bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characteristics of officer-involved vehicle collisions in California
Authors: Wolfe Scott E. , Rojek Jeff , Alpert Geoff , Tiesman Hope M. , James Stephen M.
Published: August 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the situational and individual officer characteristics of officer-involved vehicle collisions that result in fatality, injury, and non-injury outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

– Data on 35,840 vehicle collisions involving law enforcement officers in California occurring between January 2000 and December 2009 are examined. A descriptive analysis of collision characteristics is presented.

Findings

– There were 39 officers killed by collisions over this study period and 7,684 officers who received some type injury. Incidents involving officers on motorcycles represented 39 percent of officer fatalities and 39 percent of severe injuries. In the case of fatalities, 33 percent of officers were reported as wearing seatbelts, 38 percent were not wearing a seatbelt, and seatbelt use was not stated in 29 percent of car fatalities.

Research limitations/implications

– The findings only represent one state and the analysis is based on an estimated 86 percent of collisions that occurred during the study period due to missing data. Nonetheless, the results are based on a robust sample and address key limitations in the existing literature.

Practical implications

– During the study period in California the estimated financial impact of collisions reached into the hundreds of millions of dollars when considering related fatality, injury, and vehicle damage costs combined. These impacts highlight the need for the law enforcement community to give greater attention to this issue.

Originality/value

– At the time of this writing there was no published independent research that compares the situational and officer characteristics across fatality, injury, and non-injury outcomes in these events. The findings reported here will help inform emerging interest in this issue within the law enforcement, academic, and policy-making communities.
Processing Strategies to Inactivate Hepatitis A Virus in Food Products: A Critical Review
Authors: Sánchez Gloria
Published: August 2015

Hepatitis A infection, caused by hepatitis A virus (HAV), is the leading cause of human viral hepatitis throughout the world and is mainly propagated via the fecal–oral route. Transnational outbreaks of food‐borne infections are reported with increasing frequency as a consequence of international food trade. Food‐borne outbreaks caused by HAV are mainly associated with bivalve molluscs, produce (soft fruits and leafy greens), and ready‐to‐eat meals. The purpose of this paper was to conduct a structured and systematic review of the published literature on the current state of knowledge regarding the stability of HAV in foods as well as the efficacy of food processing strategies and to identify and prioritize research gaps regarding practical and effective mechanisms to reduce HAV contamination of foods. In particular, processing and disinfection strategies for the 3 food categories have been compiled in this review, including common and emerging food technologies. Overall, most of these processes can improve food safety; however, from a commercial point of view, none of the methods can guarantee total HAV inactivation without affecting the organoleptic qualities of the food product.
A Comparison of Dental Chartings Performed at the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command Central Identification Laboratory and the Kokura Central Identification Unit on Remains Identified from the Korean War
Authors: Shiroma Calvin Y.
Published: August 2015

During the Korean War, the Office of the Quartermaster General's Graves Registration Service (GRS) was responsible for the recovery, processing, identification, and repatriation of US remains. In January 1951, the GRS established a Central Identification Unit (CIU) at Kokura, Japan. At the Kokura CIU, postmortem dental examinations were performed by the dental technicians. Thirty‐nine postmortem dental examinations performed at the CIU were compared to the findings documented in the Forensic Odontology Reports written at the JPAC Central Identification Laboratory (CIL). Differences were noted in 20 comparisons (51%). The majority of the discrepancies was considered negligible and would not alter the JPAC decision to disinter a set of unknown remains. Charting discrepancies that were considered significant included the occasional failure of the Kokura technicians to identify teeth with inter‐proximal or esthetic restorations and the misidentification of a mechanically prepared tooth (i.e., tooth prepared for a restoration) as a carious surface.
Increased Butyrate Production During Long‐Term Fermentation of In Vitro‐Digested High Amylose Cornstarch Residues with Human Feces
Authors: Li Li , Jiang Hongxin , Kim Hyun‐Jung , Yum Man‐Yu , Campbell Mark R. , Jane Jay‐Lin , White Pamela J. , Hendrich Suzanne
Published: August 2015

An in vitro semi‐continuous long‐term (3 wk) anaerobic incubation system simulating lower gut fermentation was used to determine variability in gut microbial metabolism between 4 predigested high amylose‐resistant starch residues (SR): SRV, SRVI, SRVII, and SRGEMS in human fecal samples. Subjects participated twice, 5 mo apart: 30 in Phase I (15 lean, 9 overweight and 6 obese), 29 in Phase II (15 lean, 9 overweight, 5 obese); 13 of 15 lean subjects participated in both phases. Of the 4 SRs, SRV displayed the highest gelatinization temperature, peak temperature, enthalpy changes, and the least digestibility compared with the other SRs. In both phases, compared with blank controls, all SRs increased butyrate ∼2‐fold which stabilized at week 2 and only SRV caused greater propionate concentration (∼30%) after 3 wk which might have been partly mediated by its lesser digestibility. Fecal samples from lean and overweight/obese subjects incubated with SRs showed similar short‐chain fatty acid production across both time points, which suggests that resistant starch may benefit individuals across BMIs.
Metabolic syndrome and drug discontinuation in schizophrenia: a randomized trial comparing aripiprazole olanzapine and haloperidol
Authors: Parabiaghi A. , Tettamanti M. , D'Avanzo B. , Barbato A. ,   the GiSAS study group
Published: August 2015

Objective

To determine whether the prescription of aripiprazole, compared with olanzapine and haloperidol, was associated with a lower frequency of metabolic syndrome (MS) and treatment discontinuation at 1 year.

Method

Patients were randomly assigned to be treated open‐label and according to usual clinical practice with either aripiprazole, olanzapine, or haloperidol and followed up for 1 year.

Results

Three hundred out‐patients with persistent schizophrenia were recruited in 35 mental health services. The intention‐to‐treat (ITT) analysis found no significant differences in the rate of MS between aripiprazole (37%), olanzapine (47%), and haloperidol (42%). Treatment discontinuation for any cause was higher for aripiprazole (52%) than for olanzapine (33%; OR, 0.41; P = 0.004), or haloperidol (37%; OR, 0.51; P = 0.030). No significant difference was found between olanzapine and haloperidol. Time to discontinuation for any cause was longer for olanzapine than for aripiprazole (HR, 0.55; P < 0.001). No significant differences were found between haloperidol and aripiprazole, or between olanzapine and haloperidol.

Conclusion

The prescription of aripiprazole did not significantly reduce the rates of MS, but its treatment retention was worse. Aripiprazole cannot be considered the safest and most effective drug for maintenance treatment of schizophrenia in routine care, although it may have a place in antipsychotic therapy.
Effect of fine wood on juvenile brown trout behaviour in experimental stream channels
Authors: Enefalk Åsa , Bergman Eva
Published: August 2015

In‐stream wood can increase shelter availability and prey abundance for stream‐living fish such as brown trout, Salmo trutta, but the input of wood to streams has decreased in recent years due to harvesting of riparian vegetation. During the last decades, fine wood (FW) has been increasingly used for biofuel, and the input of FW to streams may therefore decrease. Although effects of in‐stream FW have not been studied as extensively as those of large wood (LW), it is probably important as shelter for small‐sized trout. In a laboratory stream experiment, we tested the behavioural response of young‐of‐the‐year wild brown trout to three densities of FW, with trout tested alone and in groups of four. Video recordings were used to measure the proportion of time allocated to sheltering, cruising and foraging, as well as the number of aggressive interactions and prey attacks. Cruising activity increased with decreasing FW density and was higher in the four‐fish groups than when fish were alone. Foraging decreased and time spent sheltering in FW increased with increasing FW density. Our study shows that juvenile trout activity is higher in higher fish densities and that trout response to FW is related to FW density and differs from the response to LW as reported by others.
News/Interview/Editorial
Authors: Tarran Brian , Bohannon John
Published: August 2015

Statisticians take the lead on forensic science research. Making fun of demography with a videogame. Data-driven architecture arrives in Sweden. Bad science, or better review systems? A science journalist encourages others to ask the right questions. Do newspaper endorsements sway voters? A crime reporter turns a spotlight on the Los Angeles homicide “epidemic”
A Very Different Result
Authors: Marriott Nigel
Published: August 2015

The 2015 UK general election caused upset for smaller political parties, who were disappointed to have received millions of votes but few seats under the first-past-the-post system. Is it time for a change? Nigel Marriott uses the D'Hondt system to produce an alternative outcome

Small political parties received millions of votes but few seats at the UK general election. Nigel Marriott uses the D'Hondt system to produce an alternative outcome
The Red Card cliché
Authors: Greenberg Adam
Published: August 2015

Is it harder to play against 10 men? Adam Greenberg analyses four seasons' worth of Premier League data to test the idea that soccer teams are tougher to beat when they are a man down
Simpson's Paradox … and How to Avoid it
Authors: Norton H. James , Divine George
Published: August 2015

When data from two or more groups are combined, patterns previously seen in the data can reverse or disappear altogether. H. James Norton and George Divine explain why this happens, and how to prevent it from leading researchers astray
Direct Synthesis of Alumina Nanowires on Ceramic Substrates Using Sn Catalysts
Authors: Jeong Namjo , Hong Sung‐kuk , Kim Chansoo , Kim Kahee
Published: August 2015

Direct integration of nanostructures into macroscopic substrates is very important for their practical applications. In this work, we report a simple method that can be introduced for the Sn‐catalyzed growth of alumina nanowires on ceramic substrates such as porous disk, monolith, and foam. Our study focuses on the role of the Sn catalysts in the formation mechanisms governing nanowire growth. Using the proposed approach, hair‐ or grass‐like tufts of 20 nm diameter nanowires grow on the surface of the ~3 μm diameter Sn particles, in a tip growth mechanism. The nanowires of α‐phased polycrystalline structure grow and are packed via a complex process involving batch‐by‐batch, branching, and amalgamation growth. The detailed observations reveal that the Sn catalyst is key to tailoring the growth patterns of the nanowires. In addition, cathodoluminescence studies highlight the potential optical applications of the alumina nanowires.
Francisco José de Caldas and the early development of plant geography
Authors: González‐Orozco Carlos E. , Ebach Malte C. , Varona Regina
Published: August 2015

Between 1801 and 1810, the Colombian cartographer, astronomer and botanist Francisco José de Caldas (1768–1816) produced a series of maps showing phytogeographical regions of taxon distributions drawn in three‐dimensions across landscapes in the Andean region of present‐day Ecuador. However, until the late 1990s, his phytogeographical maps remained unpublished and his methods largely unknown. To create his maps, Caldas generated three‐dimensional topographic profiles showing the elevation, maximum and minimum limits of distribution for single species and taxon regions delimited according to latitude, illustrating the geographical extent of each phytogeographical region. Here, we provide evidence to argue that Caldas' scientific work is important for understanding the development of plant geography in late 18th century Latin America.
Periodontitis aggravated pancreatic β‐cell dysfunction in diabetic mice through interleukin‐12 regulation on Klotho
Authors: Liu Yihua , Zhang Qiuli
Published: August 2015

Aims/Introduction

Recent studies have shown that periodontitis can contribute to adipose tissue inflammation and subsequent systemic insulin resistance in the obese rat model. However, the related inflammatory mechanism is not yet clear. The present study aims to investigate the effects of periodontitis on the function of pancreatic β‐cells with pro‐inflammatory cytokines‐related immune mechanism in a mouse model.

Materials and Methods

C57BL/6‐db/db and inbred C57BL/6 mice were chosen here to establish a mouse model with periodontitis, which was induced by ligatures for 8 weeks. Glucose‐stimulated insulin secretion was introduced to evaluate the function of pancreatic islets and β‐cells. Serum levels of pro‐inflammatory cytokines and Klotho were also measured, and the correlation between immunostimulation and Klotho level was deeply investigated in vitro.

Results

Pancreatic β‐cell failure, with insulin resistance, was observed in db/db mice, while periodontitis could aggravate β‐cell dysfunction‐related features. Serum levels of interleukin (IL)‐12 and Klotho showed a negatively synergistic change, whereas the expression of Klotho was also inhibited under IL‐12 treatment in MIN6 β‐cells or isolated islets. Furthermore, IL‐12‐induced immune stimulation and also decreased insulin secretion were proven to be reversed by Klotho overexpression.

Conclusions

Periodontitis aggravated pancreatic β‐cell failure in diabetic mice. Further in vitro studies showed IL‐12 regulation on Klotho, while Klotho also acted as an inhibitor on IL‐12, indicating the potential of Klotho for preserving pancreatic β‐cell function in diabetes.
Age and growth of the tiger shark Galeocerdo cuvier off the east coast of Australia
Authors: Holmes B. J. , Peddemors V. M. , Gutteridge A. N. , Geraghty P. T. , Chan R. W. K. , Tibbetts I. R. , Bennett M. B.
Published: August 2015

Total lengths (LT) at age and growth rates for south‐west Pacific Galeocerdo cuvier were estimated from vertebral growth‐band counts of 202 sagitally sectioned centra from 112 females (71–430 cm LT), 79 males (72–351 cm LT) and 11 of unknown sex. Captive growth data were also examined to complement vertebral age estimations. The sexes combined modelled growth coefficient (k = 0·08) was smaller than previously reported for G. cuvier populations elsewhere. Split‐band and narrow banding patterns were identified as potential sources of age underestimation in this species.
The Fascinating and Complex Role of the Placenta in Pregnancy and Fetal Well‐being
Authors: Latendresse Gwen , Founds Sandra
Published: August 2015

Existing evidence implicates the placenta as the origin of some common pregnancy complications. Moreover, some maternal conditions, such as inadequate nutrition, diabetes, and obesity, are known to adversely affect placental function, with subsequent negative impact on the fetus and newborn. The placenta may also contribute to fetal programming with health consequences into adulthood, such as cardiovascular, metabolic, and mental health disorders. There is evidence that altered placental development, specifically impaired trophoblast invasion and spiral artery remodeling in the first trimester, is the origin of preeclampsia. Prenatal care providers who understand the relationships between placental health and maternal‐newborn health can better inform and guide women to optimize health early in pregnancy and prior to conception. This article reviews the current understanding of placental function; placental contributions to normal fetal brain development and timing of birth; and impact of maternal nutrition, obesity, and diabetes on the placenta.
Patient beliefs about medicines and quality of life after a clinical medication review and follow-up by a pharmaceutical care plan: a study in elderly polypharmacy patients with a cardiovascular disorder
Authors: Geurts Marlies ME , Stewart Roy E , Brouwers Jacobus RBJ , de Graeff Pieter A , de Gier Johan J
Published: August 2015

Objective

To determine the effect of a clinical medication review, followed up by a pharmaceutical care plan, on the beliefs about medicines and quality of life (QoL) of older patients with polypharmacy and a cardiovascular disorder.

Methods

Patients were randomly assigned to an intervention or control group. Intervention patients received a clinical medication review with a follow-up that developed a pharmaceutical care plan. Control group patients received care as usual. All patients received two standardised questionnaires: the general part of the Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire (BMQ) and the EuroQoL EQ-5D questionnaire, at the start of the study (t = 0) and after 1-year follow-up (t = 1). Answers on both questionnaires were linked to patient data.

Key findings

512 patients were included from eight primary care settings. Analysis of the BMQ-General questionnaire showed that after 1-year intervention patients were more positive about medicines use, while control patients were more neutral or even more negative compared with baseline. For the first part, general harm, this result is statistically significant for the intervention group (P = 0.014). The EQ-5D questionnaire showed no significant results in QoL. Increasing the number of episodes documented had a significant effect and resulted in more negative patient beliefs about medicines. Advanced age, female gender, increasing number of episodes documented and medicines dispensed resulted in a lower QoL.

Conclusion

A medication review followed by a pharmaceutical care plan resulted in a significant positive effect on patient beliefs about medicines, but had no significant effect on QoL in elderly patients suffering from cardiovascular diseases. Female patients using multiple medicines, who visit their general practitioner regularly, might benefit most.
Comparison of gene flow among species that occur within the same geographic locations versus gene flow among populations within species reveals introgression among several Elymus species
Authors: Wu Pan‐Pan , Zuo Hong‐Wei , Sun Genlou , Wu De‐Xiang , Salomon Bjorn , Hu Qun‐Wen , Dong Zhao‐Rong
Published: August 2015

One of the challenges in evolutionary biology is to understand the evolution of speciation with incomplete reproductive isolation as many taxa have continued gene flow both during and after speciation. Comparison of population structure between sympatric and allopatric populations can reveal specific introgression and determine if introgression occurs in a unidirectional or bidirectional manner. Simple sequence repeat markers were used to characterize sympatric and allopatric population structure of plant species, Elymus alaskanus (Scribn. and Merr.) Löve, E. caninus L., E. fibrosus (Schrenk) Tzvel., and E. mutabilis (Drobov) Tzvelev. Our results showed that genetic diversity (HE) at species level is E. caninus (0.5355) > E. alaskanus (0.4511) > E. fibrosus (0.3924) > E. mutabilis (0.3764), suggesting that E. caninus and E. alaskanus are more variable than E. fibrosus and E. mutabilis. Gene flow between species that occurs within the same geographic locations versus gene flow between populations within species was compared to provide evidence of introgression. Our results indicated that gene flow between species that occur within the same geographic location is higher than that between populations within species, suggesting that gene flow resulting from introgressive hybridization might have occurred among the sympatric populations of these species, and may play an important role in partitioning of genetic diversity among and within populations. The migration rate from E. fibrosus to E. mutabilis is highest (0.2631) among the four species studied. Asymmetrical rates of gene flow among four species were also observed. The findings highlight the complex evolution of these four Elymus species.
China in the 21st Century: On Borrowing, Translation, and Mixed Economies
Authors: Lu Jiande , Gagnier Regenia
Published: August 2015

Chinoiserie – the European appropriation of “China” – has counterparts in Zhongxi hebi and nalai zhuyi. Part I, “Translating Literatures,” shows that creative translation and borrowing are indigenous to modern China. From the Sino‐Japanese War in 1894, when foreign novels were regarded as a primary requirement for social and cultural rebirth, modern Chinese literature was inseparable from the introduction of world literature into China. The pioneers of modern Chinese literature were all professional translators. Lu Xun's “hard translation” was specifically intended to introduce a change in Chinese characteristics. Esperanto was proposed at Peking University to replace written Chinese, and moves were made to institute a language for science, technology, and democratization. From the 1920s to 1966 under various forms of self‐styled Marxisms, literature first from the Eastern Bloc and then from the Third World was translated. After 1978, the Chinese diaspora have written in both adopted languages and Chinese, and the majority of writers within the PRC have drawn on indigenous and cosmopolitan traditions.

Part II, “Translating Political Economies,” shows that just as languages and literatures are selectively appropriated through processes of transculturation, so also are economic and political systems. These are the result of concrete historical processes, and labels like capitalism and socialism are not easily translated between countries with very different cultures and histories. When modernizing, democratizing, or liberalizing indigenous institutions, each country has to respond effectively to specific challenges, so political institutions are gradually developed rather than rationally designed. We argue that previous ideological debates between forms of capitalism and socialism are less urgent today than degrees of government as China's financial and commodity markets take a leading role in the global economy. Neoliberal governments worldwide want less governance, letting the market regulate goods and services. Whether China liberalizes politically or merely neoliberalizes economically, whether liberal democracies give up on demands for equality in the face of neoliberal regimes, will be the key issues of our time. Ultimately we have choices and freedoms, and these should not be limited to the consumer choice and market freedoms of neoliberalism, in China or the West.
Ombitasvir/paritaprevir/r, dasabuvir and ribavirin for cirrhotic HCV patients with thrombocytopaenia and hypoalbuminaemia
Authors: Forns Xavier , Poordad Fred , Pedrosa Marcos , Berenguer Marina , Wedemeyer Heiner , Ferenci Peter , Shiffman Mitchell L. , Fried Michael W. , Lovell Sandra , Trinh Roger , Lopez‐Talavera Juan Carlos , Everson Gregory
Published: August 2015

Background & Aims

Thrombocytopaenia and hypoalbuminaemia are surrogate markers for portal hypertension and hepatic synthetic dysfunction respectively. Patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) with these surrogates have reduced likelihood of sustained virologic response and increased risk for hepatic decompensation or death when treated with peginterferon/ribavirin plus either telaprevir or boceprevir.

Methods

We conducted a post‐hoc analysis of the TURQUOISE‐II clinical trial in patients with cirrhosis to examine the impact of these surrogates on efficacy and safety of ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir and dasabuvir with ribavirin.

Results

Of 380 genotype 1‐infected patients in TURQUOISE‐II, 104 had either a platelet count <100 × 109/L or albumin <3.5 g/dl. Sustained virologic response rates were 89 and 97% in patients with thrombocytopaenia, and 84 and 89% in patients with hypoalbuminaemia after 12 and 24 weeks of ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir and dasabuvir with ribavirin respectively. These rates were similar to those observed in the overall study population (92 and 97% for 12 and 24 weeks). HCV genotype 1a‐infected patients with thrombocytopaenia or hypoalbuminaemia had higher response rates when treated for 24 weeks, whereas only 1 of 35 genotype 1b patients did not achieve a sustained virologic response. Adverse event rates and discontinuations because of adverse events were low.

Conclusions

The findings of these analyses support the use of ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir and dasabuvir with ribavirin in these subpopulations with cirrhosis. Genotype 1a‐infected patients with indicators of portal hypertension may benefit from a 24‐week treatment duration.
Dermestid Dermatitis in a 2‐Year‐Old Girl: Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Hoverson Kara , Wohltmann Wendi E. , Pollack Richard J. , Schissel Daniel J.
Published: August 2015

Dermatitis from contact with carpet, larder, and hide beetles (family Dermestidae) is a seemingly uncommon or underrecognized hypersensitivity reaction to the specialized hairs on the larvae of certain dermestid beetles. The erythematous papulovesicular dermatitis that may result from such contact can be mistakenly construed as evidence of bites of bedbugs or other arthropods or infestation with scabies mites or can be the basis for a diagnosis of delusory parasitosis. We present a case of dermestid dermatitis in a 2‐year‐old girl and provide a review of the current literature.
Male reproductive maturity and diapause termination in the leaf beetle Gastrophysa atrocyanea
Authors: Ojima Noriyuki , Ishiguro Shinichi , An Ying , Kadosawa Tomohiro , Suzuki Koichi
Published: August 2015

Male reproductive potential and growth of testes are studied in the leaf beetle Gastrophysa atrocyanea Motschulsky (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) that is exposed to mild temperatures after imaginal ecdysis. Continuous administration of the Juvenile Hormone (JH) in artificial diet is highly effective with respect to stimulating testes growth and mating behaviour. Female reproductive diapause can be induced under standard rearing conditions, although optimum reproductive maturity of males is achieved at 15 °C. Treatment of males with a JH analogue accelerates testes development up to the stage of spermiogenesis (the bundling of spermatozoa) but does not promote the formation of cysts with mature sperm. Treatment with 20‐hydroxyecdysone has no influence on diapause termination and testes function. These results suggest that male reproductive maturation in G. atrocyanea is independent of JH, and moderate temperatures may induce an unknown factor that is responsible for the maturation of sperm cysts.
Some Dare Call It Conspiracy: Labeling Something a Conspiracy Theory Does Not Reduce Belief in It
Authors: Wood Michael J.
Published: August 2015

“Conspiracy theory” is widely acknowledged to be a loaded term. Politicians use it to mock and dismiss allegations against them, while philosophers and political scientists warn that it could be used as a rhetorical weapon to pathologize dissent. In two empirical studies conducted on Amazon Mechanical Turk, I present an initial examination of whether this concern is justified. In Experiment 1, 150 participants judged a list of historical and speculative theories to be no less likely when they were labeled “conspiracy theories” than when they were labeled “ideas.” In Experiment 2 (N = 802), participants who read a news article about fictitious “corruption allegations” endorsed those allegations no more than participants who saw them labeled “conspiracy theories.” The lack of an effect of the conspiracy‐theory label in both experiments was unexpected and may be due to a romanticized image of conspiracy theories in popular media or a dilution of the term to include mundane speculation regarding corruption and political intrigue.
Christianity and Empire
Authors: Rieger Joerg
Published: August 2015

Despite many connections and tensions between Christian traditions and empire, scholars of religion and theology have rarely reflected on them. What was lost in the process was not only a clearer understanding of how the forces of empire impact Christianity, consciously or unconsciously, but also a sense for how Christianity can never quite be absorbed by empire altogether and which of its resources push beyond empire.
Ideas of Liberation in Medieval Advaita Vedānta
Authors: Barua Ankur
Published: August 2015

Classical Indian soteriological systems such as the various forms of Vedānta, Yoga, Buddhism, and so on are characterised by dense interrelations between specific metaphysical accounts of the nature of reality, diagnoses of the human condition, and elaborations of praxes which will lead individuals towards human fulfilment. For these systems, the repeated cycles of life and death (saṁsāra) are a convenient summary of human ills, and they propose distinctive patterns of liberation from empirical existence that is structured by spiritual ignorance (avidyā ). The various strands of Advaita Vedānta had to grapple with a certain paradox that shapes its practices of liberation. On the one hand, the liberation that it speaks of is an always already established ‘fact’, which is not produced through a series of human efforts, but, on the other hand, it prescribes to human beings the practice of certain forms of insight to ‘realise’ their true identity. We will discuss this paradox of practice by tracing some lines of continuity from, as well as highlighting some differences of emphasis between, Śaṁkara (c. 800 CE) himself and a few medieval Advaita authors in their respective engagements with its structure. While both argue for the cruciality of practice at the ‘conventional’ level, while denying the reality of human agency from the ‘transcendental’ perspective, the texts we will consider, namely, the Pañcadaśī, the Jīvanmuktiviveka, and the Vedāntasāra, place a greater degree of emphasis than we find in Śaṁkara on certain practices related to yogic self‐control. We will highlight certain reasons that underlie this conceptual‐experiential shift.
Using context variety and students' discussions in recognizing statistical situations
Authors: Silva José Luis Ángel Rodríguez , Aguilar Mario Sánchez
Published: August 2015

We present a proposal for helping students to cope with statistical word problems related to the classification of different cases of confidence intervals. The proposal promotes an environment where students can explicitly discuss the reasons underlying their classification of cases.
Prednisolone does not affect direct‐acting antivirals against hepatitis C, but inhibits interferon‐alpha production by plasmacytoid dendritic cells
Authors: de Ruiter P.E. , Boor P.P.C. , de Jonge J. , Metselaar H.J. , Tilanus H.W. , Ijzermans J.N. , Kwekkeboom J. , van der Laan L.J.W.
Published: August 2015

Background

Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection compromises long‐term outcomes of liver transplantation. Although glucocorticosteroid‐based immunosuppression is commonly used, discussion is ongoing on the effect of prednisolone (Pred) on HCV recurrence and response to antiviral therapy post transplantation. Recently, new drugs (direct‐acting antivirals) have been approved for the treatment of HCV, however, it remains unknown whether their antiviral activity is affected by Pred. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Pred on the antiviral activity of asunaprevir (Asu), daclatasvir (Dac), ribavirin (RBV), and interferon‐alpha (IFN‐α), and on plasmacytoid dendritic cells (PDCs), the main IFN‐α‐producing immune cells.

Methods

The effects of Pred and antiviral compounds were tested in both a subgenomic and infectious HCV replication model. Furthermore, effects were tested on human PDCs stimulated with a Toll‐like receptor‐7 ligand.

Result

Pred did not directly affect HCV replication and did not inhibit the antiviral action of Asu, Dac, RBV, or IFN‐α. Stimulated PDCs potently suppressed HCV replication. This suppression was reversed by treating PDCs with Pred. Pred significantly decreased IFN‐α production by PDCs without affecting cell viability. When Asu and Dac were combined with PDCs, a significant cooperative antiviral effect was observed.

Conclusion

This study shows that Pred acts on the antiviral function of PDCs. Pred does not affect the antiviral action of Asu, Dac, RBV, or IFN‐α. This implies that there is no contraindication to combine antiviral therapies with Pred in the post‐transplantation management of HCV recurrence.
Community‐acquired Legionnaires' disease in a renal transplant recipient with unclear incubation period: the importance of molecular typing
Authors: Cassier P. , Bénet T. , Nicolle M.C. , Brunet M. , Buron F. , Morelon E. , Béraud L. , Descours G. , Jarraud S. , Vanhems P.
Published: August 2015

Transplant recipients are at risk of developing Legionnaires' disease (LD) because of impaired cellular immunity. Here, we describe a renal transplant recipient who developed LD at least 10 days after hospital admission and transplantation. The hospital water network was initially suspected, but further testing determined that the probable source was the patient's domestic water supply. Our report also suggests that the patient's immunosuppressed state may have switched potential colonization to pneumonia.
Improving survey data on pregnancy‐related deaths in low‐and middle‐income countries: a validation study in Senegal
Authors: Helleringer Stéphane , Pison Gilles , Masquelier Bruno , Kanté Almamy Malick , Douillot Laetitia , Ndiaye Cheikh Tidiane , Duthé Géraldine , Sokhna Cheikh , Delaunay Valérie
Published: August 2015

Objective

In low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMICs), siblings’ survival histories (SSH) are often used to estimate maternal mortality, but SSH data on causes of death at reproductive ages have seldom been validated. We compared the accuracy of two SSH instruments: the standard questionnaire used during the demographic and health surveys (DHS) and the siblings’ survival calendar (SSC), a new questionnaire designed to improve survey reports of deaths among women of reproductive ages.

Methods

We recruited 1189 respondents in a SSH survey in Niakhar, Senegal. Mortality records from a health and demographic surveillance system (HDSS) constituted the reference data set. Respondents were randomly assigned to an interview with the DHS or SSC questionnaires. A total of 164 respondents had a sister who died at reproductive ages over the past 15 years before the survey according to the HDSS.

Results

The DHS questionnaire led to selective omissions of deaths: DHS respondents were significantly more likely to report their sister's death if she had died of pregnancy‐related causes than if she had died of other causes (96.4% vs. 70.9%, P < 0.007). Among reported deaths, both questionnaires had high sensitivity (>90%) in recording pregnancy‐related deaths. But the DHS questionnaire had significantly lower specificity than the SSC (79.5% vs. 95.0%, P = 0.015). The DHS questionnaire overestimated the proportion of deaths due to pregnancy‐related causes, whereas the SSC yielded unbiased estimates of this parameter.

Conclusion

Statistical models informed by SSH data collected using the DHS questionnaire might exaggerate maternal mortality in Senegal and similar settings. A new questionnaire, the SSC, could permit better tracking progress towards the reduction in maternal mortality.
Effects of ambient hydrostatic pressure on the material properties of the encapsulation of an ultrasound contrast microbubble
Authors: Kumar Krishna N. , Sarkar Kausik
Published: August 2015

Ultrasound contrast microbubbles experience widely varying ambient blood pressure in different organs, which can also change due to diseases. Pressure change can alter the material properties of the encapsulation of these microbubbles. Here the characteristic rheological parameters of contrast agent Definity are determined by varying the ambient pressure (in a physiologically relevant range 0–200 mm Hg). Four different interfacial rheological models are used to characterize the microbubbles. Effects of gas diffusion under excess ambient pressure are investigated in detail accounting for size decrease of contrast microbubbles. Definity contrast agent show a change in their interfacial dilatational viscosity (3.6 × 10−8 Ns/m at 0 mm Hg to 4.45 × 10−8 Ns/m at 200 mm Hg) and interfacial dilatational elasticity (0.86 N/m at 0 mm Hg to 1.06 N/m at 200 mm Hg) with ambient pressure increase. The increase results from material consolidation, similar to such enhancement in bulk properties under pressure. The model that accounts for enhancement in material properties with increasing ambient pressure matches with experimentally measured subharmonic response as a function of ambient pressure, while assuming constant material parameters does not.
Scholte wave generation during single tracking location shear wave elasticity imaging of engineered tissues
Authors: Mercado Karla P. , Langdon Jonathan , Helguera María , McAleavey Stephen A. , Hocking Denise C. , Dalecki Diane
Published: August 2015

The physical environment of engineered tissues can influence cellular functions that are important for tissue regeneration. Thus, there is a critical need for noninvasive technologies capable of monitoring mechanical properties of engineered tissues during fabrication and development. This work investigates the feasibility of using single tracking location shear wave elasticity imaging (STL-SWEI) for quantifying the shear moduli of tissue-mimicking phantoms and engineered tissues in tissue engineering environments. Scholte surface waves were observed when STL-SWEI was performed through a fluid standoff, and confounded shear moduli estimates leading to an underestimation of moduli in regions near the fluid-tissue interface.
No evidence of relation between working memory and perception of interrupted speech in young adults
Authors: Nagaraj Naveen K. , Knapp Andrea N.
Published: August 2015

Understanding interrupted speech requires top-down linguistic and cognitive restoration mechanisms. To investigate the relation between working memory (WM) and perception of interrupted speech, 20 young adults were asked to recognize sentences interrupted at 2 Hz, 8 Hz, and a combination of 2 and 8 Hz. WM was measured using automated reading and operation span tasks. Interestingly, the results presented here revealed no statistical relation between any of the interrupted speech recognition scores and WM scores. This finding is in agreement with previous findings that suggest greater reliance on linguistic factors relative to cognitive factors during perception of interrupted speech.
Draft Genome Sequences of Burkholderia contaminans, a Burkholderia cepacia Complex Species That Is Increasingly Recovered from Cystic Fibrosis Patients
Authors: Bloodworth Ruhi A. M. , Selin Carrie , López De Volder Maria Agustina , Drevinek Pavel , Galanternik Laura , Degrossi José , Cardona Silvia T.
Published: August 2015

Burkholderia contaminans
belongs to the
Burkholderia cepacia
complex (BCC), a group of bacteria that are ubiquitous in the environment and capable of infecting the immunocompromised and people with cystic fibrosis. We report here draft genome sequences for the
B. contaminans
type strain LMG 23361 and an Argentinian cystic fibrosis sputum isolate.
Complete Genome Sequence of Nova Virus, a Hantavirus Circulating in the European Mole in Belgium
Authors: Laenen Lies , Vergote Valentijn , Nauwelaers Inne , Verbeeck Ina , Kafetzopoulou Liana E. , Van Ranst Marc , Maes Piet
Published: August 2015

The complete genome sequence of Nova virus, a divergent hantavirus, originating from the kidney tissue of a European mole (
Talpa europaea
) from Belgium was determined. The 3 genomic segments have a total length of 11,979 nucleotides, and nucleotide identities to other Nova viruses are between 80 and 89%.
Genome Sequence of
Schizochytrium
sp. CCTCC M209059, an Effective Producer of Docosahexaenoic Acid-Rich Lipids
Authors: Ji Xiao-Jun , Mo Kai-Qiang , Ren Lu-Jing , Li Gan-Lu , Huang Jian-Zhong , Huang He
Published: August 2015

Schizochytrium
is an effective species for producing omega-3 docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Here, we report a genome sequence of
Schizochytrium
sp. CCTCC M209059, which has a genome size of 39.09 Mb. It will provide the genomic basis for further insights into the metabolic and regulatory mechanisms underlying the DHA formation.
Complete Genome Sequence of Enterobacter cloacae UW5, a Rhizobacterium Capable of High Levels of Indole-3-Acetic Acid Production
Authors: Coulson Thomas J. D. , Patten Cheryl L.
Published: August 2015

We report the complete genome sequence of
Enterobacter cloacae
UW5, an indole-3-acetic acid-producing rhizobacterium originally isolated from the rhizosphere of grass. The 4.9-Mbp genome has a G+C content of 54% and contains 4,496 protein-coding sequences.
Draft Genome Sequence of
Streptomyces
sp. Strain Wb2n-11, a Desert Isolate with Broad-Spectrum Antagonism against Soilborne Phytopathogens
Authors: Köberl Martina , White Richard A. , Erschen Sabine , El-Arabi Tarek F. , Jansson Janet K. , Berg Gabriele
Published: August 2015

Streptomyces
sp. strain Wb2n-11, isolated from native desert soil, exhibited broad-spectrum antagonism against plant pathogenic fungi, bacteria, and nematodes. The 8.2-Mb draft genome reveals genes putatively responsible for its promising biocontrol activity and genes which enable the soil bacterium to directly interact beneficially with plants.
Routine failures in the process for blood testing and the communication of results to patients in primary care in the UK: a qualitative exploration of patient and provider perspectives
Authors: Litchfield Ian , Bentham Louise , Hill Ann , McManus Richard J , Lilford Richard , Greenfield Sheila
Published: August 2015

Background

The testing and result communication process in primary care is complex. Its successful completion relies on the coordinated efforts of a range of staff in primary care and external settings working together with patients. Despite the importance of diagnostic testing in provision of care, this complexity renders the process vulnerable in the face of increasing demand, stretched resources and a lack of supporting guidance.

Methods

We conducted a series of focus groups with patients and staff across four primary care practices using process-improvement strategies to identify and understand areas where either unnecessary delay is introduced, or the process may fail entirely. We then worked with both patients and staff to arrive at practical strategies to improve the current system.

Results

A total of six areas across the process were identified where improvements could be introduced. These were: (1) delay in phlebotomy, (2) lack of a fail-safe to ensure blood tests are returned to practices and patients, (3) difficulties in accessing results by telephone, (4) role of non-clinical staff in communicating results, (5) routine communication of normal results and (6) lack of a protocol for result communication.

Conclusions

A number of potential failures in testing and communicating results to patients were identified, and some specific ideas for improving existing systems emerged. These included same-day phlebotomy sessions, use of modern technology methods to proactively communicate routine results and targeted training for receptionists handling sensitive data. There remains an urgent need for further work to test these and other potential solutions.
Composing concurrency control
Authors: Ziv Ofri , Aiken Alex , Golan-Gueta Guy , Ramalingam G. , Sagiv Mooly
Published: August 2015

Concurrency control poses significant challenges when composing computations over multiple data-structures (objects) with different concurrency-control implementations. We formalize the usually desired requirements (serializability, abort-safety, deadlock-safety, and opacity) as well as stronger versions of these properties that enable composition. We show how to compose protocols satisfying these properties so that the resulting combined protocol also satisfies these properties. Our approach generalizes well-known protocols (such as two-phase-locking and two-phase-commit) and leads to new protocols. We apply this theory to show how we can safely compose optimistic and pessimistic concurrency control. For example, we show how we can execute a transaction that accesses two objects, one controlled by an STM and another by locking.
The Push/Pull model of transactions
Authors: Koskinen Eric , Parkinson Matthew
Published: August 2015

We present a general theory of serializability, unifying a wide range of transactional algorithms, including some that are yet to come. To this end, we provide a compact semantics in which concurrent transactions PUSH their effects into the shared view (or UNPUSH to recall effects) and PULL the effects of potentially uncommitted concurrent transactions into their local view (or UNPULL to detangle). Each operation comes with simple criteria given in terms of commutativity (Lipton's left-movers and right-movers). The benefit of this model is that most of the elaborate reasoning (coinduction, simulation, subtle invariants, etc.) necessary for proving the serializability of a transactional algorithm is already proved within the semantic model. Thus, proving serializability (or opacity) amounts simply to mapping the algorithm on to our rules, and showing that it satisfies the rules' criteria.
Celebrating diversity: a mixture of experts approach for runtime mapping in dynamic environments
Authors: Emani Murali Krishna , O'Boyle Michael
Published: August 2015

Matching program parallelism to platform parallelism using thread selection is difficult when the environment and available resources dynamically change. Existing compiler or runtime approaches are typically based on a one-size fits all policy. There is little ability to either evaluate or adapt the policy when encountering new external workloads or hardware resources. This paper focuses on selecting the best number of threads for a parallel application in dynamic environments. It develops a new scheme based on a mixture of experts approach. It learns online which, of a number of existing policies, or experts, is best suited for a particular environment without having to try out each policy. It does this by using a novel environment predictor as a proxy for the quality of an expert thread selection policy. Additional expert policies can easily be added and are selected only when appropriate. We evaluate our scheme in environments with varying external workloads and hardware resources.We then consider the case when workloads use affinity scheduling or are themselves adaptive and show that our approach, in all cases, outperforms existing schemes and surprisingly improves workload performance. On average, we improve 1.66x over OpenMP default, 1.34x over an online scheme, 1.25x over an offline policy and 1.2x over a state-of-art analytic model. Determining the right number and type of experts is an open problem and our initial analysis shows that adding more experts improves accuracy and performance.