bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Study of Reliability of Multi‐State Systems with Two Performance Sharing Groups
Authors: Peng Rui , Liu Hanlin , Xie Min
Published: February 2016

The performance sharing can be widely seen in different kinds of engineering systems, such as meshed power distribution systems and interconnected data transmission systems. This paper presents a study of systems consisting of multi‐state units connected as two performance sharing groups, and the suggested methodology can be adapted for the case of three or more performance sharing groups. To be more general, the system unit is allowed to be in one single performance sharing group or both. Each unit has a random demand to satisfy, and the units can transmit capacity with each other given that the total performance transmitted in each performance sharing group does not surpass its maximum transmission capacity. An algorithm based on the universal generating function technique is proposed to evaluate the system reliability and the expected system performance deficiency. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Process Capability Analysis via Continuous Ranked Probability Score
Authors: Shi Liangxing , Ma Hongye , Lin Dennis K. J.
Published: February 2016

Process capability analysis is an important aspect of quality control. Various process capability indices are proposed when the distribution is normal. For non‐normal cases, percentile and yield‐based indices have been introduced. These two methods use partial features of a process distribution, such as key percentiles and the proportion of non‐conforming (PNC) to estimate the process capability. However, these local features may not reflect the uniformity of a process appropriately when the distribution is non‐normal. In this paper, continuous ranked probability score (CRPS) is introduced to process capability analysis and a CRPS‐based approach is proposed. This method can assess the dispersion of process variation across the overall distribution and is applicable to any continuous distribution. An example and simulations show that CRPS‐based indices are more stable and accurate indicators of process capability than the existing indices in reflecting the degree of process fluctuation. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
On the application of generic CCA‐secure transformations to proxy re‐encryption
Authors: Nuñez David , Agudo Isaac , Lopez Javier
Published: February 2016

Several generic methods exist for achieving chosen‐ciphertext attack (CCA)‐secure public‐key encryption schemes from weakly secure cryptosystems, such as the Fujisaki–Okamoto and REACT transformations. In the context of proxy re‐encryption (PRE), it would be desirable to count on analogous constructions that allow PRE schemes to achieve better security notions. In this paper, we study the adaptation of these transformations to proxy re‐encryption and find both negative and positive results. On the one hand, we show why it is not possible to directly integrate these transformations with weakly secure PRE schemes because of general obstacles coming from both the constructions themselves and the security models, and we identify 12 PRE schemes that exhibit these problems. On the other hand, we propose an extension of the Fujisaki–Okamoto transformation for PRE, which achieves a weak form of CCA security in the random oracle model, and we describe the sufficient conditions for applying it. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Corrosion behaviour of AA8xxx aluminium fins in heat exchangers
Authors: Andreatta F. , Lanzutti A. , Fedrizzi L.
Published: February 2016

Different alloys with composition in the range of AA8xxx series employed in the HVAC&R sector (heating, ventilating, air conditioning and refrigerating) were investigated in this work in order to evaluate the effect of alloy composition on the microstructure and corrosion resistance. The microstructure of the alloys was investigated by optical and scanning electron microscopy. The electrochemical behaviour was evaluated by means of electrochemical methods (open circuit potential and potentiodynamic measurements) and by immersion tests in aggressive electrolytes. The electrochemical behaviour observed for different alloy compositions in the 8xxx series evidenced that the corrosion resistance of alloys employed in the production of heat exchanger finstocks is strongly affected by small variations in the content of alloying elements, as well as by surface modifications due to the rolling process. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Visible‐light‐driven self‐cleaning SERS substrate of silver nanoparticles and graphene oxide decorated nitrogen‐doped titania nanotube array
Authors: Xie Yibing , Meng Yujie , Wu Miao
Published: February 2016

Graphene oxide (GO) and silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) sequentially decorated nitrogen‐doped titania nanotube array (N‐TiO2 NTA) had been designed as visible‐light‐driven self‐cleaning surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrate for a recyclable SERS detection application. N‐TiO2 NTA was fabricated by anodic oxidation and then doping nitrogen treatment in ammonia atmosphere, acting as a visible‐light‐driven photocatalyst and supporting substrate. Ag/GO/N‐TiO2 NTA was prepared by decorating GO monolayer through an impregnation process and then depositing Ag NPs through a polyol process on the surface of N‐TiO2 NTA, acting as the collection of organic molecule and Raman enhancement. The SERS activity of Ag/GO/N‐TiO2 NTA was evaluated using methyl blue as an organic probe molecule, revealing the analytical enhancement factor of 4.54 × 104. Ag/GO/N‐TiO2 NTA was applied as active SERS substrate to determine a low‐affinity organic pollutant of bisphenol A, revealing the detection limit of as low as 5 × 10−7 m. Ag/GO/N‐TiO2 NTA could also achieve self‐cleaning function for a recycling utilization through visible‐light‐driven photocatalytic degradation of the adsorbed organic molecules. Ag/GO/N‐TiO2 NTA has been successfully reused for five times without an obvious decay in accuracy and sensitivity for organic molecule detection. The unique properties of this SERS substrate enable it to have a promising application for the sensitive and recyclable SERS detection of low‐affinity organic molecules. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A multiple imputation approach for MNAR mechanisms compatible with Heckman's model
Authors: Galimard Jacques‐Emmanuel , Chevret Sylvie , Protopopescu Camelia , Resche‐Rigon Matthieu
Published: February 2016

Standard implementations of multiple imputation (MI) approaches provide unbiased inferences based on an assumption of underlying missing at random (MAR) mechanisms. However, in the presence of missing data generated by missing not at random (MNAR) mechanisms, MI is not satisfactory. Originating in an econometric statistical context, Heckman's model, also called the sample selection method, deals with selected samples using two joined linear equations, termed the selection equation and the outcome equation. It has been successfully applied to MNAR outcomes. Nevertheless, such a method only addresses missing outcomes, and this is a strong limitation in clinical epidemiology settings, where covariates are also often missing.

We propose to extend the validity of MI to some MNAR mechanisms through the use of the Heckman's model as imputation model and a two‐step estimation process. This approach will provide a solution that can be used in an MI by chained equation framework to impute missing (either outcomes or covariates) data resulting either from a MAR or an MNAR mechanism when the MNAR mechanism is compatible with a Heckman's model. The approach is illustrated on a real dataset from a randomised trial in patients with seasonal influenza. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Finite sample pointwise confidence intervals for a survival distribution with right‐censored data
Authors: Fay Michael P. , Brittain Erica H.
Published: February 2016

We review and develop pointwise confidence intervals for a survival distribution with right‐censored data for small samples, assuming only independence of censoring and survival. When there is no censoring, at each fixed time point, the problem reduces to making inferences about a binomial parameter. In this case, the recently developed beta product confidence procedure (BPCP) gives the standard exact central binomial confidence intervals of Clopper and Pearson. Additionally, the BPCP has been shown to be exact (gives guaranteed coverage at the nominal level) for progressive type II censoring and has been shown by simulation to be exact for general independent right censoring. In this paper, we modify the BPCP to create a ‘mid‐p’ version, which reduces to the mid‐p confidence interval for a binomial parameter when there is no censoring. We perform extensive simulations on both the standard and mid‐p BPCP using a method of moments implementation that enforces monotonicity over time. All simulated scenarios suggest that the standard BPCP is exact. The mid‐p BPCP, like other mid‐p confidence intervals, has simulated coverage closer to the nominal level but may not be exact for all survival times, especially in very low censoring scenarios. In contrast, the two asymptotically‐based approximations have lower than nominal coverage in many scenarios. This poor coverage is due to the extreme inflation of the lower error rates, although the upper limits are very conservative. Both the standard and the mid‐p BPCP methods are available in our bpcp R package. Published 2016. This article is US Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
Modelling semi‐attributable toxicity in dual‐agent phase I trials with non‐concurrent drug administration
Authors: Wheeler Graham M. , Sweeting Michael J. , Mander Adrian P. , Lee Shing M. , Cheung Ying Kuen K.
Published: February 2016

In oncology, combinations of drugs are often used to improve treatment efficacy and/or reduce harmful side effects. Dual‐agent phase I clinical trials assess drug safety and aim to discover a maximum tolerated dose combination via dose‐escalation; cohorts of patients are given set doses of both drugs and monitored to see if toxic reactions occur. Dose‐escalation decisions for subsequent cohorts are based on the number and severity of observed toxic reactions, and an escalation rule. In a combination trial, drugs may be administered concurrently or non‐concurrently over a treatment cycle. For two drugs given non‐concurrently with overlapping toxicities, toxicities occurring after administration of the first drug yet before administration of the second may be attributed directly to the first drug, whereas toxicities occurring after both drugs have been given some present ambiguity; toxicities may be attributable to the first drug only, the second drug only or the synergistic combination of both. We call this mixture of attributable and non‐attributable toxicity semi‐attributable toxicity. Most published methods assume drugs are given concurrently, which may not be reflective of trials with non‐concurrent drug administration. We incorporate semi‐attributable toxicity into Bayesian modelling for dual‐agent phase I trials with non‐concurrent drug administration and compare the operating characteristics to an approach where this detail is not considered. Simulations based on a trial for non‐concurrent administration of intravesical Cabazitaxel and Cisplatin in early‐stage bladder cancer patients are presented for several scenarios and show that including semi‐attributable toxicity data reduces the number of patients given overly toxic combinations. © 2016 The Authors. Statistics in Medicine Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Estimating optimal treatment regimes via subgroup identification in randomized control trials and observational studies
Authors: Fu Haoda , Zhou Jin , Faries Douglas E.
Published: February 2016

With new treatments and novel technology available, personalized medicine has become an important piece in the new era of medical product development. Traditional statistics methods for personalized medicine and subgroup identification primarily focus on single treatment or two arm randomized control trials. Motivated by the recent development of outcome weighted learning framework, we propose an alternative algorithm to search treatment assignments which has a connection with subgroup identification problems. Our method focuses on applications from clinical trials to generate easy to interpret results. This framework is able to handle two or more than two treatments from both randomized control trials and observational studies. We implement our algorithm in C++ and connect it with R. Its performance is evaluated by simulations, and we apply our method to a dataset from a diabetes study. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Graphene‐Supported Mesoporous Carbons Prepared with Thermally Removable Templates as Efficient Catalysts for Oxygen Electroreduction
Authors: Niu Wenhan , Li Ligui , Liu Ji , Wang Nan , Li Wei , Tang Zhenghua , Zhou Weijia , Chen Shaowei
Published: February 2016

Graphene‐supported mesoporous carbons with rich nitrogen self‐doped active sites (N‐MC/rGO) are prepared by direct pyrolysis of a graphene‐oxide‐supported polymer composite embedded with massive, evenly distributed amorphous FeOOH that serve as efficient thermally removable templates. The resulting N‐MC/rGO catalysts exhibit high surface areas and apparent electrocatalytic activity for oxygen reduction reaction in alkaline media. Among the series, the sample prepared at 800 °C displays the best performance with a more positive onset potential, higher limiting currents, much higher stability, and stronger poison resistance than commercial Pt/C. This is ascribed to the synergetic functions of the highly conductive graphene support and the mesoporous N‐doped carbons that effectively impede the restacking of the graphene sheets and enhance the exposure of the rich nitrogen self‐doped active sites.
Using System Dynamics to Investigate How Belief Systems Influence the Process of Organizational Change
Authors: Yang Miles M. , Young Showing , Li Shyh‐Jane , Huang Yu‐Ying
Published: February 2016

The relationship between organizational change and performance is an important topic in strategic management. However, the way in which the process of organizational change affects organizational performance has been underestimated (Combe & Carrington, ). This study explores how Chief Executive Officers' beliefs lead to organizational changes and then subsequently generate superior organizational performance, using General Electric Corporation as a case. We developed a detailed simulation model of GE, including human resources, financial and cost accounting, research and development, and operations. Historical information and archival data were used to specify and formulate the model. The results show that a Chief Executive Officer's belief system can impact a firm's strategic decisions and financial performance both in the short and long term. In the short term, leaders' beliefs influence the strategies of the company and can be beneficial to financial outcomes. In the long term, leaders' beliefs may protect the company from future failures. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Structural and biochemical properties of a novel pullulanase of Paenibacillus lautus DSM 3035
Authors: Chen Si‐Qi , Cai Xiang‐Hai , Xie Jing‐Li , Wei Wei , Wei Dong‐Zhi
Published: February 2016

The pullulanase gene (pulPL), encoding a novel type I pullulanase (PulPL), was obtained from a Paenibacillus lautus DSM3035 isolate. The gene has an open reading frame of 2355 bp, After optimizing induction conditions in Escherichia coli, we overexpressed recombinant PulPL, purified this enzyme, and assayed its function . The level of functional PulPL‐like protein reached its maximum (about 0.28 mg/mL, 15% of total protein) after induction for 16 h at 20°C. Under these optimized harvesting conditions, PulPL activity was 11.1 U/mL. The purified recombinant enzyme with an apparent molecular mass of about 87.9 kDa was able to specifically attack the α‐1,6 linkages in pullulan to generate maltotriose as the major product. The purified PulPL exhibited optimal activity at pH 7.0 and 40°C. The PulPL hydrolyzed pullulan, amylopectin, starch, and glycogen, but not amylose. Substrate specificity observations and reaction products identifications indicate that the purified pullulanase from P. lautus DSM3035 is a type I pullulanase. The present report, to our knowledge, the first to identify type I pullulanase in P.lautus, and detail the enzymatic properties of this enzyme after heterologous expression.
Internet‐Mediated Corrective Feedback for Digital Natives
Authors: Saadat Mahboobeh , Mehrpour Saeed , Khajavi Yaser
Published: February 2016

In this article, the authors examine different ways of using the Internet to receive feedback, and discuss advantages of language learners’ use of the Internet to improve their own writing. In effect, the article elaborates on how Internet‐mediated corrective feedback (IMCF) can be used as an efficient tool by language learners to become competent writers. The authors show how artifact‐mediated options offered by the Internet such as web‐based search engines and corpus databases can help language learners write more efficiently. In addition, forums on writing problems can serve as another source of feedback for the learners. Accordingly, the authors suggest that IMCF be incorporated in feedback taxonomies as a new category, and that language teachers should teach their students how to benefit from one of the most valuable assets of the 21st century—that is, the Internet—in order to enable learners to correct and revise their own writing.
Systematic Professional Development Training and Its Impact on Teachers’ Attitudes Toward ELLs: SIOP and Guided Coaching
Authors: Song Kim Hyunsook
Published: February 2016

This study examined systematic professional development (PD) training and its impact on teachers’ roles for and attitudes toward English language learners (ELLs). Systematic PD should compensate for theories and pedagogies not obtained during teacher education programs yet needed for content teachers with ELLs. A study was conducted to examine 6th‐ to 12th‐grade content teachers’ report on their instructional strategies for ELLs and their perceived attitude and role changes after they had sheltered instruction observation protocol (SIOP) training and guided coaching sessions. Two surveys and one interview were data sources for this mixed methods research design. Grounded theory was an approach adopted for qualitative data analysis, and t‐tests and means were used to analyze quantitative data. The results show that most of the participating teachers perceived that they improved their instructional strategies for ELLs and attributed this improvement to SIOP and guided coaching. The results also show that most of the participants considered their roles for ELLs positively and attributed their attitude change toward ELLs and teaching strategies to PD trainings. Yet some participating teachers reported that they were still frustrated with ELLs, mostly due to their English proficiency levels. Implications and future directions are discussed, as are the limitation of this study.
The Impact of Origins of Reverse Technology Transfer on MNC Home‐Country Product Development
Authors: Hsu Sean T. , Iriyama Akie
Published: February 2016

Reverse technology transfer (the transferring of multinational corporation [MNC] subsidiaries’ technological knowledge to their home country) deserves more executive attention since the source of competitive advantage of MNCs resides in their capabilities to leverage knowledge from different units across borders. This article examines three salient “origins” of reverse technology transfer—headquarters, local constituents, and subsidiary research and development (R&D) activity—and their impact on MNCs’ home‐country product development. We argue that reverse technology transfer from subsidiary R&D activity is more likely to have a positive impact on MNC home‐country product development than the other two origins because reverse transfer from local constituents requires high integration cost, and transfer from headquarters adds little technological novelty. We also develop two contingency hypotheses for the latter two origins to increase their likelihood of positive impacts on home‐country product development. Using a data set of 1,331 Taiwanese MNCs, our empirical evidence provides two important messages to managers: (1) a subsidiary whose technology mainly relies on its R&D would be an ideal target for reverse transfer; and (2) reverse transfer from local constituents and headquarters can be effective when they fit with an appropriate organizational mechanism, such as governance mode and absorptive capacity. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Cover Image, Volume 3, Issue 2
Authors: McGowan Suzanne , Anderson N. John , Edwards Mary E. , Langdon Peter G. , Jones Vivienne J. , Turner Simon , van Hardenbroek Maarten , Whiteford Erika , Wiik Emma
Published: February 2016

The cover image, by Suzanne McGowan et al., is based on the Advanced Review Long‐term perspectives on terrestrial and aquatic carbon cycling from palaeolimnology, DOI: 10.1002/wat2.1130.

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Cover Image, Volume 7, Issue 2
Authors: Allan Rob , Endfield Georgina , Damodaran Vinita , Adamson George , Hannaford Matthew , Carroll Fiona , Macdonald Neil , Groom Nick , Jones Julie , Williamson Fiona , Hendy Erica , Holper Paul , Arroyo‐Mora J. Pablo , Hughes Lorna , Bickers Robert , Bliuc Ana‐Maria
Published: February 2016

The cover image, by Rob Allan et al., is based on the Opinion Towards integrated historical climate research: the example of ACRE (Atmospheric Circulation Reconstructions over the Earth), DOI: 10.1002/wcc.379.

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The rise of the starlet sea anemone Nematostella vectensis as a model system to investigate development and regeneration
Authors: Layden Michael J. , Rentzsch Fabian , Röttinger Eric
Published: February 2016

Reverse genetics and next‐generation sequencing unlocked a new era in biology. It is now possible to identify an animal(s) with the unique biology most relevant to a particular question and rapidly generate tools to functionally dissect that biology. This review highlights the rise of one such novel model system, the starlet sea anemone Nematostella vectensis. Nematostella is a cnidarian (corals, jellyfish, hydras, sea anemones, etc.) animal that was originally targeted by EvoDevo researchers looking to identify a cnidarian animal to which the development of bilaterians (insects, worms, echinoderms, vertebrates, mollusks, etc.) could be compared. Studies in Nematostella have accomplished this goal and informed our understanding of the evolution of key bilaterian features. However, Nematostella is now going beyond its intended utility with potential as a model to better understand other areas such as regenerative biology, EcoDevo, or stress response. This review intends to highlight key EvoDevo insights from Nematostella that guide our understanding about the evolution of axial patterning mechanisms, mesoderm, and nervous systems in bilaterians, as well as to discuss briefly the potential of Nematostella as a model to better understand the relationship between development and regeneration. Lastly, the sum of research to date in Nematostella has generated a variety of tools that aided the rise of Nematostella to a viable model system. We provide a catalogue of current resources and techniques available to facilitate investigators interested in incorporating Nematostella into their research. WIREs Dev Biol 2016, 5:408–428. doi: 10.1002/wdev.222

This article is categorized under:

Early Embryonic Development > Development to the Basic Body Plan

Comparative Development and Evolution > Model Systems

Technologies > Perturbing Genes and Generating Modified Animals
Cover Image, Volume 5, Issue 2
Authors: Frankenberg Stephen R. , de Barros Flavia R.O. , Rossant Janet , Renfree Marilyn B.
Published: February 2016

The cover image, by Marilyn B. Renfree et al., is based on the Advanced Review The Mammalian Blastocyst, DOI: 10.1002/wdev.220.

Marilyn B. Renfree et al. would also like to credit and thank fellow colleague, Geoff Shaw, for his design contribution.

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The potential influence of sustainability criteria on the European Union pellets market—the example of Sweden
Authors: Hansson Julia , Hackl Roman
Published: February 2016

The introduction of sustainability criteria for solid biomass/biofuels on the European Union (EU) or global level may influence the EU pellets market, e.g., by limiting the eligible biomass supply potential or specific pellet chains. This assessment focuses on greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions and the issue of sustainable forest management (SFM) for pellets potentially used in Sweden (for residential and/or industrial use). The paper includes (1) a literature review of recent studies addressing the impact of sustainability requirements (for solid biomass and/or liquid biofuels) on the bioenergy market, (2) a characterization of SFM conditions in potential pellets export countries and their capacity to enforce respective legislation, and (3) an assessment of GHG emissions for heat and electricity for the Swedish market from selected potential wood pellet chains (including torrefaction) and related GHG emissions reduction compared to fossil fuels using a life cycle assessment perspective. Most of the assessed wood pellet value chains will most likely be able to meet stringent sustainability requirements from a GHG perspective. Thus, the impact of near‐term GHG emission reduction demands on the Swedish pellets market is limited. More specifically, we find that torrefaction may be advantageous for pellets imported over long distances (i.e., over approximately 18,500 km). We conclude that demand for SFM related to solid biofuels will not have a significant or long‐lasting effect on the market for Swedish pellets. The real impacts of sustainability requirements will however depend on levels of ambition as well as the methodologies and systems boundaries applied in future systems. WIREs Energy Environ 2016, 5:413–429. doi: 10.1002/wene.199

This article is categorized under:

Bioenergy > Economics and Policy

Bioenergy > Climate and Environment
Cover Image, Volume 7, Issue 1
Authors: Ouyang Jing , Hu Jiayue , Chen Ji‐Long
Published: February 2016

The cover image, by Ji‐Long Chen et al., is based on the Advanced Review lncRNAs regulate the innate immune response to viral infection, 10.1002/wrna.1321.

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Cover Image, Volume 8, Issue 2
Authors: Gérard Claude , Goldbeter Albert
Published: February 2016

The cover image, by Albert Goldbeter and Claude Gérard, is based on the Focus Article Dynamics of the mammalian cell cycle in physiological and pathological conditions, DOI: 10.1002/wsbm.1325.

The figure schematizes the cyclin‐dependent kinase (Cdk) network driving the mammalian cell cycle.

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First known satellite collaring of a viverrid species: preliminary performance and implications of GPS tracking Malay civets (Viverra tangalunga)
Authors: Evans Meaghan N. , Guerrero‐Sanchez Sergio , Bakar Mohd Soffian Abu , Kille Peter , Goossens Benoit
Published: February 2016

The application of advanced technologies to the study of little‐known species is a necessary step in generating effective conservation strategies. Despite the biological importance of the small carnivore guild, a paucity of data exists in terms of the spatial ecology of these species, largely due to logistical constraints of large and bulky collar units. This study reports the first known satellite collaring of a viverrid, the Malay civet (Viverra tangalunga), in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. Stationary tests of two generations of 65–70 g e‐obs GmbH ‘Collar 1A’ units recorded high fix success rates and good accuracy and precision under semi‐open canopy. From October 2013–August 2015, nine adult V. tangalunga were fit with e‐obs collars recording hourly nocturnal GPS locations. Collars were successfully deployed for 27–187 days. Field GPS fix success varied from 22 to 88.3 %, with the study documenting a total GPS success of 58.1 % across all individuals. Despite this large in‐field performance range, the quality and quantity of data collected by these units surpass that of previous VHF studies on Asian viverrids, collecting on average a 16‐fold increase in locations per collaring day. The successful application of satellite technology to these little‐known carnivores carries significant biological and conservation implications, and it is recommended that satellite collars are a viable technology to conduct detailed and well‐designed ecological studies of Viverridae species.
Semantic communication in birds: evidence from field research over the past two decades
Authors: Suzuki Toshitaka N.
Published: February 2016

What do animal signals mean? This is a central question in studies on animal communication. Research into the semantics of animal signals began in 1980, with evidence that alarm calls of a non‐human primate designated predators as external referents. These studies have challenged the historical assumption that such referential signaling is a unique feature of human language and produced a paradigm shift in animal communication research. Over the past two decades, an increasing number of field studies have revealed similar complexity in anti‐predator communication of birds. The acoustic structures of avian alarm calls show a high degree of variation in pitch, duration, shape, and repetition rate. In addition to such distinct and graded variations, several birds combine discrete types of notes or calls into higher complex sequences. These variations in alarm calls are typically associated with the predator's attributes, such as predator type and distance, and receivers respond to them with appropriate anti‐predator behaviors. Although alarm calls of several bird species, as well as those of monkeys, appear to denote predator attributes, almost nothing is known about the cognitive processes that underlie the production and perception of these signals. In this review, I explore the existing evidence for referential signaling in birds and highlight the importance of the cognitive approach to animal communication research. I hope this review will promote further investigations of alarm‐calling behavior in birds and will help enhance our understanding of the ecology and evolution of semantic communication.
Normal values and standardization of parameters in nuclear cardiology: Japanese Society of Nuclear Medicine working group database
Authors: Nakajima Kenichi , Matsumoto Naoya , Kasai Tokuo , Matsuo Shinro , Kiso Keisuke , Okuda Koichi
Published: February 2016

As a 2-year project of the Japanese Society of Nuclear Medicine working group activity, normal myocardial imaging databases were accumulated and summarized. Stress-rest with gated and non-gated image sets were accumulated for myocardial perfusion imaging and could be used for perfusion defect scoring and normal left ventricular (LV) function analysis. For single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) with multi-focal collimator design, databases of supine and prone positions and computed tomography (CT)-based attenuation correction were created. The CT-based correction provided similar perfusion patterns between genders. In phase analysis of gated myocardial perfusion SPECT, a new approach for analyzing dyssynchrony, normal ranges of parameters for phase bandwidth, standard deviation and entropy were determined in four software programs. Although the results were not interchangeable, dependency on gender, ejection fraction and volumes were common characteristics of these parameters. Standardization of 123I-MIBG sympathetic imaging was performed regarding heart-to-mediastinum ratio (HMR) using a calibration phantom method. The HMRs from any collimator types could be converted to the value with medium-energy comparable collimators. Appropriate quantification based on common normal databases and standard technology could play a pivotal role for clinical practice and researches.
De la décomposition du cadavre au dépôt final des ossements : analyse archéothanatologique d'une inhumation secondaire de l'Antiquité Tardive (F71, Bétheny « Les Ecavés », Marne)
Authors: Bouquin D. , Depierre G. , Lefèvre P. , Lefebvre A. , Troublard A.
Published: February 2016

Lors de la fouille préventive du site antique de Bétheny « Les Ecavés » (Marne) les vestiges disloqués d'un adulte installés dans un coffre en pierre ont été mis au jour. La fouille et l'analyse détaillée des ossements et de la structure ont révélé une gestion complexe de ce dépôt. Ainsi, bien que certains gestes ont été clairement identifiés (fracturation, enveloppement), il est difficile de déterminer la pensée à l'origine du geste et se pose, entre autres, la question du caractère pratique et/ou symbolique des pratiques que nous avons pu observer.
First Successful Pregnancy After Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis by FISH for an Inversion Together with a Cryptic Translocation in India
Authors: Sanap Rupesh R. , Athalye Arundhati S. , Madon Prochi F. , Naik Nandkishor J. , Naik Dattatray J. , Mehta Trupti V. , Parikh Firuza R.
Published: February 2016

The technique of pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) in cases of repeated miscarriages due to parental balanced inversions and translocations is relatively new in India. In a couple with a history of recurrent miscarriages and implantation failures, karyotyping done in three laboratories showed that the husband had an insertion or inversion of chromosome 12. Hence, they were referred to us for PGD. The anomaly turned out to be more complex. A pre-PGD workup using a series of FISH probes on metaphases accompanied by reflex FISH was required to characterize the anomaly. For subsequent PGD, single blastomeres were biopsied from seven embryos obtained by intracytoplasmic sperm injection. FISH analysis had to be carried out using ten probes in four rounds. On pre-PGD workup for inversion 12 by FISH, an additional anomaly of a cryptic translocation between 9qter and 12qter was detected in the husband. His complex karyotype according to the detailed ISCN nomenclature was therefore 46,XY,t(9;12)(9pter→9q34.1::12q24.2→12qter),der(12)inv(12)(12pter→12p11.2::12q24.2→12p11.2::9q34.1→9qter). After PGD, the normal and balanced embryos transferred, resulted in the birth of healthy twins conceived in the first cycle itself. Therefore, a pre-PGD workup is important and needs reflex FISH in the event of an unexpected cytogenetic anomaly. PGD will need the analysis of additional chromosomes on the same cell by FISH in such cases. An experienced in vitro fertilization and Genetics team is essential for success. This is the first report of PGD by FISH for an inversion coupled with a cryptic translocation from India.
Which proportion of SR investments is enough? A survey-based approach
Authors: Dorfleitner Gregor , Nguyen Mai
Published: February 2016

This article examines the determinants of the optimal percentage that private investors seek to invest in a socially responsible (SR) way when forming their portfolio. By conducting a global online survey in English, German and French, we find indications that it is sufficient for the majority of investors to have a certain amount of their budget invested sustainably. Accordingly, the optimal proportion tends to be lower the higher the available investment volume is. In addition, the non-financial utility derived from SR investments appears to be independent of the form of financing the investor provides. Moreover, the results show that well-educated women and slightly younger persons seek to invest a higher percentage of their portfolio socially responsibly.
A one-dimensional symmetry result for a class of nonlocal semilinear equations in the plane
Authors: Sire Yannick , Hamel François , Ros-Oton Xavier , Valdinoci Enrico
Published: February 2016

We consider entire solutions to

\mathcal{L}u = f(u)

in

\mathbb{R}^{2}

, where

\mathcal{L}

is a nonlocal operator with translation invariant, even and compactly supported kernel

K

. Under different assumptions on the operator

\mathcal{L}

, we show that monotone solutions are necessarily one-dimensional. The proof is based on a Liouville type approach. A variational characterization of the stability notion is also given, extending our results in some cases to stable solutions.
Anti‐HIV seropositivity was related to HBsAg seropositivity among injecting drug users in Taiwan
Authors: Hsieh Meng‐Hsuan , Hsieh Ming‐Yen , Huang Chung‐Feng , Yeh Ming‐Lun , Wang Shu‐Chi , Yang Jeng‐Fu , Chang Ko , Lin Wei‐Ru , Lin Chun‐Yu , Chen Tun‐Chieh , Huang Jee‐Fu , Dai Chia‐Yen , Tsai Jih‐Jin , Chuang Wan‐Long , Yu Ming‐Lung
Published: February 2016

In Taiwan, the number of new cases of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection via drug injection has been increasing since 2003. Due to HIV and hepatitis B virus (HBV) having similar transmission routes, HBV and HIV infections among injecting drug users (IDUs) has become an important public health issue. The aim of this study was explore the prevalence of HBV infection among IDUs with and without HIV infection, and examine whether HIV infection is associated with HBV infection among IDUs in Southern Taiwan. We enrolled 566 IDUs, including 87 anti‐HBV positive IDUs and 479 anti‐HBV negative IDUs, and also analyzed the results of liver function tests, HBV DNA, anti‐HIV, HIV RNA, and CD4 cell count. The results showed that the prevalence of HBV infection among IDUs was 15.4%. The prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) was higher among individuals born before 1985 (15.9% vs. 4.0%), but this was not significant. Anti‐HIV seropositivity was related to HBsAg seropositivity [odds ratio (OR) = 2.47, 95% confidence interval = 1.26–4.82, p = 0.008). Anti‐HCV and anti‐HIV were risk factors for abnormal alanine aminotransferase (ALT; OR = 2.11, 95% confidence interval = 1.005–4.42, p = 0.048 and OR = 1.47, 95% confidence interval = 1.02–2.10, p = 0.04, respectively), and HBsAg was not a factor related to abnormal ALT. In conclusion, the prevalence of HBV infection was similar in the general population and in IDUs, and due to anti‐HIV seropositivity being significantly related to HBsAg seropositivity, HBV infection among IDUs is still important. We suggest that for IDUs, HBsAg should be monitored closely.
Who May Benefit From Armeo Power Treatment? A Neurophysiological Approach to Predict Neurorehabilitation Outcomes
Authors: Calabrò Rocco Salvatore , Russo Margherita , Naro Antonino , Milardi Demetrio , Balletta Tina , Leo Antonino , Filoni Serena , Bramanti Placido
Published: February 2016

Background

The Armeo Power, a rehabilitation exoskeleton that allows early treatment of motor disabilities, provides intelligent arm support in a large 3‐dimensional work space, thus enabling patients to perform intensive, repetitive, and goal‐oriented exercises. This device could efficiently induce new connections and facilitate plasticity phenomena potentiation. Knowledge of the potential brain plasticity reservoir after brain damage constitutes a prerequisite for an optimal rehabilitation strategy.

Objective

To identify potential neurophysiologic markers predicting the responsiveness of stroke patients to upper limb robotic treatment.

Design

Prospective cohort study.

Setting

Behavioral and Robotic Neurorehabilitation Laboratory of IRCCS Centro Neurolesi Bonino‐Pulejo, Messina, Italy.

Patients

We enrolled 35 patients who had sustained a first‐ever ischemic supratentorial stroke at least 2 months before enrollment and had unilateral hemiplegia.

Methods

All patients underwent 40 Armeo Power training sessions that lasted 1 hour each (ie, 5 times a week for 8 weeks).

Main Outcome Measurements

We assessed the spasticity and motor function of the upper limb by means of the Modified Ashworth scale and Fugl‐Meyer assessment, respectively. Moreover, we evaluated the cortical excitability and plasticity potential of the bilateral primary motor areas in response to the repetitive paired associative stimulation paradigm using transcranial magnetic stimulation and Armeo Power kinematic parameters.

Results

The patients who showed significant repetitive paired associative stimulation aftereffects at baseline exhibited an evident increase of cortical plasticity in the affected hemisphere (motor evoked potential amplitude increase, P = .03), a decrease of interhemispheric inhibition (affected hemisphere cortical silent period duration decrease, P = .01; unaffected hemisphere cortical silent period duration increase, P = .004; repetitive paired associative stimulation aftereffect increase, P = .008). Such findings were paralleled by clinical improvements (Fugl‐Meyer, P = .04) and Armeo Power kinematic improvements (elbow flexion/extension, P = .02; shoulder range of movement, P = .002).

Conclusions

Our data suggest that use of Armeo Power may improve upper limb motor function recovery as predicted by reshaping of cortical and transcallosal plasticity, according to the baseline cortical excitability.

Level of Evidence

IV
A Case Series: The Identification of Buried Bumper Syndrome With Abdominal Computed Tomography Scan in Two Severely Brain Injured Rehabilitation Patients
Authors: Krull Christine M.P. , Dennison Andrew C.
Published: February 2016

Buried bumper syndrome is a potentially dangerous complication related to percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube placement. Early diagnosis of this condition is important to avoid further complications related to subcutaneous or intraperitoneal administration of tube feedings. However, diagnosis in persons with altered mental status due to brain injury is challenging because of the patient's lack of ability to communicate and report symptoms. We present 2 case studies that demonstrate both the importance of early diagnosis and management and the lack of adequate sensitivity of a Gastrografin‐aided kidney, ureter, and bladder (KUB) study.
New Weather Satellite Captures Sea Surface Temperatures
Authors: Stanley Sarah
Published: February 2016

A new algorithm improves the accuracy of Pacific and Indian Ocean surface temperature measurements by the Japanese geostationary satellite Himawari-8.
Objects That Slam into Ceres Remain on Its Surface
Authors: Cook Terri
Published: February 2016

Hypervelocity impact experiments shed new light on the composition and evolution of the largest dwarf planet's little-known surface.
Alaska's Semidi Segment Could Unleash a Devastating Tsunami
Authors: Cook Terri
Published: February 2016

Study reveals structures along the Alaskan convergent margin capable of generating a powerful tsunami directed toward the United States's West Coast.
Honoring Earth and Space Scientists
Authors:   AGU
Published: February 2016

Remembering AGU members and others who have passed away
metaCCA: summary statistics-based multivariate meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies using canonical correlation analysis
Authors: Cichonska Anna , Rousu Juho , Marttinen Pekka , Kangas Antti J. , Soininen Pasi , Lehtimäki Terho , Raitakari Olli T. , Järvelin Marjo-Riitta , Salomaa Veikko , Ala-Korpela Mika , Ripatti Samuli , Pirinen Matti
Published: February 2016

Motivation: A dominant approach to genetic association studies is to perform univariate tests between genotype-phenotype pairs. However, analyzing related traits together increases statistical power, and certain complex associations become detectable only when several variants are tested jointly. Currently, modest sample sizes of individual cohorts, and restricted availability of individual-level genotype-phenotype data across the cohorts limit conducting multivariate tests.

Results: We introduce metaCCA, a computational framework for summary statistics-based analysis of a single or multiple studies that allows multivariate representation of both genotype and phenotype. It extends the statistical technique of canonical correlation analysis to the setting where original individual-level records are not available, and employs a covariance shrinkage algorithm to achieve robustness.

Multivariate meta-analysis of two Finnish studies of nuclear magnetic resonance metabolomics by metaCCA, using standard univariate output from the program SNPTEST, shows an excellent agreement with the pooled individual-level analysis of original data. Motivated by strong multivariate signals in the lipid genes tested, we envision that multivariate association testing using metaCCA has a great potential to provide novel insights from already published summary statistics from high-throughput phenotyping technologies.

Availability and implementation: Code is available at https://github.com/aalto-ics-kepaco

Contacts:  anna.cichonska@helsinki.fi or matti.pirinen@helsinki.fi

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
fqtools: an efficient software suite for modern FASTQ file manipulation
Authors: Droop Alastair P.
Published: February 2016

Summary: Many Next Generation Sequencing analyses involve the basic manipulation of input sequence data before downstream processing (e.g. searching for specific sequences, format conversion or basic file statistics). The rapidly increasing data volumes involved in NGS make any dataset manipulation a time-consuming and error-prone process. I have developed fqtools; a fast and reliable FASTQ file manipulation suite that can process the full set of valid FASTQ files, including those with multi-line sequences, whilst identifying invalid files. Fqtools is faster than similar tools, and is designed for use in automatic processing pipelines.

Availability and implementation: fqtools is open source and is available at: https://github.com/alastair-droop/fqtools.

Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.

Contact:  a.p.droop@leeds.ac.uk
Coala: an R framework for coalescent simulation
Authors: Staab Paul R. , Metzler Dirk
Published: February 2016

Summary: Simulation programs based on the coalescent efficiently generate genetic data according to a given model of evolution. We present coala, an R package for calling coalescent simulators with a unified syntax. It can execute simulations with several programs, calculate additional summary statistics and combine multiple simulations to create biologically more realistic data.

Availability and implementation: The package is publicly available on CRAN and on https://github.com/statgenlmu/coala under the conditions of the MIT license.

Contact:  metzler@bio.lmu.de
A web application for sample size and power calculation in case-control microbiome studies
Authors: Mattiello Federico , Verbist Bie , Faust Karoline , Raes Jeroen , Shannon William D. , Bijnens Luc , Thas Olivier
Published: February 2016

Summary: When designing a case-control study to investigate differences in microbial composition, it is fundamental to assess the sample sizes needed to detect an hypothesized difference with sufficient statistical power. Our application includes power calculation for (i) a recoded version of the two-sample generalized Wald test of the ‘HMP’ R-package for comparing community composition, and (ii) the Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test for comparing operational taxonomic unit-specific abundances between two samples (optional). The simulation-based power calculations make use of the Dirichlet-Multinomial model to describe and generate abundances. The web interface allows for easy specification of sample and effect sizes. As an illustration of our application, we compared the statistical power of the two tests, with and without stratification of samples. We observed that statistical power increases considerably when stratification is employed, meaning that less samples are needed to detect the same effect size with the same power.

Availability and implementation: The web interface is written in R code using Shiny (RStudio Inc., 2016) and it is available at https://fedematt.shinyapps.io/shinyMB. The R code for the recoded generalized Wald test can be found at https://github.com/mafed/msWaldHMP.

Contact:  Federico.Mattiello@UGent.be