bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Identifying neurocognitive markers for outcome prediction of global functioning in individuals with first‐episode and ultra‐high‐risk for psychosis
Authors: Sawada Kingo , Kanehara Akiko , Sakakibara Eisuke , Eguchi Satoshi , Tada Mariko , Satomura Yoshihiro , Suga Motomu , Koike Shinsuke , Kasai Kiyoto 
Published: March 2017

AimThere is an increasing need for identifying neurocognitive predictors of global functional outcome in early psychosis toward optimizing an early intervention strategy.MethodsWe conducted a longitudinal observational study to investigate an association between neurocognitive assessments at baseline and global functional outcome at an average of 1‐year follow up. Participants included ultra‐high‐risk for psychosis (UHR) individuals who had not converted to psychosis during the follow‐up period (UHR‐NP) and those with first‐episode psychosis (FEP). We evaluated neurocognition at baseline using the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia Japanese version, including Verbal Memory, Working Memory, Motor Speed, Verbal Fluency, Attention/Processing Speed, and Executive Function. We also assessed global functional outcome using the modified Global Assessment of Functioning (mGAF) scale both at baseline and after the follow‐up period.ResultsThirty‐four UHR‐NP individuals (34/47, 72%) and 29 FEP individuals (29/36, 81%) completed assessment of neurocognitive function at baseline and functional outcome at follow up. In the UHR‐NP group, Attention/Processing Speed was significantly associated with the mGAF score at follow up. In the FEP group, Executive Function was significantly associated with the average mGAF score during follow up.ConclusionAttention/Processing Speed and Executive Function at baseline may predict global functional outcome of early psychosis. These neurocognitive tests are easy to incorporate in clinical settings and, if replicated in independent samples, may be included in routine clinical assessments for prediction of functional outcome in early psychosis.
Is the diversification of Mediterranean Basin plant lineages coupled to karyotypic changes?
Authors: Escudero M. , Balao F. , Martín‐Bravo S. , Valente L. , Valcárcel V. 
Published: March 2017

Abstract

The Mediterranean Basin region, home to 25,000 plant species, is included in the worldwide list of hotspots of biodiversity. Despite the indisputably important role of chromosome transitions in plant evolution and diversification, no reference study to date has dealt with the possible relationship between chromosome evolution and lineage diversification in the Mediterranean Basin.

Here we study patterns of diversification, patterns of chromosome number transition (either polyploidy or dysploidy) and the relationship between the two for 14 Mediterranean Basin angiosperm lineages using previously published phylogenies.

We found a mixed pattern, with half of the lineages displaying a change in chromosome transition rates after the onset of the Mediterranean climate (six increases, one decrease) and the other half (six) experiencing constant rates of chromosome transitions through time. We have also found a heterogeneous pattern regarding diversification rates, with lineages exhibiting moderate (five phylogenies) or low (six) initial diversification rates that either increased (six) or declined (five) through time. Our results reveal no clear link between diversification rates and chromosome number transition rates.

By promoting the formation of new habitats and driving the extinction of many species, the Mediterranean onset and the posterior Quaternary climatic oscillations could have been key for the establishment of new chromosomal variants in some plant phylogenies but not in others. While the biodiversity of the Mediterranean Basin may be partly influenced by the chromosomal diversity of its lineages, this study concludes that lineage diversification in the region is largely decoupled from karyotypic evolution.
What Explains Agency Heads’ Length of Tenure? Testing Managerial Background, Performance, and Political Environment Effects
Authors: Petrovsky Nicolai , James Oliver , Moseley Alice , Boyne George A. 
Published: March 2017

AbstractThere are a number of influences on how long an agency head serves. The importance of particular influences, in turn, depends on the prospective destination of the agency head: elsewhere in the public sector, the private sector, or retirement. The authors estimate survival models of agency heads’ tenure using panel data on British central government executive agencies from 1989 to 2012. Findings suggest that chief executives of poorly performing agencies are encouraged to retire sooner. There is no evidence that a change in political control increases the risk of any form of exit, suggesting that political pressure to leave is not substantial for this type of official. Outsiders—agency heads recruited from outside central government—are relatively difficult to retain for a longer time, such that potential shortfalls in suitable managers caused by retirements in an aging workforce may be difficult to make up by appointing from this source.
Effect of vitrification on the mRNA transcriptome of bovine oocytes
Authors: Wang N , Li C‐Y , Zhu H‐B , Hao H‐S , Wang H‐Y , Yan C‐L , Zhao S‐J , Du W‐H , Wang D , Liu Y , Pang Y‐W , Zhao X‐M 
Published: March 2017

ContentsVitrification has been shown to decrease the developmental capacity of mammalian oocytes, and this is closely associated with the abnormal mRNA expressions of vitrified oocytes. However, the effect of vitrification on transcriptional machinery of oocytes examined by RNA sequencing (RNA‐seq) has yet to be defined. In the present study, the mRNA transcriptomes of fresh and vitrified bovine oocytes were analysed by Smart‐seq2 with the differently expressed genes determined by DEseq2 (an adjusted p‐value of .05 and a minimum fold change of 2). The differentially expressed mRNAs were then searched against the Gene Ontology (GO) and Genomes (KEGG) database. Finally, the mRNA expressions of 10 candidate genes were validated using quantitative real‐time PCR (qRT‐PCR). Approximately 12,000 genes were detected in each sample of fresh or vitrified oocytes. Of these, the expression levels of 102 genes differed significantly in vitrified groups: 12 genes mainly involved in cell cycle, fertilization and glucose metabolism were upregulated, and 90 genes mainly involved in mitochondria, ribosomal protein, cytoskeleton, transmembrane protein, cell cycle and calcium ions were downregulated. GO analysis showed that these genes were mainly enriched in terms of membrane‐bounded organelles, macromolecular complex, and intracellular part. The mRNA expression levels of 10 candidate genes selected randomly were in agreement with the results of the RNA‐seq. In conclusion, our results showed that vitrification affected the mRNA transcriptome of bovine oocytes by downregulating genes, which contributed to the decreased developmental capacity of vitrified oocytes. Our findings will be useful in determining approaches to improve the efficiency of vitrified oocytes.
Post‐mortem examination of the reproductive organs of female wild boars (Sus scrofa) in Sweden
Authors: Malmsten Anna , Jansson Gunnar , Dalin Anne‐Marie 
Published: March 2017

ContentsIn recent decades, wild boars (Sus scrofa) have increased in numbers and distribution in Europe. Compared to other wild ungulates of similar body size, wild boars have a high reproductive capacity. To increase the knowledge of wild boar reproduction, the objective of this study was to investigate characteristics of reproductive organs, and to provide information on the occurrence of abnormalities in reproductive organs from free‐ranging female wild boars. Between December 2011 and December 2015, reproductive organs from female wild boars (>30 kg body weight), were collected during hunting in four Swedish counties at estates where supplementary feeding was applied. The organs were macroscopically examined and measured. The stage of the reproductive cycle was defined according to the ovarian structures and in relation to uterus characteristics. Observed abnormalities were noted. The results from 569 animals that met the requirements to be included in this study showed significant differences in weight and length of the uterus between the various reproductive stages. Sampling region had significant effect on these differences. Abnormalities in the reproductive organs were present in approximately 10% of the examined animals. The prevalence of abnormalities increased significantly with age and was significantly affected by sampling region.
Regulatory Analysis Procedures and Political Influence on Bureaucratic Policymaking
Authors: Woods Neal D. 
Published: March 2017

AbstractWell‐known theories suggest that administrative procedures may be used as mechanisms of political control of the bureaucracy. This study investigates whether three common regulatory analysis procedures—cost‐benefit analysis, risk assessment, and economic impact analysis—lead to greater influence by political officials on bureaucratic policymaking. Multivariate analyses of data from a unique survey of state administrators indicate that regulatory analysis requirements are associated with decreases in the perceived influence of elected political officials on the content of administrative rules. This association is particularly evident in cases where proposed rules are subjected to a cost–benefit test. These findings contradict prominent theories of administrative procedures, but are consistent with recent research on the political power of administrative agencies.
Different by Design? Analyzing How Governments Justify GMO Liberalization through the Lens of Strategic Communication
Authors: Wenzelburger Georg , König Pascal D. 
Published: March 2017

AbstractGMO liberalization can be seen as politically risky for policy actors; it confronts them with policy‐specific strategic challenges and incentives regarding their policy communication. This perspective has received much more attention in association with two other kinds of policies, welfare state retrenchment and foreign policy. The aim of this paper is thus to situate GMO liberalization within a larger framework and to examine how governments deal with this kind of policy through their communication. The analysis looks at the liberalization of GMOs in Norway and the UK to examine how their communication depends on policy characteristics as well as country‐specific conditions. The findings suggest that the communication of GMO liberalization differs markedly from the communication of welfare state retrenchment and foreign military interventions and that the typical features of GMO policies as well as the sociocultural context of the two countries mattered for how the governments have communicated GMO liberalization.
An economic rationale for dismissing low‐quality experts in trial
Authors: Kim Chulyoung 
Published: March 2017

AbstractThe history of the admissibility standard for expert testimony in American courtrooms reveals that the standard has gradually increased to a high level following a series of important decisions by the Supreme Court. Whether such a stringent standard for expert testimony is beneficial or detrimental to the American justice system is still under fierce debate, but there has been scant economic analysis of this issue. This paper attempts to fill the gap by presenting a game‐theoretic argument showing that a stringent admissibility standard operates to increase the accuracy of judicial decision‐making in certain situations. More precisely, when the judge faces uncertainty regarding an expert's quality, the admissibility standard may provide the judge with information about the quality of expert testimony, thereby increasing the accuracy of judicial decision‐making by mitigating the judge's inference problem. I show the ways in which this effect dominates at trial and discuss related issues.
Increased insulin‐stimulated glucose uptake in both leg and arm muscles after sprint interval and moderate‐intensity training in subjects with type 2 diabetes or prediabetes
Authors: Sjöros T. J. , Heiskanen M. A. , Motiani K. K. , Löyttyniemi E. , Eskelinen J‐J. , Virtanen K. A. , Savisto N. J. , Solin O. , Hannukainen J. C. , Kalliokoski K. K. 
Published: March 2017

We investigated the effects of sprint interval training (SIT) and moderate‐intensity continuous training (MICT) on glucose uptake (GU) during hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp and fatty acid uptake (FAU) at fasting state in thigh and arm muscles in subjects with type 2 diabetes (T2D) or prediabetes.Twenty‐six patients (age 49, SD 4; 10 women) were randomly assigned into two groups: SIT (n=13) and MICT (n=13). The exercise in the SIT group consisted of 4–6×30 s of all‐out cycling with 4‐ minute recovery and in the MICT group 40‐ to 60‐ minute cycling at 60% of VO2peak. Both groups completed six training sessions within two weeks. GU and FAU were measured before and after the intervention with positron emission tomography in thigh (quadriceps femoris, QF; and hamstrings) and upper arm (biceps and triceps brachii) muscles.Whole‐body insulin‐stimulated GU increased significantly by 25% in both groups, and this was accompanied with significantly increased insulin‐stimulated GU in all thigh and upper arm muscles and significantly increased FAU in QF. Within QF, insulin‐stimulated GU improved more by SIT than MICT in rectus femoris (P = .01), but not differently between the training modes in the other QF muscles.In individuals with T2D or prediabetes, both SIT and MICT rapidly improve insulin‐stimulated GU in whole body and in the thigh and arm muscles as well as FAU in the main working muscle QF. These findings highlight the underused potential of exercise in rapidly restoring the impaired skeletal muscle metabolism in subjects with impaired glucose metabolism.
Skin hydration analysis by experiment and computer simulations and its implications for diapered skin
Authors: Saadatmand M. , Stone K. J. , Vega V. N. , Felter S. , Ventura S. , Kasting G. , Jaworska J. 
Published: March 2017

BackgroundExperimental work on skin hydration is technologically challenging, and mostly limited to observations where environmental conditions are constant. In some cases, like diapered baby skin, such work is practically unfeasible, yet it is important to understand potential effects of diapering on skin condition. To overcome this challenge, in part, we developed a computer simulation model of reversible transient skin hydration effects.MethodsSkin hydration model by Li et al. (Chem Eng Sci, 138, 2015, 164) was further developed to simulate transient exposure conditions where relative humidity (RH), wind velocity, air, and skin temperature can be any function of time. Computer simulations of evaporative water loss (EWL) decay after different occlusion times were compared with experimental data to calibrate the model. Next, we used the model to investigate EWL and SC thickness in different diapering scenarios.ResultsKey results from the experimental work were: (1) For occlusions by RH=100% and free water longer than 30 minutes the absorbed amount of water is almost the same; (2) Longer occlusion times result in higher water absorption by the SC. The EWL decay and skin water content predictions were in agreement with experimental data. Simulations also revealed that skin under occlusion hydrates mainly because the outflux is blocked, not because it absorbs water from the environment. Further, simulations demonstrated that hydration level is sensitive to time, RH and/or free water on skin. In simulated diapering scenarios, skin maintained hydration content very close to the baseline conditions without a diaper for the entire duration of a 24 hours period.ConclusionDifferent diapers/diaper technologies are known to have different profiles in terms of their ability to provide wetness protection, which can result in consumer‐noticeable differences in wetness. Simulation results based on published literature using data from a number of different diapers suggest that diapered skin hydrates within ranges considered reversible.
Relationship between the changes in blood flow and volume in the finger during a Braille character discrimination task
Authors: Murata J. , Murata S. , Soma M. , Nakae H. , Sato Y. , Kogo H. , Umeki N. 
Published: March 2017

PurposeWe hypothesized that skin blood flow (SBF) of fingers are modulated during concentrated finger perception and that the changes in SBF reflect fluctuations in finger volume (FV). The aim of this study, therefore, was examine the relationship between the changes in SBF and FV during Braille reading.MethodsWe measured SBF of the finger, cutaneous vascular conductance (CVC), FV, and arterial blood pressure during Braille reading performed under blind conditions in thirty healthy subjects. The subjects were instructed to read a flat plate with raised letters (Braille reading) for 15 seconds using their forefinger, and to touch a blank plate as a control for the Braille discrimination procedure.ResultsArterial blood pressure slightly increased during Braille reading but remained unchanged during the touching of the blank plate. SBF, CVC, and FV were reduced during Braille reading (decreased by −26%, −29%, and −0.3 mL/100 mL respectively). Furthermore, a significant relationship was observed between the changes in SBF and FV (r=.613) during Braille reading.ConclusionThese results suggested that SBF of fingers is modulated during concentrated finger perception, and that the variability of blood flow reflects the response in FV.
When the earth blisters: Exploring recurrent liquefaction features in the coastal system of Christchurch, New Zealand
Authors: Giona Bucci Monica , Almond Peter , Villamor Pilar , Ries William , Smith Carol , Tuttle Martitia 
Published: March 2017

AbstractThe 14 February, or Valentine's Day, 2016 earthquake located offshore of Christchurch produced a new generation of liquefaction in the coastal environment of Christchurch, an environment of recurrent liquefaction during the 2010–2011 Canterbury Earthquake Sequence. The Valentine's Day earthquake occurred while trenches were open at a site in the coastal environment for studying the 2010–2011 liquefaction features. Observations in the 2016 trenches provided insights into the formation of a suite of surface and subsurface liquefaction features characteristic of the dune deposits, related to the persistent shallow water table, well‐sorted sands within the liquefiable layer and the soil above. Given these conducive conditions, there is a high potential that all earthquakes capable of inducing liquefaction may have been recorded during formation of the dunes near Christchurch. However, overprinting by subsequent generations of liquefaction features may be common and present challenges in unravelling the event history.
Modeling global Hammond landform regions from 250‐m elevation data
Authors: Karagulle Deniz , Frye Charlie , Sayre Roger , Breyer Sean , Aniello Peter , Vaughan Randy , Wright Dawn 
Published: March 2017

AbstractIn 1964, E.H. Hammond proposed criteria for classifying and mapping physiographic regions of the United States. Hammond produced a map entitled “Classes of Land Surface Form in the Forty‐Eight States, USA”, which is regarded as a pioneering and rigorous treatment of regional physiography. Several researchers automated Hammond?s model in GIS. However, these were local or regional in application, and resulted in inadequate characterization of tablelands. We used a global 250 m DEM to produce a new characterization of global Hammond landform regions. The improved algorithm we developed for the regional landform modeling: (1) incorporated a profile parameter for the delineation of tablelands; (2) accommodated negative elevation data values; (3) allowed neighborhood analysis window (NAW) size to vary between parameters; (4) more accurately bounded plains regions; and (5) mapped landform regions as opposed to discrete landform features. The new global Hammond landform regions product builds on an existing global Hammond landform features product developed by the U.S. Geological Survey, which, while globally comprehensive, did not include tablelands, used a fixed NAW size, and essentially classified pixels rather than regions. Our algorithm also permits the disaggregation of “mixed” Hammond types (e.g. plains with high mountains) into their component parts.
Knowledge and practice regarding dengue and chikungunya: a cross‐sectional study among Healthcare workers and community in Northern Tanzania
Authors: Kajeguka Debora C. , Desrochers Rachelle E. , Mwangi Rose , Mgabo Maseke R. , Alifrangis Michael , Kavishe Reginald A. , Mosha Franklin W. , Kulkarni Manisha A. 
Published: March 2017

AbstractObjectiveTo investigate knowledge and prevention practices regarding dengue and chikungunya amongst community members, as well as knowledge, treatment and diagnostic practices among healthcare workers.MethodWe conducted a cross‐sectional survey with 125 community members and 125 healthcare workers from 13 health facilities in six villages in the Hai district of Tanzania. A knowledge score was generated based on participant responses to a structured questionnaire, with a score of 40 or higher (of 80 and 50 total scores for community members and healthcare workers, respectively) indicating good knowledge. We conducted qualitative survey (n = 40) to further assess knowledge and practice regarding dengue and chikungunya fever.Results15.2% (n = 19) of community members had good knowledge regarding dengue, whereas 53.6%, (n = 67) of healthcare workers did. 20.3% (n = 16) of participants from lowland areas and 6.5% (n = 3) from highland areas had good knowledge of dengue (χ2 = 4.25, P = 0.03). Only 2.4% (n = 3) of all participants had a good knowledge score for chikungunya. In the qualitative study, community members expressed uncertainty about dengue and chikungunya. Some healthcare workers thought that they were new diseases.ConclusionThere is insufficient knowledge regarding dengue and chikungunya fever among community members and healthcare workers. Health promotion activities on these diseases based on Ecological Health Mode components to increase knowledge and improve preventive practices should be developed.
Game‐XP: Action Games as Experimental Paradigms for Cognitive Science
Authors: Gray Wayne D. 
Published: March 2017

AbstractWhy games? How could anyone consider action games an experimental paradigm for Cognitive Science? In 1973, as one of three strategies he proposed for advancing Cognitive Science, Allen Newell exhorted us to “accept a single complex task and do all of it.” More specifically, he told us that rather than taking an “experimental psychology as usual approach,” we should “focus on a series of experimental and theoretical studies around a single complex task” so as to demonstrate that our theories of human cognition were powerful enough to explain “a genuine slab of human behavior” with the studies fitting into a detailed theoretical picture. Action games represent the type of experimental paradigm that Newell was advocating and the current state of programming expertise and laboratory equipment, along with the emergence of Big Data and naturally occurring datasets, provide the technologies and data needed to realize his vision. Action games enable us to escape from our field's regrettable focus on novice performance to develop theories that account for the full range of expertise through a twin focus on expertise sampling (across individuals) and longitudinal studies (within individuals) of simple and complex tasks.