bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
PRL‐dock: Protein‐ligand docking based on hydrogen bond matching and probabilistic relaxation labeling
Authors: Wu Meng‐Yun , Dai Dao‐Qing , Yan Hong
Published: April 2012

Protein‐ligand docking is widely applied to structure‐based virtual screening for drug discovery. This article presents a novel docking technique, PRL‐Dock, based on hydrogen bond matching and probabilistic relaxation labeling. It deals with multiple hydrogen bonds and can match many acceptors and donors simultaneously. In the matching process, the initial probability of matching an acceptor with a donor is estimated by an efficient scoring function and the compatibility coefficients are assigned according to the coexisting condition of two hydrogen bonds. After hydrogen bond matching, the geometric complementarity of the interacting donor and acceptor sites is taken into account for displacement of the ligand. It is reduced to an optimization problem to calculate the optimal translation and rotation matrixes that minimize the root mean square deviation between two sets of points, which can be solved using the Kabsch algorithm. In addition to the van der Waals interaction, the contribution of intermolecular hydrogen bonds in a complex is included in the scoring function to evaluate the docking quality. A modified Lennard‐Jones 12‐6 dispersion‐repulsion term is used to estimate the van der Waals interaction to make the scoring function fairly “soft” so that ligands are not heavily penalized for small errors in the binding geometry. The calculation of this scoring function is very convenient. The evaluation is carried out on 278 rigid complexes and 93 flexible ones where there is at least one intermolecular hydrogen bond. The experiment results of docking accuracy and prediction of binding affinity demonstrate that the proposed method is highly effective. Proteins 2012; © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
CT‐guided stereotactic targeting accuracy of osteoid osteoma
Authors: Widmann Gerlig , Schullian Peter , Fasser Martin , Niederwanger Christian , Bale Reto
Published: April 2012

Background

The aim of this study was to evaluate the CT‐guided stereotactic targeting accuracy for radiofrequency ablation of osteoid osteoma (OO), a small, benign but painful osseous lesion.

Methods

Patient and extremity were fixed in a vacuum cushion. The OO was targeted using an optical navigation system with a stereotactic targeting device. For evaluation of targeting errors, the control CT with the needle in place was fused with the planning CT.

Results

In 16 consecutive patients, nine OOs in the femur, four in the tibia, one in the spine, one in the ulna and one in the pubic bone were successfully targeted without complications. The mean ± SD lateral targeting error was 2.6 ± 1.7 mm at the needle entry and 1.9 ± 1.2 mm at the needle tip, and the mean angular error was 2.0 ± 1.3°.

Conclusion

Stereotaxy allows for accurate and safe targeting of OOs in various bone regions. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Topology discovery of sparse random graphs with few participants
Authors: Anandkumar Animashree , Hassidim Avinatan , Kelner Jonathan
Published: April 2012

We consider the task of topology discovery of sparse random graphs using end‐to‐end random measurements (e.g., delay) between a subset of nodes, referred to as the participants. The rest of the nodes are hidden, and do not provide any information for topology discovery. We consider topology discovery under two routing models: (a) the participants exchange messages along the shortest paths and obtain end‐to‐end measurements, and (b) additionally, the participants exchange messages along the second shortest path. For scenario (a), our proposed algorithm results in a sub‐linear edit‐distance guarantee using a sub‐linear number of uniformly selected participants. For scenario (b), we obtain a much stronger result, and show that we can achieve consistent reconstruction when a sub‐linear number of uniformly selected nodes participate. This implies that accurate discovery of sparse random graphs is tractable using an extremely small number of participants. We finally obtain a lower bound on the number of participants required by any algorithm to reconstruct the original random graph up to a given edit distance. We also demonstrate that while consistent discovery is tractable for sparse random graphs using a small number of participants, in general, there are graphs which cannot be discovered by any algorithm even with a significant number of participants, and with the availability of end‐to‐end information along all the paths between the participants. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Random Struct. Alg., 2013
Imaging and Nanofabrication With the Helium Ion Microscope of the Van Leeuwenhoek Laboratory in Delft
Authors: Alkemade Paul F. A. , Koster Emma M. , van Veldhoven Emile , Maas Diederik J.
Published: April 2012

Although helium ion microscopy (HIM) was introduced only a few years ago, many new application fields are emerging. The connecting factor between these novel applications is the unique interaction of the primary helium ion beam with the sample material at and just below its surface. In particular, the HIM secondary electron signal stems from an area that is extremely well localized around the point of incidence of the primary beam. This makes the HIM well suited for both high‐resolution imaging and high‐resolution nanofabrication. Another advantage in nanofabrication is the low ion backscattering fraction, which leads to a weak proximity effect. The subnanometer probe size and the unique beam‐materials interactions have opened new areas of research. This review presents a selection of studies conducted on a single instrument. The selection encompasses applications ranging from imaging to nanofabrication and from fundamental academic research to applied industrial developments. SCANNING 34: 90‐100, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Cobalt‐Mediated Crystallographic Etching of Graphite From Defects
Authors: Wang Rui , Wang Jiayi , Gong Hao , Luo Zhiqiang , Zhan Da , Shen Zexiang , Thong John T. L.
Published: April 2012

Herein is reported a study of Co‐assisted crystallographic etching of graphite in hydrogen environment at temperatures above 750 °C. Unlike nanoparticle etching of graphite surface that leaves trenches, the Co could fill the hexagonal or triangular etch‐pits that progressively enlarge, before finally balling‐up, leaving well‐defined etched pits enclosed by edges oriented at 60° or 120° relative to each other. The morphology and chirality of the etched edges have been carefully studied by transmission electron microscopy and Raman analysis, the latter indicating zigzag edges. By introducing defects to the graphite using an oxygen plasma or by utilizing the edges of graphene/graphite flakes (which are considered as defects), an ability to define the position of the etched edges is demonstrated. Based on these results, graphite strips are successfully etched from the edges and graphitic ribbons are fabricated which are enclosed by purely zigzag edges. These fabricated graphitic ribbons could potentially be isolated layer‐by‐layer and transferred to a device substrate for further processing into graphene nanoribbon transistors.
Sustaining and Expanding Systems of Care to Provide Mental Health Services for Children, Youth and Families Across America
Authors: Miller Bethany D. , Blau Gary M. , Christopher Okori T. , Jordan Phillip E.
Published: April 2012

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has been instrumental in supporting the development and implementation of systems of care to provide services to children and youth with serious mental health conditions and their families. Since 1993, 173 grants have been awarded to communities in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, Guam, the District of Columbia, and 21 American Indian/Alaska Native communities. The system of care principles of creating comprehensive, individualized services, family‐driven and youth‐guided care and cultural and linguistic competence, supported by a well‐trained and competent workforce, have been successful in transforming the field of children's mental health and facilitating the integration of child‐serving systems. This approach has achieved positive outcomes at the child and family, practice and system levels, and numerous articles have been published using data collected from system of care communities, demonstrating the effectiveness of this framework. This article will describe lessons learned from implementing the system of care approach, and will discuss the importance of expanding and sustaining systems of care across the country.
Newborn screening programmes in Europe; arguments and efforts regarding harmonization. Part 2 – From screening laboratory results to treatment, follow‐up and quality assurance
Authors: Burgard Peter , Rupp Kathrin , Lindner Martin , Haege Gisela , Rigter Tessel , Weinreich Stephanie S. , Loeber J. Gerard , Taruscio Domenica , Vittozzi Luciano , Cornel Martina C. , Hoffmann Georg F.
Published: April 2012

In a survey conducted in 2010/2011 data from the 28 EU member states, four EU candidate states (Croatia, FYROM, Iceland, Turkey), three potential EU candidate states (Bosnia Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia), and two EFTA states (Norway and Switzerland) were collected. The status and function of newborn screening (NBS) programmes were investigated from the information to prospective parents and the public via confirmation of a positive screening result up to decisions on treatment. This article summarises the results from screening laboratory findings to start of treatment. In addition we asked about the existence of feedback loops reporting the conclusions of confirmation of screening results to the screening laboratory and communication of long‐term outcome to diagnostic units and possibly existing central registries. Parallel to the description of actual practices of where, how and by whom the different steps of the programmes are executed, we also asked for the existence of guidelines or directives regulating the screening programmes, material to support information of parents about diagnoses and treatment and training facilities for professionals involved in the programmes. This survey gives a first comprehensive overview of the steps following a positive screening result in European NBS programmes. The 37 data sets reveal substantial variation of national screening panels, but also a lot of similarities. Analysis across all countries revealed that actual practice is often organised but not regulated by guidelines. Material to inform patients is available more often for explaining treatment (69 %) than explaining the necessity of confirmatory diagnostics (41 %). Training of professionals is rarely regulated by a guideline (2 %), but is offered for paediatricians (40 %) and dieticians (29 %) and only rarely for other professions (e.g. geneticists, clinical nurse specialists, psychologists). Registry‐based evaluation of long‐term outcome is as yet almost nonexistent (3 %).
Evolution: Improving the Understanding of Undergraduate Biology Students with an Active Pedagogical Approach
Authors: Buckberry Sam , Burke da Silva Karen
Published: April 2012

Students in a large introductory biology course at Flinders University, South Australia, were quizzed on misconceptions relating to evolution and their acceptance of evolutionary theory before and after completing the course. By providing students with a course featuring a multifaceted approach to learning about evolution, students improved their understanding and decreased their overall misconceptions. A variety of instructional methods and assessment tools were utilized in the course, and it employed an active and historically rich pedagogical approach. Although student learning and understanding of evolutionary theory improved throughout the course, it did not alter the beliefs of students who commented both before and after the course that religious theories provided adequate explanation for the diversity of life. Interestingly, students who maintained this belief scored more poorly on the final examination than students who considered evolution as the best explanation for the diversity of life.
Communication Skills Training to Address Disruptive Physician Behavior
Authors: Saxton Rebecca
Published: April 2012

Disruptive behavior among health care providers has been linked to negative patient outcomes. High‐stress areas, including the perioperative setting, are especially prone to this behavior. The purpose of this study was to develop, implement, and evaluate an educational communication skills intervention aimed at increasing the perceived self‐efficacy of perioperative nurses to address disruptive physician behavior. Seventeen perioperative nurses participated in a two‐day communication skills program presented by a certified Crucial Conversations trainer. By using paired t test analysis, I found that there was a statistically significant increase in total mean self‐efficacy scores immediately after the intervention and four weeks after the intervention. In addition, four weeks after the intervention, participants reported the ability to address disruptive physician behavior 71% of the time. The results of this study suggest that one intervention strategy to address the serious threat of disruptive physician behavior to patient safety is to educate nurses in communication skills.
Clinical Issues—May 2012
Authors: Blanchard Joan C. , Denholm Bonnie
Published: April 2012

This Month

Reuse of single‐use devices

Key words: single‐use devices, resterilization, reuse, repurposing of single‐use devices.

Use of long‐sleeved perioperative warm‐up jackets

Key words: perioperative attire, recommended practices for attire.

Requirements for preoperative fasting

Key words: NPO, surgical fasting, preoperative fasting.

Necessity of medication orders for medications on the sterile field

Key words: medication orders, perioperative medication use, ambulatory surgery.
The use of mental health services by adolescent smokers: A nationwide Israeli study
Authors: Shoval G. , Mansbach-Kleinfeld I. , Farbstein I. , Kanaaneh R. , Lubin G. , Krivoy A. , Apter A. , Weizman A. , Zalsman G.
Published: April 2012

In this study, we aimed to evaluate the utilization of mental health services by adolescent smokers, the presence of untreated mental disorders in this young population and the associated emotional and behavioral difficulties. We performed a nationwide survey study of an Israeli representative sample of 906 adolescents and their mothers. Mental disorders were assessed using the Development and Well-Being Assessment (DAWBA) Inventory. Emotional and behavioral difficulties were evaluated using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Mental health services use and smoking habits were evaluated by relevant questionnaires. Adolescent smokers were using significantly more mental health services than non-smokers (79% vs. 63%, respectively, P < 0.001), independently of their mental health status or ethnic group. Adolescent smokers also reported more emotional and behavioral difficulties in most areas (P < 0.001), which are consistent with their mothers’ reports, except in the area of peer relationships. The treatment gap for the smoking adolescents was 53% compared to 69% in the non-smokers (P < 0.001). This is the first study characterizing the use of mental health services and the related emotional and behavioral difficulties in a nationally-representative sample of adolescents. The findings of a wide treatment gap and the rates of the associated emotional and behavioral difficulties are highly relevant to the psychiatric assessment and national treatment plans of adolescent smokers.
Neuronal correlates of appetite regulation in patients with schizophrenia: Is there a basis for future appetite dysfunction?
Authors: Lungu O. , Anselmo K. , Letourneau G. , Mendrek A. , Stip B. , Lipp O. , Lalonde P. , Ait Bentaleb L. , Stip E.
Published: April 2012

Background

Given the undesired metabolic side effects of atypical antipsychotic medication it is important to understand the neuronal basis related to processing of appetite regulation in patients affected by schizophrenia.

Methods:

Here we used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to assess brain activity in response to food cues and neutral stimuli in twenty patients with schizophrenia and eleven healthy individuals. In addition to clinical and dietary habits assessments, we collected, in patients, measurements of fasting glucose, ghrelin, leptin, insulin, prolactin and lipids blood concentration and we correlated the cerebral activity with clinical and metabolic measures.

Results:

Both groups engaged a common neuronal network while processing food cues, which included the left insula, primary sensorimotor areas, and inferior temporal and parietal cortices. Cerebral responses to appetitive stimuli in thalamus, parahippocampus and middle frontal gyri were specific only to schizophrenic patients, with parahippocampal activity related to hunger state and increasing linearly over time. Antipsychotic medication dosage correlated positively with a cognitive measure reflecting food cravings, whereas the severity of the disease correlated negatively with a cognitive measure indicating dietary restraint in eating habits. These cognitive variables correlated, in turn, with parahippocampal and thalamic neuronal activities, respectively.

Conclusions:

We identified a specific neural substrate underlying cognitive processing of appetitive stimuli in schizophrenia, which may contribute to appetite dysfunction via perturbations in processing of homeostatic signals in relation to external stimuli. Our results also suggest that both antipsychotic medication and the disease severity per se could amplify these effects, via different mechanisms and neuronal networks.
The Late Palaeozoic trilobites of Iran and Armenia and their palaeogeographical significance
Authors: LEROSEY-AUBRIL RUDY
Published: April 2012

The Iranian territory is composed of a mosaic of tectonic units, several of which underwent in the Permian and Triassic periods a migration from northern Gondwana to southern Laurussia associated with the opening of the Neo-Tethys Ocean. Although this broad outline of Permo-Triassic palaeogeographical evolution of Iranian microplates is now widely accepted, the individual timing of migration of these blocks, and their biogeographical relationships, remain insufficiently known. Here I review the Late Palaeozoic record of trilobites in Iran and Armenia, and discuss their palaeobiogeographical affinities in an attempt to shed light on the Permian palaeogeographical evolution of Iranian and Armenian terranes. Seven Iranian or Armenian localities, representative of five tectonic units, have yielded Carboniferous and Permian trilobites. Ten species are recognized, including two new taxa,Persia praecoxgen. nov. sp. nov. andPseudophillipsia(s.l.)parviziisp. nov.P. praecoxis the only Carboniferous (Tournaisian) species. The others are Wordian to Wuchiapingian in age and can be separated into three morphological groups, probably representing clades. One is composed of representatives ofAcropyge, while the two others (armenica-group andpaffenholzi-group) comprise species ofPseudophillipsia. OnlyP.(s.l.)parviziisp. nov. from the Zagros Mountains (Arabian Plate) is not attributed to one of these groups. The distribution of trilobites in Iran and Armenia strongly suggests that the Alborz, Central Iran and Transcaucasia microplates represented a single biogeographical unit in Middle and Late Permian times. Special relationships of this biochore with South China can also be stressed.
Source memory errors in schizophrenia, hallucinations and negative symptoms: a synthesis of research findings
Authors: Brébion G. , Ohlsen R. I. , Bressan R. A. , David A. S.
Published: April 2012

Background

Previous research has shown associations between source memory errors and hallucinations in patients with schizophrenia. We bring together here findings from a broad memory investigation to specify better the type of source memory failure that is associated with auditory and visual hallucinations.

Method

Forty-one patients with schizophrenia and 43 healthy participants underwent a memory task involving recall and recognition of lists of words, recognition of pictures, memory for temporal and spatial context of presentation of the stimuli, and remembering whether target items were presented as words or pictures.

Results

False recognition of words and pictures was associated with hallucination scores. The extra-list intrusions in free recall were associated with verbal hallucinations whereas the intra-list intrusions were associated with a global hallucination score. Errors in discriminating the temporal context of word presentation and the spatial context of picture presentation were associated with auditory hallucinations. The tendency to remember verbal labels of items as pictures of these items was associated with visual hallucinations. Several memory errors were also inversely associated with affective flattening and anhedonia.

Conclusions

Verbal and visual hallucinations are associated with confusion between internal verbal thoughts or internal visual images and perception. In addition, auditory hallucinations are associated with failure to process or remember the context of presentation of the events. Certain negative symptoms have an opposite effect on memory errors.
The Hedgehog and the Fox: Form and Meaning in the Prologue of Herodotus
Authors: Węcowski Marek
Published: April 2012

The paper focuses on Herodotus' authorial self-representation, and on the problem of the intellectual tradition and genre(s) behind theHistories. The main assumption is that the opening sections of the work are a natural place to present its subject and principles to the public. Despite and beyond the notoriously loose grammatical structure of the first sentence, this paper offers a formal analysis of the whole ‘extended preface’ (incipitthrough 1.5.4), a carefully organized large-scale ‘pedimental composition’. A detailed examination of this structure yields the following results: (1) the stories about the abductions of women form an ironic attack against a peculiar model of causality of some contemporary Greek poets and writers, whose pragmatic outlook deprives the world of its ethico-religious dimension. (2) Conversely, Herodotus himself propounds a symbolic view of the world and seeks a monistic principle encompassing the past and the whole range of human experience. He ultimately finds it in the idea of the ‘cycle of human affairs’. This idea is the carefully stated subject of theHistories. (3) Although he belongs to the agonistic and display-oriented intellectual world of the sophistic era, Herodotus poses as a ‘sage’ capable of penetrating the whole variety of ‘all things’. Thus, he refers his reader to the tradition of wisdom literature. (4) Not unlike Thucydides, Herodotus' research into the greatest military conflict thus far forms in his view the best possible paradigmatic diagnosis of the human condition – much better than that of his fellow wise men (poets, philosophers, etc.) because based on the firm ground of verifiable historical data. (5) Although Herodotus is intent upon seeing the world from the standpoint of a single organizing principle, one of the most salient features of theHistoriesis the notion of the ‘marvellous’ (thômaston), which clearly elicits the pragmatic or factual attitude of the thinkers he dislikes. Many problems we experience when interpreting this author are due to the tension between the two attitudes. (6) This inherent breach in Herodotus' mind should be seen as a result not of a development or evolution of his work and thought, but of the contemporary debate between two diametrically opposed types of knowledge,viz.between the exponents ofpolymathiê, orVielwisserei, and those ofsophiê, or ‘wisdom’. Herodotus' contemporaries active in the field ofarkhaiologia(including mythography, genealogy, etc.) andperiêgêsis(geography, ethnography, etc.) were widely considered ‘polymaths’. Herodotus' ambition to apply the monistic (and symbolic) bent of wisdom literature to the subject-matter dominated thus far by the ‘pluralistic’ (and pragmatic) way of thinking was at least partly responsible for this discontinuity in his thought, but also accounts for the originality of theHistories.
Myth and thepolisin Bacchylides' Eleventh Ode
Authors: Cairns Douglas
Published: April 2012

Bacchylides' eleventh epinician ends not with renewed praise of the victor but with an extension to the ode's main myth which forges a link between the Arcadian cult of Artemis founded by Proetus and his daughters and the foundation of the victor's home city of Metapontum by Achaean colonists identified with the heroic captors of Troy. The culmination of the ode in praise of a successful colonial foundation, it is argued, is the key to the principles on which Bacchylides has selected and moulded the mythological elements that he deploys in the rest of the ode. Proetus' foundation of Tiryns resolves the civil strife which threatened to destroy Argos and commends colonization as a means of social and political progress; while the cult of Artemis at Lousoi, founded to expiate the Proetids' offence against Hera, emphasizes the role of marriage in maintaining the strength and solidarity of the community. The emphasis in both these myths on the divine intervention which rectifies human error links them to the experience of the victor and to the theme of the proper cultivation of the gods that is emphasized in the ode's conclusion. In constructing mythical narratives that are exemplary for the victor and his community, Bacchylides departs from mythological tradition in significant respects and in ways which suggest that the ode's argument reflects both the victor's status in the community and perhaps also the circumstances of its own performance.
Protector of the city, or the art of storage in early Greece
Authors: Ebbinghaus Susanne
Published: April 2012

In the Late Geometric and Orientalizing periods, storage vessels with elaborate relief decoration were produced in several Aegean islands, most notably the northern Cyclades, Crete and Rhodes. This article interprets the amphora-shaped reliefpithosas a function of prevailing social, economic and living conditions. It is argued that rather than being inspired by funerary or votive uses, the reliefpithoiof the Tenian-Boeotian group are the material expression of the vital importance of food storage, which not only ensured subsistence but was an essential prerequisite for social differentiation. Reliefpithoiwere a form of conspicuous storage. Against this background, the unique iconography of the Tenian-Boeotianpithoiis revisited and the enigmatic fallen warrior on the MykonosPithosidentified as a possible role model for seventh-century aristocrats.
Revelry and riot in Archaic Megara: democratic disorder or ritual reversal?
Authors: Forsdyke Sara
Published: April 2012

Plutarch (probably following Aristotle's lostConstitution of the Megarians) associates several episodes of riotous behaviour with the existence of a radical democracy in Archaic Megara (Moralia295c-d, 304e-f). Modern historians, in turn, have accepted that Megara was ruled by a democracy in the mid sixth century BC. I suggest that this conclusion is unjustified because the connection between riotous behaviour and democracy in Plutarch is based on fourth-century anti-democratic political thought. I propose instead that anecdotes describing the insolent behaviour of the poor towards the rich are better interpreted in terms of customary rituals of social inversion and transgression. Drawing on comparative examples from the ancient world and early modern Europe, I show that popular revelry involving role reversal and transgression of social norms was an important locus for the negotiation of relations between élites and masses. I argue that such rituals provided temporary release from the constraints of the social hierarchy, and served to articulate symbolically the obligation of the powerful to protect the weak. The comparative examples show that such rituals were usually non-revolutionary, but could turn violent in times of rapid social and economic change. I argue that the violent episodes reported by Plutarch reflect the escalation of ritual revelry into real protest and riot in response to the breakdown of traditional relations of reciprocity between rich and poor in Archaic Megara. I suggest that élites in Archaic Megara successfully warded off more far-reaching rebellion and political reform by enacting new measures for the economic relief of the poor (e.g. the return of interest legislation). In conclusion, I address the broader historical question of why subordinate groups use ritual forms to express discontent.
The thirteenth oration of Dio Chrysostom: complexity and simplicity, rhetoric and moralism, literature and life
Authors: Moles John
Published: April 2012

This paper takes the Thirteenth Oration as a test case of many of the questions raised by the career and works of Dio Chrysostom. The speech's generic creativity and philosophical expertise are demonstrated. Historical problems are clarified. Analysis shows how Dio weaves seemingly diverse themes into a complex unity. New answers are given to two crucial interpretative problems. Exploration of Dio's self-representation and of his handling of internal and external audiences and of temporal and spatial relationships leads to the conclusion that he has a serious philosophical purpose: the advocacy of Antisthenic/Cynicpaideiain place of the currentpaideiaboth of Romans and Athenians. Paradoxically, this clever, ironic and sophisticated speech deconstructs its own apparent values in the interests of simple, practical moralizing.
A Hellenistic terracotta and the gardens of Adonis
Authors: Oakley John H. , Reitzammer Laurialan
Published: April 2012

A Hellenistic terracotta from Myrina now in the Louvre is interpreted as showing a young woman tending the ‘gardens of Adonis’ in connection with the rites of theAdonia. Further associations are made between the perfume apparently being poured into a planter from an alabastron that the young woman holds, Adonis’ mother Myrrha, the provenience of the terracotta (Myrina) and grave rituals.
Pindar on Archilochus and the gluttony of blame (Pyth. 2.52-6)
Authors: Brown Christopher G.
Published: April 2012

InPyth. 2.52–5 Pindar describes Archilochus as ‘growing fat on dire words of hatred’. This article argues that Pindar portrays Archilochus as a glutton in the manner of iambic invective. A glutton is seen as a person who grows fat at the expense of others, and so fails in the matter of χάρις. In this light, Archilochus, the poet of blame, stands with Ixion in the poem as a negative paradigm, serving as a foil to Pindar's praise of Hieron. Praise is thus placed in a setting that recognizes its opposite: praise is only meaningful when seen in relation to blame. Pindar's poetry is not the product of gluttony; it is a return that offers a necessary recognition of excellence.
The competence of theatre audiences in fifth- and fourth-century Athens
Authors: Revermann Martin
Published: April 2012

After dismissing various possible approaches to the question of audience competence in fifth- and fourth-century Athens, this article proposes to tackle this important and notorious problem with a novel strategy that is not ‘top-down’ but ‘bottom-up’, starting with spectators rather than plays and focusing on the bottom-line of expertise which can be taken to be shared by the majority of audience members. An umbrella-notion of ‘theatrical competence’ is established before two central characteristics of drama performed in Athens are exploited: the participation of spectators in the citizen-chorus at the Great Dionysia, and the implications for the competence issue of frequent exposure to an art form which is as formally conservative as preserved Attic drama. What emerges is a model of stratified decoding by spectators (élite and non-élite) who share a considerable level of theatrical competence. In a final step, this model is applied to a number of case studies taken from fifth-century comedy.
LOCAL LINEAR FITTING UNDER NEAR EPOCH DEPENDENCE: UNIFORM CONSISTENCY WITH CONVERGENCE RATES
Authors: Li Degui , Lu Zudi , Linton Oliver
Published: April 2012

Local linear fitting is a popular nonparametric method in statistical and econometric modeling. Lu and Linton (2007,Econometric Theory23, 37–70) established the pointwise asymptotic distribution for the local linear estimator of a nonparametric regression function under the condition of near epoch dependence. In this paper, we further investigate the uniform consistency of this estimator. The uniform strong and weak consistencies with convergence rates for the local linear fitting are established under mild conditions. Furthermore, general results regarding uniform convergence rates for nonparametric kernel-based estimators are provided. The results of this paper will be of wide potential interest in time series semiparametric modeling.
ESTIMATORS FOR PERSISTENT AND POSSIBLY NONSTATIONARY DATA WITH CLASSICAL PROPERTIES
Authors: Gorodnichenko Yuriy , Mikusheva Anna , Ng Serena
Published: April 2012

This paper considers a moments-based nonlinear estimator that is$\root \of T $-consistent and uniformly asymptotically normal irrespective of the degree of persistence of the forcing process. These properties hold for linear autoregressive models, linear predictive regressions, and certain nonlinear dynamic models. Asymptotic normality is obtained because the moments are chosen so that the objective function is uniformly bounded in probability and so that a central limit theorem can be applied. Critical values from the normal distribution can be used irrespective of the treatment of the deterministic terms. Simulations show that the estimates are precise and thet-test has good size in the parameter region where the least squares estimates usually yield distorted inference.
THE GLOBAL WEIGHTED LAD ESTIMATORS FOR FINITE/INFINITE VARIANCE ARMA(p,q) MODELS
Authors: Zhu Ke , Ling Shiqing
Published: April 2012

This paper investigates the global self-weighted least absolute deviation (SLAD) estimator for finite and infinite variance ARMA(p, q) models. The strong consistency and asymptotic normality of the global SLAD estimator are obtained. A simulation study is carried out to assess the performance of the global SLAD estimators. In this paper the asymptotic theory of the global LAD estimator for finite and infinite variance ARMA(p, q) models is established in the literature for the first time. The technique developed in this paper is not standard and can be used for other time series models.
ARCHIMEDEAN COPULAS AND TEMPORAL DEPENDENCE
Authors: Beare Brendan K.
Published: April 2012

We study the dependence properties of stationary Markov chains generated by Archimedean copulas. Under some simple regularity conditions, we show that regular variation of the Archimedean generator at zero and one implies geometric ergodicity of the associated Markov chain. We verify our assumptions for a range of Archimedean copulas used in applications.
STOCHASTIC COMPARISONS OF LARGEST ORDER STATISTICS FROM MULTIPLE-OUTLIER EXPONENTIAL MODELS
Authors: Zhao Peng , Balakrishnan N.
Published: April 2012

In this paper, we carry out stochastic comparisons of largest order statistics from multiple-outlier exponential models according to the likelihood ratio order (reversed hazard rate order) and the hazard rate order (usual stochastic order). It is proved, among others, that the weak majorization order between the two hazard rate vectors is equivalent to the likelihood ratio order (reversed hazard rate order) between largest order statistics, and that the p-larger order between the two hazard rate vectors is equivalent to the hazard rate order (usual stochastic order) between largest order statistics. We also extend these results to the proportional hazard rate models. The results established here strengthen and generalize some of the results known in the literature.
STOCHASTIC SURVIVAL MODELS WITH EVENTS TRIGGERED BY EXTERNAL SHOCKS
Authors: Cha Ji Hwan , Finkelstein Maxim
Published: April 2012

In most conventional settings, the events caused by an external shock are initiated at the moments of its occurrence. In this paper, we study the new classes of shock models: (i) When each shock from a nonhomogeneous Poisson processes can trigger a failure of a system not immediately, as in classical extreme shock models, but with delay of some random time. (ii) When each shock from a nonhomogeneous Poisson processes results not in an ‘immediate’ increment of wear, as in classical accumulated wear models, but triggers its own increasing wear process. The wear from different shocks is accumulated and the failure of a system occurs when it reaches a given boundary. We derive the corresponding survival and failure rate functions. Furthermore, we study the limiting behavior of the failure rate function where it is applicable.
INFINITE-SERVER QUEUES WITH BATCH ARRIVALS AND DEPENDENT SERVICE TIMES
Authors: Pang Guodong , Whitt Ward
Published: April 2012

Motivated by large-scale service systems, we consider an infinite-server queue with batch arrivals, where the service times are dependent within each batch. We allow the arrival rate of batches to be time varying as well as constant. As regularity conditions, we require that the batch sizes be i.i.d. and independent of the arrival process of batches, and we require that the service times within different batches be independent. We exploit a recently established heavy-traffic limit for the number of busy servers to determine the performance impact of the dependence among the service times. The number of busy servers is approximately a Gaussian process. The dependence among the service times does not affect the mean number of busy servers, but it does affect the variance of the number of busy servers. Our approximations quantify the performance impact upon the variance. We conduct simulations to evaluate the heavy-traffic approximations for the stationary model and the model with a time-varying arrival rate. In the simulation experiments, we use the Marshall–Olkin multivariate exponential distribution to model dependent exponential service times within a batch. We also introduce a class of Marshall–Olkin multivariate hyperexponential distributions to model dependent hyper-exponential service times within a batch.
RISK ANALYSIS OF A ROBOT–SAFETY DEVICE SYSTEM SUBJECTED TO A PRIORITY RULE
Authors: Vanderperre Edmond J. , Makhanov Stanislav S.
Published: April 2012

We introduce a robot–safety device system characterized by cold stand-by and by an admissible risky state. The system is attended by a single repairman and the robot has overall (break-in) priority in repair with regard to the safety device. We obtain an explicit formula for the point availability of the robot via an integral equation of the renewal-type. The explicit solution requires the notion of effective repair-versus-virtual repair. In order to decide whether the risky state is admissible, we also introduce a risk criterion. The criterion is always satisfied in the case of fast repair. As an example, we consider the case of Weibull–Gnedenko repair and we display a computer-plotted graph of the point availability obtained by a direct numerical solution of a convolution-type integral equation.
The effects of captions in teenagers’ multimedia L2 learning
Authors: Lwo Laurence , Chia-Tzu Lin Michelle
Published: April 2012

This study aims to explore the impact of different captions on second language (L2) learning in a computer-assisted multimedia context. A quasi-experimental design was adopted, and a total of thirty-two eighth graders selected from a junior high school joined the study. They were systematically assigned into four groups based on their proficiency in English; these groups were shown animations with English narration and one of the following types of caption: no captions (M1), Chinese captions (M2), English captions (M3), and Chinese plus English captions (M4). A multimedia English learning program was conducted; the learning content involved two scientific articles presented on a computer. To track the learning process, data on oral repetition were collected after each sentence or scene was played. A post-test evaluation and a semi-structured interview were conducted immediately after viewing. The results show that the effect of different captions in multimedia L2 learning with respect to vocabulary acquisition and reading comprehension depend on students’ L2 proficiency. With English and Chinese + English captions, learners with low proficiency performed better in learning English relative to those who did not have such captions. Students relied on graphics and animation as an important tool for understanding English sentences.
Strong Convergence of Partial Match Queries in Random Quadtrees
Authors: CURIEN NICOLAS
Published: April 2012

We prove that the rescaled costs of partial match queries in a random two-dimensional quadtree converge almost surely towards a random limit which is identified as the terminal value of a martingale. Our approach shares many similarities with the theory of self-similar fragmentations.
KIELLAND'S FORCEPS: PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE
Authors: CAMERON MARTIN
Published: April 2012

Kielland's forceps have been in obstetric practice for over 80 years but their use causes a wide spectrum of reactions in obstetricians. Those that have been well tutored in their use argue that they are a very effective instrument to achieve vaginal delivery in the malpositioned fetus, avoiding the problems of full cervical dilation caesarean section, with low complications in their hands. These exponents of the instrument argue that the “art” of obstetrics is demonstrated in the use of Kielland's forceps. However, others claim that Kielland's forceps are dangerous with high complication rates and that they should be confined to the obstetric museum. This paper reviews the history of the instrument and its inventor, to consider evidence for its effectiveness and its safety, to briefly consider other methods for delivery of the malpositioned fetus at full cervical dilation and finally to complete the journey by considering the future with particular emphasis on training the new generation of obstetricians.
Patterns of pharmacological maintenance treatment in a community mental health services bipolar disorder cohort study (SIN-DEPRES)
Authors: Grande Iria , de Arce Rosario , Jiménez-Arriero Miguel Ángel , Lorenzo Federico Guillermo Iglesias , Valverde Juan Ignacio Franch , Balanzá-Martínez Vicent , Zaragoza Silvia , Cobaleda Silvia , Vieta Eduard
Published: April 2012

Maintenance therapy in bipolar disorder (BD) is usually required to prevent relapses and improve residual symptoms. Therefore, in this study, we describe patterns of pharmacological maintenance treatment and identify associated clinical features. This prospective multicentre epidemiological study recruited a cohort of 739 consecutive out-patients with clinically stable BD. Clinical stability was assessed at baseline with the Clinical Global Impression scale for BD and depressive symptoms with the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. Psychotropic medications were classified and analysed according to their mechanism as well as use. Logistic regression models were used to examine the associations between pharmacological strategies and clinical features. Longer time since last episode [odds ratio (OR) 1.002, p < 0.0001] and family history of psychiatric disorders (OR 1.911, p = 0.028) were associated with lithium in monotherapy; manic polarity of the most recent episode (OR 3.300, p = 0.006) and longer duration of clinical stability (OR 1.009, p = 0.034) with antipsychotic in monotherapy; depressive polarity of the most recent episode (OR 2.567, p = 0.003) and bipolar II disorder diagnosis (OR 2.278, p = 0.008) with antidepressant combination; no ongoing psychiatric co-morbidity (OR 0.230, p = 0.004) with lithium and anticonvulsant; manic polarity of the most recent episode (OR 3.774, p < 0.0001) with lithium and antipsychotic; manic polarity of the most recent episode (OR 2.907, p = 0.028) with lithium, anticonvulsant and antipsychotic. The pharmacological patterns followed published recommendations, except for the excessive use of antidepressants. This study reveals clinical factors closely related to prescription patterns.
Genetic relationships among Prunus rootstocks for sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) cultivars
Authors: Turkoglu Z. , Koc A. , Ercisli S. , Bilgener S. , Akbulut M. , Yildirim N. , Gercekcioglu R. , Esitken A. , Gunes M.
Published: April 2012

Sweet cherries can be grafted on a wide range of rootstocks belonging to Prunus avium, Prunus cerasus, Prunus mahaleb, Prunus angustifolia or hybrids of different Prunus species. Identification of Prunus rootstocks using morphological traits is almost impossible particularly during the dormant season. However, molecular analysis carried out on actively growing shoot tips, leaves or dormant buds provides good opportunity to reliably distinguish rootstocks. In this study, DNA was extracted from the leaves of a total of 184 sweet cherry rootstock candidates belonging to P. avium L., P. cerasus L., P. mahaleb L. and P. angustifolia L. previously selected from the north-western part of Turkey. The rootstock candidates were tested with ten simple sequence repeat (SSR) primers, developed for the Prunus genus. The primers successfully identified all rootstock candidates. The results showed that the number of alleles per locus ranged from 10 (UDAp-401, UCD-CH21 and CPSCT010) to 20 (UCD-CH31) with an average of 13.3 alleles per locus, indicating that the SSRs were highly informative. Unweighted Pair-Group Method with Arithmetic mean analysis demonstrated that P. avium accessions are closely related to P. cerasus. The reference rootstocks were clustered with their associated botanical species.
Oceanwide imprint of large tectonic and oceanic events on seawater Nd isotope composition in the Indian Ocean from 90 to 40 Ma
Authors: Le Houedec Sandrine , Meynadier Laure , Cogné Jean‐Pascal , Allègre Claude J. , Gourlan Alexandra T.
Published: April 2012

We have analyzed four sediment cores from the Southern Indian Ocean (ODP sites 757, 758, 1135 and 762) with high carbonate content, in order to reconstruct the neodymium isotopic composition (εNd) of ancient intermediate South Indian seawater from Late Cretaceous (90 Ma) to Early Eocene (40 Ma). The εNdvariations are highly consistent and exhibit reproducible patterns over a very large geographic area, confirming the seawater origin of the signal. Combining geochemical constraints with paleogeographic reconstructions, we highlight the respective roles of (1) large‐scale tectonic events, (2) continental weathering from surrounding Precambrian terrains (90–65 Ma), (3) oceanic circulation changes (50–40 Ma) and, possibly, (4) local volcanism of the ultra‐fast spreading South East Indian Ridge (SEIR) (60–50 Ma) on the Nd isotopic composition of South Indian seawater. Between 60 Ma and 50 Ma, the regional Nd isotopic variations closely mimic changes in SEIR spreading rate. We suggest that the Nd isotopic composition of seawater could be influenced by Nd of volcanic origin in the vicinity of ultra‐fast spreading ridges (>13 cm/yr). The India‐Asia collision closed the Equatorial Seaway between Asia and India and drastically changed oceanic circulation patterns in the Indian Ocean: warm and more radiogenic Pacific equatorial seawater was diverted to the South by the East Indian coast. A stronger mixing of this Pacific seawater with South Indian seawater would explain the rapid shift ofεNd from 50 Ma (−11) to 40 Ma (−8).