bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Association Between Objectively Measured Physical Activity and Cognitive Function in Older Adults—The Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke Study
Authors: Zhu Wenfei , Howard Virginia J. , Wadley Virginia G. , Hutto Brent , Blair Steven N. , Vena John E. , Colabianchi Natalie , Rhodes David , Hooker Steven P.
Published: December 2015

Objectives

To examine the relationship between objectively measured physical activity (PA) and cognitive function in white and black older adults.

Design

Cross‐sectional.

Setting

REasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study.

Participants

Older adults who provided valid data from accelerometer and cognitive function tests (N = 7,098).

Measurements

Accelerometers provided estimates of PA variables for 4 to 7 consecutive days. PA cut‐points of 50 counts per minute (cpm) and 1,065 cpm were applied to differentiate between being sedentary and light PA and between light and moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA), respectively. Prevalence of cognitive impairment was defined using the Six‐Item Screener (<4/6). Letter fluency, animal fluency, word list learning, and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (orientation and recall) were used to assess memory and executive function.

Results

Of 7,098 participants (aged 70.1 ± 8.5, 54.2% female, 31.5% black), 359 (5.1%) had impaired cognition within ±12 months of PA measurement. The average proportion of time spent in MVPA (MVPA%) was 1.4 ± 1.9%. Participants in the highest quartile of MVPA% (~258.3 min/wk) were less likely to be cognitively impaired than those in the lowest quartile (odds ratio = 0.65, 95% confidence interval = 0.43–0.97). MVPA% was also significantly associated with executive function and memory z‐scores (P < .001). Similar analyses of proportion of time spent in light PA (LPA%) and sedentary time (ST%) showed no significant associations with cognitive function.

Conclusion

Higher levels of objectively measured MVPA%, rather than LPA% or ST%, were associated with lower prevalence of cognitive impairment and better performance in memory and executive function in aging people. The amount of MVPA associated with lower prevalence of cognitive impairment is consistent with meeting PA guidelines.
Practical limitations of superresolution imaging due to conventional sample preparation revealed by a direct comparison of CLSM, SIM and dSTORM
Authors: BACHMANN MICHAEL , FIEDERLING FELIX , BASTMEYER MARTIN
Published: December 2015

We evaluate the suitability of conventional sample preparation and labelling methods for two superresolution techniques, structured illumination microscopy and direct stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy, by a comparison to established confocal laser scanning microscopy. We show that SIM is compatible with standard fixation procedures and immunofluorescence labelling protocols and improves resolution by a factor of two compared to confocal laser scanning microscopy. With direct stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy, fluorophores can theoretically be localized with much higher precision. However, in practice, with indirect immunofluorescence labelling density can be insufficient due to the bulky probes to reveal biological structures with high resolution. Fine structures like single actin fibres are in fact resolved with direct stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy when using small affinity probes, but require proper adjustment of the fixation protocol. Finally, by a direct comparison of immunofluorescent and genetic labelling with fluorescent proteins, we show that target morphology in direct stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy data sets can differ significantly depending on the labelling method and the molecular environment of the target.
Artifact correction in diffusion MRI of non‐human primate brains on a clinical 3T scanner
Authors: Zhang Xiaodong , Kirsch John E. , Zhong Xiaodong
Published: December 2015

Background

Smearing artifacts were observed and investigated in diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) studies of macaque monkeys on a clinical whole‐body 3T scanner.

Methods

Four adult macaques were utilized to evaluate DTI artifacts. DTI images were acquired with a single‐shot echo‐planar imaging (EPI) sequence using a parallel imaging technique.

Results

The smearing artifacts observed on the diffusion‐weighted images and fractional anisotropy maps were caused by the incomplete fat suppression due to the irregular macaque frontal skull geometry and anatomy. The artifact can be reduced substantially using a novel three‐dimensional (3D) shimming procedure.

Conclusion

The smearing artifacts observed on diffusion weighted images and fractional anisotropy (FA) maps of macaque brains can be reduced substantially using a robust 3D shimming approach. The DTI protocol combined with the shimming procedure could be a robust approach to examine brain connectivity and white matter integrity of non‐human primates using a conventional clinical setting.
Mapping cellular processes in the mesenchyme during palatal development in the absence of Tbx1 reveals complex proliferation changes and perturbed cell packing and polarity
Authors: Brock Lara J. , Economou Andrew D. , Cobourne Martyn T. , Green Jeremy B.A.
Published: December 2015

The 22q11 deletion syndromes represent a spectrum of overlapping conditions including cardiac defects and craniofacial malformations. Amongst the craniofacial anomalies that are seen, cleft of the secondary palate is a common feature. Haploinsufficiency ofTBX1 is believed to be a major contributor toward many of the developmental structural anomalies that occur in these syndromes, and targeted deletion ofTbx1in the mouse reproduces many of these malformations, including cleft palate. However, the cellular basis of this defect is only poorly understood. Here, palatal development in the absence ofTbx1has been analysed, focusing on cellular properties within the whole mesenchymal volume of the palatal shelves. Novel image analyses and data presentation tools were applied to quantify cell proliferation rates, including regions of elevated as well as reduced proliferation, and cell packing in the mesenchyme. Also, cell orientations (nucleus–Golgi axis) were mapped as a potential marker of directional cell movement. Proliferation differed only subtly between wild‐type and mutant until embryonic day (E)15.5 when proliferation in the mutant was significantly lower.Tbx1−/−palatal shelves had slightly different cell packing than wild‐type, somewhat lower before elevation and higher at E15.5 when the wild‐type palate has elevated and fused. Cell orientation is biased towards the shelf distal edge in the mid‐palate of wild‐type embryos but is essentially random in theTbx1−/−mutant shelves, suggesting that polarised processes such as directed cell rearrangement might be causal for the cleft phenotype. The implications of these findings in the context of further understanding Tbx1 function during palatogenesis and of these methods for the more general analysis of genotype–phenotype functional relationships are discussed.
Division of Labor, Gender Ideology, and Marital Satisfaction in East Asia
Authors: Qian Yue , Sayer Liana C.
Published: December 2015

Using data from the 2006 Family Module of the East Asian Social Survey (N = 3,096), this article examines associations of marital satisfaction with divisions of housework and gender ideology in four East Asian societies: urban China, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan. Compared with Japanese and Korean married women and men, Chinese and Taiwanese spouses were more satisfied with their marriage and had more egalitarian divisions of housework, but simultaneously they held less egalitarian gender ideologies. Multivariate analyses showed that relative share of housework was negatively associated with marital satisfaction for Japanese and Korean men and for Korean and Taiwanese women. Egalitarian gender ideology was significantly associated with lower marital satisfaction only among Taiwanese women. In addition, the negative association between housework and marital satisfaction was more pronounced for Taiwanese women who espoused more egalitarian gender ideologies. The authors discuss how differences in macro‐level social contexts explain these cross‐society variations.
Guidelines for Ear, Nose, and Throat Examination of Adults With Intellectual Disabilities: Report of a Clinical Practice Application
Authors: Oron Yahav , Shushan Sagit , Ben‐David Nophar , Flaksman Haim , Korenbrot Frida , Merrick Joav , Roth Yehudah
Published: December 2015

Health problems among people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) are considered more prevalent than among the general population, but there are very few studies that have described a detailed ear, nose, and throat examination of this group. The purpose of this paper is to provide a set of guidelines that can result in a structured ear, nose, and throat examination, describe one experience with implementing the guidelines for otorhinolaryngological care with a heteroegnous sample of adults with intellectual disability, discuss relevant care principles derived from the experience, and specifically address the issue of cerumen impaction. The subjects, 356 adult residents of two residential care centers for people with I/DD, were examined by four otolaryngologists, assisted by an audiologist/speech‐language pathologist, and a nurse. The examinations lasted 8 h over 2 days. Of the residents, 292 (82%) had at least one main finding; impacted cerumen was observed among 54.9% of the examined ears. Of these, 103 residents (206 ears) were examined again after cerumenolytic treatment and cerumen cleared. The authors concluded that there is a need for focused physical examination in order to recognize and treat ear, nose, and throat disorders in this population. Examinations of adults with I/DD are feasible and important in enabling good communication and maintaining general health.
Interest Rate Sensitivity of Spanish Industries: A Quantile Regression Approach
Authors: Ferrando Laura , Ferrer Román , Jareño Francisco
Published: December 2015

This paper examines the degree of interest rate exposure of Spanish industries for the period 1993–2012 using the quantile regression methodology. The empirical results show that the Spanish stock market exhibits a significant level of interest rate sensitivity, although there are notable differences across industries and over time. In addition, the impact of changes in interest rates on industry equity returns tends to be more pronounced in extreme market conditions, i.e. during crises or bubbles in stock markets, than in normal periods. This finding may be related to herding behavior of stock investors during periods of market stress.
Time‐dependent estimates of molecular evolutionary rates: evidence and causes
Authors: Ho Simon Y. W. , Duchêne Sebastián , Molak Martyna , Shapiro Beth
Published: December 2015

We are writing in response to a recent critique by Emerson & Hickerson (), who challenge the evidence of a time‐dependent bias in molecular rate estimates. This bias takes the form of a negative relationship between inferred evolutionary rates and the ages of the calibrations on which these estimates are based. Here, we present a summary of the evidence obtained from a broad range of taxa that supports a time‐dependent bias in rate estimates, with a consideration of the potential causes of these observed trends. We also describe recent progress in improving the reliability of evolutionary rate estimation and respond to the concerns raised by Emerson & Hickerson () about the validity of rates estimated from time‐structured sequence data. In doing so, we hope to dispel some misconceptions and to highlight several research directions that will improve our understanding of time‐dependent biases in rate estimates.
PTS regulation domain‐containing transcriptional activator CelR and sigma factor σ54 control cellobiose utilization in Clostridium acetobutylicum
Authors: Nie Xiaoqun , Yang Bin , Zhang Lei , Gu Yang , Yang Sheng , Jiang Weihong , Yang Chen
Published: December 2015

The phosphoenolpyruvate:carbohydrate phosphotransferase system (PTS) regulation domain (PRD)‐containing enhancer binding proteins (EBPs) are an important class of σ54‐interacting transcriptional activators. Although PRD‐containing EBPs are present in many Firmicutes, most of their regulatory functions remain unclear. In this study, the transcriptional regulons of about 50 PRD‐containing EBPs in diverse Firmicutes species are reconstructed by using a comparative genomic approach, which contain the genes associated with utilization of β‐glucosides, fructose/levan, mannose/glucose, pentitols, and glucosamine/fructosamine. We then present experimental evidence that the cel operon involved in cellobiose utilization is directly regulated by CelR and σ54 (SigL) in Clostridium acetobutylicum. The predicted three CelR‐binding sites and σ54 promoter elements upstream of the cel operon are verified by in vitro binding assays. We show that CelR has an ATPase activity, which is strongly stimulated by the presence of DNA containing the CelR‐binding sites. Moreover, mutations in any one of the three CelR‐binding sites significantly decreased the cel promoter activity probably due to the need for all three DNA sites for maximal ATPase activity of CelR. It is suggested that CelR is regulated by PTS‐mediated phosphorylation at His‐551 and His‐829, which exerts a positive effect and an inhibitory effect, respectively, on the CelR activity.
Oral Proficiency Assessment of English‐Proficient K–8 Spanish Immersion Students
Authors: FORTUNE TARA W. , TEDICK DIANE J.
Published: December 2015

This cross‐sectional study used assessments developed by the Center for Applied Linguistics to examine the oral proficiency of 218 K–8 English‐proficient students in 4 Spanish immersion programs. Following a comprehensive review of assessment results for English‐proficient immersion learners, the article reports findings from statistical analyses. Ratings of student proficiency were significantly higher between Kindergarten and Grade 2 and between Grades 2 and 5; however, no significant differences were found between Grades 5 and 8, lending empirical support to the plateau effect identified in earlier immersion studies. Furthermore, positive moderate to strong correlations were found between teacher ratings and ratings assigned by trained assessment administrators. The article discusses implications for assessment tools and practices, immersion program design, and pedagogy.
Achalasia: new perspectives on an old disease
Authors: Gyawali C. P.
Published: December 2015

Achalasia is defined by esophageal outflow obstruction from abnormal relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) due to deranged inhibitory control. In genetically predisposed individuals, an autoimmune response to an unknown inciting agent, perhaps a viral infection, results in inflammation and sometimes loss of myenteric plexus ganglia and neurons. The net result is varying degrees of inhibitory dysfunction, at times associated with imbalanced and exaggerated excitatory function, with manometrically distinct achalasia phenotypes on high resolution manometry. There is new evidence in the current issue of this Journal suggesting that type 1 achalasia, with esophageal outflow obstruction and absent esophageal body contractility, is an end‐stage phenotype from progression of type 2 achalasia, which is characterized by panesophageal compartmentalization of pressure in the untreated patient, and partial recovery of peristalsis after treatment. Esophageal outflow obstruction with premature peristalsis (type 3 achalasia) or intact peristalsis may result from plexitis in the myenteric plexus but can also be encountered in other settings including chronic opioid medication usage and structural processes at the esophagogastric junction and distally. In most instances when idiopathic esophageal outflow obstruction is confirmed, some form of pharmacologic manipulation or disruption of the LES provides durable symptom relief. This review will focus on current understanding of pathophysiology, diagnosis, and principles of management of achalasia in light of emerging literature on the topic.
Enteroendocrine cells: a review of their role in brain–gut communication
Authors: Latorre R. , Sternini C. , De Giorgio R. , Greenwood‐Van Meerveld B.
Published: December 2015

Background

Specialized endoderm‐derived epithelial cells, that is, enteroendocrine cells (EECs), are widely distributed throughout the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Enteroendocrine cells form the largest endocrine organ in the body and play a key role in the control of GI secretion and motility, the regulation of food intake, postprandial glucose levels and metabolism. EECs sense luminal content and release signaling molecules that can enter the circulation to act as classic hormones on distant targets, act locally on neighboring cells and on distinct neuronal pathways including enteric and extrinsic neurons. Recent studies have shed light on EEC sensory transmission by showing direct connections between EECs and the nervous system via axon‐like processes that form a well‐defined neuroepithelial circuits through which EECs can directly communicate with the neurons innervating the GI tract to initiate appropriate functional responses.

Purpose

This review will highlight the role played by the EECs in the complex and integrated sensory information responses, and discuss the new findings regarding EECs in the brain–gut axis bidirectional communication.
Significant life extension by ten percent dietary restriction
Authors: Richardson Arlan , Austad Steven N. , Ikeno Yuji , Unnikrishnan Archana , McCarter Roger J.
Published: December 2015

Although it is well documented that dietary restriction (DR) increases the life span of rodents and other animals, this increase is observed at relatively high levels of DR, in which rodents are typically fed 40% less than that consumed by rodents fed ad libitum. It is generally assumed that lower levels of DR will have a lesser impact on life span; however, there are very little published data on the effect of low levels of DR on life span. In this study, we show that 10% DR increased life span to almost the same extent as 40% DR. While both 10% and 40% DR resulted in similar changes in non‐neoplastic lesions, 10% DR had no significant effect on the incidence of neoplasia (except for pituitary adenoma), and 40% DR resulted in a significant reduction (40%) in neoplasia. These data clearly demonstrate that the life span of F344 rats does not increase linearly with the level of DR; rather, even a low level of DR can substantially affect life span. This rodent study has important translational implications because it suggests that a modest reduction in calories might have significant health benefits for humans.
Retinal thickness profile of individuals with diabetes
Authors: Srinivasan Sangeetha , Pritchard Nicola , Sampson Geoff P. , Edwards Katie , Vagenas Dimitrios , Russell Anthony W. , Malik Rayaz A. , Efron Nathan
Published: December 2015

Purpose

To examine the retinal thickness profiles of individuals with and without diabetic retinopathy (DR).

Methods

Full retinal thickness in the central zone, overall and hemisphere thicknesses of the parafovea and perifovea, ganglion cell complex (GCC) thickness and retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) thickness were assessed in 185 individuals using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (88 individuals with diabetes but no DR, 55 with DR, and 42 non‐diabetic controls). The DR group comprised of 60% of participants with very mild non‐proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) (representing microaneurysms only) and 40% with mild NPDR (hard exudates, cotton‐wool spots, and/or mild retinal haemorrhages). Regression analysis was performed to determine the factors associated with retinal tissue thickness, taking into account, age, sex, presence of DR, duration of diabetes, HbA1c levels and type of diabetes.

Results

The mean (S.D.) of the overall parafoveal thickness was 306 (16) in the DR group and 314 (14) in the control group (p = 0.02). The mean (S.D.) of the superior hemisphere parafoveal thickness was 309 (16) in the DR group and 318 (14) in the control group (p = 0.02). The mean (S.D.) of the inferior hemisphere parafoveal thickness was 303 (17) in the DR group and 311 (15) in the control group (p = 0.02). There were no significant differences in retinal thickness between groups in the central zone (p = 0.27) or perifovea (p > 0.41). Neither the overall nor the hemisphere RNFL (p > 0.75) and GCC thickness (p > 0.37) were significantly different between the groups. Regression analysis revealed that parafoveal thickness in diabetic individuals was reduced in association with presence of DR (B = −5.9 μm, p = 0.02) and with advancing age (B = −4.5 μm, p = 0.004, for every 10 year increase in age) when adjusted for sex, duration of diabetes, HbA1c levels and type of diabetes.

Conclusion

The inner macula is thinner in the presence of clinical signs of diabetic retinopathy and is compounded by advancing age. The influence of any macular oedema or that by cotton‐wool spots could not be ruled out and may still confound these results.
Enhancing onion breeding using molecular tools
Authors: Khosa Jiffinvir S. , McCallum John , Dhatt Ajmer S. , Macknight Richard C.
Published: December 2015

Bulb onion (Allium cepaL.) is an ancient crop that is thought to have originated in Central Asia and has been cultivated for over 5000 years. Classical genetic and plant breeding approaches have been used to improve onion yield, quality, and resistance against biotic and abiotic stresses. However, its biennial life cycle, cross‐pollinated nature and high inbreeding depression have proved challenging for the characterization and breeding of improved traits. New technologies, notably next‐generation sequencing, are providing researchers with the genomic resources and approaches to overcome these challenges. Using these genomic technologies, molecular markers are being rapidly developed and utilized for germplasm analysis and mapping in onion. These new tools and knowledge are allowing the integration of molecular and conventional breeding to speed up onion improvement programmes. In this review, we outline recent progress in onion genomics and molecular genetics and prospects for enhancing onion yield and quality in the future.
Linking Developmental Experiences to Leader Effectiveness and Promotability: The Mediating Role of Leadership Self‐Efficacy and Mentor Network
Authors: Seibert Scott E. , Sargent Leisa D. , Kraimer Maria L. , Kiazad Kohyar
Published: December 2015

We developed and tested a model linking developmental experiences to leadership effectiveness and promotability through 2 mediating processes based on social cognitive and social capital theories. We hypothesized that a manager's exposure to 3 types of developmental experiences (formal development programs, developmental job challenges, and developmental supervision) would positively relate to supervisor's assessment of the manager's leadership effectiveness in the current job role and promotability within the organization through the manager's leadership self‐efficacy and size and quality of the manager's mentor network. Results based on a sample of 235 retail managers showed that leadership self‐efficacy and mentor network fully mediated the relationship between job challenges and promotability, whereas leadership self‐efficacy also fully mediated the relationship between job challenges and leadership effectiveness. Developmental supervision was indirectly related to promotability through mentor network. In addition, a 3‐way interaction analysis revealed that participation in formal development activities had a positive indirect relationship with leadership effectiveness and promotability mediated by leadership self‐efficacy when a manager experienced either lower levels of job challenge and developmental supervision, or higher levels of both. Our findings contribute to leadership knowledge by examining how both formal and informal developmental experiences relate to leadership effectiveness and promotability through social processes.
Vagueness and the Laws of Metaphysics
Authors: Wasserman Ryan
Published: December 2015

This is a paper about the nature of metaphysical laws and their relation to the phenomenon of vagueness. Metaphysical laws are introduced as analogous to natural laws, and metaphysical indeterminism is modeled on causal indeterminacy. This kind of indeterminacy is then put to work in developing a novel theory of vagueness and a solution to the sorites paradox.
The S‐Curve Effect of Lean Implementation
Authors: Netland Torbjørn H. , Ferdows Kasra
Published: December 2015

There is currently no theory that explains the pattern of change in a plant's performance as it implements a lean program. Does it improve at a declining, increasing, or constant rate, or in some other pattern? We use empirical data from the implementation of the Volvo Group's lean program worldwide to develop a grounded theory to explain this pattern. We find that the pattern roughly follows an S‐curve shape: as a plant progresses in its implementation of lean production, its operational performance improves slowly first, then grows rapidly, and finally tapers off. The initial stage can be characterized by “exploration”, during which the plant is essentially discovering and experimenting with lean principles, and the later stages by “exploitation”, during which the plant is realizing their benefits. We derive the grounded theory from quantitative internal company data and find additional qualitative support for it from our visits to 45 Volvo plants on 5 continents and 210 interviews with employees in these plants and Volvo headquarters. The S‐shape pattern has important implications. Practitioners must assess a plant's maturity in lean implementation and adjust their targets, action plans, and expectations accordingly. Scholars must take the position of the plant on the S‐curve into consideration when they analyze the impact of lean programs.
Optimization of Recommender Systems Based on Inventory
Authors: Demirezen Emre M. , Kumar Subodha
Published: December 2015

We consider subscription‐based rental organizations, such as Netflix, where the satisfaction of customers depends on the availability of requested products. Recommender systems, in a DVD‐rental context, are typically used to help customers in finding the right movies for them. Accordingly, the focus in recommender system research is generally on making better predictions of users' ratings. In contrast, we focus on better utilizing these rating estimates in the operations of DVD‐rental firms. We show that a more explicit consideration of inventory level and future demand can help the firms better manage demand, and can increase the number of satisfied customers substantially. However, if the uncertainty regarding inventory levels is high, the performance of one of our proposed approaches may be worse than the prevalent industry practice under certain conditions. We discuss these conditions and propose a quick recipe for dealing with high levels of variation in inventory estimation. We show that when it is not possible to estimate inventory levels reliably, it is better to underestimate rather than overestimate. Other findings include the trade‐off between the short‐term profitability of the firms and long‐term customer trust; and the effect of variation in rating estimates on the quality of our solution approaches.
Product Line Extensions and Technology Licensing with a Strategic Supplier
Authors: Chen Liwen , Gilbert Stephen M. , Xia Yusen
Published: December 2015

In many industries, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) must obtain critical components from a few powerful suppliers. To the extent that the OEMs are also concentrated, the interactions between the suppliers of critical components and the OEMs are strategic, and have implications for how an incumbent OEM chooses its product line and interacts with potential rivals. We demonstrate that, by adding a low‐end product line extension, an OEM can induce a strategic supplier to offer more favorable pricing. Moreover, depending upon the cost structure and relative performance of the product line extension, the OEM may benefit even more from the low‐end line extension if it is produced by a rival instead of by itself, even if it cannot obtain any licensing income from it. Among other things, we show that this can result in a decentralized OEM accommodating competition from rivals producing product line extensions that would not be developed in a vertically integrated supply chain. In an extension, we re‐examine the common assumption that the supplier unilaterally dictates a single wholesale price that is available to all downstream buyers. We demonstrate that, by committing to offer a “lowest available” wholesale price to all downstream buyers, a supplier can encourage an incumbent OEM to share its technology (or otherwise accommodate the entry of a rival) so that the supplier, the incumbent OEM, and the rival are all better off.
Measuring Persistence in Inflation: Evidence For angola
Authors: Belbute José Manuel , Massala Leonardo Dia , Delgado Júlio António
Published: December 2015

The purpose of this paper is to examine the degree of persistence in five inflation indicators for Angola, and to identify the implications for decision making. Our results suggest that when structural breaks are accounted for, all five inflation indicators are stationary. Second, our findings suggest that persistence is not too high. Moreover, the degree of persistence is similar among the five inflation indicators and throughout the sample period. Finally, our results also show that extracting the most volatile components of the headline inflation indicator does not generate a new inflation indicator that is less volatile and more persistent than the original. These results have important policy implications as the National Bank of Angola is preparing to change its monetary policy focus to a more inflation‐targeting regime.
An Ethnography of Social Assistance to Ethiopian Children by Non‐governmental Organizations: Types, Adequacy and Predictability
Authors: Hailu Daniel
Published: December 2015

Although in Africa social assistance is provided by both state and non‐state actors, systematic research has paid little attention to the aggregate services provided by the latter. This is so despite the significance of the aggregate size, diversity, investment and coverage of the services provided by non‐state actors in the continent. This article reports on an ethnographic assessment of the nature of aggregate social assistance services provided to Ethiopian children by non‐governmental organizations (NGOs) in Africa, taking the cases of services provided by 38 NGOs that run 52 social protection interventions in Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa. Data collection employed semi‐structured interviews with officers of the 38 NGOs and exploratory interviews with 25 key informants. Analysis of the ethnographic data revealed that social assistance by NGOs was insufficient, unpredictable, erratic and of inferior quality and, hence, failed to meet the conditions that could make social assistance an effective instrument for breaking the intergenerational transmission of poverty. The analysis also revealed that the same social assistance was not large enough to undermine recipients' commitment to work. The article concludes by recommending the establishment of a social welfare system in Ethiopia that can effectively regulate social assistance in order to ensure the quality of design and implementation, and the integration of discreet social assistance projects.
Distribution and survival of Borrelia miyamotoi in human blood components
Authors: Thorp Aaron M. , Tonnetti Laura
Published: December 2015

BACKGROUND

Borrelia miyamotoi, the agent of relapsing fever, is a tick‐borne spirochete first isolated in Japan in 1994. Since then, the spirochete has been detected in ticks globally, generally in the same vectors as the Lyme disease agent. Human infection has been reported in Russia, Europe, Japan, and the United States, as influenza‐like febrile illness. In addition, two cases of meningoencephalitis caused by B. miyamotoi have also been reported in immunocompromised patients. Here we evaluate the ability of the spirochete to survive in human blood components stored under standard blood bank conditions.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

Freshly collected human whole blood was spiked with in vitro cultured B. miyamotoi or B. miyamotoi–infected mouse plasma and separated into red blood cells (RBCs), plasma, and platelets. Components were either injected into immunocompromised (SCID) or wild‐type immunocompetent mice or cultured in vitro, right after separation and after storage at the appropriate conditions. Infection was monitored by microscopic observation, blood smears, and polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTS

In vivo, all the SCID mice challenged with the components before storage and the RBCs stored for up to 42 days developed the infection. Wild‐type mice also developed the infection when injected with prestorage samples from all components, while a lower number of mice were infected by RBCs stored for 42 days. In vitro, spirochetes grew in all samples but frozen plasma.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrated that B. miyamotoi can survive standard storage conditions of most human blood components, suggesting the possibility of transmission by blood transfusion.
Ocean acoustic tomography from different receiver geometries using the adjoint method
Authors: Zhao Xiaofeng , Wang Dongxiao
Published: December 2015

In this paper, an ocean acoustic tomography inversion using the adjoint method in a shallow water environment is presented. The propagation model used is an implicit Crank–Nicolson finite difference parabolic equation solver with a non-local boundary condition. Unlike previous matched-field processing works using the complex pressure fields as the observations, here, the observed signals are the transmission losses. Based on the code tests of the tangent linear model, the adjoint model, and the gradient, the optimization problem is solved by a gradient-based minimization algorithm. The inversions are performed in numerical simulations for two geometries: one in which hydrophones are sparsely distributed in the horizontal direction, and another in which the hydrophones are distributed vertically. The spacing in both cases is well beyond the half-wavelength threshold at which beamforming could be used. To deal with the ill-posedness of the inverse problem, a linear differential regularization operator of the sound-speed profile is used to smooth the inversion results. The L-curve criterion is adopted to select the regularization parameter, and the optimal value can be easily determined at the elbow of the logarithms of the residual norm of the measured–predicted fields and the norm of the penalty function.
Can Trained Runners Effectively Attenuate Impact Acceleration During Repeated High-Intensity Running Bouts?
Authors: Clansey Adam C. , Lake Mark J. , Wallace Eric S. , Feehally Tom , Hanlon Michael
Published: December 2015

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of prolonged high-intensity running on impact accelerations in trained runners. Thirteen male distance runners completed two 20-minute treadmill runs at speeds corresponding to 95% of onset of blood lactate accumulation. Leg and head accelerations were collected for 20 s every fourth minute. Rating of perceived exertion (RPE) scores were recorded during the third and last minute of each run. RPE responses increased (P < .001) from the start (11.8 ± 0.9, moderate intensity) of the first run to the end (17.7 ± 1.5, very hard) of the second run. Runners maintained their leg impact acceleration, impact attenuation, stride length, and stride frequency characteristics with prolonged run duration. However, a small (0.11–0.14g) but significant increase (P < .001) in head impact accelerations were observed at the end of both first and second runs. It was concluded that trained runners are able to control leg impact accelerations during sustained high-intensity running. Alongside the substantial increases in perceived exertion levels, running mechanics and frequency domain impact attenuation levels remained constant. This suggests that the present trained runners are able to cope from a mechanical perspective despite an increased physiological demand.
Exercise Modality Choices One Year After Intervention in Previously Inactive Older Men and Women
Authors: Stathokostas Liza , Jones Gareth R.
Published: December 2015

A convenience sample of 176 healthy, community-dwelling, inactive older adults (mean age 70 ± 5 years; 62 males, 114 females) were tracked for one year. The purpose was to describe the exercise modality choices older adults make one year following participation in an exercise and education intervention. Telephone follow-up contacted 137 participants (78%, men = 50, women = 87) and 62% of the men and 69% of the women reported to be “currently exercising.” Exercising independently was the most common type of exercise reported by 81% and 64% of men and women, respectively. Walking was the most commonly reported modality by both genders. The setting of exercise was most often reported to be at home or outside for both men and women. The main reason for continued participation at 12 months was for overall health (50% of men and 40% of women). Little variation was observed for exercise modality choice. Future interventions should consider a variety of exercise and physical activity opportunities for older adults.
Three-dimensional finite element analysis of the behaviour of cross passage between cast-iron tunnels
Authors: Li Zili , Soga Kenichi , Wright Peter
Published: December 2015

The behaviour of cast-iron cross passages in the London Underground was investigated using three-dimensional finite element models. Unlike the behaviour of a full tunnel ring, the structural integrity of a tunnel cross-passage opening relies on support from adjacent linings. In clayey soils, the opening may deform further as the soil stiffness changes from undrained to drained conditions. Degradation of the circumferential bolts and trackbed may also lead to further tunnel movement. A parametric study was conducted to examine the influence of soil stiffness and structural components (e.g., bolts and lintel) on the structural integrity of a tunnel opening. Results show that a lintel effectively transfers the load above the opening to the adjacent linings, and its distortion affects tunnel deformation significantly. If a lintel is not present, both bolts and friction between tunnel segments provide shear resistance to the lining deformation at the tunnel opening against soil loading. Results are compared with field observations made at a critical cross passage in one of the London Underground tunnels. The findings contributed to identifying the critical deformation mechanisms of cast-iron tunnel cross passages, which can be useful during inspection of such structures.
Modelling long-term hydraulic conductivity behaviour of zero valent iron column tests for permeable reactive barrier design
Authors: Moraci Nicola , Ielo Domenico , Bilardi Stefania , Calabrò Paolo S.
Published: December 2015

In this paper, a numerical model to simulate the hydraulic conductivity reduction observed during long-term laboratory column tests is proposed. The column tests are carried out to study dissolved heavy metals removal by using granular zero valent iron (ZVI). The proposed model is also used to analyse the main causes of hydraulic conductivity reduction observed during laboratory column tests. Expansive iron corrosion, precipitation of reaction products, and gas formation are the processes considered in the proposed model. Numerical simulation results show that to reproduce hydraulic behaviour of the experimental systems, the change of pores geometry due to expansive iron corrosion and precipitation of reaction products, which determines a possible stoppage of gas bubbles, should be considered. Furthermore, model results show that only a small percentage of the iron available is corroded during the tests (from 0.4% to 1.9%). According to the model, the average diameter of gas bubbles that better fit the experimental results varies between 0.16 and 0.19 mm. While assuming gas absence (or its possible escape), higher values of iron corrosion rate should be considered to fit the experimental results.
The relativity of color
Authors: Stack Paul D. , Delbourgo Robert
Published: December 2015

By attaching three anticommuting Lorentz scalar (color) property coordinates to space–time, with an appropriate extended metric, we unify gravity with chromodynamics: gauge transformations then just correspond to coordinate transformations in the enlarged space–time-property space.
Properties of the sigma meson at finite temperature
Authors: Ibarra J. R. Morones , Aguirre A. J. Garza , Flores-Baez Francisco V.
Published: December 2015

We study the changes of the mass and width of the sigma meson in the framework of the Linear Sigma Model at finite temperature, in the one-loop approximation. We have found that as the temperature increases, the mass of sigma shifts down. We have also analyzed the [Formula: see text]-spectral function and we observe an enhancement at the threshold which is a signature of partial restoration of chiral symmetry, also interpreted as a tendency to chiral phase transition. Additionally, we studied the width of the sigma, when the threshold enhancement takes place, for different values of the sigma mass. We found that there is a brief enlargement followed by an abrupt fall in the width as the temperature increases, which is also related with the restoration of chiral symmetry and an indication that the sigma is a bound state of two pions.
Algebraic fingerprints for faster algorithms
Authors: Koutis Ioannis , Williams Ryan
Published: December 2015

Algorithmic solutions to tough computational problems are making an impressive comeback.
Open data and civic apps
Authors: Lee Melissa , Almirall Esteve , Wareham Jonathan
Published: December 2015

Developers first need compelling incentives and committed management.
Collective Web-Based Parenthetical Translation Extraction Using Markov Logic Networks
Authors: Tsai Richard Tzong-Han
Published: December 2015

Parenthetical translations are translations of terms in otherwise monolingual text that appear inside parentheses. Parenthetical translations extraction (PTE) is the task of extracting parenthetical translations from natural language documents. One of the main difficulties in PTE is to detect the left boundary of the translated term in preparenthetical text. In this article, we propose a collective approach that employs Markov logic to model multiple constraints used in the PTE task. We show how various constraints can be formulated and combined in a Markov logic network (MLN). Our experimental results show that the proposed collective PTE approach significantly outperforms a current state-of-the-art method, improving the average F-measure up to 27.11% compared to the previous word alignment approach. It also outperforms an individual MLN-based system by 8.2% and a system based on conditional random fields by 5.9%.
Data-driven Human Mobility Modeling
Authors: Hess Andrea , Hummel Karin Anna , Gansterer Wilfried N. , Haring Günter
Published: December 2015

Over the last decades, modeling of user mobility has become increasingly important in mobile networking research and development. This has led to the adoption of modeling techniques from other disciplines such as kinetic theory or urban planning. Yet these techniques generate movement behavior that is often perceived as not “realistic” for humans or provides only a macroscopic view on mobility. More recent approaches infer mobility models from real traces provided by positioning technologies or by the marks the mobile users leave in the wireless network. However, there is no common framework for assessing and comparing mobility models.

In an attempt to provide a solid foundation for realistic mobility modeling in mobile networking research, we take an engineering approach and thoroughly discuss the required steps of model creation and validation. In this context, we survey how and to what extent existing mobility modeling approaches implement the proposed steps. This also summarizes helpful information for readers who do not want to develop a new model, but rather intend to choose among existing ones.
Enabling PGAS Productivity with Hardware Support for Shared Address Mapping
Authors: Serres Olivier , Kayi Abdullah , Anbar Ahmad , El-Ghazawi Tarek
Published: December 2015

Due to its rich memory model, the partitioned global address space (PGAS) parallel programming model strikes a balance between locality-awareness and the ease of use of the global address space model. Although locality-awareness can lead to high performance, supporting the PGAS memory model is associated with penalties that can hinder PGAS’s potential for scalability and speed of execution. This is because mapping the PGAS memory model to the underlying system requires a mapping process that is done in software, thereby introducing substantial overhead for shared accesses even when they are local. Compiler optimizations have not been sufficient to offset this overhead. On the other hand, manual code optimizations can help, but this eliminates the productivity edge of PGAS. This article proposes a processor microarchitecture extension that can perform such address mapping in hardware with nearly no performance overhead. These extensions are then availed to compilers through extensions to the processor instructions. Thus, the need for manual optimizations is eliminated and the productivity of PGAS languages is unleashed. Using Unified Parallel C (UPC), a PGAS language, we present a case study of a prototype compiler and architecture support. Two different implementations of the system were realized. The first uses a full-system simulator, gem5, which evaluates the overall performance gain of the new hardware support. The second uses an FPGA Leon3 soft-core processor to verify implementation feasibility and to parameterize the cost of the new hardware. The new instructions show promising results on all tested codes, including the NAS Parallel Benchmark kernels in UPC. Performance improvements of up to 5.5× for unmodified codes, sometimes surpassing hand-optimized performance, were demonstrated. We also show that our four-core FPGA prototype requires less than 2.4% of the overall chip’s area.
Better memory
Authors: Greengard Samuel
Published: December 2015

Advances in non-volatile memory are changing the face of computing and ushering in a new era of efficiencies.
Biometric identity
Authors: Weinberg Jonathan T.
Published: December 2015

Assessing the promises and dangers of biometric identity plans.