bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
‘An Experiment in Constructive Unionism’: Isaac Butt, Home Rule and Federalist Political Thought during the 1870s
Authors: Reid Colin W. 
Published: April 2014

Federalism has a rich, if chequered, history within the political discourse of the British and Irish Isles. This article examines the political thought of one much misunderstood advocate of federalism, Isaac Butt, and the debate that his proposal to transform the British constitution prompted. It seeks to recast Butt, the founding father of Irish Home Rule, as a champion of the Union. Historians of Ireland, Britain and federalism, like many of Butt’s contemporaries, struggle to position him within the spectrum of nineteenth-century political thought. The most important work on Isaac Butt and the early Home Rule movement in Ireland remains David Thornley’s study from 1964, which skews its subject matter by framing Butt as representative of ‘a curious imperial nationalism’. This article argues that there was nothing ‘curious’ about Butt’s political thought, and that his conception of a distinct Irish identity within the broader rubric of the Union has been under-appreciated.
For Butt, Home Rule was the mechanism to bind Ireland to Britain and its Empire, thus resolving the ambiguities of the Act of Union of 1800. Butt’s formulation of Home Rule in 1870 envisaged a federalised United Kingdom, which would have weakened Irish exceptionalism within a broader British context. The article positions Butt as representative of a constructive national unionism, and explores the implications of this for Ireland’s relationship with British identity and the Union during the nineteenth century.
Hospital Case Volume Is Associated With Improved Survival for Patients With Metastatic Melanoma
Authors: Huo Jinhai , Lairson David R. , Du Xianglin L. , Chan Wenyaw , Jiang Jing , Buchholz Thomas A. , Guadagnolo B. Ashleigh 
Published: April 2014

Objectives:
Hospital case volume has been shown to be a predictor of patient mortality for treatment for various cancers. The influence of hospital case volume on malignant melanoma survival and treatment utilization is unknown.

Methods:
We used the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare linked databases to identify patients aged 65 years or older diagnosed with metastatic melanoma between 2000 and 2009. We analyzed claims data to ascertain cancer treatment variation by hospital case volume. Overall survival was evaluated using propensity score methods.

Results:
Among 1438 patients, 612 (42.6%) were treated in low-volume hospitals (≤5 patients) after receiving their diagnosis, 479 (33.3%) were treated in intermediate-volume hospitals (6 to 10 patients), and 347 (24.1%) were treated in high-volume hospitals (>10 patients). In Cox proportional hazards models, treatment in a high-volume hospital after propensity score adjustment was associated with a significant improvement in survival when adjusting for other characteristics (intermediate volume: hazard ratio [HR]=0.70, P=0.0007; high volume: HR=0.63, P<0.0001). Patients treated in high-volume hospitals were less likely to receive chemotherapy, surgery, and/or radiation therapy after a metastatic melanoma diagnosis.

Conclusions:
For patients diagnosed with metastatic melanoma, being treated in a high-volume hospital was associated with an improvement in survival and lower utilization of chemotherapy, immunotherapy, surgery, and radiation therapy.
Outcomes Following Hypofractionated Stereotactic Radiotherapy in the Management of Brain Metastases
Authors: Ahmed Kamran A. , Sarangkasiri Siriporn , Chinnaiyan Prakash , Sahebjam Solmaz , Yu Hsiang-Hsuan Michael , Etame Arnold B. , Rao Nikhil G. 
Published: April 2014

Objective:
To evaluate the outcomes of patients treated with hypofractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (HSRT) for radiosensitive and radioresistant brain metastases.

Methods:
Between August 2006 and July 2013, a total of 56 lesions in 44 patients with brain metastases were treated with HSRT. Twenty-three (41.1%) lesions were radioresistant. Patients were treated to a total dose of 24 to 30 Gy in 3 to 5 fractions. Median planning target volume was 6.18 cm3. The primary endpoint for this study was local control with secondary endpoints of overall survival, distant failure, performance status, and treatment toxicity.

Results:
The median follow-up for all patients was 5 months (range, 0.4 to 58.3 mo). Six- and 12-month Kaplan-Meier estimates of local control for all lesions were 85.6% and 79.4%, respectively. Radioresistant tumors had a 6- and 12-month local control rate of 87.0%, whereas radiosensitive tumors had a 6- and 12-month local control rate of 82.5% and 72.2%, respectively (P=0.41). Six- and 12-month distant brain control rates were 56.8% and 46.9%, respectively. Overall survival was significantly associated with recursive partitioning analysis classes I, II, and III (P=0.0003) and graded prognostic assessment classes 2 to 3 and 1 to 1.5 (P=0.041).

Conclusions:
HSRT is a safe and feasible alternative to single-session stereotactic radiosurgery for brain metastases. No difference was observed in local control rates between radioresistant and radiosensitive tumors.
Long-term Outcomes After Gamma Knife Radiosurgery for Meningiomas
Authors: Kondziolka Douglas , Patel Agam D. , Kano Hideyuki , Flickinger John C. , Lunsford L. Dade 
Published: April 2014

Background:
Gamma knife stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) has become an important management strategy for patients with meningiomas. Although prior reports have studied early tumor control, neurological response, and associated morbidity, our purpose was to use clinical and imaging studies to determine whether long-term outcomes remain stable over time.

Materials and Methods:
We studied 290 consecutive patients (92 men and 198 women) who underwent gamma knife SRS for a meningioma between 1987 and 1997. The median tumor margin dose was 15 Gy and the median tumor volume was 5.5 mL. Target definition was performed using contrast enhanced computed tomography in 72 patients and magnetic resonance imaging in 218 patients. The median patient age at radiosurgery was 61 years. Twenty patients had a history of fractionated radiation therapy, 136 patients had undergone a subtotal resection, and 22 patients had recurrences after initial gross total resection.

Results:
The overall tumor control rate was 91%. Twenty-six patients (9%) had evidence of delayed local tumor growth and 44 (15%) had regional tumor progression, which occurred at a median of 38 months. The 10- and 20-year actuarial rates of freedom from tumor progression of the targeted tumor were 87.7%±2.5% and 87.2%±4.2%. Of 234 patients who had symptoms before SRS (n=62, 26%) improved, 126 (54%) had no change in symptoms and 46 (20%) gradually worsened. Thirty-two of 34 (94%) asymptomatic patients remained asymptomatic. We found no difference in long-term tumor control rates between patients who had undergone craniotomy before radiosurgery (89%) and patients who underwent primary radiosurgery (93.1%). Adverse radiation effects were detected in 3.1% of patients. Factors associated with worse progression-free survival included prior radiation therapy (P<0.0001) and higher grade meningioma (P<0.0001). At a median of 8.7 years after SRS, 137 patients were dead at a median age of 77 years.

Conclusions:
We found that gamma knife SRS provided durable tumor control with low morbidity in meningioma patients.
A Shoot-Specific Hypoxic Response of Arabidopsis Sheds Light on the Role of the Phosphate-Responsive Transcription Factor PHOSPHATE STARVATION RESPONSE1
Authors: Klecker Maria , Gasch Philipp , Peisker Helga , Dörmann Peter , Schlicke Hagen , Grimm Bernhard , Mustroph Angelika 
Published: April 2014

Abstract
Plant responses to biotic and abiotic stresses are often very specific, but signal transduction pathways can partially or completely overlap. Here, we demonstrate that in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), the transcriptional responses to phosphate starvation and oxygen deficiency stress comprise a set of commonly induced genes. While the phosphate deficiency response is systemic, under oxygen deficiency, most of the commonly induced genes are found only in illuminated shoots. This jointly induced response to the two stresses is under control of the transcription factor PHOSPHATE STARVATION RESPONSE1 (PHR1), but not of the oxygen-sensing N-end rule pathway, and includes genes encoding proteins for the synthesis of galactolipids, which replace phospholipids in plant membranes under phosphate starvation. Despite the induction of galactolipid synthesis genes, total galactolipid content and plant survival are not severely affected by the up-regulation of galactolipid gene expression in illuminated leaves during hypoxia. However, changes in galactolipid molecular species composition point to an adaptation of lipid fluxes through the endoplasmic reticulum and chloroplast pathways during hypoxia. PHR1-mediated signaling of phosphate deprivation was also light dependent. Because a photoreceptor-mediated PHR1 activation was not detectable under hypoxia, our data suggest that a chloroplast-derived retrograde signal, potentially arising from metabolic changes, regulates PHR1 activity under both oxygen and phosphate deficiency.
Construction efficiency: a tale of two developed countries
Authors: Langston Craig 
Published: April 2014

Purpose
– The measurement of construction performance is a vexed problem. Despite much research effort, there remains little agreement over what to measure and how to measure it. The problem is made even more complicated by the desire to benchmark national industry performance against that of other countries. As clearly construction cost forms part of the analysis, the mere adjustment of cost data to an “international currency” has undermined past attempts to draw any meaningful conclusions. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach
– This paper introduces a new method for comparing international construction efficiency, tested on a data set of 337 modern high-rise buildings in both Australia and the USA, and in so doing demonstrates that the ratio of cost over time is capable of ranking the efficiency of projects, building contractors, cities and even entire industries – not only today, but retrospectively over time.

Findings
– It is concluded that, based on data from the largest five cities in each country, efficiency on site is improving in both countries. The growth in baseline cost/m2 suggests a possible rise in project complexity over time. While the trend in efficiency improvement is similar, there is evidence that base costs in Australia have outstripped the USA, meaning that “real” construction efficiency in Australia is relatively less. If Australia held an advantage in the past, then it seems that advantage might be disappearing. The USA is outperforming Australia in terms of construction efficiency by 1.10 per cent per annum.

Originality/value
– Cost is measured as the number of standard “citiBLOC” baskets necessary to construct a project, where a standard basket comprises common and globally applicable construction items priced in each city in local currency, removing the need to apply currency exchange rates that otherwise introduce volatility and erroneous outcomes. Time is measured as the number of months between commencement on site and handover, inclusive of delays related to the construction process on site. Construction efficiency is defined as the ratio of construction cost per month, and is used to comment on the relative performance of the procurement process in different locations.
Improving construction productivity: a subcontractor's perspective
Authors: Loosemore Martin 
Published: April 2014

Purpose
– Surprisingly, given the prominence and front-line role of subcontractors in the construction industry, their perspective is almost completely absent from construction productivity literature. Existing research in this area presents a highly one-sided principal contractor perspective and there are very few insights into what subcontractors think. The purpose of this paper is to address the imbalance by investigating the determinants of construction productivity from a subcontractor's perspective.

Design/methodology/approach
– Focus groups with 71 of Australia's leading tier-one subcontractors were conducted with the aim of exploring their insights into the productivity challenge.

Findings
– The findings indicate that the main determinants of productivity for subcontractors are: the quality of relationships with principal contractors; opportunity for early involvement in design; transparent tender practices; growing administration and document control; design management; project management and supervisory skills, particularly in planning, scheduling and coordination; risk management and; industrial relations (IR).

Research limitations/implications
– This research was conducted in Australia and similar research needs to be conducted in other countries to cross-reference and validate the results more widely.

Practical implications
– In practical terms, a “culture” of productivity improvement will need to be “nurtured” across the business and supply chain if productivity is to be improved. In particular contractors should avoid bid shopping, respect subcontractor IP and talk to subcontractors earlier in a project.

Social implications
– By respecting the opinions of subcontractors who employ the vast majority of workers in the construction industry, productivity and employment can be increased.

Originality/value
– The focus group results add significantly to a more balanced understanding of what has hitherto been a one-sided principal contractor focused debate.
Addressing effective construction logistics through the lens of vehicle movements
Authors: Ying Fei , Tookey John , Roberti Johannes 
Published: April 2014

Purpose
– Construction logistics is an essential part of construction supply chain management (CSCM). However, limited attention has been paid to this issue in the New Zealand construction industry. The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the knowledge about what hampers efficiency in transporting construction materials and plants to a construction site. The intention is to gain detailed understanding of the practice and obstacles in efficient construction logistics and thus identify interventions to improve logistics efficiency, especially using the numbers of vehicle movements to the construction site as an indicator.

Design/methodology/approach
– A case study approach was adopted with on-site observations and interviews. Observations were performed during constructions on-site from the start of construction to “hand-over” to the building owner. A selection of construction suppliers and subcontractors involved in the studied project were interviewed.

Findings
– Data analysis suggested that cost-related factors affecting the construction logistics, both monetary and non-monetary factors were not measured and largely ignored, especially the possible environmental and/or social impact occurred by the truck movement. Factors in the service-related sector were insufficiently managed in the observed site. The main contribution to inefficient construction logistics are related to understanding and implementing CSCM. It is noticed that there is inadequate awareness of CSCM and logistics efficiency largely due to lack of commitment from the management level and skills at the operational level.

Originality/value
– Significant intrinsic and extrinsic interventions necessary to enhance construction logistics were acknowledged from the data analysis. These include both qualitative and quantitative data. These intrinsic and extrinsic interventions, such as implementing appropriate logistics tools that suits individual site and introducing traffic management costs, offer plausible explanations regarding how to improve the efficiency in construction logistics through optimising transportation movements to the construction site.
Dual sensor streamer technology used in Sleipner CO2 injection monitoring
Authors: Furre Anne‐Kari , Eiken Ola 
Published: April 2014

ABSTRACTCO2 has been injected into the saline aquifer Utsira Fm at the Sleipner field since 1996. In order to monitor the movement of the CO2 in the sub‐surface, the seventh seismic monitor survey was acquired in 2010, with dual sensor streamers which enabled optimal towing depths compared to previous surveys. We here report both on the time‐lapse observations and on the improved resolution compared to the conventional streamer surveys. This study shows that the CO2 is still contained in the subsurface, with no indications of leakage. The time‐lapse repeatability of the dual sensor streamer data versus conventional data is sufficient for interpreting the time‐lapse effects of the CO2 at Sleipner, and the higher resolution of the 2010 survey has enabled a refinement of the interpretation of nine CO2 saturated layers with improved thickness estimates of the layers. In particular we have estimated the thickness of the uppermost CO2 layer based on an analysis of amplitude strength together with time‐separation of top and base of this layer and found the maximum thickness to be 11 m. This refined interpretation gives a good base line for future time‐lapse surveys at the Sleipner CO2 injection site.
Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA) Formation in Edible Oils by Photoisomerization: A Review
Authors: Gangidi Rahul Reddy , Lokesh Belur Ramaswamy 
Published: April 2014

AbstractConjugated linoleic acid (CLA) that is commonly found in dairy and ruminant fats, is geometrical and positional isomer of linoleic acid (LA). Edible oils are not good sources of CLA. Attempts have been made to generate CLA in edible oils through photoisomerization procedures. CLA isomers have several proven health benefits. This article reviews procedures for producing CLA containing edible oils by photoisomerization approach and applications of photoisomerized oils for food uses. The article reviews (1) the photoisomerized production of CLA containing oils on lab scale, with customized equipment, at pilot plant scale; (2) the effects of iodine content, photoisomerization time, refining, interference from minor components of oils, efficacy of different edible oils containing LA, interference from antioxidants; (3) the chemical kinetics, oxidative stability; and (4) photoisomerized oils for frying oils and as drying oils.The review also briefly covers methods of measurement of CLA.
Measuring habitat fragmentation: An evaluation of landscape pattern metrics
Authors: Wang Xianli , Blanchet F. Guillaume , Koper Nicola 
Published: April 2014

Summary

Landscape patterns influence a range of ecological processes at multiple spatial scales. Landscape pattern metrics are often used to study the patterns that result from the linear and nonlinear interactions between spatial aggregation and abundance of habitat.

However, many class‐level pattern metrics are highly correlated with habitat abundance, making their use as a measure of habitat fragmentation problematic.

We argue that a class‐level pattern metric should be (1) able to differentiate landscapes across a range of spatial aggregations, and (2) independent of habitat abundance, if it is to be used to distinguish between effects of habitat amount and fragmentation.

Based on these criteria and using both simulated and actual landscapes, we evaluated 64 class‐level pattern metrics. These metrics were reclassified into four groups based on their correlation with aggregation and abundance.

Among all these metrics, nine were considered robust for fragmentation measurements, which cover most of the characteristics that define pattern, including core area, shape, proximity / isolation, contrast, and contagion / interspersion.

Optimal metrics for individual studies will depend on both biological rationales and statistically robust metrics that are appropriate for achieving each study objectives.
SDMtoolbox: a python‐based GIS toolkit for landscape genetic, biogeographic and species distribution model analyses
Authors: Brown Jason L. 
Published: April 2014

Summary

Species distribution models (SDMs) are broadly used in ecological and evolutionary studies. Almost all SDM methods require extensive data preparation in a geographic information system (GIS) prior to model building. Often, this step is cumbersome and, if not properly done, can lead to poorly parameterized models or in some cases, if too difficult, prevents the realization of SDMs. Further, for many studies, the creation of SDMs is not the final result and the post‐modelling processing can be equally arduous as other steps.

SDMtoolbox is designed to facilitate many complicated pre‐ and post‐processing steps commonly required for species distribution modelling and other geospatial analyses. SDMtoolbox consists of 59 Python script‐based GIS tools developed and compiled into a single interface.

A large set of the tools were created to complement SDMs generated in Maxent or to improve the predictive performance of SDMs created in Maxent. However, SDMtoolbox is not limited to analyses of Maxent models, and many tools are also available for additional analyses or general geospatial processing: for example, assessing landscape connectivity of haplotype networks (using least‐cost corridors or least‐cost paths); correcting SDM over‐prediction; quantifying distributional changes between current and future SDMs; or for calculating several biodiversity metrics, such as corrected weighted endemism.

SDMtoolbox is a free comprehensive python‐based toolbox for macroecology, landscape genetic and evolutionary studies to be used in ArcGIS 10.1 (or higher) with the Spatial Analyst extension. The toolkit simplifies many GIS analyses required for species distribution modelling and other analyses, alleviating the need for repetitive and time‐consuming climate data pre‐processing and post‐SDM analyses.