bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Growth Hormone and Disease Severity in Early Stage of Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Gironi M. , Solaro C. , Meazza C. , Vaghi M. , Montagna L. , Rovaris M. , Batocchi A. P. , Nemni R. , Albertini R. , Zaffaroni M. , Bozzola M.
Published: October 2013

Evidence suggests that neurohormones such as GH and IGF-I are involved in the neuroreparative processes in multiple sclerosis (MS). GH and IGF-I blood levels in naïve MS patients with different disease courses were investigated in this study. Serum GH and IGF-I in untreated MS patients (n=64), healthy controls (HC,n=62), and patients affected by other neurological diseases (OND,n=46) were evaluated with a solid-phase-enzyme-labeled-chemiluminescent-immunometric assay. No differences were detected in GH across MS, OND, and HC (MS=0.87±1.32 ng/mL;OND=1.66±3.7; andHC=1.69±3.35;P=0.858) when considering gender, disease duration, and disease course. However, GH was lower (P=0.007) in patients with more severe disease (expanded disability scale score,EDSS≥4.0) compared with milder forms (EDSS<4). IGF-I l did not differ across the 3 groups (P=0.160), as far as concern disease course, disability, and gender were. Lower IGF-I levels were detected in subjects older than 50 years compared to younger ones for all 3 groups. Lower GH was detected in patients with more severe MS, and age was confirmed as the main factor driving IGF-I levels in all subjects. These findings, relying on the natural course of the disease, could help in shedding lights on the mechanisms involved in autoreparative failure associated with poorer prognosis in MS.
Overexpression of Regulatory T Cells Type 1 (Tr1) Specific Markers in a Patient with HCV-Induced Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Ouaguia Laurissa , Morales Olivier , Mrizak Dhafer , Ghazal Khaldoun , Boleslawski Emmanuel , Auriault Claude , Pancré Véronique , de Launoit Yvan , Conti Filoména , Delhem Nadira
Published: October 2013

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is an important causative agent of liver disease, but factors that determine the resolution or progression of infection are poorly understood. In this study, we suggested that existence of immunosuppressive mechanisms, supported by regulatory T cells and especially the regulatory T cell 1 subset (Tr1), may explain the impaired immune response during infection and thus the fibrosis aggravation to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Using quantitative real-time PCR, we investigated the intra-hepatic presence of Tr1 cells in biopsies from a genotype 1b infected patient followed for an 18-year period from cirrhosis to HCC. We described a significant increase of gene expression in particular for the cytokines IL-10, TGF-β, and their receptors that were perfectly correlated with an increased expression of the Tr1 specific markers (combined expression of CD4, CD18, and CD49b). This was strongly marked since the patient evolved in the pathology and could explain the failure of the treatment. In conclusion, evidence of regulatory T cell installation in the liver of chronically infected patient with cirrhosis and HCC suggests for the first time a key role for these cells in the course of HCV infection.
Impact of Lipid Nutrition on Neural Stem/Progenitor Cells
Authors: Sakayori Nobuyuki , Kimura Ryuichi , Osumi Noriko
Published: October 2013

The neural system originates from neural stem/progenitor cells (NSPCs). Embryonic NSPCs first proliferate to increase their numbers and then produce neurons and glial cells that compose the complex neural circuits in the brain. New neurons are continually produced even after birth from adult NSPCs in the inner wall of the lateral ventricle and in the hippocampal dentate gyrus. These adult-born neurons are involved in various brain functions, including olfaction-related functions, learning and memory, pattern separation, and mood control. NSPCs are regulated by various intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Diet is one of such important extrinsic factors. Of dietary nutrients, lipids are important because they constitute the cell membrane, are a source of energy, and function as signaling molecules. Metabolites of some lipids can be strong lipid mediators that also regulate various biological activities. Recent findings have revealed that lipids are important regulators of both embryonic and adult NSPCs. We and other groups have shown that lipid signals including fat, fatty acids, their metabolites and intracellular carriers, cholesterol, and vitamins affect proliferation and differentiation of embryonic and adult NSPCs. A better understanding of the NSPCs regulation by lipids may provide important insight into the neural development and brain function.
Internet Use and Cancer-Preventive Behaviors in Older Adults: Findings from a Longitudinal Cohort Study
Authors: Xavier Andre Junqueira , d'Orsi Eleonora , Wardle Jane , Demakakos Panayotes , Smith Samuel G. , von Wagner Christian
Published: October 2013

Background: The Internet is a key provider of health information, but little is known about its associations with cancer-preventive behaviors. This study investigated the associations between Internet use and cancer-preventive behaviors among older adults.

Methods: Data were taken from Waves 1 to 5 (2002–2011) of the English Longitudinal Study of Aging, a cohort study of men and women 50 years or older in England, United Kingdom. Internet use was recorded at each wave. Breast and colorectal screening, fruit and vegetable consumption, physical activity, and smoking were recorded at Wave 5. Social, cognitive, and physical function variables recorded at Wave 1 were analyzed as predictors of Internet use and included as covariates in analyses linking Internet use to behavior.

Results: Of 5,943 respondents, 41.4% did not report any Internet use, 38.3% reported using it in one to three waves (“intermittent users”), and 20.3% used it in all waves (“consistent users”). Internet use was higher in younger, male, White, wealthier, more educated respondents, and those without physical limitations. Multivariable analysis showed that consistent users were more likely than “never users” to report CRC screening, weekly moderate/vigorous physical activity, and five or more daily servings of fruit and vegetables, and less likely to report smoking. There was no significant association between Internet use and breast screening.

Conclusions: Internet use showed a quantitative association with cancer-preventive behaviors even after controlling for various social, cognitive, and physical correlates of Internet use.

Impact: Promoting Internet use among older adults from all backgrounds could contribute to improving cancer outcomes and reducing inequalities. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 22(11); 2066–74. ©2013 AACR.
Is the Prognostic Impact of Tumor Location in Patients with Surgically Resected Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Affected by Surgical Approach?
Authors: Takeno S. , Takahashi Y. , Hashimoto T. , Maki K. , Shibata R. , Yamana I. , Sasaki T. , Yoshida Y. , Shiwaku H. , Yamashita K. , Aisu N. , Yamashita Y. , Moroga T. , Ono K. , Kawahara K.
Published: October 2013

Aim: The aim of the present study was to clarify differences in node metastasis mode and clinical outcomes based on tumor location in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Patients and Methods: Participants comprised 228 patients with ESCC who underwent radical esophagectomy without preoperative supplement therapies. Lymph nodes were harvested from three fields: the neck, thorax, and abdomen. Patients were divided into three groups depending on tumor location [upper esophagus (UE), middle esophagus, or lower esophagus (LE)] and analyzed clinicopathologically. Results: The LE group showed significantly more progressive ESCC in terms of tumor invasion (p = 0.025), node metastasis (p = 0.0071), and TNM stage (p = 0.0043). The LE group revealed a tendency to metastasize to extrathoracic (especially abdominal) nodes (p = 0.0008). Recurrent laryngeal node metastasis was increased in the UE group (p = 0.016). However, no prognostic differences were detected between groups according to tumor location. Likewise, subgroup analyses by surgical approach (open thoracotomy vs. thoracoscopy) and cancer stage (stage I/II, III, and IV) did not reveal any significant prognostic impact of tumor location. Conclusion: Lymphatic spread varied by tumor location, but no prognostic impact of tumor location could be detected in patients with ESCC in spite of surgical approach or cancer stage.
Spontaneous Swallowing Frequency Has Potential to Identify Dysphagia in Acute Stroke
Authors: Crary Michael A. , Carnaby Giselle D. , Sia Isaac , Khanna Anna , Waters Michael F.
Published: October 2013

Background and Purpose—

Spontaneous swallowing frequency has been described as an index of dysphagia in various health conditions. This study evaluated the potential of spontaneous swallow frequency analysis as a screening protocol for dysphagia in acute stroke.

Methods—

In a cohort of 63 acute stroke cases, swallow frequency rates (swallows per minute [SPM]) were compared with stroke and swallow severity indices, age, time from stroke to assessment, and consciousness level. Mean differences in SPM were compared between patients with versus without clinically significant dysphagia. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used to identify the optimal threshold in SPM, which was compared with a validated clinical dysphagia examination for identification of dysphagia cases. Time series analysis was used to identify the minimally adequate time period to complete spontaneous swallow frequency analysis.

Results—

SPM correlated significantly with stroke and swallow severity indices but not with age, time from stroke onset, or consciousness level. Patients with dysphagia demonstrated significantly lower SPM rates. SPM differed by dysphagia severity. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis yielded a threshold of SPM≤0.40 that identified dysphagia (per the criterion referent) with 0.96 sensitivity, 0.68 specificity, and 0.96 negative predictive value. Time series analysis indicated that a 5- to 10-minute sampling window was sufficient to calculate spontaneous swallow frequency to identify dysphagia cases in acute stroke.

Conclusions—

Spontaneous swallowing frequency presents high potential to screen for dysphagia in acute stroke without the need for trained, available personnel.
Subarachnoid Extension of Intracerebral Hemorrhage and 90-Day Outcomes in INTERACT2
Authors: Chen Guofang , Arima Hisatomi , Wu Guojun , Heeley Emma , Delcourt Candice , Zhang Peiying , Rabinstein Alejandro A. , Robinson Thompson , Stapf Christian , Huang Yining , Song Lili , Yang Jie , Wang Xia , Li Qiang , Chen Xiaoying , Chalmers John , Anderson Craig
Published: October 2013

Background and Purpose—

The prognostic significance of subarachnoid extension of intracerebral hemorrhage was determined in the INTEnsive blood pressure Reduction in Acute Cerebral hemorrhage Trial (INTERACT2) study.

Methods—

INTERACT2 was an open randomized controlled trial of early intensive compared with guideline-recommended blood pressure lowering in patients with elevated systolic blood pressure within 6 hours of intracerebral hemorrhage. Independent predictors of death or major disability (scores 3–6 on the modified Rankin Scale) at 90 days were analyzed in logistic regression models.

Results—

Of 2582 participants, 192 (7%) had subarachnoid extension, which was associated with larger hematoma volumes (
P
<0.0001) and higher National Institute of Health Stroke Scale score (
P
<0.0001). Subarachnoid extension predicted death or major disability at 90 days (71% versus 53%; unadjusted odds ratio, 2.25; 95% confidence interval, 1.63–3.10;
P
<0.0001). The association remained significant after adjusting for age, region, lipid-lowering therapy, systolic blood pressure, glucose, location of hematoma, intraventricular extension, and randomized treatment (odds ratio, 2.17; 95% confidence interval, 1.50–3.14;
P
<0.0001), but not after further adjustment for baseline hematoma volume (
P
=0.62).

Conclusions—

Subarachnoid extension of intracerebral hemorrhage is associated with poor prognosis, which is determined by a larger volume of the underlying intraparenchymal hematoma.

Clinical Trial Registration—

URL:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT00716079.
Deontostoma tridentum n. sp. (Nematoda, Leptosomatidae) from the continental slope of New Zealand
Authors: LEDUC DANIEL
Published: October 2013

Deontostoma tridentum n. sp. is described from epibenthic (Brenke) sledge samples obtained from the continental slope of New Zealand at 570 and 1007 m water depths, and details of the ultrastructure are investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). D. tridentum n. sp. is characterised by having a large buccal cavity with greatly reduced or inconspicuous odontia, one large dorsal onchium and two smaller subventral onchia, cephalic capsule without interlobar incisions with posteriorly-directed arms, ventral pre-cloacal supplement situated 200–215 mm anterior to cloaca, and gubernaculum with triangular crurae and curved proximal portion. Deontostoma tridentum n. sp. can be differentiated from all species of the genus based on the presence of two subventral onchia in the buccal cavity (absent in all other species). It is most similar to D. coptochilus in the presence of a large buccal cavity with a prominent dorsal onchium, structure of the cephalic capsule, and structure of the microlabia (i.e., subventral microlabia completely divided by mandibular ridge and dorsal microlabium not completely divided by mandibular ridge).  D. tridentum n. sp. differs from the latter in the presence of crurae (absent in D. coptochilus), absence of ocelli (present in D. coptochilus), and in the position and structure of the ventral pre-cloacal supplement.
Global revision of the dulotic ant genus Polyergus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae, Formicinae, Formicini)
Authors: TRAGER JAMES C.
Published: October 2013

The genus Polyergus is characterized, and all valid species reinstated and re-described, and five new species described, based on morphometric, ecological, host-association, and biogeographic characteristics. Polyergus contains 14 species: 3 Palaearctic, 11 Nearctic. The rufescens group comprises western Eurasian rufescens Latreille 1804 including its former eastern subspecies tianschanicus Kuznetsov-Ugamsky 1927 new synonymy, and the following American species, informally called the breviceps complex: breviceps Emery 1893 sensu stricto, revised status, bicolor Wasmann 1901 new status, mexicanus Forel 1899 new status, topoffi new species, and vinosus new species. The lucidus group comprises longicornis M. R. Smith 1947 new status, lucidus Mayr 1870 sensu stricto, revised status, montivagus Wheeler 1915 new status, oligergus new species, ruber new species, and sanwaldi new species. The samurai group comprises two blackish forms: the western Asian P. nigerrimus Marikovsky 1963 and eastern Asian P. samurai Yano 1911. Polyergus texana Buckley 1866 is excluded from Polyergus.
Taxonomic study of Central Asian species of the genus Macropsis Lewis, 1836 (Homoptera: Auchenorrhyncha: Cicadellidae: Macropsinae). I: Redescriptions of willow-dwelling species from West Tien Shan Mountains
Authors: TISHECHKIN DMITRI YU.
Published: October 2013

Macropsis abdullaevi Dubovskiy, 1966 = M. arslanbobica Dlabola, 1967 syn. nov., M. ibragimovi Dubovskiy, 1966 and M. asiatica Dubovskiy, 1966 from West Tien Shan Mts. (Kyrgyzstan) are redescribed and illustrated based on material from type localities or/and adjacent territories. M. tarbagataica Mityaev, 1971 from Kazakhstan is recorded from West Tien Shan for the first time. Data on host plants and male vibrational calling signals for all species considered are provided.
A Crop Model and Fuzzy Rule Based Approach for Optimizing Maize Planting Dates in Burkina Faso, West Africa
Authors: Waongo Moussa , Laux Patrick , Traoré Seydou B. , Sanon Moussa , Kunstmann Harald
Published: October 2013

In sub-Saharan Africa, with its high rainfall variability and limited irrigation options, the crop planting date is a crucial tactical decision for farmers and therefore a major concern in agricultural decision making. To support decision making in rainfed agriculture, a new approach has been developed to optimize crop planting date. The General Large-Area Model for Annual Crops (GLAM) has been used for the first time to simulate maize yields in West Africa. It is used in combination with fuzzy logic rules to give more flexibility in crop planting date computation when compared with binary logic methods. A genetic algorithm is applied to calibrate the crop model and to optimize the planting dates at the end. The process for optimizing planting dates results in an ensemble of optimized planting rules. This principle of ensemble members leads to a time window of optimized planting dates for a single year and thereby potentially increases the willingness of farmers to adopt this approach. The optimized planting date (OPD) approach is compared with two well-established methods in sub-Saharan Africa. The results suggest earlier planting dates across Burkina Faso, ranging from 10 to 20 days for the northern and central part and less than 10 days for the southern part. With respect to the potential yields, the OPD approach indicates that an average increase in maize potential yield of around 20% could be obtained in water-limited regions in Burkina Faso. The implementation of the presented approach in agricultural decision support is expected to have the potential to improve agricultural risk management in these regions dominated by rainfed agriculture and characterized by high rainfall variability.
The Sea Spray Contribution to Sensible Heat Flux
Authors: Richter David H. , Sullivan Peter P.
Published: October 2013

Direct numerical simulations (DNS) of turbulent Couette flow are combined with Lagrangian point-particle tracking to investigate the effects of a dispersed phase on bulk passive heat transport when the two phases can exchange both momentum and sensible heat. The idealized setup allows a fixed number of particles, without the influence of gravity, to be transported by carrier-phase motions across the mean velocity and temperature gradients that exist between the solid boundaries of turbulent Couette flow. In this way, the setup serves as a model of spray in a shear-dominated layer in the immediate vicinity of the water surface and provides insight into the ability of spray to enhance sensible heat fluxes. The authors find that the dispersed phase contributes a relatively large amount of vertical heat transport and increases the total heat flux across the domain by 25% or greater. Particles that accumulate in regions associated with wall-normal ejections efficiently carry heat across the channel. Furthermore, the authors find that the relative contribution of the dispersed-phase heat flux becomes larger with Reynolds number, suggesting an importance at atmospheric scales.
Relationships between Southeast Australian Temperature Anomalies and Large-Scale Climate Drivers
Authors: Fierro Alexandre O. , Leslie Lance M.
Published: October 2013

Over the past century, particularly after the 1960s, observations of mean maximum temperatures reveal an increasing trend over the southeastern quadrant of the Australian continent. Correlation analysis of seasonally averaged mean maximum temperature anomaly data for the period 1958–2012 is carried out for a representative group of 10 stations in southeast Australia (SEAUS). For the warm season (November–April) there is a positive relationship with the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the Pacific decadal oscillation (PDO) and an inverse relationship with the Antarctic Oscillation (AAO) for most stations. For the cool season (May–October), most stations exhibit similar relationships with the AAO, positive correlations with the dipole mode index (DMI), and marginal inverse relationships with the Southern Oscillation index (SOI) and the PDO. However, for both seasons, the blocking index (BI, as defined by M. Pook and T. Gibson) in the Tasman Sea (160°E) clearly is the dominant climate mode affecting maximum temperature variability in SEAUS with negative correlations in the range from r = −0.30 to −0.65. These strong negative correlations arise from the usual definition of BI, which is positive when blocking high pressure systems occur over the Tasman Sea (near 45°S, 160°E), favoring the advection of modified cooler, higher-latitude maritime air over SEAUS.

A point-by-point correlation with global sea surface temperatures (SSTs), principal component analysis, and wavelet power spectra support the relationships with ENSO and DMI. Notably, the analysis reveals that the maximum temperature variability of one group of stations is explained primarily by local factors (warmer near-coastal SSTs), rather than teleconnections with large-scale drivers.
Atmospheric Rivers and Cool Season Extreme Precipitation Events in the Verde River Basin of Arizona
Authors: Rivera Erick R. , Dominguez Francina , Castro Christopher L.
Published: October 2013

Inland-penetrating atmospheric rivers (ARs) can affect the southwestern United States and significantly contribute to cool season (November–March) precipitation. In this work, a climatological characterization of AR events that have led to cool season extreme precipitation in the Verde River basin (VRB) in Arizona for the period 1979/80–2010/11 is presented. A “bottom up” approach is used by first evaluating extreme daily precipitation in the basin associated with AR occurrence, then identifying the two dominant AR patterns (referred to as Type 1 and Type 2, respectively) using a combined EOF statistical analysis. The results suggest that AR events in the Southwest do not form and develop in the same regions. Water vapor content in Type 1 ARs is obtained from the tropics near Hawaii (central Pacific) and enhanced in the midlatitudes, with maximum moisture transport over the ocean at low levels of the troposphere. On the other hand, moisture in Type 2 ARs has a more direct tropical origin and meridional orientation with maximum moisture transfer at midlevels. Nonetheless, both types of ARs cross the Baja Peninsula before affecting the VRB. In addition to Type 1 and Type 2 ARs, observations reveal AR events that are a mixture of both patterns. These cases can have water vapor transport patterns with both zonal and meridional signatures, and they can also present double peaks in moisture transport at low- and midlevels. This seems to indicate that the two “types” can be interpreted as end points of a range of possible directions.
Measurement of Range-Weighting Function for Range Imaging of VHF Atmospheric Radars Using Range Oversampling
Authors: Chen Jenn-Shyong , Su Ching-Lun , Chu Yen-Hsyang , Kuong Ruey-Ming , Furumoto Jun-ichi
Published: October 2013

Multifrequency range imaging (RIM) used with the atmospheric radars at ultra- and very high-frequency (VHF) bands is capable of retrieving the power distribution of the backscattered radar echoes in the range direction, with some inversion algorithms such as the Capon method. The retrieved power distribution, however, is weighted by the range-weighting function (RWF). Modification of the retrieved power distribution with a theoretical RWF may cause overcorrection around the edge of the sampling gate. In view of this, an effective RWF that is in a Gaussian form and varies with the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of radar echoes has been proposed to mitigate the range-weighting effect and thereby enhance the continuity of the power distribution at gate boundaries. Based on the previously proposed concept, an improved approach utilizing the range-oversampled signals is addressed in this article to inspect the range-weighting effects at different range locations. The shape of the Gaussian RWF for describing the range-weighting effect was found to vary with the off-center range location in addition to the SNR of radar echoes—that is, the effective RWF for the RIM was SNR and range dependent. The use of SNR- and range-dependent RWF can be of help to improve the range imaging to some degree at the range location outside the range extent of a sampling gate defined by the pulse length. To verify the proposed approach, several radar experiments were carried out with the Chung-Li (24.9°N, 121.1°E) and middle and upper atmosphere (MU; 34.85°N, 136.11°E) VHF radars.
Struggling over meanings: Discourses on the EU’s international presence
Authors: Carta Caterina , Morin Jean-Frédéric
Published: October 2013

The first section of this article arranges the four theoretical approaches and methods presented in the special issues – namely interpretative constructivism, post-structuralism, discursive institutionalism and critical discourse analysis – along two dimensions: (a) the role of discourse in the constitution of the world, depending on whether approaches perceive social structure as being constitutive of or constituted by discourse; and (b) interpretation of the weight of material and ideational elements in discourses. This model helps to make sense of the profound theoretical diversity that characterises analytical approaches to international relations discourse. The second section tackles the question of ‘who does the speaking’. It identifies the different voices that converge in the EU’s international choir and problematises the discursive environment that forges international discourses through the theoretical lenses of selected approaches. In the last section, the contributions to this special issue are presented.
Discursively (de-)constructing European foreign policy: Theoretical and methodological challenges
Authors: Jørgensen Knud Erik
Published: October 2013

This article is about European foreign policy, specifically an examination of ways in which discourse analysis and foreign policy analysis can be brought together. The first aim of this article is to explicate the explanandum in some detail. Before we know what we are looking for, it gives limited meaning to consider procedures for methodological procedures. Once the explanandum has been identified, the article examines theoretical approaches and critically discusses their promises and limitations. Priority is given to the option of applying constructivist discursive theories that might (or might not) have been developed with a view to analysing foreign policy, including European foreign policy. In doing so, the article aims at bridging several sometimes very different fields of study: discourse theory, which is sometimes utterly unaware of or uninterested in foreign affairs; and foreign policy analysis, which is frequently descriptive in orientation and at times characterized by less-than-benign neglect of discourse theory.
Setting the limits: Discourse and EU foreign policy
Authors: Diez Thomas
Published: October 2013

This article discusses the relevance of discourse in the analysis of EU foreign policy. Instead of using discourse as a structure, the discursive struggles in meaning production are emphasised. The article argues that the literature trying to make a contribution to the explanation of EU foreign policy has so far overemphasised the positive function of discourses in influencing policies in their substance. In contrast, the article focuses on the delimiting function of discourses in providing the boundaries of the kinds of policies which can be legitimately pursued. From this point of view, important discursive struggles take place exactly about these limits, and it is only through the setting of these limits that identities and norms are provided with clearer meanings. The article illustrates this framework by focusing on the debate about normative power Europe. It argues that an important aspect of this debate which has been missing from the literature so far is that it is indeed engaging in a struggle over what is acceptable as a policy of a normative power and is what not, and that it is therefore engaged in setting the limits of legitimate EU foreign policy.
Critical discourse analysis in analysing European Union foreign policy: Prospects and challenges
Authors: Aydın-Düzgit Senem
Published: October 2013

This article discusses the potential of Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) for the study of EU foreign policy and argues that CDA can provide a systematic way of studying discourses on EU foreign policy through the refined linguistic and argumentative tools that it offers. The article first outlines the main theoretical premises of CDA and its one particular variant, the discourse-historical approach, and then presents a discussion on its analytical and methodological toolkit. After discussing the various ways in which EU foreign policy texts can be subject to CDA, the article concludes with the theoretical challenges posed by CDA, particularly regarding its relationship with poststructuralist approaches to foreign policy.
Britishness and Commemoration: National Memorials to the First World War in Britain and Ireland
Authors: Macleod Jenny
Published: October 2013

The 1917 call for a national memorial to the First World War led to the establishment of the Imperial War Museum in London. It also inspired Scottish, Welsh and Irish national memorials. No English national memorial was ever proposed; instead the Cenotaph and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier were conceived as imperial memorials. The new statelet of Northern Ireland did not commemorate its overall war effort within its own territory. This article surveys the organization, location and design of the Scottish, Welsh and Irish national war memorials to the First World War. It examines some aspects of the complex set of relationships between the local, regional, national and imperial layers of identity that are inherent in Britishness. In doing so it reveals the confused and contested nature of national identity in the United Kingdom at the close of the First World War.
Anticipation of Civil War: The Polish Government in Exile and the Threat Posed by the Communist Movement During the Second World War
Authors: Prazmowska Anita Jean
Published: October 2013

After the occupation of Polish territories by Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union in September 1939 a Polish government was formed in exile. At the same time in occupied territories underground resistance organisations emerged. All pre-war parties, to some extent, collaborated with each other. Throughout the war the government, its agencies in occupied Poland and the armed resistance prepared to take power after the war. They assumed that the end of the war would be followed by a civil war, or at least by revolutionary activities, as had happened after the First World War. Since the Communist party remained outside the consensus formed by the war time organizations, the government in exile and those loyal to it in occupied Poland feared that it would spearhead Soviet entry into Poland. Moreover they were anxious that the Communists would act as a catalyst for the revolutionary upsurges, which they anticipated. Thus throughout the war, but in particular from 1943, they gathered intelligence information on Communist activities in occupied Poland. They also investigated the likelihood of the Communists acting as a focal point for the disaffected radical elements from the peasant and the Socialist parties. This article suggests that contrary to the assertion that the main aim of war time policies was the restoration of an independent Poland, planning for the capture of power played an important role in war-time debates.
Relief and Politics in Occupied Greece, 1941–4
Authors: Hionidou Violetta
Published: October 2013

Occupied Greece suffered a serious famine and food crisis in the years 1941–4. This article focuses on the relief structures set up in occupied Greece and the political implications of their presence there. It is argued that the relief structures in Athens, where their presence was felt the most, constituted a ‘state within a state’ and that they became extremely powerful bearing little relation to the International Committee of the Red Cross and its principles, which in theory they represented. The article outlines how all other significant power players – the Greek occupation government, the British and the main resistance group, the National Liberation Front (EAM) – sought to utilize the relief structures in order to gain power, each to a different degree. Last but not least, it is argued that the Greek Occupation Government of Athens in the final year of the Occupation was the one that used relief food most aggressively and effectively to regain much of its lost power.
Mechanical, thermal, and rheological properties of dynamically vulcanized natural rubber-toughened polystyrene
Authors: Gopalakrishnan Jayalatha , Kutty Sunil K Narayanan
Published: October 2013

Dynamically vulcanized blends of 85/15 polystyrene (PS)/natural rubber (NR) were prepared by melt mixing in an internal mixer at I70°C using dicumyl peroxide (DCP). The concentration of DCP was varied from 0 to 4.2 milliequivalents (meq). It was found that dynamic vulcanization of the blend with 2.8 meq DCP significantly enhanced the Young's modulus, flexural modulus, and impact strength, with a marginal improvement in tensile and flexural strengths. The SEM studies revealed that the morphology of the blends changed drastically on dynamic vulcanization. The dynamic mechanical studies showed that the storage modulus and the loss modulus were better for dynamically vulcanized blends with 2.8 meq DCP in comparison to other blends. The rheology studies reveal that the damping of the blend was reduced at the melt processing conditions at a DCP content of 2.8 meq and the blend was pseudoplastic in nature. The thermal stability of the dynamically vulcanized blend improved on dynamic vulcanization. Thus, dynamic vulcanization can be employed as a means of technological compatibili-zation technique for 85/15 PS/NR blend for overall improvement in properties.
Thermoplastic elastomer by reactive blending of poly(butylene succinate) with ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer and ethylene-1-butene rubbers
Authors: Jantanasakulwong Kittisak , Rohindra David , Mori Keisuke , Kuboyama Keiichi , Ougizawa Toshiaki
Published: October 2013

Poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) was melt blended with maleic anhydride–grafted ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer (EPDM-MAH) and maleic anhydride–grafted ethylene-1-butene copolymer (EB-MAH) to obtain thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) containing a biodegradable polyester. PBS/EB-MAH blend showed lower modulus and excellent strain recovery compared to PBS/EPDM-MAH blend due to the smaller rubber particle size. Tensile strength of PBS/EPDM-MAH blend was found to be significantly improved by annealing because of the increased interfacial reaction between PBS matrix phase and EPDM dispersed phase and the increased cross-linking in EPDM. As the result, it was found that the annealing process is effective for the improvement of the mechanical properties of PBS/MAH-grafted rubber blends.
The Cognitive Processes Associated with Occupational/Career Indecision
Authors: Jung Jae Yup
Published: October 2013

This study developed and tested a new model of the cognitive processes associated with occupational/career indecision for gifted adolescents. A survey instrument with rigorous psychometric properties, developed from a number of existing instruments, was administered to a sample of 687 adolescents attending three academically selective high schools in Sydney, Australia. The collected data were analyzed using structural equation modeling and related procedures. The findings suggested that three cognitive process pathways may be associated with occupational indecision for gifted adolescents, all of which incorporated amotivation with the occupational decision. Within these pathways, both idiocentric orientations toward the future and social influences from the family were identified as negative predictors of occupational amotivation, while perfectionism (which was itself negatively predicted by multipotentiality) appeared to be a positive predictor of occupational amotivation. Educators, psychologists, and counselors may be able to use the findings to reassess their career guidance to gifted adolescents.
Psychometric Properties of the Resourcefulness Scale Among Caregivers of Persons With Autism Spectrum Disorder
Authors: Bekhet Abir K. , Zauszniewski Jaclene A.
Published: October 2013

Caregiving for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can be very costly to caregivers’ well-being. Resourcefulness interventions have shown increases in positive health outcomes. However, before delivering the intervention, there should be a reliable and a valid measure to test resourcefulness. The psychometric properties of the Resourcefulness Scale (RS) have not been examined among ASD caregivers. This study examined the psychometrics of the 28-item RS in a convenience sample of 204 ASD caregivers. A Cronbach’s alpha of .91 showed the internal consistency of the RS. Construct validity was supported by the emergence of two dimensions of resourcefulness (personal and social) in a confirmatory factor analysis and by substantial intercorrelations between the two subscales ( r = .48, p < .001). Findings suggested the reliability and validity of RS among ASD caregivers, which is a necessary step toward implementing resourcefulness interventions to help ASD caregivers to deal with their stress and improve their quality of life.
Part one Accommodating religions: Multiculturalism’s new fault line
Authors: Modood Tariq
Published: October 2013

This extended commentary engages in debate about the place of religion within multicultural social structures and the perceived risks and benefits of the incorporation of this within state and social policy. If social policy has indeed been extended from ethnicity to include religion, what are the implications of this? Key issues within the debate include the relationship between secular and religious identities and the kind of secularism that should inform the way in which the state is seeking to accommodate religious demands and identities in its engagement with particular communities, particularly ethnic minority communities. The commentary takes as its starting point an article published in 2011 in Critical Social Policy 31(3) by Singh and Cowden on ‘Multiculturalism’s New Fault Lines’ and a response to this by Tariq Modood.
k-color multi-robot motion planning
Authors: Solovey Kiril , Halperin Dan
Published: October 2013

We present a simple and natural extension of the multi-robot motion planning problem where the robots are partitioned into groups (colors), such that in each group the robots are interchangeable. Every robot is no longer required to move to a specific target, but rather to some target placement that is assigned to its group. We call this problem k- color multi-robot motion planning and provide a sampling-based algorithm specifically designed for solving it. At the heart of the algorithm is a novel technique where the k-color problem is reduced to several discrete multi-robot motion planning problems. These reductions amplify basic samples into massive collections of free placements and paths for the robots. We demonstrate the performance of the algorithm by an implementation for the case of disc robots and polygonal robots translating in the plane. We show that the algorithm successfully and efficiently copes with a variety of challenging scenarios, involving many robots, while a simplified version of this algorithm, that can be viewed as an extension of a prevalent sampling-based algorithm for the k-color case, fails even on simple scenarios. Interestingly, our algorithm outperforms a well established implementation of PRM for the standard multi-robot problem, in which each robot has a distinct color.
Sublime frequencies:  The construction of sublime listening experiences in the sonification of scientific data
Authors: Supper Alexandra
Published: October 2013

In the past two decades, the sonification of scientific data – an auditory equivalent of data visualization in which data are turned into sounds – has become increasingly widespread, particularly as an artistic practice and as a means of popularizing science. Sonification is thus part of the recent trend, discussed in public understanding of science literature, towards increased emphasis on ‘interactivity’ and ‘crossovers’ between science and art as a response to the perceived crisis in the relationship between the sciences and their publics. However, sonification can also be understood as the latest iteration in a long tradition of theorizing the relations between nature, science and human experience. This article analyses the recent public fascination with sonification and argues that sonification grips public imaginations through the promise of sublime experiences. I show how the ‘auditory sublime’ is constructed through varying combinations of technological, musical and rhetorical strategies. Rather than maintain a singular conception of the auditory sublime, practitioners draw on many scientific and artistic repertoires. However, sound is often situated as an immersive and emotional medium in contrast to the supposedly more detached sense of vision. The public sonification discourse leaves intact this dichotomy, reinforcing the idea that sound has no place in specialist science.
Customer foreign exchange orders: When timing really does matter
Authors: Rosov Sviatoslav , Foster F Douglas
Published: October 2013

This paper investigates customer foreign exchange (FX) transactions to learn if there are any groups of customers whose transactions are related to subsequent FX rate changes. We use a unique data set from an Australian commercial bank with every customer FX trade in the spot Australian Dollar/US Dollar market between 2005 and 2010. We use Monte Carlo simulation to generate benchmark expected cash flows for each individual customer. This enables us to determine whether that customer’s transaction history is well-timed and therefore potentially relevant for FX determination. We find very few customers whose transactions appear well-timed, given subsequent FX rate changes.
A note on the pricing of Australian government asset sales
Authors: Docherty Paul , Easton Steve
Published: October 2013

Unlike acquiring company shareholders in Australian takeovers, but like shareholders in government initial public offerings, shareholders of companies purchasing Australian government assets earn economically and statistically significant positive abnormal returns. However, unlike privatisations via initial public offerings where all citizens are entitled to subscribe for shares, in privatisations via asset sales only acquiring company shareholders benefit from any under-pricing. This suggests the need for greater scrutiny to ensure fair pricing in privatisation via asset sales.
Performance-Related Pay
Authors: Bhattacharyya Dipak Kumar
Published: October 2013

Performance-related pay (PRP) is now a globally accepted tool to align the performance of employees, both individually and collectively, for strategic compensation management. However, there is a lack of universality in approach, both across the countries and across the organizations within a country. From an organizational point of view, PRP is expected to help achieve business goals. From the employees’ point of view, PRP provides an opportunity to earn higher compensation, motivates their behavior and serves as a retention strategy. These ends are not conflicting but rather are complementary. Hence, understanding best-fit PRP practices is a legitimate line of enquiry for compensation in every country. This study critically examines the PRP systems of two central public sector enterprises (CPSEs), based in India, that were implemented more than 5 years ago. The study, based on performance data from two large CPSEs, an energy company and a steel company, over a decade (5 years before PRP and 5 years after PRP implementation), examined the impact of PRP in terms of incremental change in the performance of the enterprises. The data analysis could not substantiate any significant change in the performance of the CPSEs, and hence the study suggests the need for future longitudinal research to recraft the PRP systems in order to make it more supportive of the business strategy, rather than continuing with what has been a conventional tool to dole out cash incentives even to nonperformers.
Realigning Fixed and Variable Pay in Sales Organizations
Authors: Madhani Pankaj M.
Published: October 2013

The attractiveness of the pay policies of sales organizations can be increased by higher levels of match between individual characteristics of sales people and those of the compensation structure. Sales organizations should consider the career life cycle stages of sales people when devising compensation strategies. One type of sales compensation plan does not match all stages of career life cycle for a sales employee. Sales organizations can tailor expectations, motivations, reward strategies, as well as compensation structure according to career life cycle stages. To maximize sales force productivity and hence profitability of the sales organization, sales organizations should strive to find an optimal set of pay mix to motivate sales employees at each stage of career life cycle. This article provides various frameworks for analyzing impact of career stages on salesforce performance. This research identifies diverse variables impacting pay mix of sales employees and suggests a practical approach for enhancing productivity of sales employees across career life cycle stages.
Regulatory Authority Approaches to Deploying Quality Improvement Standards to Community Pharmacies
Authors: Boyle Todd A. , Bishop Andrea C. , Hillier Chris , Mahaffey Thomas , MacKinnon Neil J. , Zwicker Bev
Published: October 2013

Background:

Continuous quality improvement (CQI) programs provide an effective means to improve the safety and quality of community pharmacy practice. The role of formal support processes in ensuring the success of these CQI programs is explored in this research using the SafetyNET-Rx project.

Objective:

The primary objectives of this research were to determine how knowledge of, and confidence in, mandated CQI standards differs among pharmacies with access to formal support mechanisms and those without and the challenges faced by both.

Methods:

A survey questionnaire was mailed to 179 community pharmacies in Nova Scotia, Canada, in spring 2011. Quantitative results were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test for nonparametric data. Qualitative open-ended responses were analyzed using content analysis.

Results:

Performing the Mann-Whitney U test indicated that a number of differences exist between the 2 groups with respect to: (1) staff knowledge of reporting quality-related events (QREs) to an anonymous database; (2) conducting annual pharmacy safety self-assessments; (3) confidence in meeting these 2 elements; and (4) documenting changes to address QREs. A number of challenges were identified by respondents through the open-ended questions.

Conclusions:

This research highlights the value of the active provision of formal support when developing standards related to quality improvement.
Severity of Fall-Based Injuries, Fear of Falling, and Activity Restriction
Authors: LeBouthillier Daniel M. , Thibodeau Michel A. , Asmundson Gordon J. G.
Published: October 2013

Objectives: Little is known about how different fall-based injuries relate to fear of falling and activity restriction, and if these relationships differ between sexes. We explored fear of falling and activity restriction in individuals who have experienced fall-based injuries. Methods: A total of 16,369 older adults from the Canadian Community Health Survey reported their worst fall-based injury, whether they experience fear of falling, and whether they restrict activities from fear of falling. Results: Females had greater odds of fear of falling than males. Only females who experienced a fracture or head injury had increased odds of fear of falling and only females who experienced a head injury had increased odds of restricting activities compared with females who fell without injury. Discussion: Only severe fall-based injuries are associated with fear of falling and activity restriction, and this relationship is unique to females. Sex differences warrant further investigation and suggest a need for targeted interventions.