bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Autoantibody Signatures Combined with Epstein–Barr Virus Capsid Antigen-IgA as a Biomarker Panel for the Detection of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma
Authors: Peng Yu-Hui , Xu Yi-Wei , Huang Li-Sheng , Zhai Tian-Tian , Dai Li-Hua , Qiu Si-Qi , Yang Yu-Su , Chen Wei-Zheng , Zhang Li-Qun , Li En-Min , Xu Li-Yan
Published: May 2015

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is prevalent in Southern China and Southeast Asia, and autoantibody signatures may improve early detection of NPC. In this study, serum levels of autoantibodies against a panel of six tumor-associated antigens (p53, NY-ESO-1, MMP-7, Hsp70, Prx VI, and Bmi-1) and Epstein–Barr virus capsid antigen-IgA (VCA-IgA) were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in a training set (220 NPC patients and 150 controls) and validated in a validation set (90 NPC patients and 68 controls). We used receiver-operating characteristics (ROC) to calculate diagnostic accuracy. ROC curves showed that use of these 6 autoantibody assays provided an area under curve (AUC) of 0.855 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.818–0.892], 68.2% sensitivity, and 90.0% specificity in the training set and an AUC of 0.873 (95% CI, 0.821–0.925), 62.2% sensitivity, and 91.2% specificity in the validation set. Moreover, the autoantibody panel maintained diagnostic accuracy for VCA-IgA–negative NPC patients [0.854 (0.809–0.899), 67.8%, and 90.0% in the training set; 0.879 (0.815–0.942), 67.4%, and 91.2% in the validation set]. Importantly, combination of the autoantibody panel and VCA-IgA improved diagnostic accuracy for NPC versus controls compared with the autoantibody panel alone [0.911 (0.881–0.940), 81.4%, and 90.0% in the training set; 0.919 (0.878–0.959), 78.9%, and 91.2% in the validation set), as well as for early-stage NPC (0.944 (0.894–0.994), 87.9%, and 94.0% in the training set; 0.922 (0.808–1.000), 80.0%, and 92.6% in the validation set]. These results reveal autoantibody signatures in an optimized panel that could improve the identification of VCA-IgA–negative NPC patients, may aid screening and diagnosis of NPC, especially when combined with VCA-IgA. Cancer Prev Res; 8(8); 729–36. ©2015 AACR.
Sclerostin Quo Vadis? - Is This a Useful Long-Term Mortality Parameter in Prevalent Hemodialysis Patients?
Authors: Nowak Albina , Artunc Ferruh , Serra Andreas L. , Pollock Emily , Krayenbühl Pierre-Alexandre , Müller Christian , Friedrich Björn
Published: May 2015

Background/Aims: Cardiovascular calcification contributes to the increased mortality in hemodialysis patients. Sclerostin was identified as an antianabolic bone factor causing soft tissue calcification. Data on prospective large-scale studies associating sclerostin with mortality in hemodialysis patients are so far inconsistent. Methods: In our multicenter prospective longitudinal study following hemodialysis patients, we assessed the associations of sclerostin and bone remodeling markers with long-term mortality. We evaluated the relationship between circulating sclerostin, Fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) and traditional bone remodeling markers. Sclerostin levels in hemodialysis patients were compared with healthy controls. Results: We enrolled 239 hemodialysis patients with a median follow up of 1461 days. In Cox regression analysis, FGF23 (HR 1.40;95%CI 1.11-1.76), parathyroid hormone (PTH) (HR 1.80;95%CI 1.44-2.26) and alkaline phosphatase (AP) (HR 1.50;95%CI 1.10-2.04) per SD, 25(OH)vitamin D (HR 0.42;95%CI 0.23-0.76) per natural log but not sclerostin (HR 1.02;95%CI 0.75-1.38) per SD increase were associated with mortality. FGF23, PTH and AP were negatively associated with sclerostin. Among control and hemodialysis females, sclerostin levels were lower than in men. Conclusion: Higher FGF23, PTH, AP and lower 25(OH)vitamin D but not sclerostin predict long-term mortality. Sclerostin was negatively associated with FGF23, PTH and AP and lower in females than in males.
CD8
+
T Cells Regulate Monopoiesis and Circulating Ly6C
high
Monocyte Levels in Atherosclerosis in Mice
Authors: Cochain Clément , Koch Miriam , Chaudhari Sweena M. , Busch Martin , Pelisek Jaroslav , Boon Louis , Zernecke Alma
Published: May 2015

Rationale:

Proinflammatory adaptive immune responses are recognized as major drivers of atherosclerotic lesion formation. Although CD8
+
T cells have recently been proposed as a proatherogenic cell subset, their full scope of actions remains to be elucidated.

Objective:

We here addressed the contribution of CD8
+
T cells to monocyte trafficking in atherosclerosis.

Method and Results:

We observed that CD8
+
T cells express proinflammatory cytokines (interferon-γ, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interleukin-12) within atherosclerotic lesions and spleens of high-fat diet–fed low-density lipoprotein receptor–deficient (
Ldlr
−/−
) mice. Antibody-mediated CD8
+
T-cell depletion in high-fat diet–fed
Ldlr
−/−
mice decreased atherosclerotic plaque formation, associated with decreased macrophage accumulation within lesions. Despite a reduction in vascular chemokine (CC-motif) ligand 2 and chemokine (CXC-motif) ligand 1 expression, CD8
+
T-cell depletion did not directly affect monocyte recruitment to inflamed vessels. However, CD8
+
T-cell depletion decreased chemokine (CC-motif) ligand serum concentrations and circulating Ly6C
high
monocyte counts. We further evidenced that CD8
+
T-cell depletion decreased levels of mature monocytes and myeloid granulocyte–monocyte progenitors in the bone marrow and spleen of hypercholesterolemic mice, effects that were partially reproduced by interferon-γ neutralization, showing a role for interferon-γ.

Conclusions:

These data suggest that CD8
+
T cells promote atherosclerosis by controlling monopoiesis and circulating monocyte levels, which ultimately contributes to plaque macrophage burden without affecting direct monocyte recruitment, identifying this cell subset as a critical regulator of proatherogenic innate immune cell responses in atherosclerosis.
Standardized Outcome Measurement for Patients With Coronary Artery Disease: Consensus From the International Consortium for Health Outcomes Measurement (ICHOM)
Authors: McNamara Robert L. , Spatz Erica S. , Kelley Thomas A. , Stowell Caleb J. , Beltrame John , Heidenreich Paul , Tresserras Ricard , Jernberg Tomas , Chua Terrance , Morgan Louise , Panigrahi Bishnu , Rosas Ruiz Alba , Rumsfeld John S. , Sadwin Lawrence , Schoeberl Mark , Shahian David , Weston Clive , Yeh Robert , Lewin Jack
Published: May 2015

Background

Coronary artery disease (CAD) outcomes consistently improve when they are routinely measured and provided back to physicians and hospitals. However, few centers around the world systematically track outcomes, and no global standards exist. Furthermore, patient‐centered outcomes and longitudinal outcomes are under‐represented in current assessments.

Methods and Results

The nonprofit International Consortium for Health Outcomes Measurement (ICHOM) convened an international Working Group to define a consensus standard set of outcome measures and risk factors for tracking, comparing, and improving the outcomes of CAD care. Members were drawn from 4 continents and 6 countries. Using a modified Delphi method, the ICHOM Working Group defined who should be tracked, what should be measured, and when such measurements should be performed. The ICHOM CAD consensus measures were designed to be relevant for all patients diagnosed with CAD, including those with acute myocardial infarction, angina, and asymptomatic CAD. Thirteen specific outcomes were chosen, including acute complications occurring within 30 days of acute myocardial infarction, coronary artery bypass grafting surgery, or percutaneous coronary intervention; and longitudinal outcomes for up to 5 years for patient‐reported health status (Seattle Angina Questionnaire [SAQ‐7], elements of Rose Dyspnea Score, and Patient Health Questionnaire [PHQ‐2]), cardiovascular hospital admissions, cardiovascular procedures, renal failure, and mortality. Baseline demographic, cardiovascular disease, and comorbidity information is included to improve the interpretability of comparisons.

Conclusions

ICHOM recommends that this set of outcomes and other patient information be measured for all patients with CAD.
Soluble Epoxide Hydrolase in Hydrocephalus, Cerebral Edema, and Vascular Inflammation After Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
Authors: Siler Dominic A. , Berlow Yosef A. , Kukino Ayaka , Davis Catherine M. , Nelson Jonathan W. , Grafe Marjorie R. , Ono Hirohisa , Cetas Justin S. , Pike Martin , Alkayed Nabil J.
Published: May 2015

Background and Purpose—

Acute communicating hydrocephalus and cerebral edema are common and serious complications of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), whose causes are poorly understood. Using a mouse model of SAH, we determined whether soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) gene deletion protects against SAH-induced hydrocephalus and edema by increasing levels of vasoprotective eicosanoids and suppressing vascular inflammation.

Methods—

SAH was induced via endovascular puncture in wild-type and sEH knockout mice. Hydrocephalus and tissue edema were assessed by T
2
-weighted magnetic resonance imaging. Endothelial activation was assessed in vivo using T2*-weighted magnetic resonance imaging after intravenous administration of iron oxide particles linked to anti–vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 antibody 24 hours after SAH. Behavioral outcome was assessed at 96 hours after SAH with the open field and accelerated rotarod tests.

Results—

SAH induced an acute sustained communicating hydrocephalus within 6 hours of endovascular puncture in both wild-type and sEH knockout mice. This was followed by tissue edema, which peaked at 24 hours after SAH and was limited to white matter fiber tracts. sEH knockout mice had reduced edema, less vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 uptake, and improved outcome compared with wild-type mice.

Conclusions—

Genetic deletion of sEH reduces vascular inflammation and edema and improves outcome after SAH. sEH inhibition may serve as a novel therapy for SAH.
Hemodynamic Characteristics of Cerebral Arteriovenous Malformation Feeder Vessels With and Without Aneurysms
Authors: Shakur Sophia F. , Amin-Hanjani Sepideh , Mostafa Hassan , Charbel Fady T. , Alaraj Ali
Published: May 2015

Background and Purpose—

The pathogenesis of aneurysms associated with cerebral arteriovenous malformation (AVM) feeder vessels is poorly understood. We sought to determine the hemodynamic characteristics of AVM feeder vessels with and without aneurysms.

Methods—

Patients with AVMs associated with feeder aneurysms who had flow, vessel diameter, and wall shear stress measured before treatment using quantitative magnetic resonance angiography were retrospectively reviewed. Feeders within each AVM were classified into 2 groups based on presence or absence of aneurysms. Hemodynamic parameters were calculated for each arterial feeder and then compared between the 2 groups.

Results—

Eleven patients had AVMs with feeder aneurysms. Of 35 total feeder arteries, 12 had an aneurysm and 23 feeders did not have any aneurysms. Absolute mean flow was higher (510.2 versus 438.4 mL/min;
P
=0.53) and vessel diameter was lower (4.0 versus 4.8 mm;
P
=0.24) in feeders with aneurysms but not significantly. However, wall shear stress (96.2 versus 28.0 dynes/cm
2
;
P
=0.04) was significantly higher in feeders with aneurysms.

Conclusions—

Wall shear stress is significantly higher among cerebral AVM feeders harboring aneurysms. Despite similarly high flows, feeder artery diameter tended to be smaller if an aneurysm was present, suggesting that AVM feeders with aneurysms are a subgroup in which vessel remodeling cannot compensate for increased blood flow.
Quantification at the Syntax-Semantics Interface: Greek Every NPs (University of Patras, 2014)
Authors: Margariti Anna-Maria
Published: May 2015

This dissertation offers a thorough examination of the Modern Greek distributive determiner. Specific focus is placed on particular parameters that involve whole sentences, which seem to result in different readings (semantic interpretations). I conclude through my analysis, which is circumscribed within the syntax-LF interface, that a common mechanism of Agree/binding is responsible for the emergence of these different readings.
Dual-Polarization Radar Data Analysis of the Impact of Ground-Based Glaciogenic Seeding on Winter Orographic Clouds. Part I: Mostly Stratiform Clouds
Authors: Jing Xiaoqin , Geerts Bart , Friedrich Katja , Pokharel Binod
Published: May 2015

The impact of ground-based glaciogenic seeding on wintertime orographic, mostly stratiform clouds is analyzed by means of data from an X-band dual-polarization radar, the Doppler-on-Wheels (DOW) radar, positioned on a mountain pass. This study focuses on six intensive observation periods (IOPs) during the 2012 AgI Seeding Cloud Impact Investigation (ASCII) project in Wyoming. In all six storms, the bulk upstream Froude number below mountaintop exceeded 1 (suggesting unblocked flow), the clouds were relatively shallow (with bases below freezing), some liquid water was present, and orographic flow conditions were mostly steady. To examine the silver iodide (AgI) seeding effect, three study areas are defined (a control area, a target area upwind of the crest, and a lee target area), and comparisons are made between measurements from a treated period and those from an untreated period. Changes in reflectivity and differential reflectivity observed by the DOW at low levels during seeding are consistent with enhanced snow growth, by vapor diffusion and/or aggregation, for a case study and for the composite analysis of all six IOPs, especially at close range upwind of the mountain crest. These low-level changes may have been affected by natural changes aloft, however, as evident from differences in the evolution of the echo-top height in the control and target areas. Even though precipitation in the target region is strongly correlated with that in the control region, the authors cannot definitively attribute the change to seeding because there is a lack of knowledge about natural variability, nor can the outcome be generalized, because the sample size is small.
Does External Forcing Interfere with the AMOC’s Influence on North Atlantic Sea Surface Temperature?
Authors: Tandon Neil F. , Kushner Paul J.
Published: May 2015

Numerous studies have suggested that variations in the strength of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC) may drive predictable variations in North Atlantic sea surface temperature (NASST). However, two recent studies have presented results suggesting that coupled models disagree on both the sign and the phasing of the correlation between AMOC and NASST indices. These studies analyzed linearly detrended output from twentieth-century historical simulations in phases 3 and 5 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP3 and CMIP5). The present study argues that the apparent disagreement among models arises from a comingling of two processes: 1) a bottom-up effect in which unforced AMOC changes lead to NASST changes of the same sign and 2) a top-down effect in which forced NASST changes lead to AMOC changes of the opposite sign. Linear detrending is not appropriate for separating these two effects because the time scales of forced and unforced variations are not well separated. After forced variations are properly removed, the models come into much closer agreement with each other. This argument is supported by analysis of CMIP5 historical simulations, as well as preindustrial control simulations and a 29-member ensemble of the Community Earth System Model, version 1, covering the period 1920–2005. Additional analysis is presented suggesting that, even after the data are linearly detrended, a significant portion of observed NASST persistence may be externally forced.
Alar Suspension Sutures in the Management of Nasal Valve Collapse
Authors: Manickavasagam Jaiganesh , Iqbal Isma , Wong Smeeta , Raghavan Ullas
Published: May 2015

Objective:

This study assesses the efficacy of alar suspension sutures in the management of nasal valve collapse causing nasal obstruction. These sutures are inserted between the vestibular skin and lateral crura and hitched to the periosteum of the medial inferior orbital margin; this is a variation of the alar (change everywhere) suspension suture technique.

Method:

A retrospective review of patients who underwent alar suspension suture insertion between January 2009 and December 2010 in the management of nasal obstruction was undertaken. Symptoms of nasal obstruction were assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and peak inspiratory flow rate (PIFR). This was measured preprocedure and repeated at 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively.

Results:

A total of 35 patients were identified, and 26 were included in the study; 90% of patients were satisfied with the outcome of surgery, supported by improvement in the VAS and PIFR scores. The mean difference in VAS preprocedure and postprocedure was 4.97 ( P value = 0.00), and the average improvement in PIFR was 25.5 L/min ( P value = 0.00).

Conclusion:

Our study shows a significant improvement in patient’s symptoms following insertion of alar suspension sutures. It is, therefore, a reliable, safe, and effective technique in treating nasal obstruction secondary to nasal valve collapse.
Defining the Morphology and Distribution of the Alar Fascia
Authors: Scali Frank , Nash Lance G. , Pontell Matthew E.
Published: May 2015

Objectives:

This study aims to delineate the morphology, integrity, and distribution of the alar fascia using dissection and E12 sheet plastination. This is the first study that employs E12 sheet plastination to investigate the alar fascia and its adjacent potential spaces.

Methods:

Twenty-nine manual dissections and 3 sets of E12 sheet plastinations were used to examine the posterior pharyngeal region for the architecture and distribution of the alar fascia. Specimens were examined from the inferior nuchal line to C6.

Results:

The alar fascia originated as a well-defined midline structure at the level of C1 and could be identified down to C6. There was no evidence of the alar fascia between the inferior nuchal line and the base of the skull. Notably, the alar fascia permitted resistance to manual traction.

Conclusions:

E12 sheet plastination allowed for visualization of the alar fascia’s superior attachments within the deep cervical region. Resistance to traction suggests that the alar fascia may be more than just a loose fibroareolar matrix. The findings in this study suggest an alternative point of entry into the danger space. Understanding the continuity of this fascial layer is critically important with regard to the pathophysiology of deep neck space infections.
Treatment Selection for T3/T4a Laryngeal Cancer
Authors: Timme David W. , Jonnalagadda Sashikanth , Patel Raunak , Rao Krishna , Robbins K. Thomas
Published: May 2015

Objective:

We report the treatment outcomes, including organ preservation, for patients with locally advanced (T3/T4a) laryngeal cancer receiving both surgical and nonsurgical approaches. We hypothesize that selection of treatment protocols aimed to optimize organ preservation does not compromise survival provided careful selection is done through the process of multidisciplinary treatment planning.

Methods:

Patients with T3-4a laryngeal squamous cell cancer were evaluated and recommended for primary treatment with total or partial laryngectomy (37 patients) or chemoradiotherapy (34 patients). Treatment outcomes were compared between the 2 cohorts. In addition, the laryngeal preservation rate and laryngoesophageal dysfunction-free survival (LEDFS) were determined for the chemoradiation group.

Results:

The 5-year overall survival rate for patients with T3 lesions was 41% and 40% for the surgical and nonsurgical groups, respectively, and for T4 lesions it was 54% and 53%, respectively. For the chemoradiation group, the rate of overall laryngeal preservation was 79%. LEDFS at 2 years was 40% for T3 lesions and 33% for T4 lesions.

Conclusion:

Through careful selection, some patients with locally advanced laryngeal cancer can be offered chemoradiation (organ preservation) without compromising survival. However, the patients selected to receive chemoradiation have a high rate of laryngeal and esophageal dysfunction.
Age at first tobacco use and risk of subsequent psychosis-related outcomes: A birth cohort study
Authors: McGrath John J , Alati Rosa , Clavarino Alexandra , Williams Gail M , Bor William , Najman Jake M , Connell Melissa , Scott James G
Published: May 2015

Objective:

Compared to the substantial body of research examining links between cannabis use and psychosis, there has been relatively little attention to the role of tobacco as a potential risk factor for psychosis. This study explored the association between age at first tobacco use and psychosis-related outcomes in a birth cohort.

Method:

This study is based on a large birth cohort (the Mater-University Study of Pregnancy). At approximately 21 years of age, cohort members ( N = 3752) were assessed for three psychosis-related outcomes (International Classification of Diseases non-affective psychosis, the presence of any hallucination and total count of delusional-like experiences) with the Composite International Diagnostic Interview and the Peters Delusional Inventory. Associations between age at first tobacco use and psychosis-related outcomes were examined using logistic regression in a model (a) adjusted for sex and age and (b) in a second model excluding all respondents who had a history of past problematic and current cannabis use.

Results:

When adjusted for age and sex, those who commenced tobacco at 15 years of age or younger were significantly more likely to (a) have non-affective psychosis, (b) be in the highest quartile of total score of the Peters Delusional Inventory and (c) report hallucinations. After excluding all those with a history of a cannabis use disorder, or who were current (last month) cannabis users, a significant association between age at first tobacco use and the presence of hallucinations persisted.

Conclusion:

There is an association between age at first tobacco use and subsequent psychosis-related outcomes in young adults. While the findings cannot be used to deduce causality, it adds weight to the hypothesis that early tobacco use may contribute to the risk of developing psychosis-related outcomes.
Further Considerations in Using Items With Diverse Content to Measure Acquiescence
Authors: Kam Chester Chun Seng
Published: May 2015

To measure the response style of acquiescence, researchers recommend the use of at least 15 items with heterogeneous content. Such an approach is consistent with its theoretical definition and is a substantial improvement over traditional methods. Nevertheless, measurement of acquiescence can be enhanced by two additional considerations: first, to ensure that it is not confounded with item valence, equal numbers of positively and negatively phrased items should be used; second, the validity of acquiescence scores can be substantially improved when derived from more than 15 items: about twice that number appears to be the minimum. These issues are illustrated empirically and recommendations are made for research practice.
The Vatican, Nazi-Fascism, and the Making of Transnational Anti-communism in the 1930s
Authors: Chamedes Giuliana
Published: May 2015

Given the recent scholarly interest in the history of anti-communism, it is surprising that relatively little has been written on the ambitious transnational anti-communist campaign launched by the Vatican in the early 1930s. Drawing on new archival material, this article explores how the Vatican founded an organization known as the Secretariat on Atheism, which disseminated a form of anti-communism grounded in Catholic teachings. The Secretariat sought to buttress the position of the Roman Catholic church in international affairs and unite Catholic groups across Europe and the Americas, all the while maintaining its independence from other forms of anti-communism – particularly those espoused by Nazi and Fascist forces. However, the Secretariat was only partially successful in preserving its independence. For if the Vatican campaign avoided the antisemitic and nationalistic motifs that characterized Nazi-Fascist propaganda, the key protagonists of the movement cooperated with Nazi, Fascist and proto-Fascist forces on the ground. The Vatican campaign led to joint surveillance efforts, the toning down of the Pope's public denunciations of Nazi-Fascism, and the papal sanction of violence against purportedly communist enemies. Despite its potentially damning association with Nazi-Fascist forces, the Vatican anti-communist movement would outlive both Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy and leave a lasting mark on Cold War politics.
Missing Teeth Predict Incident Cardiovascular Events, Diabetes, and Death
Authors: Liljestrand J.M. , Havulinna A.S. , Paju S. , Männistö S. , Salomaa V. , Pussinen P.J.
Published: May 2015

Periodontitis, the main cause of tooth loss in the middle-aged and elderly, associates with the risk of atherosclerotic vascular disease. The objective was to study the capability of the number of missing teeth in predicting incident cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), diabetes, and all-cause death. The National FINRISK 1997 Study is a Finnish population–based survey of 8,446 subjects with 13 y of follow-up. Dental status was recorded at baseline in a clinical examination by a trained nurse, and information on incident CVD events, diabetes, and death was obtained via national registers. The registered CVD events included coronary heart disease events, acute myocardial infarction, and stroke. In Cox regression analyses, having ≥5 teeth missing was associated with 60% to 140% increased hazard for incident coronary heart disease events ( P < 0.020) and acute myocardial infarction ( P < 0.010). Incident CVD ( P < 0.043), diabetes ( P < 0.040), and death of any cause ( P < 0.019) were associated with ≥9 missing teeth. No association with stroke was observed. Adding information on missing teeth to established risk factors improved risk discrimination of death ( P = 0.0128) and provided a statistically significant net reclassification improvement for all studied end points. Even a few missing teeth may indicate an increased risk of CVD, diabetes, or all-cause mortality. When individual risk factors for chronic diseases are assessed, the number of missing teeth could be a useful additional indicator for general medical practitioners.
Speed of retaliation and international cooperation
Authors: Mosher James S
Published: May 2015

Many international interactions are structured like a prisoner’s dilemma because there are incentives to cooperate but also incentives to defect. In an infinitely repeated prisoner dilemma interaction, valuing the future highly enough by discounting the future less can ensure cooperation. Another factor that affects international cooperation in an infinitely repeated prisoner’s dilemma interaction is how quickly actors can respond to defection with retaliation, in other words, the speed of retaliation. Speeding up retaliation to ensure cooperation is an attractive strategy because it is flexible. It can be adapted to the particular characteristics of a dyad of cooperation and can vary with different actors and even different forms of cooperation between the same two actors. An analysis of an infinitely repeated prisoner’s dilemma interaction shows that if speeding up retaliation is costless, payoffs are constant in time, and the temptation payoff is reduced in proportion to the speed-up of retaliation, then no matter how unfavorable the starting discount factor and unfavorable the payoffs, speeding up retaliation can make cooperation sustainable. This, in combination with its inherent flexibility, makes speeding up retaliation a potentially powerful tool to make cooperation sustainable. Because speeding up retaliation likely has some implementation costs and because prisoner dilemma payoffs may not be constant/even in time, there are limits on when speeding up retaliation is effective. However, the analysis shows that if implementation costs are not too high, payoffs are not too uneven, or, if uneven in a particularly unfavorable way, punishment, when inflicted, is sufficiently punishing, then speeding up retaliation can still be effective in ensuring sustained cooperation.
Neither Deep nor Shallow: A Classroom Experiment Testing the Orthographic Depth of Tone Marking in Kabiye (Togo)
Authors: Roberts David , Walter Stephen L. , Snider Keith
Published: May 2015

The experiment reported here tests the Lexical Orthography Hypothesis, that is, the notion that the output of the lexical phonology is the most promising phonological depth for an exhaustive representation of tone by means of diacritics in the orthography of a tone language. We conducted a controlled classroom experiment with 97 secondary school pupils learning written Kabiye, a Gur language of northern Togo. After testing their baseline skills in writing the standard orthography, the pupils participated in an eleven-hour transition course spread over three weeks in four parallel groups: Deep (an experimental orthography representing the input of the lexical phonology), Lexical (representing the output of the lexical phonology), Phonemic (representing a level between the output of the lexical phonology and the output of the post-lexical phonology), and a control group. On the final day of the experiment, we tested their acquired skills in a dictation exercise. The results show that the Lexical group outperforms the other groups in three of the error types associated with adding diacritics, although they performed less well on the error type associated with writing long vowels. This initial evidence supporting the Lexical Orthography Hypothesis needs confirmation with reading and writing experiments on a variety of other tone languages.
Estimation of gestational age from gall-bladder length
Authors: Udaykumar K , Udaykumar Padmaja , Nagesh KR
Published: May 2015

Establishing a precise duration of gestation is vital in situations such as infanticide and criminal abortions. The present study attempted to estimate the gestational age of the foetus from gall-bladder length. Foetuses of various gestational age groups were dissected, and the length of the gall bladder was measured. The results were analysed, and a substantial degree of correlation was statistically confirmed. This novel method is helpful when the foetus is fragmented, putrefied or eviscerated, where this method can be used as an additional parameter to improve the accuracy of foetal age estimation.
Preparation and performance of silver as an antimicrobial agent for textiles: A review
Authors: Simončič Barbara , Klemenčič Danijela
Published: May 2015

This article reviews select contemporary silver (Ag) compounds used for the chemical modification of textile fibers, including colloidal Ag, Ag salts, and Ag powder. The routes of their application, the chemical methods of preparation, and the strengths and drawbacks of the individual application processes are reviewed. The most important additives employed in the preparation of colloidal Ag nanoparticle (Ag NP) solutions and their influences on the properties of the colloidal Ag are discussed. Furthermore, the mechanism of the antimicrobial activity of Ag when incorporated into textile fibers is presented in particular. Different factors related to the application processes and the properties of the fibers themselves are addressed in the context of the efficiency of Ag as an antimicrobial agent in textiles.
The theoretical yarn unevenness of cotton considering the joint influence of fiber length distribution and fiber fineness
Authors: Kuang Xueqin , Hu Yuanbo , Yu Chongwen
Published: May 2015

The theoretical yarn unevenness has been discussed by considering the joint influence of fiber length distribution and fiber fineness. For fiber length distribution, the fiber length density function was derived from the specific Weibull parameters obtained from actual fiber length measurements using an USTER AFIS instrument. Meanwhile, fiber fineness was added to Suh’s model by expressing spun yarn irregularity in terms of fiber mass variation. Comparisons of the calculated value of theoretical yarn unevenness in this paper with the tested and previously researched ones for different cotton yarns have been made. It is shown that the theoretical yarn unevenness calculated in this paper could better reflect the effect of fiber length and fiber fineness on yarn unevenness. This might be the theoretical foundation for the prediction of theoretical cotton yarn unevenness on the basis of actual fiber length distribution and fiber fineness.
Tactile perception of fabrics with an artificial finger compared to human sensing
Authors: Chen Si , Ge Shirong , Tang Wei , Zhang Jiankai , Chen Nanxuan
Published: May 2015

The assessment of fabric quality is highly dependent on the human tactile sense, which is affected by many factors. There is currently no approach to measure fabric quality directly. To build the relationship between tactile perception and fabric texture, vibration data obtained from a biomimetic sensor while scanning fabric surfaces were recorded and compared with the human judgments. Human subjective sensing experiments were performed with 20 volunteers by classifying texture into 10 grades according to three dimensions: Rough–Smooth, Coarse–Fine and Complex–Uniform. The vibrations and the coefficient of friction (COF) between the skin and fabric were measured using an artificial finger and a tribometer as the artificial finger scanned across various fabrics. Five characteristic values were extracted based on features of the fabric texture from the vibration data: peak average (PA), peak ratio (PR), spectral centroid (SC), power (P) and Shannon entropy (SE).These feature values were evaluated by comparison with those from human sensing experiments. It was found that P, SC, SE and COF could characterize the perceived Rough–Smooth, Coarse–Fine, Complex–Uniform and surface comfort, respectively.
Opening borders, framing identities: The ‘return to Europe’ in Jan Gogola’s České Velenice Evropské
Authors: Tonkin Kati
Published: May 2015

In 2004, eight formerly communist East Central European states acceded to the European Union, an event which was celebrated as the final overcoming of the post-war division of Europe into East and West and the ‘return to Europe’ of those states which had been ‘kidnapped’ by the Soviet Union. To mark the accession, an Austrian film production company commissioned five East Central European directors to make short documentary films under the collective title Über die Grenze: Fünf Ansichten von Nachbarn ( Across the Border: Five Views From Neighbours). Drawing on geopolitical analysis of the dichotomy of Europe and Eastern Europe which underpinned the European Union enlargement discourse, this paper examines the Czech episode České Velenice Evropské as a film which explores the ways in which borders have been conceptualized and identities (re)framed in the context of European Union enlargement. At the moment when the Central European states’ symbolic ‘return to Europe’ is being realized, director Jan Gogola reflects on the meaning of European Union accession for Central Europeans, on shifting borders and their implications for the construction and understanding of identities of self and other, and on the dynamics of openness and closure in Europe.
Diagnosis of Chikungunya dominated co-infection with dengue during an outbreak in south India (2010 and 2012)
Authors: Venkatasubramani K , Paramasivan R , Thenmozhi V , Dhananjeyan KJ , Balaji T , Leo S Victor Jerald
Published: May 2015

Following a report of dengue outbreak from January 2010 to 2012 in the Tirunelveli, Theni, Dharmapuri and Thiruvallur districts of Tamil Nadu state, India, an investigation was carried out. The study was to demonstrate the probable presence of Chikungunya viral antibodies in patients clinically suspected of dengue fever. Out of 331 samples analysed, dengue viral antibodies were observed in 14.8% ( n = 49) of patients, while 16.6% ( n = 55) were positive for Chikungunya viral specific IgM antibodies. In the four districts surveyed, patients found positive for Chikungunya were found to be higher than dengue. The clinician should consider Chikungunya in the differential diagnosis of dengue-like infection appearing in the community.
Mandeville against Luxury
Authors: Turner Brandon P.
Published: May 2015

For three hundred years, Bernard Mandeville was considered the first great apologist for luxury and the unsavory dimensions of commercial society, a reputation that remains largely intact even as scholars reconsider the depth and influence of his thought. Here, I argue that Mandeville’s attitude toward luxury and material excess is far more ambivalent—indeed, highly critical—than previously thought. As societies became wealthier and more literate, Mandeville saw both individuals and societies growing increasingly susceptible to discontent—to “grumbling,” as the original title of The Fable of the Bees has it. This focus on grumbling is particularly worthy of close study because Mandeville’s chief profession was medicine, and, more specifically, the treatment of hypochondria. Identifying the bourgeois lifestyle as the cause of hypochondria in both the body and the body politic led him to caution his patients against the very things with which his name is synonymous: luxury and excess.
Compensation Benchmarking Practices in Large U.S. Local Governments
Authors: Thom Michael , Reilly Thom
Published: May 2015

Growing competition over human capital has reiterated the importance of strategic practices to maintaining a high-quality public sector workforce. But how often does the public sector study pay and benefits among competitive peers? This study presents the findings of a national survey of human resource professionals regarding compensation benchmarking practices. Just over half of respondents indicated they conducted a benchmarking study within the last decade. A majority said their jurisdiction only compares compensation with other public employers, with a smaller number including both public and private competitors. Salaries were the most frequent topic of concern; fringe benefits and paid leave time were less often compared. Several jurisdictions conducted benchmarking studies for purposes other than compensation; about one quarter gathered data for purely informational purposes and 9% carried out a study in anticipation of labor negotiations. A series of best practices for benchmarking studies is offered in conclusion.
Controllability of weakly dependent siphons under elementary-siphon control
Authors: Wu WH , Chao Daniel Y
Published: May 2015

Monitors are added to problematic siphons to avoid deadlocks. Li and Zhou (2004, 2006a,b, 2008a,b,c) add monitors to elementary siphons only while controlling the rest-dependent siphons to save on costs. After failing a marking linear inequality (MLI) test, Li and Zhou perform a linear integer programming (LIP) test (NP-hard). We proposed a new MLI test earlier to avoid the LIP and extended it to systems of simple sequential processes with general resource requirements (S3PGR2) for strongly dependent siphons (SDSs). The control policy for weakly dependent siphons (WDSs) is rather conservative due to some negative terms in the MLI. This paper shows that WDS and SDS have the same controllability (i.e. MLI). As a result, the control for WDS need no longer be that conservative. We also develop an optimization (by redundancy elimination) of the computation required for the LIP test to ensure deadlock prevention of systems of simple sequential processes with resources (S3PR). A favourable result for this policy is that any n-dependent ( n > 2) WDS (similar to SDS) needs no monitor and hence the complexity for synthesizing a controller becomes polynomial. Application to a slight variant of a well-known benchmark is illustrated.
The design of a recognition system for multi-function electrical rubber hand
Authors: You Bo , Zhou Lina , Huang Ling
Published: May 2015

There is an issue with the timely application of artificial intelligence to humankind, particularly to the disabled. In this paper, we propose a surface electromyography signal recognition system for prosthetic application to persons with disabled hands, which achieves simplicity, reliability, accuracy and a short response time by increasing the performance of each part of the system and the coordination between the interconnected components. First, a surface electromyography signal acquisition system was designed on the basis of the cost and processing speed. Second, a method called the ‘extreme value’ was carried out on the original signal containing five continuous movements, by separating the signal into isolated segments representing different postures, which made application of the system for daily use possible. Third, on the basis of time-domain, chaos-theory and time–frequency-domain analysis methods, four features, namely the average amplitude, fractal dimension, maximum Lyapunov exponent and wavelet coefficient, were extracted from four possible arm locations to be determined. Furthermore, the average amplitude from the extensor digitorum and the wavelet coefficient from the flexor pollicis longus were determined as the final features after comparing the clustering effects of the extracted features. Finally, a new strategy for classifying the different postures based on a back-propagation neural network was introduced to obtain an average system accuracy of 82.77% for five continuous movements.
Comparing Traditional and IRT Scoring of Forced-Choice Tests
Authors: Hontangas Pedro M. , de la Torre Jimmy , Ponsoda Vicente , Leenen Iwin , Morillo Daniel , Abad Francisco J.
Published: May 2015

This article explores how traditional scores obtained from different forced-choice (FC) formats relate to their true scores and item response theory (IRT) estimates. Three FC formats are considered from a block of items, and respondents are asked to (a) pick the item that describes them most (PICK), (b) choose the two items that describe them the most and the least (MOLE), or (c) rank all the items in the order of their descriptiveness of the respondents (RANK). The multi-unidimensional pairwise-preference (MUPP) model, which is extended to more than two items per block and different FC formats, is applied to obtain the responses to each item block. Traditional and IRT (i.e., expected a posteriori) scores are computed from each data set and compared. The aim is to clarify the conditions under which simpler traditional scoring procedures for FC formats may be used in place of the more appropriate IRT estimates for the purpose of inter-individual comparisons. Six independent variables are considered: response format, number of items per block, correlation between the dimensions, item discrimination level, and sign-heterogeneity and variability of item difficulty parameters. Results show that the RANK response format outperforms the other formats for both the IRT estimates and traditional scores, although it is only slightly better than the MOLE format. The highest correlations between true and traditional scores are found when the test has a large number of blocks, dimensions assessed are independent, items have high discrimination and highly dispersed location parameters, and the test contains blocks formed by positive and negative items.
Building the Social Structure of a Market
Authors: McKague Kevin , Zietsma Charlene , Oliver Christine
Published: May 2015

Motivated by the question of how to develop viable new markets and value chains in the resource-constrained settings of least developed countries, we adopted multi-year qualitative methods to examine the intervention of a nongovernmental organization (NGO) in developing the dairy value chain in Bangladesh. Consistent with the theoretical premise that markets and value chains are social orders, we found that the NGO’s success relied on building the social structure of a market wherein market participants could negotiate relationships and norms of production and exchange and embed them in practices and technologies. To establish social structure among participants as a means of market building, the NGO acquired relevant knowledge, then used contextual bridging (transferring new meanings, practices and structures into a given context in a way that is sensitive to the norms, practices, knowledge and relationships that exist in that context), brokering relationships along the value chain (facilitating introductions and exchanges between value chain members) and funding experimentation (providing resources to test ideas and assumptions about new market practices). Market participants themselves also contributed to the development of the market’s social structure by means of social embedding (building relationships and negotiating norms of exchange and coordination), and material embedding (implementing technologies and practices and integrating market norms into technology). Increased productivity and equity and reduced costs of transactions resulted from the creation of a social structure that, in this case, preceded and enabled the economic structuring of a market rather than the other way around.
Minimally invasive aortic valve replacement: Comparison of long-term outcomes
Authors: Ariyaratnam Priyadharshanan , Loubani Mahmoud , Griffin Steven C
Published: May 2015

Background

Minimally invasive aortic valve replacement tends to be performed in specialist centers. Little data exists with regard to long-term outcomes of the upper hemi-sternotomy technique. We sought to evaluate the short- and long-term outcomes of this procedure in our institution.

Methods

Data were collected from our cardiac surgical database. We compared the outcomes of all patients who underwent minimally invasive aortic valve replacement with all who underwent conventional aortic valve replacement between July 1999 and December 2013. Propensity-matching analysis was performed to evaluate hospital outcomes.

Results

There were 125 patients who underwent minimally invasive aortic valve replacement and 1446 who had conventional surgery. After propensity score matching, there were no differences in postoperative mortality or complications between the 2 groups. The only significant differences were longer bypass (62.69 ± 10.12 vs. 68.94 ± 14.79 min, p = 0.002) and crossclamp times (45.48 ± 8.08 vs. 52.30 ± 16.29 min, p < 0.001) in conventional surgery. Long-term survival after minimally invasive aortic valve replacement at 2, 6, and 10 years was 88% ± 3.0%, 79% ± 4.0%, and 66% ± 6.0%, respectively. Predictors of long-term survival were age, peripheral vascular disease, and low ejection fraction ( p < 0.005).

Conclusion

Minimally invasive aortic valve replacement has similar hospital outcomes compared to conventional aortic valve replacement. The operation is quicker and does not confer any significant increase in complications or length of hospital stay. The long-term outcomes are favorable and justify its continued use by specialist surgeons in the United Kingdom.