bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cancer risk among patients with coal workers' pneumoconiosis in Taiwan: A nationwide population‐based study
Authors: Hung Yi‐Ping , Teng Chung‐Jen , Liu Chia‐Jen , Hu Yu‐Wen , Hung Man‐Hsin , Tzeng Cheng‐Hwai , Liu Chun‐Yu , Yeh Chiu‐Mei , Chen Tzeng‐Ji , Chiou Tzeon‐Jye
Published: November 2013

This study is aimed to evaluate the cancer risk among patients with coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP) using a nationwide population‐based dataset. Patients without previous cancer who had been diagnosed with CWP and followed‐up for more than 1 year between 1997 and 2006 were recruited from the Taiwan National Health Insurance database. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) of cancers in CWP patients were calculated and compared to the cancer incidence in the general population. Risk factors for cancer development were also analyzed. After a median follow‐up of 9.68 years, 954 cancers developed among 8,051 recruited CWP patients, with a follow‐up of 69,398 person‐years. The SIR for all cancers was 1.12 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.04–1.18]. Males older than 80 years had a SIR of 1.27 (95% CI: 1.06–1.51). The SIRs of esophageal (1.76, 95% CI: 1.24–2.44), gastric (1.42, 95% CI: 1.13–1.76), liver and biliary tract (1.18, 95% CI: 1.01–1.37) and lung and mediastinal (1.45, 95% CI: 1.26–1.66) cancers were significantly higher in the CWP group than in the general population. Multivariate analysis showed that age ≥ 60 years [hazard ratio (HR) 1.70, 95% CI: 1.41–2.05), male gender (HR = 1.79, 95% CI: 1.44–2.23) and liver cirrhosis (HR = 3.99, 95% CI: 2.89–5.51) were significant predictors of cancer development in patients with CWP. We concluded that patients with CWP, especially elderly males, were at increased risk of cancer. Age, male gender and liver cirrhosis were independent risk factors for cancer development.
Comet assay reveals no genotoxicity risk of cationic solid lipid nanoparticles
Authors: Doktorovova Slavomira , Silva Amélia M. , Gaivão Isabel , Souto Eliana B. , Teixeira João P. , Martins‐Lopes Paula
Published: November 2013

Cationic solid lipid nanoparticles (cSLN) are colloidal carriers for genes or drugs, particularly lipophilic drugs. Several reports exist on their high efficiency, but only a few studies report the effect of cSLNs on living cells. In the present work, internalization, cell viability (alamar blue assay) and genotoxic potential (alkaline comet assay) of three cSLN formulations (A–C) were evaluated in HepG2 and Caco‐2 cells. cSLN showed an average hydrodynamic diameter (z‐ave) of 141–222 nm, zeta‐potential of 55.0–72.5 mV and polidispersity indices (PdI) of 0.336–0.421. Dispersion in physiological buffers increased z‐ave and PdI. 0.01 mg ml–1 cSLN unaffected cell viability, but 1.0 mg ml–1 significantly decreased it, being cSLN‐C (Compritol‐based) the most toxic and HepG2 the most affected. DNA damage was not significantly increased by 0.1 mg ml–1 cSLN but damage was observed at 1.0 mg ml–1 cSLN‐C. Thus, no genotoxicity is to be expected at concentrations that do not reduce cell viability. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Orchestrating Joint Sensemaking Across Government Levels: Challenges and Requirements for Crisis Leadership
Authors: Boin Arjen , Renaud Cynthia
Published: November 2013

Making sense of a crisis is an important task for leaders at both the operational and strategic level. In the current article, we argue that there is a difference between sensemaking at the strategic and operational levels of a disaster response. An “appreciative gap” may emerge between the two levels as a result. Such a gap can cause stress and strife between the operational and strategic layers working on the same crisis event. Bridging the gap poses very specific demands on leadership at both the strategic and operational level.
Natural Disaster Preparedness in the Private Sector: A Model to Refrain from Isolation
Authors: Morrison James L.
Published: November 2013

Executive leadership operating in isolation may be a subliminal issue that has an impact upon how resources are allocated for preparing organizations to react to a sudden natural disaster. Two forms of isolation that are of particular interest are upper executive aloofness from management and an indifference to groups external to daily operations. Executive leadership may need to expand its attention to establishing a more inclusive strategy by engaging employees at all levels directly as well as those in leadership positions in organizations in both the public and nonprofit sectors.
Leadership in the Twitterverse
Authors: Ingerson Katharyn (Kati) , Bruce Jacklyn
Published: November 2013

Millions of people, businesses, and organizations are using Twitter. Because of the connection Twitter offers, leadership is emerging through this social media outlet. However, in this time of instant connection, it is important to examine how business leaders are influencing their followers when it comes to tweeting. The purpose of the current study was to discover what business leaders are tweeting about. In order to develop an understanding of the content of the tweets from the top four business leaders on Twitter, the researchers completed a content analysis.
T1 bias in chemical shift‐encoded liver fat‐fraction: Role of the flip angle
Authors: Kühn Jens‐Peter , Jahn Christina , Hernando Diego , Siegmund Werner , Hadlich Stefan , Mayerle Julia , Pfannmöller Jörg , Langner Sonke , Reeder Scott
Published: November 2013

Purpose

To investigate flip angle (FA)‐dependent T1 bias in chemical shift‐encoded fat‐fraction (FF) and to evaluate a strategy for correcting this bias to achieve accurate MRI‐based estimates of liver fat with optimized signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR).

Materials and Methods

Thirty‐three obese patients, 14 men/19 women, aged 57.3 ± 13.9 years underwent 3 Tesla (T) liver MRI including MR‐spectroscopy and four three‐echo‐complex chemical shift‐encoded MRI sequences using different FAs (1°/3°/10°/20°). FF was estimated with R2* correction and multi‐peak fat spectral modeling. The FF for each FA with and without T1 correction was compared with spectroscopy as a reference standard, using linear regression. Relative SNR of the magnitude data were assessed for each flip angle.

Results

The correlation between chemical shift‐encoded MRI and spectroscopy was high (R2 ≈ 0.9). Without T1 correction, the agreement of both techniques showed no significant differences in slope (PFlipAngle1° = 0.385/PFlipAngle3° = 0.289) using low FA. High FA resulted in significant different slopes (PFlipAngle10° = 0.016/PFlipAngle20° = 0.014. T1 bias was successfully corrected using the T1 correction strategy (slope:PFlipAngle10° = 0.387/PFlipAngle20° = 0.440). Additionally, the use of high FA (near the Ernst angle) improved the SNR of the magnitude data (FA1 vs. FA3; respectively FA1 vs. FA10 P ≤ 0.001).

Conclusion

T1 bias is a strong confounder in the assessment of liver fat using chemical shift imaging with high FA. However, using a larger flip angle with T1 correction leads to higher SNR, and residual error after T1 correction is very small. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2014;40:875–883. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Anatomic segmentation improves prostate cancer detection with artificial neural networks analysis of1H magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging
Authors: Matulewicz Lukasz , Jansen Jacobus F.A. , Bokacheva Louisa , Vargas Hebert Alberto , Akin Oguz , Fine Samson W. , Shukla‐Dave Amita , Eastham James A. , Hricak Hedvig , Koutcher Jason A. , Zakian Kristen L.
Published: November 2013

Purpose

To assess whether an artificial neural network (ANN) model is a useful tool for automatic detection of cancerous voxels in the prostate from1H‐MRSI datasets and whether the addition of information about anatomical segmentation improves the detection of cancer.

Materials and Methods

The Institutional Review Board approved this HIPAA‐compliant study and waived informed consent. Eighteen men with prostate cancer (median age, 55 years; range, 36–71 years) who underwent endorectal MRI/MRSI before radical prostatectomy were included in this study. These patients had at least one cancer area on whole—mount histopathological map and at least one matching MRSI voxel suspicious for cancer detected. Two ANN models for automatic classification of MRSI voxels in the prostate were implemented and compared: model 1, which used only spectra as input, and model 2, which used the spectra plus information from anatomical segmentation. The models were trained, tested and validated using spectra from voxels that the spectroscopist had designated as cancer and that were verified on histopathological maps.

Results

At ROC analysis, model 2 (AUC = 0.968) provided significantly better (P= 0.03) classification of cancerous voxels than did model 1 (AUC = 0.949).

Conclusion

Automatic analysis of prostate MRSI to detect cancer using ANN model is feasible. Application of anatomical segmentation from MRI as an additional input to ANN improves the accuracy of detecting cancerous voxels from MRSI.J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2014;40:1414–1421. ©2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Quantification of aortic stiffness using MR Elastography and its comparison to MRI‐based pulse wave velocity
Authors: Damughatla Anirudh R. , Raterman Brian , Sharkey‐Toppen Travis , Jin Ning , Simonetti Orlando P. , White Richard D. , Kolipaka Arunark
Published: November 2013

Purpose

To determine the correlation in abdominal aortic stiffness obtained using magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) (μMRE) and MRI‐based pulse wave velocity (PWV) shear stiffness (μPWV) estimates in normal volunteers of varying age, and also to determine the correlation between μMRE and μPWV.

Materials and Methods

In vivo aortic MRE and MRI were performed on 21 healthy volunteers with ages ranging from 18 to 65 years to obtain wave and velocity data along the long axis of the abdominal aorta. The MRE wave images were analyzed to obtain mean stiffness and the phase contrast images were analyzed to obtain PWV measurements and indirectly estimate stiffness values from the Moens‐Korteweg equation.

Results

Both μMRE and μPWV measurements increased with age, demonstrating linear correlations with R2 values of 0.81 and 0.67, respectively. Significant difference (P ≤ 0.001) in mean μMRE and μPWV between young and old healthy volunteers was also observed. Furthermore, a poor linear correlation of R2 value of 0.43 was determined between μMRE and μPWV in the initial pool of volunteers.

Conclusion

The results of this study indicate linear correlations between μMRE and μPWV with normal aging of the abdominal aorta. Significant differences in mean μMRE and μPWV between young and old healthy volunteers were observed. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2015;41:44–51. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Revisiting Mednick's Model on Creativity‐Related Differences in Associative Hierarchies. Evidence for a Common Path to Uncommon Thought
Authors: Benedek Mathias , Neubauer Aljoscha C.
Published: November 2013

Fifty years ago, Mednick [Psychological Review, 69 (1962) 220] proposed an elaborate model that aimed to explain how creative ideas are generated and why creative people are more likely to have creative ideas. The model assumes that creative people have flatter associative hierarchies and as a consequence can more fluently retrieve remote associative elements, which can be combined to form creative ideas. This study aimed at revisiting Mednick's model and providing an extensive test of its hypotheses. A continuous free association task was employed and association performance was compared between groups high and low in creativity, as defined by divergent thinking ability and self‐report measures. We found that associative hierarchies do not differ between low and high creative people, but creative people showed higher associative fluency and more uncommon responses. This suggests that creativity may not be related to a special organization of associative memory, but rather to a more effective way of accessing its contents. The findings add to the evidence associating creativity with highly adaptive executive functioning.
Scientific inquiry into rhinosinusitis: Who is receiving funding from the National Institutes of Health?
Authors: Folbe Adam J. , Svider Peter F. , Setzen Michael , Zuliani Giancarlo , Lin Ho‐Sheng , Eloy Jean Anderson
Published: November 2013

Objectives/Hypothesis

To evaluate National Institutes of Health (NIH) support for rhinosinusitis research and characterize the proportion of funding awarded to otolaryngologists.

Study Design

Analysis of the NIH RePORTER database.

Methods

Specialty and terminal‐degree of primary investigators (PIs) for 131 projects spanning 364 fiscal years (1989 to present) were determined. Awards for projects examining rhinosinusitis were organized by size, academic department, and PI scholarly impact (using h‐indices). Analysis of geographic and temporal funding trends was performed and organized by PI specialty.

Results

A total of 62.6% of projects were awarded to physicians, one‐third of whom were otolaryngologists. Allergists/immunologists had greater median awards than otolaryngologist PIs (P = .02), and pediatric‐trained PIs had a greater h‐index than otolaryngologist PIs (P = .04). Although year‐to‐year fluctuation was noted, otolaryngologists have received approximately a quarter of total rhinosinusitis funding since 2000. PIs practicing in the south‐Atlantic, east‐north‐central, and west‐north‐central states had the greatest funding totals, whereas otolaryngologists had a greater proportion of regional funding in the Pacific and east‐south‐central states than other regions.

Conclusions

Inquiry into the mechanisms underlying rhinosinusitis and optimal therapeutic strategies represents an interdisciplinary venture. PIs in medicine and pediatric departments had greater funding for rhinosinusitis projects than individuals in otolaryngology departments, partly because of greater utilization of PhD faculty. Otolaryngology departments may consider increased recruitment of basic scientists interested in rhinosinusitis as a means to facilitate increased scholarship in this area. Encouraging pursuit of funding opportunities is critical for otolaryngologists, as well‐funded practitioners may have greater opportunities to shape advances and serve as an advocate for their approaches.

Level of Evidence

NALaryngoscope, 124:1301–1307, 2014
Subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation improves somatosensory function in Parkinson's disease
Authors: Aman Joshua E. , Abosch Aviva , Bebler Maggie , Lu Chia‐Hao , Konczak Jürgen
Published: November 2013

An established treatment for the motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD) is deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subthalamic nucleus (STN). Mounting evidence suggests that PD is also associated with somatosensory deficits, yet the effect of STN‐DBS on somatosensory processing is largely unknown. This study investigated whether STN‐DBS affects somatosensory processing, specifically the processing of tactile and proprioceptive cues, by systematically examining the accuracy of haptic perception of object size. (Haptic perception refers to one's ability to extract object features such as shape and size by active touch.) Without vision, 13 PD patients with implanted STN‐DBS and 13 healthy controls haptically explored the heights of 2 successively presented 3‐dimensional (3D) blocks using a precision grip. Participants verbally indicated which block was taller and then used their nonprobing hand to motorically match the perceived size of the comparison block. Patients were tested duringONandOFFstimulation, following a 12‐hour medication washout period. First, when compared to controls, the PD group's haptic discrimination threshold duringOFFstimulation was elevated by 192% and mean hand aperture error was increased by 105%. Second, DBS lowered the haptic discrimination threshold by 26% and aperture error decreased by 20%. Third, during DBSON, probing with the motoricallymoreaffected hand decreased haptic precision compared to probing with thelessaffected hand. This study offers the first evidence that STN‐DBS improves haptic precision, further indicating that somatosensory function is improved by STN‐DBS. We conclude that DBS‐related improvements are not explained by improvements in motor function alone, but rather by enhanced somatosensory processing. © 2013 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Superconvergence of conforming finite element for fourth‐order singularly perturbed problems of reaction diffusion type in 1D
Authors: Guo Hailong , Huang Can , Zhang Zhimin
Published: November 2013

We consider conforming finite element approximation of fourth‐order singularly perturbed problems of reaction diffusion type. We prove superconvergence of standard C1 finite element method of degree p on a modified Shishkin mesh. In particular, a superconvergence error bound of in a discrete energy norm is established. The error bound is uniformly valid with respect to the singular perturbation parameter ϵ. Numerical tests indicate that the error estimate is sharp. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq 30: 550–566, 2014
Inhibitory Effect of Bacopasides on Spontaneous Morphine Withdrawal Induced Depression in Mice
Authors: Rauf Khalid , Subhan Fazal , Abbas Muzaffar , Ali Syed Mobasher , Ali Gowhar , Ashfaq Muhammad , Abbas Ghulam
Published: November 2013

Bacopa monnieri is a perennial herb with a world known image as a nootropic. We investigated the effect of Bacopa monnieri methanolic extract (Mt Ext BM) 10, 20, and 30 mg/kg body weight (b.w) on acquisition and expression of morphine withdrawal induced depression in mice. Locally available Bacopa monnieri (BM) was screened for contents of Bacoside A3, Bacopasaponin C, and Bacopaside II using HPLC with UV. Morphine dependence was induced in mice using twice daily escalating chronic morphine treatments (20–65 mg/kg b.w) for eight consecutive days. Morphine withdrawal induced depression was assayed in animals using forced swimming test (FST), three days after last morphine injection. The HPLC analysis revealed that Mt‐ext BM contained Bacoside A3 as major component, i.e. 4 µg in each mg of extract. The chronic treatment with Met Ext BM 10, 20, and 30 mg/kg b.w. dosing significantly inhibited opioid withdrawal induced depression in mice. These findings imply a newer potential role of Bacopa monnieri in the clinical management of opioid withdrawal induced depression which can be attributed to Bacoside A3. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Smooth indirect adaptive sliding mode control
Authors: Teixeira Leonardo R.L. , Oliveira Josenalde B. , Araujo Aldayr D.
Published: November 2013

In this paper, an indirect approach to the dual‐mode adaptive robust controller (DMARC) is proposed, which combines the typical transient and robustness properties of variable structure systems with a smooth control signal in steady state, typical of conventional adaptive controllers, as model reference adaptive controller. The aim of this indirect version, here named indirect DMARC, is to provide a more intuitive controller design, based on physical plant parameters, as resistances, inertia moments, capacitances, and so on, maintaining DMARC properties. In this paper, a stability analysis for the proposed controller and simulations to an unstable second‐order plant will be presented. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Internet Inquiry
Authors: Kingsley Tara , Tancock Susan
Published: November 2013

This article showcases the online research and comprehension competencies students will need to successfully engage with Internet Inquiry. The Common Core State Standards, the research on new literacies skills, and the future of technology‐based assessments require educators to fully take on the challenges of meaningfully embedding and supporting innovations in authentic, inquiry‐based learning with digital texts. This manuscript focuses on four fundamental competencies that are important for Internet inquiry tasks: 1) generate high‐quality inquiry topics, 2) effectively and efficiently search for information, 3) critically evaluate Internet resources, and 4) connect ideas across Internet texts. A rationale, what it looks like in the classroom, what scaffolds are needed to support and guide students to independence are provided for each competency.
Two improvements to the dynamic wake meandering model: including the effects of atmospheric shear on wake turbulence and incorporating turbulence build‐up in a row of wind turbines
Authors: Keck Rolf‐Erik , de Maré Martin , Churchfield Matthew J. , Lee Sang , Larsen Gunner , Madsen Helge Aagaard
Published: November 2013

The dynamic wake meandering (DWM) model is an engineering wake model designed to physically model the wake deficit evolution and the unsteady meandering that occurs in wind turbine wakes. The present study aims at improving two features of the model:

The effect of the atmospheric boundary layer shear on the wake deficit evolution by including a strain‐rate contribution in the wake turbulence calculation.

The method to account for the increased turbulence at a wake‐affected turbine by basing the wake‐added turbulence directly on the Reynolds stresses of the oncoming wake. This also allows the model to simulate the build‐up of turbulence over a row of turbines in a physically consistent manner.

The performance of the modified model is validated against actuator line (AL) model results and field data from the Lillgrund offshore wind farm. Qualitatively, the modified DWM model is in fair agreement with the reference data. A quantitative comparison between the mean flow field of the DWM model with and without the suggested improvements, to that of the AL model, shows that the root‐mean‐square difference in terms of wind speed and turbulence intensity is reduced on the order of 30% and 40%, respectively, by including the proposed corrections for a row of eight turbines. Furthermore, it is found that the root‐mean‐square difference between the AL model and the modified DWM model in terms of wind speed and turbulence intensity does not increase over a row of turbines compared with the root‐mean‐square difference of a single turbine. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
RETRACTED ARTICLE: Development of novel anti-Kv 11.1 antibody-conjugated PEG–TiO2 nanoparticles for targeting pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cells
Authors: Sette Angelica , Spadavecchia Jolanda , Landoulsi Jessem , Casale Sandra , Haye Bernard , Crociani Olivia , Arcangeli Annarosa
Published: November 2013

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) has been widely used in many nanotechnology areas including nanomedicine, where it could be proposed for the photodynamic and sonodynamic cancer therapies. However, TiO2 nanoformulations have been shown to be toxic for living cells. In this article, we report the development of a new delivery system, based on nontoxic TiO2 nanoparticles, further conjugated with a monoclonal antibody against a novel and easily accessible tumor marker, e.g., the Kv 11.1 potassium channel. We synthesized, by simple solvothermal method, dicarboxylic acid-terminated PEG TiO2 nanocrystals (PEG–TiO2 NPs). Anti-Kv 11.1 monoclonal antibodies (Kv 11.1-Mab) were further linked to the terminal carboxylic acid groups. Proper conjugation was confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis. Kv 11.1-Mab-PEG–TiO2 NPs efficiently recognized the specific Kv 11.1 antigen, both in vitro and in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cells, which express the Kv 11.1 channel onto the plasma membrane. Both PEG TiO2 and Kv 11.1-Mab-PEG–TiO2 NPs were not cytotoxic, but only Kv 11.1-Mab-PEG–TiO2 NPs were efficiently internalized into PDAC cells. Data gathered from this study may have further applications for the chemical design of nanostructures to be applied for therapeutic purposes in pancreatic cancer.
Brief report: Teen sexting and psychosocial health
Authors: Temple Jeff R. , Le Vi Donna , van den Berg Patricia , Ling Yan , Paul Jonathan A. , Temple Brian W.
Published: November 2013

The current study examines whether adolescents who report sexting exhibit more psychosocial health problems, compared to their non‐sexting counterparts. Participants included 937 ethnically diverse male and female adolescents recruited and assessed from multiple high schools in southeast Texas. Measures included self‐report of sexting, impulsivity, alcohol and drug use, and depression and anxiety symptoms. Teen sexting was significantly associated with symptoms of depression, impulsivity, and substance use. When adjusted for prior sexual behavior, age, gender, race/ethnicity, and parent education, sexting was only related to impulsivity and substance use. While teen sexting appears to correlate with impulsive and high‐risk behaviors (substance use), we did not find sexting to be a marker of mental health.
Telephone Quitline Use and Effectiveness Among Young Adults
Authors: Zhang Lei , Malarcher Ann , Bombard Jennifer M. , Rabius Vance
Published: November 2013

Introduction: Although smoking prevalence has declined dramatically among adults in the past 40 years, 19.3% of adults still smoke, including 20.1% of adults aged 18–24 years. Quitlines are effective, population-based interventions that increase successful cessation.

Aims: This study aims to describe the characteristics of young adult smokers aged 18–24 years who used telephone cessation counselling for assistance with quitting, to assess self-reported quit rates, and to examine predictors of quitting, compared to older adults.

Methods: We examined data from 4,542 young adult smokers aged 18–24 years and 46,094 smokers aged ≥25 years who enrolled in the American Cancer Society's quitline services during 2006–2008.

Results: Young adult smokers aged 18–24 years who called quitlines differed slightly from older adults in demographics and tobacco-use behaviours. There were no age-related differences in self-reported seven-day quit rates or 30-day quit rates at the seven-month follow-up. Predictors of quitting were mostly similar for the young adults and the older adults, although the odds of quitting were lower among young adults for living with vs. not living with a smoker.

Conclusions: Although young adult smokers under-utilise telephone cessation quitlines for assistance with quitting, those who do use these services have quit rates similar to older adults.
THE DYNAMICS OF PRIVATE FOOD SAFETY STANDARDS: A CASE STUDY ON THE REGULATORY DIFFUSION OF GLOBALG.A.P.
Authors: Naiki Yoshiko
Published: November 2013

The emergence and importance of private standards in contemporary regulatory governance have been the subject of extensive debate. Recent studies have attempted to explore several dimensions of private regulation, such as its growth or effectiveness. By contrast, this article focuses on the regulatory diffusion of private standards. There has been a broad range of literature on diffusion and reception of norms—for instance, the scholarship of legal transplants or law's migration addressed how international treaties or foreign national laws were received in States. However, norm exportation and importation does not only occur between States; this article focuses on regulatory diffusion between private actors. To do so, it examines the case of GLOBALG.A.P., a private food safety scheme started in Europe that has influenced private standard initiatives beyond Europe. This article concludes by emphasizing that successful regulatory diffusion requires taking local contexts into account and preserving diversity.
Rearmament to the Rescue? New Estimates of the Impact of “Keynesian” Policies in 1930s' Britain
Authors: Crafts Nicholas , Mills Terence C.
Published: November 2013

We report estimates of the fiscal multiplier for interwar Britain based on quarterly data, time-series econometrics, and “defense news.” We find that the government expenditure multiplier was in the range 0.3 to 0.8, much lower than previous estimates. The scope for a Keynesian solution to recession was less than is generally supposed. We find that rearmament gave a smaller boost to real GDP than previously claimed. Rearmament may, however, have had a larger impact than a temporary public works program of similar magnitude if private investment anticipated the need to add capacity to cope with future defense spending.
In Memorium: Robert W. Fogel
Authors: Costa Dora , Goldin Claudia , Margo Robert A.
Published: November 2013

Robert W. Fogel was a visionary economic historian, generous mentor, and eternal optimist whose works and lectures have informed and incited for more than half a century and whose writings will continue to do so for decades to come. He died on June 11, 2013 in his eighty-sixth year. He had co-taught a graduate course at the University of Chicago that quarter and in the weeks before he died he was planning his fall 2013 teaching. “I've often told my students I'm not retiring. You're going to have to carry me out in a wooden box. I'm having too much fun,” he remarked to a recent class.
Using spatial simulations of habitat modification for adaptive management of protected areas: Mediterranean grassland modification by woody plant encroachment
Authors: MAIROTA PAOLA , LERONNI VINCENZO , XI WEIMIN , MLADENOFF DAVID J. , NAGENDRA HARINI
Published: November 2013

Spatial simulation may be used to model the potential effects of current biodiversity approaches on future habitat modification under differing climate change scenarios. To illustrate the approach, spatial simulation models, including landscape-level forest dynamics, were developed for a semi-natural grassland of conservation concern in a southern Italian protected area, which was exposed to woody vegetation encroachment. A forest landscape dynamics simulator (LANDIS-II) under conditions of climate change, current fire and alternative management regimes was used to develop scenario maps. Landscape pattern metrics provided data on fragmentation and habitat quality degradation, and quantified the spatial spread of different tree species within grassland habitats. The models indicated that approximately one-third of the grassland area would be impacted by loss, fragmentation and degradation in the next 150 years. Differing forest management regimes appear to influence the type of encroaching species and the density of encroaching vegetation. Habitat modifications are likely to affect species distribution and interactions, as well as local ecosystem functioning, leading to changes in estimated conservation value. A site-scale conservation strategy based on feasible integrated fire and forest management options is proposed, considering the debate on the effectiveness of protected areas for the conservation of ecosystem services in a changing climate. This needs to be tested through further modelling and scenario analysis, which would benefit from the enhancement of current modelling capabilities of LANDIS-II and from combination with remote sensing technologies, to provide early signals of environmental shifts both within and outside protected areas.
Neglect of a neighbourhood: oral accounts of life in ‘old Beijing’ since the eve of the People's Republic
Authors: EVANS HARRIET
Published: November 2013

Oral accounts of life over seven decades in Dashalanr, a popular neighbourhood in central Beijing, reveal a social world that despite being shaped by the state's policies of social and political classification, housing and employment, has been resistant to complete appropriation by them. Based on research in the neighbourhood since 2005, and drawing on Xuanwu District archives, this article examines local residents’ accounts of long decades of hardship and neglect. With an analytical framework that links gender with temporality, place and space, it suggests ways in which their singular experiences can be read as historical narrative.
Epidemic Gasoline Exposures Following Hurricane Sandy
Authors: Kim Hong K. , Takematsu Mai , Biary Rana , Williams Nicholas , Hoffman Robert S. , Smith Silas W.
Published: November 2013

Introduction

Major adverse climatic events (MACEs) in heavily-populated areas can inflict severe damage to infrastructure, disrupting essential municipal and commercial services. Compromised health care delivery systems and limited utilities such as electricity, heating, potable water, sanitation, and housing, place populations in disaster areas at risk of toxic exposures. Hurricane Sandy made landfall on October 29, 2012 and caused severe infrastructure damage in heavily-populated areas. The prolonged electrical outage and damage to oil refineries caused a gasoline shortage and rationing unseen in the USA since the 1970s. This study explored gasoline exposures and clinical outcomes in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.

Methods

Prospectively collected, regional poison control center (PCC) data regarding gasoline exposure cases from October 29, 2012 (hurricane landfall) through November 28, 2012 were reviewed and compared to the previous four years. The trends of gasoline exposures, exposure type, severity of clinical outcome, and hospital referral rates were assessed.

Results

Two-hundred and eighty-three gasoline exposures were identified, representing an 18 to 283-fold increase over the previous four years. The leading exposure route was siphoning (53.4%). Men comprised 83.0% of exposures; 91.9% were older than 20 years of age. Of 273 home-based calls, 88.7% were managed on site. Asymptomatic exposures occurred in 61.5% of the cases. However, minor and moderate toxic effects occurred in 12.4% and 3.5% of cases, respectively. Gastrointestinal (24.4%) and pulmonary (8.4%) symptoms predominated. No major outcomes or deaths were reported.

Conclusions

Hurricane Sandy significantly increased gasoline exposures. While the majority of exposures were managed at home with minimum clinical toxicity, some patients experienced more severe symptoms. Disaster plans should incorporate public health messaging and regional PCCs for public health promotion and toxicological surveillance.

KimH,TakematsuM,BiaryR,WilliamsN,HoffmanR,SmithS.Epidemic gasoline exposures following Hurricane Sandy.Prehosp Disaster Med.2013;28(6):1-6.
Persistent Cognitive Changes in Breast Cancer Patients 1 Year Following Completion of Chemotherapy
Authors: Collins Barbara , MacKenzie Joyce , Tasca Giorgio A. , Scherling Carole , Smith Andra
Published: November 2013

Numerous studies have shown that there are acute cognitive side-effects of chemotherapy for breast cancer. Presumably, patients are more concerned about chronic treatment effects. This report from a prospective longitudinal study compares cognitive functioning in 56 breast cancer patients 1 year after chemotherapy to that of 56 healthy individuals. Neuropsychological test scores were combined into verbal memory, visual memory, working memory, and processing speed scores, as well as an overall summary score, and analyzed using multi-level growth modeling. Frequency of cognitive decline was assessed using regression-based change scores. There was significant rebound in the overall summary score from end of treatment to 1-year follow-up as well as a substantial reduction in the frequency of cognitive decline. However, more than one-third of the breast cancer patients who showed cognitive decline immediately following completion of chemotherapy showed persistent cognitive decline 1 year later. Furthermore, recovery was not seen in all cognitive domains. In fact, the rebound was significant only for working memory. Longer multi-site studies are recommended to explore the risk factors for and the permanence of these longer-term cognitive effects. (JINS, 2013, 20, 1–10)
Growth faltering and recovery in children aged 1–8 years in four low- and middle-income countries: Young Lives
Authors: Lundeen Elizabeth A , Behrman Jere R , Crookston Benjamin T , Dearden Kirk A , Engle Patrice , Georgiadis Andreas , Penny Mary E , Stein Aryeh D
Published: November 2013

Objective

We characterized post-infancy child growth patterns and determined the incidence of becoming stunted and of recovery from stunting.

Design

Data came from Young Lives, a longitudinal study of childhood poverty in four low- and middle-income countries.

Setting

We analysed length/height measurements for children at ages 1, 5 and 8 years.

Subjects

Children (n 7171) in Ethiopia, India, Peru and Vietnam.

Results

Mean height-for-age Z-score (HAZ) at age 1 year ranged from −1·51 (Ethiopia) to −1·08 (Vietnam). From age 1 to 5 years, mean HAZ increased by 0·27 in Ethiopia (P < 0·001) and decreased among the other cohorts (range: −0·19 (Peru) to −0·32 (India); all P < 0·001). From 5 to 8 years, mean HAZ increased in all cohorts (range: 0·19 (India) to 0·38 (Peru); all P < 0·001). Prevalence of stunting (HAZ<−2·0) at 1 year ranged from 21 % (Vietnam) to 46 % (Ethiopia). From age 1 to 5 years, stunting prevalence decreased by 15·1 percentage points in Ethiopia (P < 0·001) and increased in the other cohorts (range: 3·0 percentage points (Vietnam) to 5·3 percentage points (India); all P ≤ 0·001). From 5 to 8 years, stunting prevalence decreased in all cohorts (range: 5·0 percentage points (Vietnam) to 12·7 percentage points (Peru); all P < 0·001). The incidence of becoming stunted between ages 1 to 5 years ranged from 11 % (Vietnam) to 22 % (India); between ages 5 to 8 years, it ranged from 3 % (Peru) to 6 % (India and Ethiopia). The incidence of recovery from stunting between ages 1 and 5 years ranged from 27 % (Vietnam) to 53 % (Ethiopia); between ages 5 and 8 years, it ranged from 30 % (India) to 47 % (Ethiopia).

Conclusions

We found substantial recovery from early stunting among children in four low- and middle-income countries.
Comparison of an integrated crop–livestock system with soybean only: Economic and production responses in southern Brazil
Authors: de Oliveira Carlos Alberto Oliveira , Bremm Carolina , Anghinoni Ibanor , de Moraes Anibal , Kunrath Taise Robinson , de Faccio Carvalho Paulo César
Published: November 2013

In Brazil, as well as globally, land use has been increasingly addressed for environmental impacts and economic improvements. Integrated crop–livestock systems (ICLSs) are a potential strategy to optimize use of land, increase total production and reduce economic risk through diversification. We compared production and economic outcomes of a soybean-only system with ICLS differing in sward management. The study area was managed since 2001 using no-till in southern Brazil. Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] was rotated with a mixture of black oat (Avena strigosa Schreb) and ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam) either for: (i) grazing (ICLS) or (ii) cover crops as cropping system only (CS) with no livestock grazing. Four sward height management methods (10, 20, 30 or 40 cm) were evaluated under put-and-take stocking. Across years, soybean yield (2516±103 kg ha−1) was not affected by treatment, but was affected by year (P<0.001), due to rainfall during crop development. Cattle average daily gain, gain per hectare (GPH) and gross margin were affected by treatments (P<0.001). Average daily gain was lower when pasture was managed at 10 cm than between 20 and 40 cm. With increasing sward height, a gradual reduction in cattle GPH was observed (P<0.05). Overall gross margin was lower in CS than in ICLS. Economic return with ICLS was greatest when sward height management was between 10 and 20 cm. Our study indicates that ICLS could be considered an alternative management strategy that improves economic performance and promotes balanced production in the long term.
Policy credibility and the political economy of reform: the case of Egypt's commodity subsidies
Authors: ROHÁČ DALIBOR
Published: November 2013

How can we account for the persistence of inefficient policies? To answer that question, this paper focuses on the issue of food and energy subsidies in Egypt. In 2012, over 13 percent of Egyptian GDP – roughly one-third of the overall government spending – was allocated to subsidies of prices of consumer goods including fuels and food. This paper offers an explanation of the resilience of commodity subsidies to reform, which relies on the inability of the government to credibly commit to a reform path. As a dictatorship, Egypt had a small number of veto players, making policy reversals easy. When opened to a competitive political process after 2011, Egypt lacked political groups that could make credible promises about policy changes. The paper provides a discussion of how appropriately designed reforms can mitigate the lack of credibility.
EU‐LIFE revives funding debate
Authors: Hunter Philip
Published: November 2013

EU‐LIFE, which represents 10 European life science research institutes, has reopened the debate about how to fund research at the European level by calling for the budget of the European Research Council to be drastically increased.
Characterization of a dual biotin tag for improved single stranded DNA production
Authors: Yuce Meral , Kurt Hasan , Budak Hikmet
Published: November 2013

Generation of single-stranded DNA plays a key role in many biotechnology applications including production of aptamers, single strand conformation polymorphism, nuclease S1 mapping, pyrosequencing, genosensors, probe preparation and labelling, subtractive hybridization as well as nucleic acid sensing and microarrays.
Multi-nuclear silver(i) and copper(i) complexes: a novel bonding mode for bispyridylpyrrolides
Authors: Hu Xiao-Hui , Liang Yan , Li Chen , Yi Xiao-Yi
Published: November 2013

Reaction of deprotonated 2,5-bis(2′-pyridyl)pyrrole (HPDPH) with AgOTf (where OTf− = triflato) in THF readily yields a yellow triangular Ag3 complex [(PDPH)Ag]3 (1), of which the av. Ag⋯Ag distance is 2.902 Å.
Unprecedented single-pot protocol for the synthesis of novel bis-3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-ones using PEG-HClO4 as a biodegradable, highly robust and reusable solid acid green catalyst under solvent-free conditions
Authors: Siddiqui Zeba N. , Khan Tabassum
Published: November 2013

An eco-friendly synthesis of novel bis-3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-one derivatives (4a–o) using PEG-HClO4 as a green, biodegradable and recyclable catalyst under solvent-free conditions.
Commissioning of helium injector for coupled radio frequency quadrupole and separated function radio frequency quadrupole accelerator
Authors: Peng Shixiang , Chen Jia , Ren Haitao , Zhao Jie , Xu Yuan , Zhang Tao , Zhang Ailing , Xia Wenlong , Gao Shuli , Wang Zhi , Luo Yuting , Guo Zhiyu , Chen Jia'er
Published: November 2013

A project to study a new type of acceleration structure has been launched at Peking University, in which a traditional radio frequency quadrupole (RFQ) and a separated function radio frequency quadrupole are coupled in one cavity to accelerate the He+ beam. A helium injector for this project is developed. The injector consists of a 2.45 GHz permanent magnet electron cyclotron resonance ion source and a 1.16 m long low energy beam transport (LEBT). The commissioning of this injector was carried out and an onsite test was held in June 2013. A 14 mA He+ beam with the energy of 30 keV has been delivered to the end of the LEBT, where a diaphragm with the diameter of 7 mm is located. The position of the diaphragm corresponds to the entrance of the RFQ electrodes. The beam emittance and fraction were measured after the 7 mm diaphragm. Its rms emittance is about 0.14 π mm mrad and the fraction of He+ is about 99%.
Solid-solid collapse transition in a two dimensional model molecular system
Authors: Singh Rakesh S. , Bagchi Biman
Published: November 2013

Solid-solid collapse transition in open framework structures is ubiquitous in nature. The real difficulty in understanding detailed microscopic aspects of such transitions in molecular systems arises from the interplay between different energy and length scales involved in molecular systems, often mediated through a solvent. In this work we employ Monte-Carlo simulation to study the collapse transition in a model molecular system interacting via both isotropic as well as anisotropic interactions having different length and energy scales. The model we use is known as Mercedes-Benz (MB), which, for a specific set of parameters, sustains two solid phases: honeycomb and oblique. In order to study the temperature induced collapse transition, we start with a metastable honeycomb solid and induce transition by increasing temperature. High density oblique solid so formed has two characteristic length scales corresponding to isotropic and anisotropic parts of interaction potential. Contrary to the common belief and classical nucleation theory, interestingly, we find linear strip-like nucleating clusters having significantly different order and average coordination number than the bulk stable phase. In the early stage of growth, the cluster grows as a linear strip, followed by branched and ring-like strips. The geometry of growing cluster is a consequence of the delicate balance between two types of interactions, which enables the dominance of stabilizing energy over destabilizing surface energy. The nucleus of stable oblique phase is wetted by intermediate order particles, which minimizes the surface free energy. In the case of pressure induced transition at low temperature the collapsed state is a disordered solid. The disordered solid phase has diverse local quasi-stable structures along with oblique-solid like domains.
Electronic transitions of palladium dimer
Authors: Qian Yue , Ng Y. W. , Chen Zhihua , Cheung A. S.-C.
Published: November 2013

The laser induced fluorescence spectrum of palladium dimer (Pd2) in the visible region between 480 and 700 nm has been observed and analyzed. The gas-phase Pd2 molecule was produced by laser ablation of palladium metal rod. Eleven vibrational bands were observed and assigned to the [17.1]${}^3\Pi _g - X{}^3\Sigma _u^ +$Πg3−XΣu+3 transition system. The bond length (ro) and vibrational frequency (ΔG1/2) of the ground $X{}^3\Sigma _u^ +$XΣu+3 state were determined to be 2.47(4) Å and 211.4(5) cm−1, respectively. A molecular orbital energy level diagram was used to understand the observed ground and excited electronic states. This is the first gas-phase experimental investigation of the electronic transitions of Pd2.
Spin-phonon coupling in Gd(Co1/2Mn1/2)O3 perovskite
Authors: Silva R. X. , Reichlova H. , Marti X. , Barbosa D. A. B. , Lufaso M. W. , Araujo B. S. , Ayala A. P. , Paschoal C. W. A.
Published: November 2013

We have investigated the temperature-dependent Raman-active phonons and the magnetic properties of Gd(Co1/2Mn1/2)O3 perovskite ceramics in the temperature range from 40 K to 300 K. The samples crystallized in an orthorhombic distorted simple perovskite, whose symmetry belongs to the Pnma space group. The data reveal spin-phonon coupling near the ferromagnetic transition occurring at around 120 K. The correlation of the Raman and magnetization data suggests that the structural order influences the magnitude of the spin-phonon coupling.
Single-molecule resolution of protein structure and interfacial dynamics on biomaterial surfaces
Authors: McLoughlin Sean Yu , Kastantin Mark , Schwartz Daniel K. , Kaar Joel L.
Published: November 2013

Significance

Understanding the effect of near-surface environments on protein conformation is critical in many fields, including biosensing, cell culture, tissue engineering, biocatalysis, and pharmaceutical formulation. However, methods to elucidate both protein structure and interfacial dynamics in heterogeneous near-surface environments are virtually nonexistent. This article describes an approach to characterize changes in protein structure on surfaces using dynamic single-molecule microscopy. Specifically, this approach exploits single-molecule Förster resonance energy transfer tracking to elucidate changes in protein structure at the single-molecule level. Using this approach, structural changes in the protein organophosphorus hydrolase were monitored upon adsorption to fused silica in the presence of BSA on a molecule-by-molecule basis. This method, which is widely applicable to virtually any protein, provides the framework for developing surfaces and surface modifications with improved biocompatibility.