bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for infantile osteopetrosis
Authors: Orchard Paul J. , Fasth Anders L. , Le Rademacher Jennifer , He Wensheng , Boelens Jaap Jan , Horwitz Edwin M. , Al-Seraihy Amal , Ayas Mouhab , Bonfim Carmem M. , Boulad Farid , Lund Troy , Buchbinder David K. , Kapoor Neena , O’Brien Tracey A. , Perez Miguel A. Diaz , Veys Paul A. , Eapen Mary
Published: May 2015

Key Points

Hematopoietic cell transplantation results in long-term survival. Primary graft failure is very high and the predominant cause of death.
Magnetic Properties of Cluster Glassy Ni/NiO Core–Shell Nanoparticles: an Investigation of Their Static and Dynamic Magnetization
Authors: Ji Jhong-Yi , Shih Po-Hsun , Chan Ting-Shan , Ma Yuan-Ron , Wu Sheng Yun
Published: May 2015

We review the phenomenology of the exchange bias and its related effects in core–shell nanocrystals. The static and dynamic properties of the magnetization for ferromagnetic Ni-core and antiferromagnetic NiO-shell cluster glassy nanoparticles are examined, along with the pinning–depinning process, through the measurement of the conventional exchange bias, and associated with different cooling fields and particle sizes. Two significant indexes for the dipolar interaction n and multi-anisotropic barrier β derived from the dynamic magnetization are proposed, which provide a unified picture of the exchange bias mechanism and insight into the influence of the cooling field.
Assessment of sensitization to grape and wine allergens as possible causes of adverse reactions to wine: a pilot study
Authors: Jaeckels Nadine , Bellinghausen Iris , Fronk Petra , Heydenreich Bärbel , Saloga Joachim , Decker Heinz
Published: May 2015

Background

In a recently performed survey with 4000 randomly selected persons, 68 (7.2 %) of 948 respondents reported intolerance and/or allergy‐like symptoms to wine. The aim of this study was to analyze whether a real sensitization to wine proteins could be confirmed by diagnostic and/or immunological settings.

Findings

For this purpose, 19 subjects with self‐reported intolerance to wine of the invited subjects and 10 controls without a history of intolerance participated in an allergological examination (skin prick test, ImmunoCAP for determination of specific IgE antibodies, CAST for testing basophil activation, ImmunoBlot for testing specificity of IgE‐antibodies). For the allergological work‐up red and white grapes, selected wines, and the purified lipid transfer protein (LTP), a known grape allergen, were used. 7 subjects showed evidence of IgE sensitization to wine or grape extracts, including one control. One participant with symptoms of intolerance showed a positive skin prick test to red grape, a positive ImmunoCAP to grape, a positive cellular antigen stimulation test (CAST) and inhibition of Western blot by removal of cross‐reactive carbohydrate determinants (CCD).

Conclusion

The presented study focused on the grape protein‐related IgE‐mediated cause of intolerance to wine (true allergy) and not on other wine components or fining agents (other forms of intolerance). A sensitization to grape and wine proteins was observed in our cohort. In one case, this reactivity could be explained by cross‐reactivity to CCD. The results of this pilot study need to be validated in greater cohorts.
Clinical Development Strategies and Outcomes in First-in-Human Trials of Monoclonal Antibodies
Authors: Tosi Diego , Laghzali Yassine , Vinches Marie , Alexandre Marie , Homicsko Krisztian , Fasolo Angelica , Del Conte Gianluca , Durigova Anna , Hayaoui Nadia , Gourgou Sophie , Gianni Luca , Mollevi Caroline
Published: May 2015

Purpose

We conducted a comprehensive review of the design, implementation, and outcome of first-in-human (FIH) trials of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to clearly determine early clinical development strategies for this class of compounds.

Methods

We performed a PubMed search using appropriate terms to identify reports of FIH trials of mAbs published in peer-reviewed journals between January 2000 and April 2013.

Results

A total of 82 publications describing FIH trials were selected for analysis. Only 27 articles (33%) reported the criteria used for selecting the starting dose (SD). Dose escalation was performed using rule-based methods in 66 trials (80%). The median number of planned dose levels was five (range, two to 13). The median of the ratio between the highest planned dose and the SD was 27 (range, two to 3,333). Although in 56 studies (68%) at least one grade 3 or 4 toxicity event was reported, no dose-limiting toxicity was observed in 47 trials (57%). The highest planned dose was reached in all trials, but the maximum-tolerated dose (MTD) was defined in only 13 studies (16%). The median of the ratio between MTD and SD was eight (range, four to 1,000). The recommended phase II dose was indicated in 34 studies (41%), but in 25 (73%) of these trials, this dose was chosen without considering toxicity as the main selection criterion.

Conclusion

This literature review highlights the broad design heterogeneity of FIH trials testing mAbs. Because of the limited observed toxicity, the MTD was infrequently reached, and therefore, the recommended phase II dose for subsequent clinical trials was only tentatively defined.
Innexin7a forms junctions that stabilize the basal membrane during cellularization of the blastoderm in Tribolium castaneum
Authors: van der Zee Maurijn , Benton Matthew A. , Vazquez-Faci Tania , Lamers Gerda E. M. , Jacobs Chris G. C. , Rabouille Catherine
Published: May 2015

In insects, the fertilized egg undergoes a series of rapid nuclear divisions before the syncytial blastoderm starts to cellularize. Cellularization has been extensively studied in Drosophilamelanogaster, but its thick columnar blastoderm is unusual among insects. We therefore set out to describe cellularization in the beetle Tribolium castaneum, the embryos of which exhibit a thin blastoderm of cuboidal cells, like most insects. Using immunohistochemistry, live imaging and transmission electron microscopy, we describe several striking differences to cellularization in Drosophila, including the formation of junctions between the forming basal membrane and the yolk plasmalemma. To identify the nature of this novel junction, we used the parental RNAi technique for a small-scale screen of junction proteins. We find that maternal knockdown of Triboliuminnexin7a (Tc-inx7a), an ortholog of the Drosophila gap junction gene Innexin 7, leads to failure of cellularization. In Inx7a-depleted eggs, the invaginated plasma membrane retracts when basal cell closure normally begins. Furthermore, transiently expressed tagged Inx7a localizes to the nascent basal membrane of the forming cells in wild-type eggs. We propose that Inx7a forms the newly identified junctions that stabilize the forming basal membrane and enable basal cell closure. We put forward Tribolium as a model for studying a more ancestral mode of cellularization in insects.
Case Report: Atypical Cornelia de Lange Syndrome
Authors: Leanza Vito , Rubbino Gabriella , Leanza Gianluca
Published: May 2015

Cornelia de Lange Syndrome (CdLS) (also called Bushy Syndrome or Amsterdam dwarfism), is a genetic disorder that can lead to several alterations. This disease affects both physical and neuropsychiatric development. The various abnormalities include facial dysmorphia (arched eyebrows, synophrys, depressed nasal bridge, long philtrum, down-turned angles of the mouth), upper-extremity malformations, hirsutism, cardiac defects, and gastrointestinal alterations. The prevalence of this syndrome is approximately one per 15,000. Ultrasound is not the perfect means to diagnose CdLS, however, many abnormalities can be detected prenatally by scrupulous image observation.

We report an atypical CdLS case characterized by increased nuchal translucency in the first trimester, normal karyotype, saddle nose, micrognathia with receding jaw, low set ears, facies senilis, arthrogryposis of the hands, absence of the Aranzio ductus venous, dilatation of gallbladder and bowel, a unique umbilical artery, increased volume of amniotic fluid, and intrauterine growth retardation ending with the interruption of pregnancy.
Transgenic supplementation of SIRT1 fails to alleviate acute loss of nigrostriatal dopamine neurons and gliosis in a mouse model of MPTP-induced parkinsonism
Authors: Kitao Yasuko , Ageta-Ishihara Natsumi , Takahashi Ryosuke , Kinoshita Makoto , Hori Osamu
Published: May 2015

Background

Dopamine (DA) neuron-selective uptake and toxicity of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) causes parkinsonism in humans. Loss of DA neurons via mitochondrial damage and oxidative stress is reproduced by systemic injection of MPTP in animals, which serves as models of parkinsonism and Parkinson’s disease (PD). This study aimed to test whether pan-neural supplementation of the longevity-related, pleiotropic deacetylase SIRT1, which confers partial tolerance to at least three models of stroke and neurodegeneration, could also alleviate MPTP-induced acute pathological changes in nigrostriatal DA neurons and neighboring glia.

Results

We employed a line of prion promoter-driven Sirt1-transgenic (Sirt1Tg) mice that chronically overexpress murine SIRT1 in the brain and spinal cord. Sirt1Tg and wild-type (WT) male littermates (3‒4 months old) were subjected to intraperitoneal injection of MPTP. Acute histopathological changes in the midbrain and striatum (caudoputamen) were assessed with serial coronal sections triply labeled for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and nuclear DNA. In the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) of the midbrain, the number of TH-positive neurons and the reactive gliosis were comparable between the Sirt1Tg and WT littermates. In the striatum, the relative fluorescence intensity of TH-positive nerve terminals and the level of gliosis did not differ by the genotypes.

Conclusions

Sirt1Tg and WT littermate mice exhibited comparable acute histopathological reactions to the systemic injection of MPTP, loss of TH-positive neurons and reactive gliosis. Thus, the genetic supplementation of SIRT1 does not confer histologically recognizable protection on nigrostriatal DA neurons against acute toxicity of MPTP.
Legal bases of the state ecological development
Authors: Хлуденева Наталья , Khludeneva Natalya
Published: May 2015

The ecological right is an important component of creation of optimum model of legal regulation of environmental protection at the present stage. Its aim is to protect the environmental interests of society by securing legal restrictions and prohibitions against excessive use of natural resources, often rash and irrational, and also to establish the effective measures of legal protection.

The author investiges the strategic planning documents in the field of environmental protection, evaluates the effectiveness of their implementation, and suggests the improvements of legal regulation of environmental protection in Russia.
Rozwój europejskiej polityki cyfrowej
Authors: Posłajko Robert
Published: May 2015

Shaping European Digital Policy

Modern information and communication technologies (ICT) have a significant impact on society and economy. This influence gets more and more interest from researchers and public authorities. The information society influences most areas of life, hence it requires a joint action in the fields of communication, copyright, data protection, cybercrime, R&D, trade, fair competition and consumer protection. There is a particularly relevant question about an integrated policy towards ICT by international organizations and states. Although EU has only recently addressed the issue of ICT, this phenomenon is becoming progressively more far‑reaching. The main objective of this study was to investigate European Union’s policy on information society.
East Central Europe in the Context of the Varieties of Capitalism Approach
Authors: Dudziak Julita
Published: May 2015

The article presents the Varieties of Capitalism theory proposed by Peter A. Hall and David Soskice in 2001 and its applicability in the context of East Central Europe’s economies. Apart from the concepts of Liberal and Coordinated Market Economies created by Hall and Soskice, the article introduces the development of the theory made by scientists such as Bruno Amable or Andreas Nölke and Arjan Vliegenthart, focusing on the Post‑Communist countries. Also, it refers to Dorothee Bohle and Béla Greskovits’ critique of the theory in an attempt to outline the constant evolution of this relatively fresh idea.
Appropriate care for children with eating disorders and obesity
Authors: El-Radhi A Sahib
Published: May 2015

Eating disorders are essentially psychological diseases that are characterised by abnormal eating habits. Anorexia nervosa and bulimia are the most common forms of eating disorders. There is an increased recognition of eating disorders among both men and women, and growing numbers of children and teenagers seeking help for eating disorders. Fear of body-weight gain is central to both anorexia nervosa and bulimia. Before the diagnosis of an eating disorder is made, it is essential to exclude organic diseases that may present with similar symptoms to eating disorders. Management initially should focus on correcting the nutritional deficiencies and dehydration at a paediatric or paediatric gastroenterology department, followed by a multidisciplinary approach. At the other extreme, the prevalence of obesity in children is increasing at an alarming rate, and presents a serious public health challenge.
Changes in Physicochemical and Nutritional Properties of Carrots According to Thermal Treatments and Freezing Storage Duration
Authors: Kim Soo Jin , Kim Kwang-Il , Hwang In-Guk , Yoo Seon-Mi , Jo Yeon-Ji , Min Sang-Gi , Choi Mi-Jung
Published: May 2015

Thermal treatment and freezing are known for preventing loss of food quality during storage. This study was carried out to optimize the conditions of thermal treatment and freezing storage. Carrots were treated by hot water or superheated steam, and then frozen by individual quick freezing (IQF) method. After that, the samples were stored at -12, -18, -24°C for 6 mon and the physicochemical and nutritional properties of carrots were evaluated. As a result, the total color difference of carrots treated by hot water was higher than that treated by superheated steam. Storage duration did not affect the pH of carrots. Total aerobic bacteria decreased compared to control presumably upon applying thermal treatment and freezing. Ascorbic acid contents in thermal treated and frozen carrots sharply decreased compared to control; particularly, they were not detected in carrots stored at -12°C. When hot watertreated carrots were frozen, the free sugar and organic acid contents decreased; however, those of superheated steamtreated carrots increased except fumaric acid.
Sodium Reduction in Salad Dressing Using Fermented Soy Sauce
Authors: Park Han-Sul , Cho Hyung-Yong , Shin Jung-Kue
Published: May 2015

In recently years, health concerns related to NaCl/sodium intake have caused an increased demand for sodiumreduced foods. The aim of this study is to explore the use of soy sauce to reduce sodium intake in food preparation by replacing added salt with naturally brewed soy sauce without changing consumer acceptance. The sodium content of standard salad dressing using salt was 3.85±0.03 g/L and the sodium content range of salad dressing using soy sauce was 0.46±0.01-0.68±0.02 g/L. Paired difference test between a salt standard and a variety of soy sauce samples was used to giving the amount of soy sauce needed to replace salt with the same overall taste and intensity. The results showed that it was possible to achieve a sodium reduction in the salad dressing of 82.4-86.2% without leading to significant losses in either overall taste score and salty taste score. These results suggest that it is possible to replace NaCl in foods with fermented soy sauce without decreasing overall taste score and consumer acceptance.
Poetik einer Sprache der Toten
Authors: Rospert Christine
Published: May 2015

Nelly Sachs lesen - jenseits des Wunsches nach Beherrschbarkeit, der die Rezeption ihrer Dichtungen und Biographie bislang dominiert. Dieser Band entfaltet behutsame mikrologische Lektüren ihres fragilen und widerständigen Schreibens (Lyrik, szenische Dichtungen, Briefe). In den Texten der Nelly Sachs scheint die Figur einer Sprache der Toten auf. Ein solches - unmögliches - Sprechen re-präsentiert nichts und ist doch unausweichlich im Angesicht der Shoah zu lesen. Der ihm immanente Verlust betrifft auch die Dichotomie von Textinnen und -außen; die Grenzen zwischen Dichtung und Geschichte, Leben und Werk erweisen sich als porös. Die zentrale wie ortlose Gestalt der Autorin wird so zum Objekt eines Begehrens: Die Lektüren betreiben eine Kontaminierung des zu Lesenden mit Biographie - und mit Geschichte.
Histoire noire
Authors: Müller Elfriede , Ruoff Alexander
Published: May 2015

Seit 1968 verfolgt der französische Krimi auf Benjamin'sche Weise die Spuren der Revolutionen des 19. und 20. Jahrhunderts - als lebendige Erinnerung. Er nimmt Partei für die Revolte, deckt Ungerechtigkeiten auf und lässt hinter die Kulissen von Herrschaft blicken. Mittels einer Bestimmung des Verhältnisses von Geschichtsschreibung und Literatur geht dieses Buch der Frage nach, ob der aktuelle französische Kriminalroman als Geschichtsschreibung gelten kann. Die Pariser Kommune, der Erste und Zweite Weltkrieg, der Spanische Bürgerkrieg, der Algerienkrieg und der Mai 1968 bilden den Hintergrund der untersuchten Romane, die hoffnungsvoll und melancholisch die Geschichte der Besiegten erzählen. Die Autoren (Pouy, Daeninckx, Manotti, Vilar u.a.) legen in ihren Texten Zeugnis ab von den politischen und intellektuellen Strategien der Linken am Ende des 20. Jahrhunderts.
Value of Reconstruction Procedures (non-microsurgical) on Facial Defects Postexcision of a Basocellular Carcinomas
Authors: Dimitropoulou Theodora , Iordache I.V , Poalelungi T. , Caraban B.M. , Bordeianu I.
Published: May 2015

The authors present a retrospective study - 2011-1014 on value of reconstructive nonmicrosurgicals procedures after excisions of facial basocellular carcinomas.

The study group included 426 cases of basocellular carcinomas of the face (primary diagnosed or recurrent) that required reconstructive procedure after excision in oncology margin (according to the criteria of the clinic). The choice is eclectically considering reconstructive process (evaluating) a number of factors: patient age, location of carcinoma, post excisional defect size and pathological status (recurrence, radiation) and the frequency of the primary outcome was using plastic reconstruction of full-thickness free skin.

All cases included in the study received a performant dermatoscopic exam and excisions were performed at 5-10 mm from the edges of the apparent surface and in deepness in fascial plane.
Heat conduction and Thermal Stress Analysis of
laminated composites by a variable kinematic
MITC9 shell element
Authors: Cinefra M. , Valvano S. , Carrera E.
Published: May 2015

The present paper considers the linear static
thermal stress analysis of composite structures by means
of a shell finite element with variable through-thethickness
kinematic. The temperature profile along the
thickness direction is calculated by solving the Fourier
heat conduction equation. The refined models considered
are both Equivalent Single Layer (ESL) and Layer
Wise (LW) and are grouped in the Unified Formulation
by Carrera (CUF). These permit the distribution of displacements,
stresses along the thickness of the multilayered
shell to be accurately described. The shell element
has nine nodes, and the Mixed Interpolation of Tensorial
Components (MITC) method is used to contrast the
membrane and shear locking phenomenon. The governing
equations are derived from the Principle of Virtual Displacement
(PVD). Cross-ply plate, cylindrical and spherical
shells with simply-supported edges and subjected to
bi-sinusoidal thermal load are analyzed.Various thickness
ratios and curvature ratios are considered. The results, obtained
with different theories contained in the CUF, are
compared with both the elasticity solutions given in the
literature and the analytical solutions obtained using the
CUF and the Navier’s method. Finally, plates and shells
with different lamination and boundary conditions are analyzed
using high-order theories in order to provide FEM
benchmark solutions.
Non-linear flow-induced vibrations in deformable
curved bodies: A lattice Boltzmann-immersed
boundary-finite element study
Authors: De Rosis Alessandro
Published: May 2015

The dynamic response of a deformable curved
solid body is investigated as it interacts with a flow field.
The fluid is assumed to be viscous and the flow is nearly
incompressible. Fluid dynamics is predicted through a
lattice Boltzmann solver. Corotational beam finite elements
undergoing large displacements are adopted to idealize
the submerged body, whose presence in the lattice
fluid background is handled by the immersed boundary
method. The attention focuses on the solid’s deformation
and a numerical campaign is carried out. Findings are reported
in terms of deformation energy and deformed configuration.
On the one hand, it is shown that the solution
of the problem is strictly dependent on the elastic properties
of the body. On the other hand, the encompassing
flow physics plays a crucial role on the resultant solid dynamics.
With respect to the existing literature, the present
problem is attacked by a new point of view. Specifically,
the author proposes that the problem is governed by four
dimensionless parameters: the Reynolds number, the normalized
elastic modulus, the density and aspect ratii. The
formulation and the solution strategy for curved solid bodies
herein adopted are introduced for the first time in this
paper.
Gelotophobia: Life satisfaction and happiness across cultures
Authors: Proyer René T. , Ruch Willibald , Chen Guo-Hai
Published: May 2015

The fear of being laughed at (gelotophobia) was examined in its relations to concepts from positive psychology in Austria, China, and Switzerland. It was related to satisfaction with life and Peterson et al.'s (2005) three orientations to happiness; the life of pleasure (hedonism), life of engagement (related to flow-experiences), and life of meaning (eudaimonia). Participants (
The ancient roots of humor theory
Authors: Perks Lisa Glebatis
Published: May 2015

Many modern humor scholars have oversimplified their summaries of Plato, Aristotle, Cicero and Quintilian's views on humor, focusing on the philosophers' cautionary warnings about the rhetorical efficacy and ethics of humor. Although the philosophers did write much on the offensive nature of jests, which can be considered illustrative of superiority theory, I describe elements of the incongruity and relief theories of humor motivation in their work. There is evidence to suggest that all four philosophers found humor to be a fitting and effective response to certain exigencies. It is more accurate to summarize their views thus: Humor has the potential to be a powerful tool of persuasion, but like any potent weapon (discursive or non-discursive) it should be used with caution.
Satire and definition
Authors: Condren Conal
Published: May 2015

This paper explores some of the difficulties involved in defining satire.

Neither the formal characteristics of satire nor its informing purposes, including its variable associations with humour and the provocation of amusement allow for a unifying definition over the long term. It considers a range of approaches to and types of definition and takes as a principle example the notion of Menippean satire. It argues that a characterisation in terms of family resemblance is more helpful for a strictly historical understanding than formal definitions and that it is misleading to take satire as a genre, let along a literary one. Throughout it also suggests that the case of satire tells us something about definition and the often naïve expectations of what definitions can establish.
Humor use in power-differentiated interactions
Authors: Dunbar Norah E. , Banas John A. , Rodriguez Dariela , Liu Shr-Jie , Abra Gordon
Published: May 2015

Humor serves a variety of functions in interpersonal communication, including the release of tension and the diffusion of conflict. Based on Dyadic Power Theory (Dunbar 2004; Dunbar and Abra 2010), it is predicted that interactants of equal power will use more humor and different types of humor than those either relatively high or low in power as compared to their partners. The present study analyzed experimentally manipulated problem-solving interactions between research participants (N = 150) and confederate strangers. Participants used a mean of 8 humorous statements in interactions that lasted for a mean of 15 minutes. The results revealed that power did not influence the amount of humor used overall but those who were equal in power used more tension-releasing humor than those unequal in power. Additionally, those with equal power or high power positions were more likely to use humor to disparage the task or laugh along with their partner than those low in power. Humor use did not affect the participants' satisfaction with the interaction, but those who laughed along with their partner exerted more influence over the outcome of the problem-solving task. Although not hypothesized, some sex differences in types of humor use also emerged.
Childhood experiences of professional comedians: Peer and parent relationships and humor use
Authors: Greengross Gil , Martin Rod A. , Miller Geoffrey
Published: May 2015

This study examines a commonly held belief, left over from psychoanalytic theories of humor as a coping mechanism, that relationships with parents strongly influence comedians' temperaments and career choices. Thirty one professional stand-up comedians and 400 students completed the Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI), which concerns recollected parental care and protectiveness, and a new self-report questionnaire that measures popularity and humor use among peers during adolescence. Results show that comedians' parents did not differ from students' parents in care or protectiveness, and comedians did not differ from students in adolescent popularity, but comedians did use more humor among adolescent peers (were more likely to be class clowns, make fun of others, laugh at themselves, and be the butt of jokes). The results suggest that stand-up comedians do not differ much from ordinary college students in their parental or adolescence peer relationships.
Early maladaptive schemas, styles of humor and aggression
Authors: Dozois David J. A. , Martin Rod A. , Faulkner Breanne
Published: May 2015

The relationship between early maladaptive schemas (EMSs) and psychopathology is thought to be mediated by the use of maladaptive compensatory coping and deficits in adaptive coping. One form of coping that might be affected by EMSs is an individual's style of humor, which can be adaptive or maladaptive. This study examined the relationships among EMS domains, styles of humor, and aggression. The EMS domain of Impaired Limits was most consistently related to aggression. Moreover, as predicted, an aggressive style of humor mediated the relationship between Impaired Limits and various aspects of aggression (i.e., verbal, physical, and hostility). In addition, self-defeating humor mediated the respective relationships between hostility and EMS domains of Impaired Limits, Disconnection, and Impaired Autonomy. Taken together, these results suggest that maladaptive humor styles may play an important role as one of the mechanisms by which early maladaptive schemas lead to later emotional and functional disturbance.
A second look at laughter: Humor in the visual arts
Authors: Gérin Annie
Published: May 2015

Responding to current practices in the field of contemporary art, this essay is a study on humor research methodology as it pertains specifically to artistic propositions. It draws on art historical methods for visual analysis (in particular Erwin Panofsky's iconological method and Ernst Gombrich's psychology of perception) and on the General Theory of Verbal Humor (GTVH), developed by Salvatore Attardo and Victor Raskin in 1991 for the analysis of jokes and short humorous texts. It argues that mechanisms specific to the visual domain must be central to the study of humor in the visual arts.
Humor styles as a predictor of satisfaction within sport teams
Authors: Sullivan Philip
Published: May 2015

Recent research has suggested that humor styles of individuals may be a significant issue within group functioning (e.g., Grisaffe et al. 2003; Priest and Swain 2002). The current study focused on humor styles as a predictor of athletes' satisfaction of their experiences in team sports. One hundred and forty-eight team sport athletes completed modified versions of the Humor Styles Questionnaire (HSQ) and the Athlete Satisfaction Questionnaire (ASQ). The results of multiple linear regression models revealed that positive humor style was the sole significant predictor for athlete satisfaction with respect to both team task contributions and team integration. These results showed that humor styles may be a significant, if minor, constructive element within sport, as they are in other team contexts.
Evolutionary Stable Strategies In Networked Games: The Influence Of Topology
Authors: Kasthurirathna Dharshana , Piraveenan Mahendra , Uddin Shahadat
Published: May 2015

Evolutionary game theory is used to model the evolution of competing strategies in a population of players. Evolutionary stability of a strategy is a dynamic equilibrium, in which any competing mutated strategy would be wiped out from a population. If a strategy is weak evolutionarily stable, the competing strategy may manage to survive within the network. Understanding the network-related factors that affect the evolutionary stability of a strategy would be critical in making accurate predictions about the behaviour of a strategy in a real-world strategic decision making environment. In this work, we evaluate the effect of network topology on the evolutionary stability of a strategy. We focus on two well-known strategies known as the Zero-determinant strategy and the Pavlov strategy. Zero-determinant strategies have been shown to be evolutionarily unstable in a well-mixed population of players. We identify that the Zero-determinant strategy may survive, and may even dominate in a population of players connected through a non-homogeneous network. We introduce the concept of ‘topological stability’ to denote this phenomenon. We argue that not only the network topology, but also the evolutionary process applied and the initial distribution of strategies are critical in determining the evolutionary stability of strategies. Further, we observe that topological stability could affect other well-known strategies as well, such as the general cooperator strategy and the cooperator strategy. Our observations suggest that the variation of evolutionary stability due to topological stability of strategies may be more prevalent in the social context of strategic evolution, in comparison to the biological context.
A New Approach For Discovering Top-K Sequential Patterns Based On The Variety Of Items
Authors: Sakurai Shigeaki , Nishizawa Minoru
Published: May 2015

This paper proposes a method that discovers various sequential patterns from sequential data. The sequential data is a set of sequences. Each sequence is a row of item sets. Many previous methods discover frequent sequential patterns from the data. However, the patterns tend to be similar to each other because they are composed of limited items. The patterns do not always correspond to the interests of analysts. Therefore, this paper tackles on the issue discovering various sequential patterns. The proposed method decides redundant sequential patterns by evaluating the variety of items and deletes them based on three kinds of delete processes. It can discover various sequential patterns within the upper bound for the number of sequential patterns given by the analysts. This paper applies the method to the synthetic sequential data which is characterized by number of items, their kind, and length of sequence. The effect of the method is verified through numerical experiments.
Maxwellian velocity distributions in slow time
Authors: Essex Christopher , Andresen Bjarne
Published: May 2015

We extend Maxwellian velocity distributions to long observational timescales in much the same way that short timescale statistical mechanics distributions are averaged to yield normal laboratory timescale thermodynamic distributions. This
long timescale view has several novel effects: Fluctuating overall velocities (i.e. “wind”) thermalizes into an additional component of temperature, while returning a Maxwellian velocity distribution. However, fluctuating temperature results in a new distribution with a Gaussian core but heavy polynomial tails. The power of the polynomial tail is either -3 or -2 depending on whether the precision of the temperature is allowed to extend to ± infinity or is required to remain strictly positive. The distribution is also interesting in the way it remains almost exactly Gaussian up to a certain velocity after which it quickly breaks off to become polynomial. The distributions are carefully analyzed mathematically, and physical consequences are drawn.
Improved molecularly imprinted polymer grafted to porous polyethylene frits for the solid-phase extraction of thiabendazole from citrus sample extracts
Authors: Díaz-Álvarez Myriam , Turiel Esther
Published: May 2015

In this paper, the improvement over a novel
format for selective solid-phase extraction based on a
molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) is described. A small
amount of MIP has been synthesized within the superficial
pores of commercial polyethylene (PE) frits and attached
to its surface using benzophenone (BP), a photo-initiator
capable to start the polymerization from the surface of the
support material. Key properties affecting the obtainment
of a proper polymeric layer, such as polymerization
time and kind of cross-linker were optimized. Prepared
composite material was applied to the SPE of TBZ in real
samples extracts, showing an impressive clean-up ability.
Calibrations showed good linearity in the concentration
range of 0.05–5.00 μg g-1, referred to the original solid
sample, and the regression coefficients obtained were
greater than 0.998. The calculated detection limit was 0.01
μg g-1, low enough to satisfactory analysis of TBZ in real
samples. Mean recoveries were about 70 % at different
concentration levels with RSDs always ranged below 15%
in all the cases.
Spectral Induced Polarization Techniques in Soil Corrosivity Assessments
Authors: Deo Ravin N. , Cull James P.
Published: May 2015

We presented a laboratory method for investigating the spectral induced polarization (SIP) response of soil samples and the implications for overall soil corrosivity. This study was important in order to advance the understanding of soil electrical properties, which can be used diagnostically to assess infrastructure integrity. Presently, isolated measurements of soil resistivity are the only (electrical) parameters that are routinely used to identify soil corrosivity. Our work showed that the low frequency soil spectral properties may lead to better soil corrosivity assessments when coupled effects from clay and salinity were present. In particular, unfolding and interpreting the soil spectral properties using the Cole-Cole model revealed that the normalized chargeability parameter mn was highly appropriate for identifying the character of potentially corrosive soils.
Leptin Induces a Novel Form of NMDA Receptor-Dependent LTP at Hippocampal Temporoammonic-CA1 Synapses
Authors: Luo Xiao , McGregor Gemma , Irving Andrew J. , Harvey Jenni
Published: May 2015

It is well documented that the hormone leptin regulates many central functions and that hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons are a key target for leptin action. Indeed, leptin modulates excitatory synaptic transmission and synaptic plasticity at the Schaffer-collateral input to CA1 neurons. However the impact of leptin on the direct temporoammonic (TA) input to CA1 neurons is not known. Here we show that leptin evokes a long-lasting increase [long-term potentiation (LTP)] in excitatory synaptic transmission at TA-CA1 synapses in rat juvenile hippocampus. Leptin-induced LTP was NMDA receptor-dependent and specifically involved the activation of GluN2B subunits. The signaling pathways underlying leptin-induced LTP involve the activation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase, but were independent of the ERK signaling cascade. Moreover, insertion of GluA2-lacking AMPA receptors was required for leptin-induced LTP as prior application of philanthotoxin prevented the effects of leptin. In addition, synaptic-induced LTP occluded the persistent increase in synaptic efficacy induced by leptin. In conclusion, these data indicate that leptin induces a novel form of NMDA receptor-dependent LTP at juvenile TA-CA1 synapses, which has important implications for the role of leptin in modulating hippocampal synaptic function in health and disease.
Role of Hippocampal β-Adrenergic and Glucocorticoid Receptors in the Novelty-Induced Enhancement of Fear Extinction
Authors: Liu Jian-Feng , Yang Chang , Deng Jia-Hui , Yan Wei , Wang Hui-Min , Luo Yi-Xiao , Shi Hai-Shui , Meng Shi-Qiu , Chai Bai-Sheng , Fang Qin , Chai Ning , Xue Yan-Xue , Sun Jia , Chen Chen , Wang Xue-Yi , Wang Ji-Shi , Lu Lin
Published: May 2015

Fear extinction forms a new memory but does not erase the original fear memory. Exposure to novelty facilitates transfer of short-term extinction memory to long-lasting memory. However, the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms are still unclear. Using a classical contextual fear-conditioning model, we investigated the effect of novelty on long-lasting extinction memory in rats. We found that exposure to a novel environment but not familiar environment 1 h before or after extinction enhanced extinction long-term memory (LTM) and reduced fear reinstatement. However, exploring novelty 6 h before or after extinction had no such effect. Infusion of the β-adrenergic receptor (βAR) inhibitor propranolol and glucocorticoid receptor (GR) inhibitor RU486 into the CA1 area of the dorsal hippocampus before novelty exposure blocked the effect of novelty on extinction memory. Propranolol prevented activation of the hippocampal PKA-CREB pathway, and RU486 prevented activation of the hippocampal extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (Erk1/2)-CREB pathway induced by novelty exposure. These results indicate that the hippocampal βAR-PKA-CREB and GR-Erk1/2-CREB pathways mediate the extinction-enhancing effect of novelty exposure. Infusion of RU486 or the Erk1/2 inhibitor U0126, but not propranolol or the PKA inhibitor Rp-cAMPS, into the CA1 before extinction disrupted the formation of extinction LTM, suggesting that hippocampal GR and Erk1/2 but not βAR or PKA play critical roles in this process. These results indicate that novelty promotes extinction memory via hippocampal βAR- and GR-dependent pathways, and Erk1/2 may serve as a behavioral tag of extinction.
Skipped-Stimulus Approach Reveals That Short-Term Plasticity Dominates Synaptic Strength during Ongoing Activity
Authors: Yang Hua , Xu-Friedman Matthew A.
Published: May 2015

All synapses show activity-dependent changes in strength, which affect the fidelity of postsynaptic spiking. This is particularly important at auditory nerve synapses, where the presence and timing of spikes carry information about a sound's structure, which must be passed along for proper processing. However, it is not clear how synaptic plasticity influences spiking during ongoing activity. Under these conditions, conventional analyses erroneously suggest that synaptic plasticity has no influence on EPSC amplitude or spiking. Therefore, we developed new approaches to study how ongoing activity influences synaptic strength, using voltage- and current-clamp recordings from bushy cells in brain slices from mouse anteroventral cochlear nucleus. We applied identical trains of stimuli, except for one skipped stimulus, and found that EPSC amplitude was affected for 60 ms following a skipped stimulus. We further showed that the initial probability of release, calcium-dependent mechanisms of recovery, and desensitization all play a role even during ongoing activity. Current-clamp experiments indicated that these processes had a significant effect on postsynaptic spiking, as did the refractory period to a smaller extent. Thus short-term plasticity has real, important functional consequences.
Breast cancer risk in hyperprolactinemia: a population-based cohort study and meta-analysis of the literature
Authors: Dekkers O M , Ehrenstein V , Bengtsen M , Farkas D Kormendine , Pereira A M , Sørensen H T , Jørgensen J O L
Published: May 2015

Objective

To enhance the precision of the risk estimate for breast cancer in hyperprolactinemia patients by collecting more data and pooling our results with available data from former studies in a meta-analysis.

Design

Population-based cohort study and meta-analysis of the literature.

Methods

Using nationwide registries, we identified all patients with a first-time diagnosis of hyperprolactinemia during 1994–2012 including those with a new breast cancer diagnoses after the start of follow-up. We calculated standardised incidence ratios (SIRs) as a measure of relative risk (RR) using national cancer incidence rates. We performed a meta-analysis, combining data from our study with data in the existing literature.

Results

We identified 2457 patients with hyperprolactinemia and 20 breast cancer cases during 19 411 person-years of follow-up, yielding a SIR of 0.99 (95% CI 0.60–1.52). Data from two additional cohort studies were retrieved and analyzed. When the three risk estimates were pooled, the combined RR was 1.04 (95% CI 0.75–1.43).

Conclusions

We found no increased risk of breast cancer among patients with hyperprolactinemia.
Karaite Hebrew poetry and poetics in early modern Europe
Authors: Tuori Riikka
Published: May 2015

Hebrew was the main language of the early modern Karaim culture. Nearly all Polish–Lithuanian Karaim scholars wrote poetry in Hebrew for various occasions celebrating the Karaim cycle of life: for Sabbaths and festivals, for weddings and circumcisions, or as eulogies for a fellow scholar. Their poems cover exegetical, philosophical, and mystical topics from a Karaim point of view and contain historical details about Karaim life in Eastern Europe. Karaim Hebrew poets followed the footsteps of earlier Karaite generations: Byzantine Karaite poetry, emulating the Andalusian standards of poetics and familiarised through shared literary sources, served as their main literary model.
Distribution and floral hosts of Anthophorula micheneri (Timberlake, 1947) and Hylaeus sparsus (Cresson, 1869), (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Anthophila), with new state records in Giles and Loudoun counties, Virginia, eastern USA
Authors: Sellers Elizabeth , McCarthy David
Published: May 2015

New collection records for Anthophorula micheneri (Timberlake, 1947) from Loudoun County and other locations in Virginia, USA document an approximately 1,350 km extension of its previously recorded geographic range. New state records for the rarely seen Hylaeus sparsus (Cresson, 1869) collected in Giles County and from a blue vane trap in Loudoun County, Virginia add to our knowledge of this species’ range and phenology in the USA. Floral records for both species are documented with a discussion of possible host preferences.
Neue Arzneimittel für Pferde und landwirtschaftliche Nutztiere 2014
Authors: Emmerich I. U.
Published: May 2015

Im Jahr 2014 kam für Pferde und landwirtschaftliche Nutztiere kein neuer Wirkstoff auf den deutschen Markt. Lediglich ein Wirkstoff erhielt eine Tierartenerweiterung. So wurde das Analgetikum Buprenorphin (Buprenodale® Multidose) auch für Pferde zugelassen. Außerdem kamen vier Präparate in einer neuen Darreichungsform, je ein Arzneimittel mit einem neuen Wirkstoffgehalt, in einer neuen Galenik bzw. mit einer erweiterten Indikation auf den Markt. Des Weiteren steht das Prostaglandin-F2α-Analogon Luprostiol wieder zur Verfügung.
The Learning Value of the Job as a Driver of Employee Commitment and Job Satisfaction in Public Organisations
Authors: Marzec Izabela , Frączkiewicz-Wronka Aldona , Strużyna Janusz
Published: May 2015

The transformation of Poland’s public organisations poses new challenges for their employees. Growing social expectations regarding the quality of social services increase the importance of employees’ development and commitment. This requires that special attention be paid to the learning value of the job, which not only enhances employees’ commitment to the organisation but also positively influences their development and job satisfaction. This paper attempts to answer the question: what is the extent of the learning value of jobs in organisations in the public sector and is the learning value of the job connected with organisational commitment of employees and their job satisfaction? Empirical research is used in service to answering these questions.
Does Authentic Leadership Depend on National Culture?
Authors: Furmańczyk Joanna
Published: May 2015

The author presents the theoretical assumptions and concepts concerning the cultural determinants of leadership in Japanese and German international enterprises. The author not only describes the theoretical assumptions behind authentic leadership and the links between an organisation and culture, but also presents results of empirical research conducted among 57 top managers of international automotive enterprises operating in Poland. The results show that for German enterprises the strongest correlations were between dimensions of authentic leadership and power distance. In the Japanese enterprises, both power distance and individualism were key in determining the dimensions of authentic leadership.
Transparência no setor público: uma análise dos relatórios de gestão anuais de entidades públicas federais no ano de 2010
Authors: Bairral Maria Amália da Costa , Silva Adolfo Henrique Coutinho e , Alves Francisco José dos Santos
Published: May 2015

O presente estudo analisa o nível de transparência pública nos relatórios de gestão anuais de entidades públicas federais e os incentivos (político, institucional, governamental, social e financeiro) que podem afetar a divulgação da informação pública. Aborda-se a perspectiva da teoria de agência e da prestação de contas (public accountability) na divulgação da informação, pois os gestores governamentais podem disponibilizar ao cidadão uma informação incompleta (conflito de agência). Nesse sentido, uma maior transparência da informação pública pode servir como uma forma de aproximação entre o principal (cidadão) e o agente (gestor público). Realizou-se uma pesquisa empírica, de natureza quantitativa, para análise do nível de transparência apresentado nos Relatórios de Gestão de 2010 de 115 entidades públicas federais. Para tanto, foi construído um Índice de Transparência Pública Federal (ITPF), baseado em estudos internacionais, de modo a verificar o nível de divulgação da informação pública apresentado nos relatórios de gestão anuais e os incentivos que afetam essa divulgação. Os resultados apontam um baixo nível de transparência pública nos relatórios de gestão (48%), deficiências na divulgação obrigatória (80%) e baixa aderência às práticas de evidenciação voluntária (19%). Sobre os incentivos para a divulgação, se observou uma relação positiva entre o tipo de entidade, acessibilidade e demografia de pessoal com o índice de transparência pública, enquanto a burocracia pública mostrou uma relação negativa. Já o porte, tamanho do núcleo de gestão, receita orçamentária e dependência federal não influenciam a divulgação da informação pública nos relatórios de gestão.