bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Climatology and Environmental Characteristics of Extreme Precipitation Events in the Southeastern United States
Authors: Moore Benjamin J. , Mahoney Kelly M. , Sukovich Ellen M. , Cifelli Robert , Hamill Thomas M. 
Published: September 2014

Abstract
This paper documents the characteristics of extreme precipitation events (EPEs) in the southeastern United States (SEUS) during 2002–11. The EPEs are identified by applying an object-based method to 24-h precipitation analyses from the NCEP stage-IV dataset. It is found that EPEs affected the SEUS in all months and occurred most frequently in the western portion of the SEUS during the cool season and in the eastern portion during the warm season. The EPEs associated with tropical cyclones, although less common, tended to be larger in size, more intense, and longer lived than “nontropical” EPEs. Nontropical EPEs in the warm season, relative to those in the cool season, tended to be smaller in size and typically involved more moist, conditionally unstable conditions but weaker dynamical influences. Synoptic-scale composites are constructed for nontropical EPEs stratified by the magnitude of vertically integrated water vapor transport (IVT) to examine distinct scenarios for the occurrence of EPEs. The composite results indicate that “strong IVT” EPEs occur within high-amplitude flow patterns involving strong transport of moist, conditionally unstable air within the warm sector of a cyclone, whereas “weak IVT” EPEs occur within low-amplitude flow patterns featuring weak transport but very moist and conditionally unstable conditions. Finally, verification of deterministic precipitation forecasts from a reforecast dataset based on the NCEP Global Ensemble Forecast System reveals that weak-IVT EPEs were characteristically associated with lower forecast skill than strong-IVT EPEs. Based on these results, it is suggested that further research should be conducted to investigate the forecast challenges associated with EPEs in the SEUS.
UK doctors and equal opportunities in the NHS: national questionnaire surveys of views on gender, ethnicity and disability
Authors: Lambert Trevor , Surman Geraldine , Goldacre Michael 
Published: September 2014

Objectives To seek doctors’ views about the NHS as an employer, our surveys about doctors’ career intentions and progression, undertaken between 1999 and 2013, also asked whether the NHS was, in their view, a good ‘equal opportunities’ employer for women doctors, doctors from ethnic minority groups and doctors with disabilities. Design and Setting Surveys undertaken in the UK by mail and Internet. Participants UK medical graduates in selected graduation years between 1993 and 2012. Main outcome measures Respondents were asked to rate their level of agreement with three statements starting ‘The NHS is a good equal opportunities employer for…’ and ending ‘women doctors’, ‘doctors from ethnic minorities’ and ‘doctors with disabilities’. Results Of first-year doctors surveyed in 2013, 3.6% (78/2158) disagreed that the NHS is a good equal opportunities employer for women doctors (1.7% of the men and 4.7% of the women); 2.2% (44/1968) disagreed for doctors from ethnic minorities (0.9% of white doctors and 5.8% of non-white doctors) and 12.6% (175/1387) disagreed for doctors with disabilities. Favourable perceptions of the NHS in these respects improved substantially between 1999 and 2013; among first-year doctors of 2000–2003, combined, the corresponding percentages of disagreement were 23.5% for women doctors, 23.1% for doctors from ethnic minorities and 50.6% for doctors with disabilities. Conclusions Positive views about the NHS as an equal opportunities employer have increased in recent years, but the remaining gap in perception of this between women and men, and between ethnic minority and white doctors, is a concern.
Why Labour Economics is Inadequate for Theorizing Industrial Relations
Authors: Abbott Keith 
Published: September 2014

This article challenges the assumed superiority of neo-classical labour economics as a means of theorizing labour unions by applying a critical realist critique to methodologies typically applied in the field. For this purpose, the critique draws on the work of Roy Bhaskar and other critical realists by first situating critical realism within two broad philosophical traditions: classical empiricism and transcendental idealism. It points out the failure of these traditions to acknowledge the possible existence of autonomous structures and objects which are beyond empirically based calculation and conceptualization, arguing instead that such structures and objects can only truly be revealed through research methodologies that make reference to a layered ontology. The discussion then advances on this by outlining the main features of critical realism’s three-way ontology, before providing an example of how this ontological reasoning diminishes the validity of research of labour unions based solely on the type of deductivist methodologies commonly used in labour economics. JEL: B4, J5
Investigation of the effect of the structure of large-area carbon nanotube/fuel composites on energy generation from thermopower waves
Authors: Hwang Hayoung , Yeo Taehan , Um Jo-Eun , Lee Kang Yeol , Kim Hong-Seok , Han Jae-Hee , Kim Woo-Jae , Choi Wonjoon 
Published: September 2014

Abstract
Thermopower waves are a recently developed energy conversion concept utilizing dynamic temperature and chemical potential gradients to harvest electrical energy while the combustion wave propagates along the hybrid layers of nanomaterials and chemical fuels. The intrinsic properties of the core nanomaterials and chemical fuels in the hybrid composites can broadly affect the energy generation, as well as the combustion process, of thermopower waves. So far, most research has focused on the application of new core nanomaterials to enhance energy generation. In this study, we demonstrate that the alignment of core nanomaterials can significantly influence a number of aspects of the thermopower waves, while the nanomaterials involved are identical carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Diversely structured, large-area CNT/fuel composites of one-dimensional aligned CNT arrays (1D CNT arrays), randomly oriented CNT films (2D CNT films), and randomly aggregated bulk CNT clusters (3D CNT clusters) were fabricated to evaluate the energy generation, as well as the propagation of the thermal wave, from thermopower waves. The more the core nanostructures were aligned, the less inversion of temperature gradients and the less cross-propagation of multiple thermopower waves occurred. These characteristics of the aligned structures prevented the cancellation of charge carrier movements among the core nanomaterials and produced the relative enhancement of the energy generation and the specific power with a single-polarity voltage signal. Understanding this effect of structure on energy generation from thermopower waves can help in the design of optimized hybrid composites of nanomaterials and fuels, especially designs based on the internal alignment of the materials. More generally, we believe that this work provides clues to the process of chemical to thermal to electrical energy conversion inside/outside hybrid nanostructured materials.
Application of direct PCR in rapid rDNA ITS haplotype determination of the hyperparasitic fungus Sphaeropsis visci (Botryosphaeriaceae)
Authors: Varga Ildikó , Poczai Péter , Cernák István , Hyvönen Jaakko 
Published: September 2014

Abstract

Background
The plant pathogenic fungus, Sphaeropsis visci a dark-spored species of Botryosphaeriaceae, which causes the leaf spot disease of the European mistletoe (Viscum album). This species seems to have potential as a tool for biological control of the hemiparasite. For the rapid detection of S. visci haplotypes we tested a direct PCR assay without prior DNA purification. This approach was based on a polymerase enzyme from the crenarchaeon Sulfolobus solfataricus engineered by fusion protein technology, which linked the polymerase domain to a sequence non-specific DNA binding protein (Sso7d).

Findings
Most isolates of Sphaeropsis visci grouped together in our phylogenetic analyses, indicating that isolates had a previously reported haplotype sequence, which is commonly found in the analyzed Hungarian population. This haplotype was also reported from diseased mistletoe bushes from other European countries. We further identified unique single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the ITS region, which were specific to the only well resolved clade in the phylogenetic analysis.

Conclusions
The diPCR approach allowed amplification of ITS rRNA gene directly from small amounts of fungal samples without prior DNA extraction. This simple bioassay in plant disease management enables collection of genomic data from fungal plant pathogen populations.
Deletions of chromosomal regulatory boundaries are associated with congenital disease
Authors: Ibn-Salem Jonas , Köhler Sebastian , Love Michael I , Chung Ho-Ryun , Huang Ni , Hurles Matthew E , Haendel Melissa , Washington Nicole L , Smedley Damian , Mungall Christopher J , Lewis Suzanna E , Ott Claus-Eric , Bauer Sebastian , Schofield Paul N , Mundlos Stefan , Spielmann Malte , Robinson Peter N 
Published: September 2014

Abstract
Background
Recent data from genome-wide chromosome conformation capture analysis indicate that the human genome is divided into conserved megabase-sized self-interacting regions called topological domains. These topological domains form the regulatory backbone of the genome and are separated by regulatory boundary elements or barriers. Copy-number variations can potentially alter the topological domain architecture by deleting or duplicating the barriers and thereby allowing enhancers from neighboring domains to ectopically activate genes causing misexpression and disease, a mutational mechanism that has recently been termed enhancer adoption.

Results
We use the Human Phenotype Ontology database to relate the phenotypes of 922 deletion cases recorded in the DECIPHER database to monogenic diseases associated with genes in or adjacent to the deletions. We identify combinations of tissue-specific enhancers and genes adjacent to the deletion and associated with phenotypes in the corresponding tissue, whereby the phenotype matched that observed in the deletion. We compare this computationally with a gene-dosage pathomechanism that attempts to explain the deletion phenotype based on haploinsufficiency of genes located within the deletions. Up to 11.8% of the deletions could be best explained by enhancer adoption or a combination of enhancer adoption and gene-dosage effects.

Conclusions
Our results suggest that enhancer adoption caused by deletions of regulatory boundaries may contribute to a substantial minority of copy-number variation phenotypes and should thus be taken into account in their medical interpretation.
Ethnic capital and self-employment: a spatially autoregressive network approach
Authors: Wang Xingang , Maani Sholeh A 
Published: September 2014

AbstractImmigrants experience substantial disadvantages in employment in the host country. "Ethnic capital" (e.g. the ethnic network) is argued to provide a niche for immigrants. Previous international studies adopt either ethnic concentration or language as proxy for immigrants' network in host country. In this paper we introduce a new "spatial autoregressive network approach" to construct a dynamic network variable from micro-data to capture the effects of social and resource networks for immigrants. This approach allows each individual's self-employment decision to be geographically and ethnically correlated with that of other individuals. We further show that there are three advantages of this approach: it captures a more accurate effect of networks; it provides a better estimation of the impact of other socio-economic variables on self-employment; and it provides a better data fit. The empirical findings of this study strongly suggest that ethnic capital plays a vital role in relation to immigrants' self-employment decisions.JEL classification codes:J23, J61, Z13
Secretory activity of mandibular organ fluctuates in response to reproductive season of the field crab Paratelphusa sp. (Brachyura; Decapoda): an ultrastructural study
Authors: Sarika SN , Gayathri N , Gopinathan Anilkumar 
Published: September 2014

Abstract

Background
Mandibular organ (MO) in decapods is suggested to play regulatory role in reproduction, in few species; however, MO is considered to control growth. The present study addresses this question by an ultrastructural study on the MO of the field crab, Paratelphusa sp. Our sampling for consecutive years (2008 to 2012) revealed that Paratelphusa sp. devotes July to October for reproduction, judged by the occurrence of growing ovaries and the berried females. From November to the succeeding June, the females are in a state of reproductive arrest (non-reproductive period); ovaries during this season would appear as white bands with no signs of yolk deposition.

Results
Morphologically, MO of Paratelphusa sp. is positioned posterior to the mandibles and is in close apposition with the distal end of the mandibular apodeme. MO of Paratelphusa sp. exhibited significant levels (t = 8.097, P < 0.0001, N = 10) of season-dependent size variations. Our electron microscopic observations reveal that the MO is highly secretory during the reproductive period, evidenced by the occurrence of sacculated Golgi bodies having dense inclusions, several mitochondria with tubular cristae, and extensive networks of SER and rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER). During the non-reproductive period, however, the MO is least active; RER, the mitochondria, and the Golgi are only sparsely seen. Interestingly, the plasma membrane exhibits a highly convoluted appearance all the way through the non-reproductive period.

Conclusions
The present study reveals that the secretory activity of MO of Paratelphusa sp. is entrained with reproductive activity. The existence of a high correlation between MO secretory activity and ovarian growth implicates the former’s role in reproduction.
Did Changes in Drug Reimbursement After the Medicare Modernization Act Affect Chemotherapy Prescribing?
Authors: Hornbrook Mark C. , Malin Jennifer , Weeks Jane C. , Makgoeng Solomon B. , Keating Nancy L. , Potosky Arnold L. 
Published: September 2014

Purpose The Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA) decreased fee-for-service (FFS) payments for outpatient chemotherapy. We assessed how this policy affected chemotherapy in FFS settings versus in integrated health networks (IHNs). Patients and Methods We examined 5,831 chemotherapy regimens for 3,613 patients from 2003 to 2006 with colorectal cancer (CRC) or lung cancers in the Cancer Care Outcomes Research Surveillance Consortium. Patients were from four geographically defined regions, seven large health maintenance organizations, and 15 Veterans Affairs Medical Centers. The outcome of interest was receipt of chemotherapy that included at least one drug for which reimbursement declined after the MMA. Results The odds of receiving an MMA-affected drug were lower in the post-MMA era: the odds ratio (OR) was 0.73 (95% CI, 0.59 to 0.89). Important differences across cancers were detected: for CRC, the OR was 0.65 (95% CI, 0.46 to 0.92); for non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the OR was 1.60 (95% CI, 1.09 to 2.35); and for small-cell lung cancer, the OR was 0.63 (95% CI, 0.34 to 1.16). After the MMA, FFS patients were less likely to receive MMA-affected drugs: OR, 0.73 (95% CI, 0.59 to 0.89). No pre- versus post-MMA difference in the use of MMA-affected drugs was detected among IHN patients: OR, 1.01 (95% CI, 0.66 to 1.56). Patients with CRC were less likely to receive an MMA-affected drug in both FFS and IHN settings in the post- versus pre-MMA era, whereas patients with NSCLC were the opposite: OR, 1.60 (95% CI, 1.09 to 2.35) for FFS and 6.33 (95% CI, 2.09 to 19.11) for IHNs post- versus pre-MMA. Conclusion Changes in reimbursement after the passage of MMA appear to have had less of an impact on prescribing patterns in FFS settings than the introduction of new drugs and clinical evidence as well as other factors driving adoption of new practice patterns.
p16 Protein Expression and Human Papillomavirus Status As Prognostic Biomarkers of Nonoropharyngeal Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Chung Christine H. , Zhang Qiang , Kong Christina S. , Harris Jonathan , Fertig Elana J. , Harari Paul M. , Wang Dian , Redmond Kevin P. , Shenouda George , Trotti Andy , Raben David , Gillison Maura L. , Jordan Richard C. , Le Quynh-Thu 
Published: September 2014

Purpose Although p16 protein expression, a surrogate marker of oncogenic human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, is recognized as a prognostic marker in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC), its prevalence and significance have not been well established in cancer of the oral cavity, hypopharynx, or larynx, collectively referred as non-OPSCC, where HPV infection is less common than in the oropharynx. Patients and Methods p16 expression and high-risk HPV status in non-OPSCCs from RTOG 0129, 0234, and 0522 studies were determined by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and in situ hybridization (ISH). Hazard ratios from Cox models were expressed as positive or negative, stratified by trial, and adjusted for clinical characteristics. Results p16 expression was positive in 14.1% (12 of 85), 24.2% (23 of 95), and 19.0% (27 of 142) and HPV ISH was positive in 6.5% (six of 93), 14.6% (15 of 103), and 6.9% (seven of 101) of non-OPSCCs from RTOG 0129, 0234, and 0522 studies, respectively. Hazard ratios for p16 expression were 0.63 (95% CI, 0.42 to 0.95; P = .03) and 0.56 (95% CI, 0.35 to 0.89; P = .01) for progression-free (PFS) and overall survival (OS), respectively. Comparing OPSCC and non-OPSCC, patients with p16-positive OPSCC have better PFS and OS than patients with p16-positive non-OPSCC, but patients with p16-negative OPSCC and non-OPSCC have similar outcomes. Conclusion Similar to results in patients with OPSCC, patients with p16-negative non-OPSCC have worse outcomes than patients with p16-positive non-OPSCC, and HPV may also have a role in outcome in a subset of non-OPSCC. However, further development of a p16 IHC scoring system in non-OPSCC and improvement of HPV detection methods are warranted before broad application in the clinical setting.
Oxygen transport is not compromised at high temperature in pythons
Authors: Fobian Dannie , Overgaard Johannes , Wang Tobias 
Published: September 2014

Abstract
To evaluate whether the 'oxygen and capacity limited thermal tolerance' model (OCLTT) applies to an air-breathing ectothermic vertebrate, we measured oxygen uptake (VO2), cardiac performance and arterial blood gases during a progressive rise of temperature from 30 to 40°C in the snake Python regius. VO2 of fasting snakes increased exponentially with temperature, while VO2 of digesting snakes at high temperatures plateaued at a level 3-4 fold above fasting. The high and sustained aerobic metabolism over the entire temperature range was supported by pronounced tachycardia at all temperatures, and both fasting and digesting snakes maintained normal acid-base balance without indications of anaerobic metabolism. All snakes also maintained high arterial PO2 even at temperatures close to the upper lethal temperature. Thus, there is no indication of deteriorated oxygen transport capacity at high temperatures in either fasting or digesting snakes, suggesting that the upper thermal tolerance of this snake is limited by other factors.
A flavonol, epicatechin, reverses the suppressive effects of a stressor on LTM formation
Authors: Knezevic Bogdan , Lukowiak Ken 
Published: September 2014

Abstract
Learning and subsequent memory formation are influenced by both environmental and lifestyle factors, such as stress and diet. Epicatechin, a plant flavonol found in cocoa, red wine, and green tea enhances long term memory formation (LTM) in Lymnaea; while an ecologically relevant stressor, low calcium pond water, suppress LTM formation. We tested the hypothesis that epicatechin overcomes the suppressive effects of the stressor on LTM formation in the continued presence of the stressor. Snails trained in low calcium pond water exhibit learning but not LTM. Epicatechin (15 mg/L) in control pond water enhances LTM formation. When epicatechin was added to the low calcium pond water an enhanced LTM similar to that seen in control pond water was observed. Thus, a naturally occurring bioactive plant compound was able to overcome the suppressive effects of an ecologically relevant stressor on LTM formation.
Human achilles tendon plasticity in response to cyclic strain: effect of rate and duration
Authors: Bohm Sebastian , Mersmann Falk , Tettke Martin , Kraft Marc , Arampatzis Adamantios 
Published: September 2014

Abstract
High strain magnitude and low strain frequency are important stimuli for tendon adaptation. Increasing the rate and duration of the applied strain may enhance the adaptive responses. Therefore, our purpose was to investigate the effect of strain rate and duration on Achilles tendon adaptation. The study included two experimental groups (n=14 and n=12) and a control group (n=13). The participants of the experimental groups exercised (14 weeks, 4x/week) according to a reference protocol, featuring a high strain magnitude (~6.5%) and a low strain frequency (0.17 Hz, 3 s loading/3 s relaxation) on one leg and with either a higher strain rate (one-legged jumps) or a longer strain duration (12 s loading) on the other leg. The strain magnitude and loading volume were similar in all protocols. Before and after the interventions the tendon stiffness, Young’s modulus and cross-sectional area were examined using magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound and dynamometry. The reference and long strain duration protocols induced significantly increased (p&lt;0.05) tendon stiffness (57% vs. 25%), cross-sectional area (4.2% vs. 5.3%) and Young’s modulus (51% vs. 17%). The increases in tendon stiffness and Young’s modulus were higher in the reference protocol. Although region-specific tendon hypertrophy was also detected after the high strain rate training, there was only a tendency of increased stiffness (p=0.08) and Young's modulus (p=0.09). The control group did not show any changes (p&gt;0.05). The results provide evidence that a high strain magnitude, an appropriate strain duration and repetitive loading are essential components for an efficient adaptive stimulus for tendons.
Clinical and practical importance vs statistical significance: Limitations of conventional statistical inference
Authors: Wilkinson Michael , Winter Edward M 
Published: September 2014

Background: Decisions about support for therapies are often made using statistical inference in light of data. The dominant approach is null hypothesis significance testing (NHST). Applied correctly, NHST provides a procedure for making dichotomous decisions about zero-effect null hypotheses with known and controlled error rates. Type I and Type II error rates must be specified in advance, and the latter controlled by a priori sample size calculation. However, NHST does not provide the probability of hypotheses or the strength of support for hypotheses in light of data. The outcomes allow conclusions about the existence of non-zero effects, but provide no information about the likely size of true effects or their practical or clinical value. Content: Magnitude-based inference allows researchers to estimate the ‘true’ or large sample magnitude of effects with a specified likelihood, and how likely they are to exceed an effect magnitude of practical or clinical importance. This approach integrates the elements of subjective judgement that are central to clinical practice into a formal analysis of data, which facilitates more considered and enlightened interpretations of data, and avoids rejection of possibly highly beneficial therapies that are not statistically significant. Conclusions: Magnitude-based inference is gaining acceptance, but progress will be hastened if the shortcomings of NHST are understood.