bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
DNA Methylation and High-Density Lipoprotein Functionality—Brief Report
Authors: Sayols-Baixeras Sergi , Hernáez Alvaro , Subirana Issac , Lluis-Ganella Carla , Muñoz Daniel , Fitó Montserrat , Marrugat Jaume , Elosua Roberto 
Published: January 2017

Objective—
The function of high-density lipoproteins (HDLs) may better reflect their atheroprotective role, compared with HDL-cholesterol levels. The association between DNA methylation and HDL function has not yet been established.

Approach and Results—

We designed an epigenome-wide association study including 645 individuals from the REGICOR study (Registre Gironi del Cor). We determined DNA methylation from peripheral blood cells using the HumanMethylation450 array. We analyzed HDL functionality by determining HDL cholesterol efflux capacity and HDL inflammatory index. We discovered 3 methylation sites located in
HOXA3
,
PEX5
, and
PER3
related to cholesterol efflux capacity and 1 located in
GABRR1
related to HDL inflammatory index. Using a candidate gene approach, we also found 2 methylation sites located in
CMIP
related to cholesterol efflux capacity.

Conclusions—

We identified 6 potential loci associated with HDL functionality in
HOXA3
,
PEX5
,
PER3, CMIP
, and
GABRR1
. Additional studies are warranted to validate these findings in other populations.
Auditory Prostheses Research with Multiple Channel Intracochlear Stimulation in Man
Authors: Eddington D. K. , Dobelle W. H. , Mladejovsky M. G. , Brackmann D. E. , Parkin J. L. 
Published: January 2017

Although single-channel electrode arrays implanted in the scala tympani of deaf patients are useful as an aid to lip reading and for distinguishing some environmental sounds, they do not transmit intelligible speech. However, multichannel electrode arrays, which take advantage of the cochlea's tonotopic organization, may be capable of generating the complex patterns of neural activity necessary for speech discrimination. In this study, multichannel electrodes were implanted in the cochleas of four volunteers, with access to the connecting wires made through the skin via a percutaneous connector. The major portion of the data presented is from two of these subjects: one has been bilaterally deaf since birth and the other has been unilaterally deaf for 15 years. Preliminary results of experiments with two more recently implanted subjects are described as well as experiments with a fifth volunteer who was implanted with five electrodes by House in 1969. Data on pitch and loudness discrimination as well as the effects of stimulation parameters on threshold, impedance, and electrode interaction are presented. Place pitch and periodicity pitch were observed in all five volunteers. The results of pitch-matching experiments with the unilaterally deaf volunteer were consistent with tonotopic maps of the cochlea, and experiments indicated that a pitch continuum may be achieved by combining place and periodicity pitch modulation. Preliminary experiments in tune recognition with one subject demonstrate his ability to recognize simple melodies based on periodicity pitch cues. These results, coupled with the finding that subjective sensations remain stable over the long-term, support the feasibility of providing artificial hearing with a multichannel cochlear stimulation system.
Auditory Brainstem and Middle Latency Responses
Authors: Kavanagh Kevin T. , Harker Lee A. , Tyler Richard S. 
Published: January 2017

Auditory brainstem (ABR) and middle latency responses (MLR) were recorded for ten normal subjects. Changes in wave latency were recorded with high- and low-pass filtering using Butterworth filters with standard phase-shift characteristics. When an open filter (15–3,000 Hz) was used, waves IV, V and VI of the ABR were superimposed on wave Pø of the MLR. A positive (P) wave was recorded in the trough of wave Na as the high-frequency cutoff of the recording bandpass (15–100 Hz) was raised above 100 Hz. Wave P divided Na into two parts. The first trough was the slow-negative response and the second was Na2. The origin of the P wave is unclear but may represent a muscle potential. Because of previous inconsistencies in the waveform identification used with these recording techniques, the authors present a modified method of classification which accommodates changes in waveform appearance that occur with different response filtering. The thresholds for various waves of the auditory brainstem (ABR) or middle latency response (MLR) were determined to a 500-Hz tone pip in ten normal listeners in a variety of recording filter bandwidths. Wave V (recording filters 100–3,000 Hz) had a threhsold of 26 dB nHL. Wave SN (30–3,000 Hz) had a threshold of 18 dB nHL. Waves Na, Pa and Nb had thresholds of 10 to 11 dB nHL. The threshold for waves Na, Pa and Nb were unaffected by changing the recording bandpass from 15–100 Hz to 15–3,000 Hz. The ABR amplitude increased when the recording filter's low-frequency cutoff was lowered from 100 to 15 Hz (high frequency cutoff, 3,000 Hz). This augmentation is probably due to the inclusion of the lower frequency energy of wave Pø. Lowering the recording filters high-frequency cutoff from 3,000 to 100 Hz (low-frequency cutoff, 15 Hz) resulted in exclusion of the higher frequency ABR but did not elevate response threshold. In all listeners tested, the MLR had a lower threshold than the ABR to a 500-Hz tone pip. It is suggested that the MLR has good potential for use in evaluation of low-frequency threshold.
Analysis of Randomised Block Experiments when Treatments have Different Errors
Authors: Ghosh M. N. , Behari Vinod 
Published: January 2017

1. Summary The theory of linear estimation, when groups of variables have unequal variances was devoloped in Ghosh (1961). Usual least square estimates were shown to possess an optimum property and methods were given for obtaining confidence intervals for linear functions of parameters. Simplified procedures for obtaining such confidence intervals will be considered here and applied to the case of randomised block experiments.
Inference on the Occurrence/Exposure Rate with Mixed Censoring Models
Authors: Rao C. Radhakrishna , Tu D. S. 
Published: January 2017

ABSTRACT: There are many kinds of measures of risk rate for a disease. In this paper we consider one of them known as the occurrence/exposure rate. We use a sample from a mixed censoring model to estimate this risk rate. The asymptotic properties of the empirical risk rate is discussed. The classical asymptotic and bootstrap methods are employed to construct confidence intervals for the theoretical risk rates. The results of this paper are useful in medical research. AMS Subject Classfications: 62E20, 62GOS, 62G15, 62P10.
Association Schemes, Orthogonal Arrays and Codes from Non‐Degenerate Quadrics and Hermitian Varieties in Finite Projective Geometries
Authors: Chakravarti I. M. 
Published: January 2017

ABSTRACT: In this paper, coexistence of and relations between association schemes, orthogonal arrays and certain families of projective codes have been examined. The projective codes considered are linear spans of a nice projective set P in a hyperplane H = PG ( N -1, s)-such as a quadric or a quadric with its nucleus of polarity or a Hermitian variety. There are two ways to construct association schemes from a projective code. One due to Delsarte (1973) considers the restriction of the Hamming scheme to the code with m weights and if it satisfies Delsarte's condition, an m-class association scheme is obtained by defining two codewords to be i-th associates if the Hamming distance between them is i, i = 0, 1, …, m. The alternative approach, first used by Ray-Chaudburi (1959) and later generalized by Mesner (1967) is to classify points (according to some geometrical criterion) in H = PG(N-1, s) with reference to P. into m types (say). Then, two points of the affine space EG( N, s) (for which H is the hyperplane at infinity) are defined to be i-th associates if the line joining the two points meet H at a point of type i, i = 1, …, m. In many cases, the two association schemes defined with respect to the same projective set have the same parameters. But Examples are given where they do not coincide and, in fact, there are cases where one scheme exists but the other does not.
Decision‐Theoretic Estimation of the Product of Gamma Scales and Generalized Variance
Authors: Rukhin Andrew L. , Sinha Bimal K. 
Published: January 2017

ABSTRACT: The estimation of the product of scale parameters on the basis of n independent gamma distributed variables with known degrees of freedom is considered, Under squared error and entropy loss functions it is shown that the best equivariant estimator is admissible for n = 2, 3 and inadmissible for n ≥ 4. It follows that in the estimation problem cf generalized variance on the basis of a multivariate normal random sample with uriknown mean, the best multiple of the sample generalized variance is inadmissible if the dimension exceeds three and admissible within a well defined subclass of estimates if the dimension does not exceed three.
Soviet Foreign Policy towards Her European Allies: Interests and Instruments
Authors: Neumann Iver B. 
Published: January 2017

Neumann, I. B. Soviet Foreign Policy towards Her European Allies: Interests and Instruments. Cooperation and Conflict, XXIII, 1988, 215-229. The aim of this article is to construct a taxonomy for possible Soviet interests towards the CMEA 6, then to discuss what foreign policy instruments the Soviet Union disposes of, and finally to assess whether Soviet instruments are capable of fulfilling Soviet interests. Soviet interests are far-reaching. She wants to have the CMEA 6 as a buffer against aggression, and to prevent CMEA 6 complicity in invasion. Her role as the leader of one of the two main military alliances in the world underlines her status as a superpower. At home, the legitimacy of the communist regime is enhanced by there being other countries which employ the Soviet model. Effective Soviet foreign policy instruments are indeed limited. The military instruments at her disposal can only be used at very high political cost, whereas economic subsidies make up an economic cost. The Soviet Union still depends critically on the actual use of force and on the threat of use of force in her relations with the CMEA 6. As the long-term costs of using military foreign policy instruments are considerable, the prospects for Soviet interest fulfilment towards the CMEA 6 are poor.
Lie-Proof Measurements: The Multiple Binary Philosophy of the ‘Hydrastep’ Boiler Water Level Gauge
Authors: Hasler E. F. , Martin R. E. 
Published: January 2017

The philosophy is presented of multiple binary measurement, an approach capable of providing simultaneously the desiderata of ‘self-validation’, ‘fail-safe’ and ‘fail-operative’. The systems described continually examine the validity of their outputs such that any measurement malfunction causing an error greater than a predetermined and insignificant value automatically raises an alarm. The systems use a series of binary measurements, each individually derived and each arranged to operate at a small increment of the chosen parameter above the previous measurement: the value of one increment thus represents the maximum tolerance of an instrument. Maloperation of any one binary channel will cause an alarm, either immediately or when the parameter reaches that value dependent on its position in the sequence, to proclaim that it is telling a lie. This applies for either direction of failure, and in conjunction with a suitable display the error is located while the other portions continue their functions unimpaired. A reference is included of the Hydrastep boiler water level gauge, which has received statutory approval in the UK as a sole gauge for high-pressure boilers, and is one example of a group of instruments conforming to this philosophy.
Restaurant Supervisor Safety Training: Evaluating a Small Business Training Intervention
Authors: Bush Diane , Paleo Lyn , Baker Robin , Dewey Robin , Toktogonova Nurgul , Cornelio Deogracia 
Published: January 2017

Objective. We developed and assessed a program designed to help small business owners/managers conduct short training sessions with their employees, involve employees in identifying and addressing workplace hazards, and make workplace changes (including physical and work practice changes) to improve workplace safety. Methods. During 2006, in partnership with a major workers' compensation insurance carrier and a restaurant trade association, university-based trainers conducted workshops for more than 200 restaurant and food service owners/managers. Workshop participants completed posttests to assess their knowledge, attitudes, and intentions to implement health and safety changes. On-site follow-up interviews with 10 participants were conducted three to six months after the training to assess the extent to which program components were used and worksite changes were made. Results. Post-training assessments demonstrated that attendees increased their understanding and commitment to health and safety, and felt prepared to provide health and safety training to their employees. Follow-up interviews indicated that participants incorporated core program concepts into their training and supervision practices. Participants conducted training, discussed workplace hazards and solutions with employees, and made changes in the workplace and work practices to improve workers' health and safety. Conclusions. This program demonstrated that owners of small businesses can adopt a philosophy of employee involvement in their health and safety programs if provided with simple, easy-to-use materials and a training demonstration. Attending a workshop where they can interact with other owners/managers of small restaurants was also a key to the program's success.
Enhancing Emergency Preparedness and Response Systems: Correlates of Collaboration between Local Health Departments and School Districts
Authors: Shoaf Kimberley I. , Kelley Melissa M. , O'Keefe Kaitlin , Arrington Katharine D. , Prelip Michael L. 
Published: January 2017

Objective. Collaboration between existing components of the public health system is important for protecting public health and promoting community resilience. We describe the factors that promote collaborative emergency preparedness and response activities between local health departments (LHDs) and school systems. Methods. We gathered data from a multistage, stratified random sample of 750 LHDs nationwide. Utilizing a mailed invitation, we recruited respondents to participate in an online questionnaire. We calculated descriptive and inferential statistics. Results. The majority of LHDs collaborated with school systems for emergency preparedness and response activities and most indicated they were likely to collaborate in the future. Characteristics of the jurisdiction, general experience and perceptions of collaboration, and characteristics of the preparedness collaboration itself predicted future collaboration. Conclusion. Our results help us understand the nature of collaborations between LHDs and school systems on emergency preparedness and response activities, which can be used to identify priority areas for developing successful and sustainable joint efforts in the future. By focusing on the perceived value of collaboration and building on existing non-preparedness partnering, communities can increase the likelihood of ongoing successful LHD-school system emergency preparedness collaborations.
QUIMaS (Queen's University Image Management System): a museum photographic database
Authors: Philip G. , Crookes D. , Juhasz Z. 
Published: January 2017

This paper reports on the construction of an interactive image management system. The system's operation is improved by image processing techniques and parallel processing technology. Although image processing is largely a well understood problem, the technology for supporting it is still immature. Basically, it is a highly computationally intensive activity, and the purpose of our project was to address this very problem using parallel processing technology in the form of transputers. More specifically, we will describe the use of a transputer network in the development of an image database consisting of a collection of historical museum photographs. During the first phase of the project, we developed a prototype system consisting of a small number of photographs using a simple hardware configuration. It made use of the hard disk of the PC to store the photographs and was implemented using a single transputer. During the second phase, the full hardware configuration was implemented, including the building up of the database of around 1,000 photographs. The final system consists of an IBM-compatible PC equipped with the necessary image processing and mass storage facilities (650 Mb hard disk) and linked to a network of six transputers. The user interface is provided through a serial mouse and a keyword menu. Users are able to retrieve images in three different modes: (i) a predefined keyword list, which is arranged in a hierarchical fashion to select images relating to a particular subject or geographical area; (ii) the Browse mode allows the user to display a set of up to twelve photographs in miniature ‘stub’ format at one go (this is similar to the turning of the pages of an album). Individual items can then be selected and displayed in full size, if necessary; (iii) if the museum reference number is known, the user can type in the number to retrieve the relevant item. Section 1 will provide a brief review of the background to the project and the use of transputer technology in image processing. The selection and documentation of the photographs are described in Section 2. Section 3 describes the hardware and software configuration of the single-transputer-based prototype, and the full image database system implemented on a network of transputers. The organisation of the database, both textual and image data, is explained in Section 4. This is followed by a description of the processing techniques for image enhancement and compression, and a discussion of the results of both compression and decompression processes. The final section will discuss the menu-based, mouse-driven user interface, including the various search facilities and display modes used to view images from the database.
The productivity of British, American and Nigerian chemists compared
Authors: Bottle Robert , Hossein Sharida , Bottle Alex , Adesanya Olubunmi 
Published: January 2017

The number of publications produced by Professors and by Readers plus Senior Lecturers in the UK is compared with Professors and Associate Professors in the USA for the period of 1980–1991. No significant difference was found between the overall samples, though the UK Readers/SLs produced significantly more than the American Associate Professors. British chemists publish in a wider range of journals than the Americans, 72% of whose publications are in American journals. The productivity of the British sample is also compared with Nigerian chemists. The Nigerians’ productivity was about a sixth of the British sample. Some evidence was found that adverse political and economic conditions had affected the Nigerians’ productivity in the period 1980–1991.
Classification of Naturally Occurring Arterial Disease in the Dog
Authors: Kelly Donald F. 
Published: January 2017

Evaluation of induced arterial toxicity in safety assessment of drugs involves recognition of morphologic differences between groups of animals. In this organ system, as in all others, it is necessary to be familiar with the background pathology that can occur in control animals of the test species, since such lesion “noise” may complicate the evaluation of drug-related effects if naturally occurring diseases have morphologic features in common with those that can be produced by drugs. Background arterial lesions have been regarded as relatively unimportant in both the laboratory-maintained beagle and in the larger range of domesticated breeds of dog and few of these vascular lesions lead, per se, to functional organ compromise. At least this appears to be the case in young and middle-aged subjects, within the epidemiologic limits of data from veterinary medical centers where systematic and thorough necropsies are done and recorded. Arterial lesions are, however, not uncommon naturally occurring incidental necropsy findings in dogs; however, in most cases they are of uncertain functional significance. This presentation summarizes the main pathologic patterns of lesions that can affect arteries in dogs that are not used in safety evaluation studies. The main patterns can be classified as degenerative, proliferative, and inflammatory, although there is some overlap between these partly arbitrary designations. In some cases, etiopathogenesis of the arterial lesion is unclear; in others, there are clear associations with disease processes in other organ systems. Congenital vascular lesions and vascular components of congenital cardiac defects are excluded from consideration since such lesions are unlikely to occur in dog populations used in the safety assessment of drugs.
Employee Resilience and OCB: Mediating Effects of Organizational Commitment
Authors: Paul Happy , Bamel Umesh Kumar , Garg Pooja 
Published: January 2017

Executive Summary With increased popularity of positive psychology, there is a greater emphasis on exploring positive human resource strengths to address the workplace challenges and augment organizational performance. Previous research suggests that resilience positively relates to desired employee attitudes, behaviours, and performance such as organizational citizenship behaviour (OCB). However, it would be intriguing to understand the underlying mechanism of resilience-OCB relationship. Towards this, the study examines the mediating role of organizational commitment. In the light of identified research gaps, the study explores the mechanism of the relationship between resilience and OCB in the context of Indian organizations. The study sample comprised employees (N = 345) working in the manufacturing industries of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh in India. Data were collected with the help of self-administered questionnaires through systematic random sampling. A model was developed and tested in which the effects of resilience on OCB were hypothesized to be mediated by organizational commitment. The hypotheses testing was done using hierarchical multiple regression and for testing the mediating effects, bootstrapping in SPSS was used. The results provide empirical evidence for the positive relationship between resilience and OCB. Also, the results emphasize that resilience influence organizational commitment as well. As hypothesized, results have also supported the mediating effect of organizational commitment in the relationship between resilience and OCB, explaining the underlying mechanism of resilience-OCB relationship. The mediation is partial which means that resilience influences OCB directly as well as indirectly through organizational commitment. The study offers significant advancements for both resilience and OCB research. The results also offer direction to organizations which desire to stimulate and maintain employee outcomes in their organizations for competitive advantage. Employee outcomes in organizations can be improved by developing resilience among its employees. Implications of promoting resilience at workplace are discussed.