of cases reported from 1998 to 2012 in order to review and update the epidemiology of this disease in a highly endemic area situated in western Spain. A total of 471 patients were diagnosed with hydatid disease. Of these cases, 55·8% were male, with an average age of 62·3 ± 19·5 years. More importantly, 1·5% of patients were children, and 20·5% were aged <45 years. An active therapeutic approach was implemented for 92·6% of the CE patients with primary diagnoses; however, a ‘watch and wait’ strategy was used in 59·3% of all secondary CE diagnoses. The incidence rate of hydatid disease was significantly higher compared to the incidence described in the Notifiable Disease System in this area. Furthermore, a significant decrease in hydatid incidence during the years included in the study was observed (β = −0·4357, P < 0·001). CE incidence has diminished in recent years, although active transmission remains in paediatric cases. Additionally, CE incidence remains high in our region despite public health plans for its control. The documented incidence of CE disease clearly underestimates the real numbers.