bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Resveratrol inhibits IL‐6‐induced ovarian cancer cell migration through epigenetic up‐regulation of autophagy
Authors: Ferraresi Alessandra , Phadngam Suratchanee , Morani Federica , Galetto Alessandra , Alabiso Oscar , Chiorino Giovanna , Isidoro Ciro
Published: November 2016

Interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), a pro‐inflammatory cytokine released by cancer‐associated fibroblasts, has been linked to the invasive and metastatic behavior of ovarian cancer cells. Resveratrol is a naturally occurring polyphenol with the potential to inhibit cancer cell migration. Here we show that Resveratrol and IL‐6 affect in an opposite manner the expression of RNA messengers and of microRNAs involved in cell locomotion and extracellular matrix remodeling associated with the invasive properties of ovarian cancer cells. Among the several potential candidates responsible for the anti‐invasive effect promoted by Resveratrol, here we focused our attention on ARH‐I (DIRAS3), that encodes a Ras homolog GTPase of 26‐kDa. This protein is known to inhibit cell motility, and it has been shown to regulate autophagy by interacting with BECLIN 1. IL‐6 down‐regulated the expression of ARH‐I and inhibited the formation of LC3‐positive autophagic vacuoles, while promoting cell migration. On opposite, Resveratrol could counteract the IL‐6 induction of cell migration in ovarian cancer cells through induction of autophagy in the cells at the migration front, which was paralleled by up‐regulation of ARH‐I and down‐regulation of STAT3 expression. Spautin 1‐mediated disruption of BECLIN 1‐dependent autophagy abrogated the effects of Resveratrol, while promoting cell migration. The present data indicate that Resveratrol elicits its anti‐tumor effect through epigenetic mechanisms and support its inclusion in the chemotherapy regimen for highly aggressive ovarian cancers. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Stability and sensitivity of waterT2obtained with IDEAL‐CPMG in healthy and fat‐infiltrated skeletal muscle
Authors: Sinclair Christopher D.J. , Morrow Jasper M. , Janiczek Robert L. , Evans Matthew R.B. , Rawah Elham , Shah Sachit , Hanna Michael G. , Reilly Mary M. , Yousry Tarek A. , Thornton John S.
Published: November 2016

Quantifying muscle waterT2(T2‐water) independently of intramuscular fat content is essential in establishingT2‐water as an outcome measure for imminent new therapy trials in neuromuscular diseases. IDEAL‐CPMG combines chemical shift fat–water separation withT2relaxometry to obtain such a measure. Here we evaluate the reproducibility andB1sensitivity of IDEAL‐CPMGT2‐water and fat fraction (f.f.) values in healthy subjects, and demonstrate the potential of the method to quantifyT2‐water variation in diseased muscle displaying varying degrees of fatty infiltration.

The calf muscles of 11 healthy individuals (40.5 ± 10.2 years) were scanned twice at 3 T with an inter‐scan interval of 4 weeks using IDEAL‐CPMG, and 12 patients with hypokalemic periodic paralysis (HypoPP) (42.3 ± 11.5 years) were also imaged. An exponential was fitted to the signal decay of the separated water and fat components to determineT2‐water and the fat signal amplitude muscle regions manually segmented.

Overall mean calf‐level muscleT2‐water in healthy subjects was 31.2 ± 2.0 ms, without significant inter‐muscle differences (p = 0.37). Inter‐subject and inter‐scan coefficients of variation were 5.7% and 3.2% respectively forT2‐water and 41.1% and 15.4% for f.f. Bland–Altman mean bias and ±95% coefficients of repeatability were forT2‐water (0.15, −2.65, 2.95) ms and f.f. (−0.02, −1.99, 2.03)%. There was no relationship betweenT2‐water (ρ = 0.16,p = 0.07) or f.f. (ρ = 0.03,p = 0.7761) andB1error or any correlation betweenT2‐water and f.f. in the healthy subjects (ρ = 0.07,p = 0.40). In HypoPP there was a measurable relationship betweenT2‐water and f.f. (ρ = 0.59,p < 0.001).

IDEAL‐CPMG provides a feasible way to quantifyT2‐water in muscle that is reproducible and sensitive to meaningful physiological changes withoutpost hocmodeling of the fat contribution. In patients, IDEAL‐CPMG measured elevations inT2‐water and f.f. while showing a weak relationship between these parameters, thus showing promise as a practical means of quantifying muscle water in patient populations.
Struggling to Get It Right
Authors: Campbell David A. , Lambright Kristina T.
Published: November 2016

This article examines the challenges public and nonprofit human service funders face in the performance measurement process and the strategies they use to address these challenges. We use survey and interview data to compare funders’ experiences across a region. Common challenges included dissatisfaction with formal data collection procedures, difficulty getting providers to comply with reporting requirements, provider performance problems, and lack of capacity to use performance information. Capacity issues were a greater concern for smaller funders. Funders used a variety of strategies to address challenges. Use of some strategies depended on context. Practices were relatively consistent across funder groups.
Effects of directed architecture in epoxy functionalized prepolymers for photocurable thin films
Authors: Scholte Jon P. , Ki Kim Soon , Lester Christopher L. , Guymon C. Allan
Published: November 2016

Cationic photopolymerization has become increasingly important in thin‐film applications for advantages including no oxygen inhibition and rapid polymerization rates. Photocurable cationic thin film properties are often modulated by incorporation of oligomeric and prepolymer materials, but little work has directly examined the effect of prepolymer structure and reactive group placement on the thermomechanical properties of the final material. To explore the role of molecular architecture, epoxy functionalized butyl acrylate gradient copolymers were synthesized with reactive groups in end segments or randomly distributed along the prepolymer chain. Polymerized end functionalized formulations exhibit moduli almost double that of random functionalized oligomer formulations. In addition, inclusion of end functionalized prepolymers decreases creep of resulting thin films by a factor of 10. Furthermore, decreasing the concentration of the cross‐linking diluent in end functionalized prepolymer systems results in amorphous networks with significantly lower mechanical strength. Increasing reactive groups at the ends of prepolymers produces stronger materials without affecting tensile elongation at break. These properties indicate that the structured oligomers facilitate the formation of continuous hard domains with high cross‐link density with inclusions of soft, flexible domains of low cross‐link density. This study demonstrates that the prepolymer architecture governs network formation and ultimate properties. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem.2017,55, 144–154
Red and near infrared fluorescent conjugated polyelectrolytes for biomedical applications
Authors: Liu Jie , Liu Bin
Published: November 2016

Red and near infrared (NIR) fluorescent conjugated polyelectrolytes (CPEs) have attracted increasing attention in the past few years due to their potential applications in biomedical fields. Specifically, red and NIR fluorescent CPEs with special functionalities exhibit great promises in targeted tumor cell imaging and detection of disease‐related biomarkers. In addition, smart agents combining image and therapeutic actions have also been successfully demonstrated for some red and NIR emissive CPEs. In this mini review, we attempt to offer a brief description of the synthetic methods for red and NIR CPEs, and focus predominantly on the rationale behind the molecular design and their applications in biomedical research. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017, 55, 519–532
Solid–liquid–vapor etching of silicon nanostructures using hydrogen plasma
Authors: Steinbach Annina M. , Kazemi Samira B. , Strehle Steffen
Published: November 2016

Contrary to the well established vapor–liquid–solid (VLS) mechanism widely used for the metal‐catalyzed bottom‐up synthesis of nanowires, the reversed solid–liquid–vapor (SLV) mechanism is rarely studied. Solid–liquid–vapor etching allows in principle to create nanowire‐shaped holes, which would significantly expand the toolbox of bottom‐up synthesis methods towards complex nanostructure assembly. Here, we aimed to realize SLV etching of single‐crystalline silicon using a hydrogen plasma for etching instead of corrosive gases. We were able to demonstrate that the etching of holes using reactive hydrogen species is in principle feasible but requires deliberate adjustment of the process parameters. Furthermore, we investigated the effect of catalyst size, etching time and hydrogen flow rate on the process and discuss the theoretical background of the SLV mechanism.
THz time‐domain spectroscopy and IR spectroscopy on MoS2
Authors: Arcos David , Gabriel Daniel , Dumcenco Dumitru , Kis Andras , Ferrer‐Anglada Núria
Published: November 2016

In the increasing research field of 2D materials such as graphene, molybdenum disulfide MoS2 has attracted great interest due to the existence of a direct bandgap in monolayer MoS2, which gives the possibility of achieving MoS2 field‐effect transistors or optoelectronic devices. We analyzed by THz time‐domain spectroscopy (THz‐TDS) up to 2 THz and infrared (IR) spectroscopy, CVD‐obtained MoS2 using either S or H2S gas as a sulfur precursor, grown on a sapphire substrate. From THz‐TDS we obtained the transmittance, conductivity, and attenuation. From IR spectroscopy on the same samples, we deduced the transmittance in the IR frequency range. We observed the coherence of both spectroscopic methods. The advantage of the THz‐TDS method is that we can get significant parameters related to the sample quality without the need for depositing any electrical contact or sample preparation. Our results show that at high frequencies MoS2 is even better than graphene as a material for optoelectronic devices.
Electrodynamic properties of porous PZT‐Pt films at terahertz frequency range
Authors: Komandin Gennady A. , Porodinkov Oleg E. , Spektor Igor E. , Volkov Alexander A. , Vorotilov Konstantin A. , Seregin Dmitry S. , Sigov Alexander S.
Published: November 2016

Electrodynamics of Si‐SiO2‐TiO2‐Pt‐PZT heterostructures is studied in the frequency range from 5 to 5000 cm‐1 by monochromatic BWO (backward wave oscillator) and infrared Fourier‐transform spectroscopy techniques to derive the dielectric characteristics of the sol‐gel porous ferroelectric PbZr0.48Ti0.52O3 films. Broad frequency band dielectric response of PZT films with different density is constructed using the oscillator dispersion models. The main contribution to the film permittivity is found to form at frequencies below 100 cm‐1 depending strongly and non‐linearly on the film medium density.
Multi‐crystalline silicon solar cells with metal‐assisted nano‐texturing using HNO3 as hole injection agent
Authors: Es Fırat , Baytemir Gülsen , Kulakci Mustafa , Turan Raşit
Published: November 2016

In this study, metal‐assisted etching (MAE) with nitric acid (HNO3) as a hole injecting agent has been employed to texture multi‐crystalline silicon wafers. It was previously proven that addition of HNO3 enabled control of surface texturing so as to form nano‐cone shaped structures rather than nanowires. The process parameters optimized for optically efficient texturing have been applied to multi‐crystalline wafers. Fabrication of p‐type Al:BSF cells have been carried out on textured samples with thermal SiO2/PECVD‐SiNx stack passivation and screen printed metallization. Firing process has been optimized in order to obtain the best contact formation. Finally, jsc enhancement of 0.9 mA/cm2 and 0.6% absolute increase in the efficiency have been achieved. This proves that the optimized MAE texture process can be successfully used in multi‐crystalline wafer texturing with standard passivation methods.

J –V curves and SEM images of the nano and iso‐textured samples. jsc enhancement of 0.9 mA/cm2 together with 0.6% absolute efficiency gain was observed on nano‐textured samples.

magnified image

J –V curves and SEM images of the nano and iso‐textured samples. jsc enhancement of 0.9 mA/cm2 together with 0.6% absolute efficiency gain was observed on nano‐textured samples.
Toward enhanced wireless coexistence in ISM band via temporal characterization and modelling of 802.11b/g/n networks
Authors: Rajab Samer A. , Balid Walid , Refai Hazem H.
Published: November 2016

This paper presents extensive experimental characterization and empirical modelling of 802.11 temporal behavior. A detailed characterization of 802.11b/g/n homogeneous and heterogeneous network traffic patterns is featured, including idle time distribution and channel utilization. A complete modelling of 802.11 networks in the 2.4 GHz Industrial, Scientific, and Medical band is also presented. Such information can assist the development of other wireless technologies aiming to utilize the crowded Industrial, Scientific, and Medical band more efficiently and to achieve enhanced wireless coexistence. In this work, models are derived for both homogeneous and heterogeneous 802.11 network idle time distributions. Also presented is a case study utilizing 802.15.4 ZigBee transmitter packet size that was adaptively modified based on channel idle time distribution. Results demonstrate superior ZigBee performance and significant enhancement in throughput. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Zielartenkonzepte als Instrument für den strategischen Schutz und das Monitoring der Biodiversität in Großschutzgebieten
Authors: Jedicke Eckhard
Published: November 2016

Due to its complexity biodiversity cannot be measured easily – its quantification requires the selection of species which represent biodiversity. The systematic and criteria-based selection of target species provides a pragmatic solution. These target species are representative for the biocoenoses in the characteristic types of biotopes and ecosystems within a planning area. This approach allows to qualitatively and quantitatively derive and justify aims of nature conservation, to use them as simple indicators e. g. to prove the sustainability of a certain land use or the success of conservation measures, and to publicly communicate conservation objectives. This can be particularly helpful in large protected areas since they have to fulfil certain aims of conservation and sustainability as large-scale sections of the landscape. This paper defines the term and the functions of target species with a particular focus on large protected areas. It describes the methodical approach to establish a concept of target species including the applicable criteria using the examples of the nature parks Spessart and Diemelsee. For the nature park Diemelsee a particular emphasis has been laid on plant and animal species reacting sensitively to climate change since they require specific protection. Another innovative approach describes the use of target species in the context of the marketing of organic products from biosphere reserves which verifiably improve biodiversity. The selection of the target species has to ensure that their spatial demands are compatible with the respective planning level. Then the target species can integrate the planning target of biodiversity in spatially relevant planning projects. An evaluation based on target species allows the early identification of possible conflict issues and their mastering in the course of the planning process. This can help to relieve, accelerate and even cheapen the later planning process.
Allergens and molecular diagnostics of shellfish allergy
Authors: Lopata Andreas L. , Kleine-Tebbe Jörg , Kamath Sandip D.
Published: November 2016

Shellfish belongs to “The Big 8” food groups causing allergy, which often does not outgrow during childhood. Shellfish is one of the main food allergens in adults and constitutes a diverse group of species subdivided into crustaceans and mollusks, which seem to include similar but also different allergens. Several pan-allergens are characterized in detail, including tropomyosin and arginine kinase, responsible for clinical cross-reactivity with other invertebrate allergen sources, embracing mites, insects, and parasites. Currently, at least seven different shellfish allergens have been identified, mostly from crustaceans. However, only three recombinant allergens are available for IgE-based routine diagnostic, including tropomyosin, arginine kinase, and sarcoplasmic Ca2+-binding protein. Other allergens include myosin light chain, troponin C, triosephosphate isomerase, and actin. This review summarizes the current advances on the molecular characterization of shellfish allergens, clinical cross-reactivity, and current diagnostic approaches for the management of this life-threatening disease.
Acute effects of methylphenidate on impulsivity and attentional behavior among adolescents comorbid for ADHD and conduct disorder
Authors: Dougherty Donald M. , Olvera Rene L. , Acheson Ashley , Hill‐Kapturczak Nathalie , Ryan Stacy R. , Mathias Charles W.
Published: November 2016

Adolescents with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Conduct Disorder (CD) experience deficits in neuropsychological measures of attention, inhibition, and reward processes. Methylphenidate treatment for ADHD and CD has acute effects on these processes. Some of these same aspects of performance are separately described in the Behavioral Model of Impulsivity, which uses a modified approach to measurement. This study characterized the acute effects of methylphenidate attention, initiation, inhibition, and reward processes described in this model of impulsivity. Thirty‐one adolescents from the United States of America with comorbid ADHD and CD completed measures of impulsivity (response initiation, response inhibition, and consequence) and attention following placebo, 20 mg, and 40 mg of a long‐acting dose of methylphenidate. Methylphenidate effects on attentional performance was more robust than on any of the measures of impulsivity. Adolescent performance from this behavioral perspective is interpreted in the context of divergence from previous neuropsychological tests of acute methylphenidate effects.
Association between quality of life and anxiety, depression, physical activity and physical performance in maintenance hemodialysis patients
Authors: Li Yi‐Nan , Shapiro Bryan , Kim Jun Chul , Zhang Min , Porszasz Janos , Bross Rachelle , Feroze Usama , Upreti Rajeev , Martin David , Kalantar‐Zadeh Kamyar , Kopple Joel David
Published: November 2016

Objective

Maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients often have impaired quality of life (QOL), anxiety, depression, and reduced daily physical activity (DPA) and physical performance. The contributions of these latter factors to reduced QOL in MHD are poorly understood. We examined the association of QOL with anxiety, depression, DPA, and physical performance.

Methods

Seventy‐two relatively healthy adult MHD patients, vintage ≥6 months, and 39 normals of similar age range and gender distribution were studied. QOL was assessed using the Kidney Disease Quality of Life‐Short Form (KDQOL‐SF). Anxiety and depression were each evaluated with two questionnaires. DPA and physical performance were assessed with a physical activity monitor, Human Activity Profile, and 6‐minute walk, sit‐to‐stand, and stair‐climbing tests.

Results

Most KDQOL components were reduced in MHD patients versus normals. KDQOL components in patients were commonly inversely correlated with measures of anxiety and depression (P < 0.05) and were more reduced in patients with both anxiety and depression. KDQOL was often impaired in patients with either anxiety or depression. However, most KDQOL scores did not differ between patients and normals without anxiety or depression. DPA, Human Activity Profile, and physical performance often correlated with KDQOL scores in adjusted models, but after further adjustment for anxiety and depression, DPA, Human Activity Profile, and physical performance correlated less frequently with KDQOL scores. This reduction in significant correlations after adjustment for anxiety and depression was particularly pronounced for the association between KDQOL and DPA.

Conclusion

In relatively healthy MHD patients, KDQOL scores are usually decreased in those with anxiety and/or depression but are usually normal in those without anxiety or depression. Lower DPA in MHD patients with reduced KDQOL scores often appears to be associated with anxiety and depression. The relationship between QOL and physical performance appears to be less influenced by anxiety and/or depression. These data suggest that treatment of anxiety and depression in MHD patients may improve their QOL, DPA, and possibly physical performance.
Poseidon's Curse
Authors: Magra Christopher P.
Published: November 2016

Poseidon's Curse interprets the American Revolution from the vantage point of the Atlantic Ocean. Christopher P. Magra traces how British naval impressment played a leading role in the rise of Great Britain's seaborne empire, yet ultimately contributed significantly to its decline. Long reliant on appropriating free laborers to man the warships that defended British colonies and maritime commerce, the British severely jeopardized mariners' earning potential and occupational mobility, which led to deep resentment toward the British Empire. Magra explains how anger about impressment translated into revolutionary ideology, with impressment eventually occupying a major role in the Declaration of Independence as one of the foremost grievances Americans had with the British government.
FINITELY DEPENDENT COLORING
Authors: HOLROYD ALEXANDER E. , LIGGETT THOMAS M.
Published: November 2016

We prove that proper coloring distinguishes between block factors and finitely dependent stationary processes. A stochastic process is finitely dependent if variables at sufficiently well-separated locations are independent; it is a block factor if it can be expressed as an equivariant finite-range function of independent variables. The problem of finding non-block-factor finitely dependent processes dates back to 1965. The first published example appeared in 1993, and we provide arguably the first natural examples. Schramm proved in 2008 that no stationary 1-dependent 3-coloring of the integers exists, and asked whether a $k$-dependent $q$-coloring exists for any $k$ and $q$. We give a complete answer by constructing a 1-dependent 4-coloring and a 2-dependent 3-coloring. Our construction is canonical and natural, yet very different from all previous schemes. In its pure form it yields precisely the two finitely dependent colorings mentioned above, and no others. The processes provide unexpected connections between extremal cases of the Lovász local lemma and descent and peak sets of random permutations. Neither coloring can be expressed as a block factor, nor as a function of a finite-state Markov chain; indeed, no stationary finitely dependent coloring can be so expressed. We deduce extensions involving $d$ dimensions and shifts of finite type; in fact, any nondegenerate shift of finite type also distinguishes between block factors and finitely dependent processes.
Power in time: The influence of power posing on metaphoric perspectives on time
Authors: DUFFY SARAH E. , FEIST MICHELE I.
Published: November 2016

abstract

In English, the Moving Ego metaphor conceptualizes the ego as moving forward through time and the Moving Time metaphor construes time as moving forward toward the ego. Recent research has provided evidence that people’s metaphorical perspectives on deictic time may be influenced by experiences—both spatial and non-spatial—that are connected to approach motivations (Moving Ego) and avoidance motivations (Moving Time). We extend this research further, asking whether there are differences in preferred temporal perspective between those who exhibit higher and lower degrees of power, as high power has been connected to approach motivations and low power, to avoidance motivations. Across two temporal tasks, participants in our study who adopted high-power poses demonstrated a greater preference for the Moving Ego perspective, compared to those adopting low-power poses. These results suggest an embodied connection between approach and avoidance motivations and the Moving Ego and Moving Time metaphors, respectively.
The ‘Voordelta’, the contiguous ebb-tidal deltas in the SW Netherlands: large-scale morphological changes and sediment budget 1965–2013; impacts of large-scale engineering
Authors: Elias Edwin P.L. , van der Spek Ad J.F. , Lazar Marian
Published: November 2016

The estuaries in the SW Netherlands, a series of distributaries of the rivers Rhine, Meuse and Scheldt known as the Dutch Delta, have been engineered to a large extent as part of the Delta Project. The Voordelta, a coalescing system of the ebb-tidal deltas of these estuaries, extendsc.10 km offshore and coversc.90 km of the coast. The complete or partial damming of the estuaries had an enormous impact on the ebb-tidal deltas. The strong reduction of the cross-shore directed tidal flow triggered a series of morphological changes that continue until today. This paper aims to give a concise overview of half a century of morphological changes and a sediment budget, both for the individual ebb-tidal deltas and the Voordelta as a whole, based on the analysis of a unique series of frequent bathymetric surveys. The well-monitored changes in the Voordelta, showing the differences in responses of the ebb-tidal deltas, provide clear insight into the underlying processes. Despite anthropogenic dominance, knowledge based on natural inlets can still explain the observed developments. Complete damming of the three northern estuaries Brielse Maas, Haringvliet and Grevelingen resulted in a regime shift, from mixed-energy to wave-dominated, and sediments are transported in landward and downdrift direction. This results in large morphodynamic changes – sediments are redistributed from the delta front landward – but small net volume changes – a 0.1–0.2 × 106m3a−1increase in volume over the period 1965–2010 – since the dams block sediment transport into the estuaries. Sediment volume losses of 106m3a−1are observed on the ebb-tidal delta of the partially closed Eastern Scheldt and still open Western Scheldt estuary. As a result of a reduction of the estuarine tide in the mouth of the Eastern Scheldt, the north–south-running North Sea tidal wave has gained impact on its ebb-tidal delta, which causes morphological adjustments and erosion of the Banjaard shoal area. Moreover, the Eastern Scheldt ebb-tidal delta delivers sediment to its neighbours. The stable ebb-tidal delta configuration in the Western Scheldt, despite major dredging activities, illustrates that these large inlet systems are robust and resilient to significant anthropogenic change, as long as the balance between the dominant hydrodynamic processes (tides and waves) does not alter significantly.
Paternal age at childbirth and eating disorders in offspring
Authors: Javaras K. N. , Rickert M. E. , Thornton L. M. , Peat C. M. , Baker J. H. , Birgegård A. , Norring C. , Landén M. , Almqvist C. , Larsson H. , Lichtenstein P. , Bulik C. M. , D'Onofrio B. M.
Published: November 2016

Background

Advanced paternal age at childbirth is associated with psychiatric disorders in offspring, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and autism. However, few studies have investigated paternal age's relationship with eating disorders in offspring. In a large, population-based cohort, we examined the association between paternal age and offspring eating disorders, and whether that association remains after adjustment for potential confounders (e.g. parental education level) that may be related to late/early selection into fatherhood and to eating disorder incidence.

Method

Data for 2 276 809 individuals born in Sweden 1979–2001 were extracted from Swedish population and healthcare registers. The authors used Cox proportional hazards models to examine the effect of paternal age on the first incidence of healthcare-recorded anorexia nervosa (AN) and all eating disorders (AED) occurring 1987–2009. Models were adjusted for sex, birth order, maternal age at childbirth, and maternal and paternal covariates including country of birth, highest education level, and lifetime psychiatric and criminal history.

Results

Even after adjustment for covariates including maternal age, advanced paternal age was associated with increased risk, and younger paternal age with decreased risk, of AN and AED. For example, the fully adjusted hazard ratio for the 45+ years (v. the 25–29 years) paternal age category was 1.32 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.14–1.53] for AN and 1.26 (95% CI 1.13–1.40) for AED.

Conclusions

In this large, population-based cohort, paternal age at childbirth was positively associated with eating disorders in offspring, even after adjustment for potential confounders. Future research should further explore potential explanations for the association, including de novo mutations in the paternal germline.
‘Writing to make ageing new’: Dutch poets' understandings of late-life creativity
Authors: SWINNEN AAGJE
Published: November 2016

This article presents the results of a study that examines how older professional writers experience and understand creativity in later life. In psychological, humanities' and gerontological approaches to ageing and creativity, this question is still under-explored. The study's data-set consists of transcriptions of lengthy interviews conducted in spring 2015 with five Dutch poets over 65 who have achieved some eminence in the field. By means of interpretative phenomenological analysis, three superordinate and 12 subordinate themes came to the fore that offer an account of the ideas, thoughts and feelings characteristic of the way these writers perceive the later stages in their career. The first superordinate theme, Securing Sustainable Writing Practices, comprises the subordinate themes of maintaining continuity in writing approach; drawing on wealth of experience; emancipating from earlier literary conceptions; and reinventing oneself as artist throughout the years. The second superordinate theme, Negotiating the Literary Field, encompasses the following subordinate themes: challenges regarding finding or keeping a publisher in later life; developing self-acceptance and relativising literary awards; handling continuity of reception, or the way literary work is pigeonholed by critics; and staying visible in the literary scene. The third and final superordinate theme, Writing as Art of Living, refers to: not feeling old(er); writing as a practice of good living; writing as a way to recreate what is lost or unknown; and confronting cognitive decline. Together, these superordinate and subordinate themes diversify ideas of late-life creativity that are based on questionable generalising conceptualisations of the psychology of later life and artistic careers.
Aetiological characteristics of adult acute diarrhoea in a general hospital of Shanghai
Authors: ZHAO X. , NI B. , WANG Y. , SHEN X. , ZHANG C. , LIU J. , LI S.
Published: November 2016

Epidemic surveillance is an effective means to determine the characteristics of acute diarrhoea and the benefits of disease control and prevention. The epidemiological, clinical, and aetiological data of adult (aged ⩾15 years) acute diarrhoea in a general hospital in Shanghai were collected and analysed. Out of 2430 acute diarrhoea patients, 162 subjects were sampled (sample ratio 15:1). The sampled subjects had an average age (±s.d.) of 44 ± 18 years; 142 (87·7%) had a history that indicated ingestion of contaminated food; and 40 (24·7%), 54 (33·3%), and 73 (45·1%) patients had diarrhoea that was attributed to viral, bacterial, and unknown aetiological origins respectively. Viral diarrhoea is mainly prevalent during the winter and spring months, while bacterial and diarrhoea of unknown aetiology occur mainly in the summer months. The average age of the unknown aetiology group (48 ± 19 years) was significantly older than that of the viral diarrhoea group (39 ± 16 years). The number of patients with vomiting in the viral group (30·6%) was significantly higher than that in the bacterial (17·1%) and unknown aetiology (8·2%) groups. Viral and bacterial infections are the main cause of acute diarrhoea in Shanghai. However, further effective technological means are needed to improve the surveillance, control, and prevention of acute diarrhoea.
Frenchil y aclefts, existential sentences and the Focus-Marking Hypothesis
Authors: KARSSENBERG LENA
Published: November 2016

This article presents the results of a corpus analysis of the information structure properties ofil y aclefts (e.g.Il y a Claude qui chante‘There is Claude who is singing’ / ‘Claude is singing’). I will show thatil y aclefts and existential sentences introduced byil y acan express the same three information structure articulations. Furthermore, it will be argued thatil y aclefts and existential sentences function as focus markers, and that this hypothesis is further supported by psycholinguistic findings concerning constructions related toil y a.
Causes of nursing home placement for older people with dementia: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Toot Sandeep , Swinson Tom , Devine Mike , Challis David , Orrell Martin
Published: November 2016

Background:

Up to half of people with dementia in high income countries live in nursing homes and more than two-thirds of care home residents have dementia. Fewer than half of these residents report good quality of life and most older people are anxious about the prospect of moving into a nursing home. Robust evidence is needed as to the causes of admission to nursing homes, particularly where these risk factors are modifiable.

Methods:

We conducted a systematic literature search to identify controlled comparison studies in which the primary outcome was admission to nursing home of older adults with dementia. Identified studies were assessed for validity and 26 (17 cohort and 9 case-control) were included. Qualitative and quantitative analyses were conducted, including meta-analysis of 15 studies.

Results:

Poorer cognition and behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) were consistently associated with an increased risk of nursing home admission and most of our meta-analyses demonstrated impairments in activities of daily living as a significant risk. The effects of community support services were unclear, with both high and low levels of service use leading to nursing home placement. There was an association between caregiver burden and risk of institutionalization, but findings with regard to caregiver depression varied, as did physical health associations, with some studies showing an increased risk of nursing home placement following hip fracture, reduced mobility, and multiple comorbidities.

Conclusion:

We recommend focusing on cognitive enhancement strategies, assessment and management of BPSD, and carer education and support to delay nursing home placement.
Grammaticalisation and information structure: two perspectives on diachronic changes of notwithstanding in written American English
Authors: SCHÜTZLER OLE
Published: November 2016

This article traces processes of change affecting the concessive adpositionnotwithstandingin written American English from the early nineteenth century to the present. Data from theCorpus of Historical American Englishshow that, first, there is a dramatic decline in the frequency ofnotwithstanding. Second, whilenotwithstandingas a conjunction or conjunct becomes nearly obsolete, its use as an adposition increases in relative frequency. These two developments are interpreted as specialisation in ongoing grammaticalisation, whereby the range of formal alternatives is reduced within the domain of concessive adpositions more generally and among uses ofnotwithstandingin particular. Third, the postposition becomes the most frequent syntactic variant in the twentieth century. The strengthening of the postposition coincides with two tendencies: (i) the respective phrases are placed in non-final sentence position, and (ii) the noun phrase complements in such constructions are extremely short. In consequence, NP complements ofnotwithstandingare maximally de-accentuated, being very short and far removed from the focus position. Structuring information in this way is not an option for other concessive connectives, and it is argued to be one of the factors resulting in the strengthening of postpositionalnotwithstandingin late modern and present-day American English.
ON POLY-EULER NUMBERS
Authors: OHNO YASUO , SASAKI YOSHITAKA
Published: November 2016

Poly-Euler numbers are introduced as a generalization of the Euler numbers in a manner similar to the introduction of the poly-Bernoulli numbers. In this paper, some number-theoretic properties of poly-Euler numbers, for example, explicit formulas, a Clausen–von Staudt type formula, congruence relations and duality formulas, are given together with their combinatorial properties.
The location choice of US foreign direct investment: how do institutions matter?
Authors: SEN KUNAL , SINHA CHAITALI
Published: November 2016

We look at the institutional determinants of both within- and across-country variations in US foreign direct investment (FDI) flows over time. The strength of our approach is that in contrast to the previous work that has focused on average FDI flows across countries, we are able to explain both the variations in FDI flowsacrossandwithincountries for a given year. Our core hypothesis is that in countries with high quality of contract enforcement, multinationals are more likely to invest in the industries, where by their very nature investments are relationship specific. Conversely, in countries with low quality of contract enforcement, multinationals are more likely to invest in industries where investments to a large degree are not relationship specific. Using-three dimensional panel data for US FDI flows to 50 countries and 6 sectors for the period 1984–2010, we find strong support for our hypothesis. Our findings suggest that countries that want to attract US FDI in sectors that are highly intensive in technology and institutions such as transportation and electronics should improve their property rights and contracting environment.
Freedom from community: Individual rights, group life, state authority and religious freedom under the Indian Constitution
Authors: BHATIA GAUTAM
Published: November 2016

The religious freedom clauses of the Indian Constitution attempt to mediate between the competing claims of individuals, religious groups and the state, in a manner that is born out of specific historical circumstances. This article examines the controversial questions of whether, and to what extent, the Constitution grants individuals (specifically, dissenters) rights against the religious communities to which they belong. Taking as its point of departure a landmark Supreme Court judgment that struck down an anti-excommunication law, the article argues that the Indian Constitution is committed to an ‘anti-exclusion principle’: that is, group rights and group integrity are guaranteed to the extent – and only to the extent – that religious groups do not block individuals’ access to the basic public goods required to sustain a dignified life. Moreover – and unlike most other Constitutions – an individual may vindicate this right directly against her community in a court of law, by invoking the Constitution. This remedy is justified both philosophically, and in the specific context of Indian history. In this manner, Indian constitutionalism offers a novel and innovative solution to the perennial problem of balancing individual rights to religious freedom against the claims of community.
Editor's Introduction to 40th Anniversary Issue: History and the Social Sciences: Past Imperfect; Future Promising
Authors: McCants Anne EC
Published: November 2016

It has been almost 40 years since Emmanuel Le Roy Ladurie published an English translation of his (at the time) deeply unsettling essay, “Motionless History,” in the second issue of Social Science History (SSH, Winter 1977). For many historians, whose livelihoods depended on narrating the “march of history,” his claim that long periods of history were characterized by a distinct absence of change—his example was Europe from late antiquity up to the early eighteenth century—was nothing short of heretical. The newly established SSH was, however, an entirely logical place from which to launch this fusillade against the disciplinary norms of the Anglo-American historical profession, as the journal was the product of a contra-establishment project, the Social Science History Association (SSHA). Founded in 1974 and hosting its first annual conference in Philadelphia in the fall of 1976, the SSHA emerged out of the more general social and political ferment of that period. Its organizers had the specific intention to disrupt (to use our word and not theirs) what they thought were the rigid practices and limited vision of the then American Historical Association. In so doing they hoped to make space for a new kind of historical enquiry that had much to learn from the social sciences, and hoped to teach them something in return. They were joined in that enthusiastic moment by historically minded rebels from the American Sociological Association, as well as small numbers of anthropologists, demographers, economists, geographers, and political scientists who were all eager to incorporate both historical context and a theoretical appreciation of contingency into their work. In the intervening years since that hopeful beginning, many have argued that the anticipated interdisciplinary exchange failed in one way or another. But let me not get ahead of myself.
A Social History of the Social Science History Association during Its Early Years
Authors: Lees Lynn Hollen
Published: November 2016

Social historians formed an important part of the Social Science History Association from its early days, and they widened its intellectual space beyond initial emphases on political history and quantitative methods. Lee Benson and other faculty at the University of Pennsylvania, as well as Charles and Louise Tilly, were particularly influential in attracting a broad mix of scholars to the group. The openness of the association and its interdisciplinarity appealed to younger scholars, and those interested in the “new urban history” were early recruits. A growing number of women, many of whom were social historians, participated in the first conventions and newly organized networks.
Confidence, Fear, and a Propensity to Gamble:The Puzzle of War and Economics in an Age of Catastrophe 1914–45
Authors: Ransom Roger L.
Published: November 2016

This paper uses the notion of animal spirits introduced by John Maynard Keynes in the General Theory, and more recently employed by George Akerloff and Robert Shiller in their book Animal Spirits, to explain the speculative bubbles and decisions for war from 1914 to 1945. Animal spirits are a spontaneous urge to action rather than inaction that produces decisions that are not bounded by rational calculations. My analysis shows how confidence, fear, and a propensity to gamble can encourage aggressive behavior that leads to speculative “bubbles” in financial markets and military or political crises. Elements of prospect theory are added to demonstrate how the presence of risk in crises tend to produce a very strong bias toward taking gambles to avoid economic or military loses. A basic premise of the paper is that war and economics were inexorably joined together by 1914 to a point where economic strength was as important as military might in determining the outcome of a war. The final section of the paper deals with the problem of measuring military and economic strength by using the Composite Index of National Capability created by the Correlates of War Project to evaluate the riskiness of the Schlieffen Plan in 1914 and the changes in military capability of major powers between 1914 and 1919.
Historical Geographic Information Systems and Social Science History
Authors: Knowles Anne Kelly
Published: November 2016

The interdisciplinary field of historical geographic information systems (HGIS) took root and flourished at the Social Science History Association (SSHA) in the late 1990s and early 2000s. This essay first recounts the growth of HGIS at SSHA and beyond. It then considers challenges that GIS continues to pose for historians and other scholars, such as the unfamiliarity of its conceptual framework and the time and expense often involved in building HGIS databases. The bare-bones visual culture ofSocial Science Historymay inhibit submissions by HGIS scholars, whose work typically includes color maps. Yet the enduring methodological and interdisciplinary interests of SSHA members provide a strong basis for continuing involvement by historians who use GIS. The essay closes with new directions in HGIS scholarship, including study of empirical uncertainty, historical gazetteers, textual analysis linked to GIS mapping, and comparison of topology and topography.
History and the Social Sciences: Shock Therapy with Medieval Economic History as the Patient
Authors: Curtis Daniel R. , van Bavel Bas , Soens Tim
Published: November 2016

Since the turn of the Millennium, major changes in economic history practice such as the dominance of econometrics and the championing of “big data,” as well as changes in how research is funded, have created new pressures for medieval economic historians to confront. In this article, it is suggested that one way of strengthening the field further is to more explicitly link up with hypotheses posed in other social sciences. The historical record is one “laboratory” in which hypotheses developed by sociologists, economists, and even natural scientists can be explicitly tested, especially using dual forms of geographical and chronological comparison. As one example to demonstrate this, a case is made for the stimulating effect of “disaster studies.” Historians have failed to interact with ideas from disaster studies, not only because of the general drift away from the social sciences by the historical discipline, but also because of a twin conception that medieval disaster study bears no relation to the modern, and that medieval coping strategies were hindered by providence, superstition, fear, and panic. We use the medieval disasters context to demonstrate that medieval economic history can contribute to big narratives of our time, including climate change and inequality. This contribution can be in (1) investigating the root causes of vulnerability and resilience, and recovery of societies over the long term (moving disaster studies away from instant impact focus) and (2) providing the social context needed to interpret the massive amount of “big data” produced by historical climatologists, bioarchaeologists, economists, and so on.
Groundwater: A Hidden Influence on River Shape
Authors: Hall Shannon
Published: November 2016

A new study shows how groundwater influences river dynamics and channel pattern.