bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impact of smoking on neurodegeneration and cerebrovascular disease markers in cognitively normal men
Authors: Cho H. , Kim C. , Kim H. J. , Ye B. S. , Kim Y. J. , Jung N.‐Y. , Son T. O. , Cho E. B. , Jang H. , Lee J. , Kang M. , Shin H.‐Y. , Jeon S. , Lee J.‐M. , Kim S. T. , Choi Y.‐C. , Na D. L. , Seo S. W.
Published: August 2015

Background and purpose

Smoking is a major risk factor for cognitive decline and dementia. However, the exact pathobiology of smoking remains unknown. The effects of smoking on cortical thickness as a biomarker of neurodegeneration or white matter hyperintensities and lacunes as biomarkers of cerebrovascular burden were concurrently evaluated.

Methods

Our study included 977 cognitively normal men who visited a health promotion centre and underwent medical check‐ups, including 3.0 T magnetic resonance imaging. Participants were categorized into never smoker, past smoker or current smoker groups and pack‐years and the years of smoking cessation were used as continuous variables.

Results

The current smoker group exhibited cortical thinning in frontal and temporo‐parietal regions compared with the never smoker group. These effects were particularly prominent in smokers with a high cumulative exposure to smoking in the current smoker group. However, there was no association between smoking and the severity of white matter hyperintensity or number of lacunes.

Conclusion

Our findings indicate that smoking might impact on neurodegeneration rather than cerebrovascular burdens in cognitively normal men, suggesting that smoking might be an important modifiable risk factor for the development of Alzheimer's disease.
Low expression of equilibrative nucleoside transporter 1 is associated with poor prognosis in chemotherapy‐naïve pT2 gallbladder adenocarcinoma patients
Authors: Espinoza Jaime A , García Patricia , Bizama Carolina , Leal José L , Riquelme Ismael , Weber Helga , Macanas Patricia , Aguayo Gloria , Viñuela Eduardo , Roa Juan C , Nervi Bruno
Published: August 2015

Aims

Equilibrative nucleoside transporter 1 (ENT1) is the major transporter of the chemotherapeutic drug gemcitabine, the current therapy for advanced gallbladder cancer (GBC). ENT1 expression has been proposed as a predictive marker for gemcitabine‐treated pancreatic cancer patients. The aim of study was to explore the value of ENT1 measurement in chemotherapy‐naïve patients with advanced GBC.

Materials and results

Immunohistochemistry for ENT1 was performed on 214 GBC samples from patients who had never undergone co‐adjuvant or neo‐adjuvant chemotherapy. Advanced GBC cases were divided into groups with low or high ENT1 expression. Kaplan–Meier tests were used for survival analyses. The Cox regression method was used to assess the association of ENT1 expression with overall survival (OS). Low ENT1 expression was associated with younger patient age (P = 0.03) and moderate‐to‐poor histological differentiation (P = 0.01). pT2 patients with low ENT1 expression had shorter median survival (17.3 versus 28.7 months) and lower OS (17.3% versus 33.3%, P < 0.05) than patients with high ENT1 expression. Low ENT1 expression was an independent prognostic factor for OS (P = 0.036).

Conclusions

ENT1 is a prognostic marker for pT2 GBC patients. Additional studies are needed to determine whether ENT1 has predictive value for gemcitabine response in GBC.
Subcutaneous mycoses in coastal Karnataka in south India
Authors: Bhat Ramesh M. , Monteiro Rochelle C. , Bala Nandakishore , Dandakeri Sukumar , Martis Jacintha , Kamath Ganesh H. , Kambil Srinath M. , Asha Vadakayil Ramay
Published: August 2015

Background

Subcutaneous mycoses are chronic, localized infections of the skin and subcutaneous tissue which occur following traumatic implantation of the etiological agent. The causative organisms are soil saprophytes of regional epidemiology with varying ability to adapt to the tissue environment and elicit disease.

Objectives

This study was conducted to evaluate the various types of subcutaneous mycoses, including actinomycotic mycetomas, in south coastal Karnataka, India.

Methods

Between January 2005 and January 2013, a total of 25 patients were diagnosed with subcutaneous mycoses based on a detailed clinical history and presentation, histopathology, and culture of organisms.

Results

Chromoblastomycosis was the infection most commonly seen (n = 16 patients, 64%), followed by mycetoma (n = 4, 16%), sporotrichosis (n = 4, 16%), and rhinoentomophthoromycosis (n = 1, 4%). The extremities were the most common site of involvement, with the lower limb being most affected (64%). Males were more commonly afflicted (64%) than females (36%). Most patients were agricultural workers, although preceding trauma was noted in only three patients. The majority of patients responded well to therapy and were disease‐free on follow‐up.

Conclusions

Subcutaneous mycoses are a rare group of disorders. Chromoblastomycosis is the most frequent subcutaneous fungal infection in south India. Morphologically, chromomoblastomycoses present as verrucous, ulcerative, nodular, or eczematous lesions. Clinical diagnosis is important as culture is often negative. The incidence of infection is higher among rubber tappers. It is important to clinically differentiate chromoblastomycosis from tuberculosis verrucosa cutis. Most of the subcutaneous mycoses respond well to treatment, with the exception of rhinoentomophthoromycosis, which is a rare form of deep mycosis with associated mutilation. Eumycetomas are not observed in this part of India.
Diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis in coexistence with leprosy
Authors: Patrao Ninon A.R. , Bhat Ramesh M. , Dandekeri Sukumar , Kambil Srinath M.
Published: August 2015

Cutaneous leishmaniasis and leprosy are diseases both caused by intracellular pathogens that represent a major health predicament even today. Both these diseases have some characteristics in common, such as the involvement of mucocutaneous tissue, a course with a chronic granulomatous response, a broad clinical spectrum in relation to the host's immunity, and they often affect the poor population in tropical countries. Co‐infection of the two diseases, although known to occur, is rarely encountered and reported. Even though new cases of leprosy are diagnosed in the region of coastal Karnataka of India, cutaneous leishmaniasis is rarely reported. We hereby describe a patient who presented with concurrent leprosy and diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis.
Association of CYP2C19, CYP3A5 and GPIIb/IIIa gene polymorphisms with Aspirin and Clopidogrel Resistance in a cohort of Indian patients with Coronary Artery Disease
Authors: Arya V. , Mahajan P. , Saraf A. , Mohanty A. , Sawhney J. P. S. , Bhargava M.
Published: August 2015

Introduction

Dual antiplatelet therapy with clopidogrel and aspirin is the current standard of care in the management of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The variability in response to these antiplatelet agents may be due to the underlying genetic diversity. This study was designed to determine the resistance to aspirin and clopidogrel in Indian patients and to look for correlation, if any, with selected polymorphisms.

Methods

Platelet function testing by light transmission aggregometry was performed on 72 patients with CAD/ACS who were stable on dual antiplatelet therapy (clopidogrel 75 mg OD and aspirin 150 mg OD) along with 72 controls. Aspirin resistance was considered as mean platelet aggregation ≥70% with 10 μm ADP and ≥20% with 0.75 mm arachidonic acid. Clopidogrel resistance was defined as <10% decrease from the baseline in platelet aggregation in response to ADP 10 μm and semi‐response as <30% decrease from the baseline. Polymorphisms CYP2C19*2, *3, CYP3A5*3 and PLA1/A2 were genotyped.

Results

We found 51.4% patients with inadequate response to clopidogrel (1.4% resistant and 50% semi‐responders) and 5.5% patients semi‐responders to aspirin, none being completely resistant. The genotype and allele frequencies of CYP2C19*2 and PLA1/A2 gene polymorphisms were significantly different between clopidogrel semi‐responders and responders. Carriers of CYP2C19*2 and CYP3A5*3 showed diminished inhibition of platelet aggregation. No significant correlation was found between coronary events, type of coronary intervention with clopidogrel nonresponsiveness.

Conclusion

Unlike aspirin, a high proportion of partial responders to clopidogrel were identified. In an interim analysis on 72 Indian patients, a significant association was found between CYP2C19*2 and PLA1/A2 in clopidogrel semi‐responders.
Remittances and Energy Consumption: Evidence from Morocco
Authors: Akçay Selçuk , Demirtaş Gökhan
Published: August 2015

The main purpose of this study is to empirically investigate the co‐integration and causal relationship between international remittances and energy consumption in the context of Morocco. Previous empirical studies associated remittances with various macroeconomic and social variables. To our knowledge, this is the first study that examines the causality between remittances and energy consumption in Morocco. The study finds a long‐run equilibrium relationship between remittances and energy consumption. The results indicate that remittances influence energy consumption directly both in the short run and long run, and influence energy consumption indirectly through industrialization and economic growth in the long run.
Convertible Debt: Financing Decisions and Voluntary Conversion under Ambiguity
Authors: Agliardi Elettra , Agliardi Rossella , Spanjers Willem
Published: August 2015

This paper integrates ambiguity into a contingent claim model for convertible debt. We study how convertible debt valuation is affected by the ambiguity biases of equity holders and debt holders and provide sensitivity analysis of the bond value to changes in attitude toward ambiguity, firm and bond parameters. Our results, which are summarized into five main predictions, are consistent with recent empirical evidence and offer a possible interpretation of some corporate finance puzzles.
Emotional Intelligence and Nurse Recruitment: Rasch and confirmatory factor analysis of the trait emotional intelligence questionnaire short form
Authors: Snowden Austyn , Watson Roger , Stenhouse Rosie , Hale Claire
Published: August 2015

Aim

To examine the construct validity of the Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire Short form.

Background

Emotional intelligence involves the identification and regulation of our own emotions and the emotions of others. It is therefore a potentially useful construct in the investigation of recruitment and retention in nursing and many questionnaires have been constructed to measure it.

Design

Secondary analysis of existing dataset of responses to Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire Short form using concurrent application of Rasch analysis and confirmatory factor analysis.

Method

First year undergraduate nursing and computing students completed Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire‐Short Form in September 2013. Responses were analysed by synthesising results of Rasch analysis and confirmatory factor analysis.

Results

Participants (N = 938) completed Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire Short form. Rasch analysis showed the majority of the Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire‐Short Form items made a unique contribution to the latent trait of emotional intelligence. Five items did not fit the model and differential item functioning (gender) accounted for this misfit. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed a four‐factor structure consisting of: self‐confidence, empathy, uncertainty and social connection. All five misfitting items from the Rasch analysis belonged to the ‘social connection’ factor.

Conclusions

The concurrent use of Rasch and factor analysis allowed for novel interpretation of Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire Short form. Much of the response variation in Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire Short form can be accounted for by the social connection factor. Implications for practice are discussed.
Developing immunological methods for detecting Macrobrachium rosenbergii nodavirus and extra small virus using a recombinant protein preparation
Authors: Wang C‐S , Chang C‐Y , Wen C‐M
Published: August 2015

Macrobrachium rosenbergii nodavirus (MrNV) and extra small virus (XSV) have been identified as the causative agents for white tail disease (WTD) of M. rosenbergii. In this study, the gene sequences encoding MrNV and XSV capsid proteins were separately ligated into the pGEX‐4T‐3 expression vector and transformed into Escherichia coli. After induction, glutathione‐S‐transferase (GST)‐tagged MrNV and XSV fusion proteins were obtained with molecular masses of 68 and 43 kDa, respectively. Specific polyclonal antibodies for MrNV and XSV against viral recombinant proteins and infected prawn tissues were verified using Western blotting. According to immunodot blot assay results, the detection sensitivities of antibodies were approximately 5 ng μL−1 for both recombinant proteins GST‐MrNV and GST‐XSV. In additional, MrNV and XSV were detected at dilution levels of 1:2560 and 1:640 in the infected prawn tissues, respectively. No cross‐reactions with white spot syndrome virus or grouper nervous necrosis virus were observed using immunodot blot assays. MrNV and XSV in infected muscle tissues were detected using immunohistochemistry. Although the detection limit of the immunodot blot assay was lower than that of nested reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, these polyclonal antibodies can be useful for confirming MrNV and XSV infections in field tests.
Cross‐sectional relationships between dietary fat intake and serum cholesterol fatty acids in a Swedish cohort of 60‐year‐old men and women
Authors: Laguzzi F. , Alsharari Z. , Risérus U. , Vikström M. , Sjögren P. , Gigante B. , Hellénius M.‐L. , Cederholm T. , Bottai M. , de Faire U. , Leander K.
Published: August 2015

Background

The present study aimed to describe the relationship between self‐reported dietary intake and serum cholesterol fatty acids (FAs) in a Swedish population of 60‐year‐old men and women.

Methods

Cross‐sectional data collected in 1997–1998 from 4232 individuals residing in Stockholm County were used. Five diet scores were created to reflect the intake of saturated fats in general, as well as fats from dairy, fish, processed meat and vegetable oils and margarines. Gas chromatography was used to assess 13 FAs in serum cholesterol esters. The association between each diet score and specific FAs was assessed by percentile differences (PD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) at the 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th and 90th percentile of each FA across levels of diet scores using quantile regression.

Results

Fish intake was associated with high proportions of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). For each point increase in fish score, the 50th PD in EPA and DHA was 32.78% (95% CI = 29.22% to 36.35%) and 10.63% (95% CI = 9.52% to 11.74%), respectively. Vegetable fat intake was associated with a high proportion of linoleic acid and total polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and a low proportion of total saturated fatty acids (SFA). The intake of saturated fats in general and dairy fat was slightly associated with specific SFA, although the intake of fat from meat was not.

Conclusions

In the present study population, using a rather simple dietary assessment method, the intake of fish and vegetable fats was clearly associated with serum PUFA, whereas foods rich in saturated fats in general showed a weak relationship with serum SFA. Our results may contribute to increased knowledge about underlying biology in diet–cardiovascular disease associations.
Structure and content components of self‐management interventions that improve health‐related quality of life in people with inflammatory bowel disease: a systematic review, meta‐analysis and meta‐regression
Authors: Tu Wenjing , Xu Guihua , Du Shizheng
Published: August 2015

Aims and objectives

The purpose of this review was to identify and categorise the components of the content and structure of effective self‐management interventions for patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Background

Inflammatory bowel diseases are chronic gastrointestinal disorders impacting health‐related quality of life. Although the efficacy of self‐management interventions has been demonstrated in previous studies, the most effective components of the content and structure of these interventions remain unknown.

Design

A systematic review, meta‐analysis and meta‐regression of randomised controlled trials was used.

Methods

A systematic search of six electronic databases, including Pubmed, Embase, Cochrane central register of controlled trials, Web of Science, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature and Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, was conducted. Content analysis was used to categorise the components of the content and structure of effective self‐management interventions for inflammatory bowel disease. Clinically important and statistically significant beneficial effects on health‐related quality of life were explored, by comparing the association between effect sizes and various components of self‐management interventions such as the presence or absence of specific content and different delivery methods.

Results

Fifteen randomised controlled trials were included in this review. Distance or remote self‐management interventions demonstrated a larger effect size. However, there is no evidence for a positive effect associated with specific content component of self‐management interventions in adult patients with inflammatory bowel disease in general.

Conclusions

The results showed that self‐management interventions have positive effects on health‐related quality of life in patients with inflammatory bowel disease, and distance or remote self‐management programmes had better outcomes than other types of interventions.

Relevance to clinical practice

This review provides useful information to clinician and researchers when determining components of effective self‐management programmes for patients with inflammatory bowel disease. More high‐quality randomised controlled trials are needed to test the results.
Survival outcomes of supportive care versus dialysis therapies for elderly patients with end‐stage kidney disease: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Foote Celine , Kotwal Sradha , Gallagher Martin , Cass Alan , Brown Mark , Jardine Meg
Published: August 2015

Aim

Elderly people comprise a large and growing proportion of the global dialysis population. Regional differences in rates of dialysis in the elderly suggest multiple factors influence treatment decision‐making including beliefs about the relative benefits and harms of dialysis and supportive (non‐dialysis) care. We therefore systematically reviewed the literature reporting survival of elderly patients treated with either treatment pathway.

Methods

Systematic review and meta‐analysis of cohort studies or randomized controlled trials identified in MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials published before July 2014. Survival by treatment modality was calculated. Subgroup analyses by study design, study size, patient age and cohort era were conducted.

Results

Eighty‐nine studies published between 1976 and 2014 reported on 294 921 elderly end‐stage kidney disease (ESKD) patients. There was a paucity of data for supportive care (724 patients or 0.2% of the total patients) and supportive care studies were susceptible to lead‐time bias. One‐year survival for elderly patients treated with undifferentiated dialysis was 73.0% (95% confidence interval (CI) 66.3–79.7%), 78.4% (95% CI 75.2–81.6) for haemodialysis and 77.9% (95% CI 73.8–81.9) for peritoneal dialysis. Supportive care patients had a 1‐year survival of 70.6% (95% CI 63.3–78.0%). Residual heterogeneity remained within individual treatment modalities despite subgroup analyses.

Conclusions

While the available literature demonstrates a broadly similar 1‐year survival in elderly ESKD patients, it does not allow a confident estimate of the relative survival benefits of dialysis or supportive care. This uncertainty needs urgent attendance by further prospective data, which avoid bias and allow comparisons of quality of life and survival.
On the validity of the 13C‐acetate breath test for comparing gastric emptying of different liquid test meals: a validation study using magnetic resonance imaging
Authors: Bluemel S. , Menne D. , Fried M. , Schwizer W. , Steingoetter A.
Published: August 2015

Background

13C‐acetate breath testing (BT) is applied to assess and compare gastric emptying of liquid meals. Gastric half‐emptying times (t50) from BT show offsets compared to t50 values from γ‐scintigraphy and ultrasonography. Linear transformations have been proposed to correct these offsets. This investigation critically validates the BT for the assessment of liquid gastric emptying by using simultaneously recorded meal and total gastric content volume emptying data from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Methods

Data were collected during a recently published double‐blind, randomized, cross‐over MRI gastric emptying study of three 13C‐labeled enteral formulas differing in protein sources (PMID: 24699556). Breath testing‐derived t50 was computed with the analysis methods commonly applied in gastric emptying research, i.e., the exponential‐beta function and the Wagner–Nelson (WN) method, respectively.

Key Results

Breath testing t50 values from exponential‐beta function and WN method showed a positive and negative offset to MRI data, respectively. Linear regression detected low concordance between MRI and both BT methods revealing meal specific and emptying rate‐dependent offsets. The WN method showed worse agreement and correlation with MRI emptying data. Breath testing rather reflected meal volume than total gastric content volume emptying.

Conclusions & Inferences

This validation study indicates that the 13C‐acetate breath test may not be applied to compare gastric emptying of arbitrary liquid meals without prior validation by imaging methods. t50 values from BT are biased by (i) the properties of the meal and (ii) the selected method used for 13CO2 exhalation analysis. No linear transformation common for all meals was applicable to correct the offsets between BT and MRI.
Management of pediatric renal tumor: Past and future trials of the Japan Wilms Tumor Study Group
Authors: Oue Takaharu , Fukuzawa Masahiro , Koshinaga Tsugumichi , Okita Hajime , Nozaki Miwako , Chin Motoki , Kaneko Yasuhiko , Tanaka Yukichi , Haruta Masayuki , Tsuchiya Kunihiko , Kuwajima Shigeko , Takimoto Tetsuya
Published: August 2015

The Japan Wilms Tumor Study group (JWiTS) was founded in 1996 to improve outcomes for children with renal tumor in Japan, and a nationwide multicenter cooperative study was initiated thereafter. JWiTS‐1 (1996–2005) was analyzed, and JWiTS‐2 (2005–2014) is now under analysis; the following problems have been identified and used to decide future study protocol: (i) there has been a decline in survival rate for patients with rhabdoid tumor of the kidney (RTK) and new treatment strategies are required; (ii) the survival rate for bilateral Wilms tumors (BWT) has improved, but results for renal preservation are unsatisfactory; (iii) the prognosis of stage IV favorable nephroblastoma is very good, suggesting that the current protocols provide overtreatment, particularly for patients with lung metastasis; and (iv) no effective biological risk factors exist for predicting the outcome of Wilms tumor, and a study of the genetic changes of these tumors is necessary to determine biological markers for use in risk classification. To solve these issues, the development of a new risk classification of pediatric renal tumors is required. In addition, different study protocols should be developed according to the risk‐based classification of the patients. Further, a new study protocol for BWT began in 2015, and new study protocols are being prepared for RTK, and for Wilms tumor with lung metastasis. In addition, an analysis of biological markers with regard to risk classification is to be performed. Furthermore, to create new protocols for patients with rare renal tumors, international collaboration with Children's Oncology Group and International Society of Pediatric Oncology is necessary.
More than Markets: A Comparative Study of Nine Conservative Parties on Climate Change
Authors: Båtstrand Sondre
Published: August 2015

Cross‐national comparisons of proposed policies of individual parties are an underdeveloped part of the literature on environmental politics in general and climate politics in particular. Although conservative parties are portrayed as skeptical toward adopting climate measures or even supposed to ignore climate change, this study of nine conservative electoral manifestoes nevertheless finds that most of them support climate measures, even in the form of state interventions in the market economy. Market measures are not as dominating as could be expected, but a clear finding is that available fossil reserves seem to have an influence on conservative climate politics. The U.S. Republican Party is an anomaly in denying anthropogenic climate change. Conservative parties as such are not in opposition to climate policies, but the pro‐business position is evident in that conservative parties do not challenge coal or petroleum in countries with large reserves of these resources.

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Testing Voter Responses to New Style Judicial Campaign Appeals: What Works—Policy Promotion or Experience?
Authors: McKenzie Mark Jonathan , Rugeley Cynthia R. , Unger Michael A.
Published: August 2015

Historically, judicial campaigns in America centered on candidate appeals to experience and expertise in the law. In more recent years, state supreme court campaigns have become more issue‐based, representing a “new style” campaign as termed by public law scholars. This study examines how voters respond to judicial candidates’ policy‐based appeals versus traditional appeals to experience. Using an experiment embedded in the 2010 Cooperative Congressional Elections Study survey, we examine how these different messages affect the vote choice of individuals toward judicial candidates. Our results show that judicial voters do not react negatively to policy promises per se, as some public law scholars have feared. Rather, these voters respond favorably to specific issues when a judicial candidate promotes a position consistent with the voter's opinions. Interestingly, however, we find that some candidates benefit more from “New Style” campaign messages than others.

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Ethnic Minority Governments, Democracy, and Human Rights
Authors: Tusalem Rollin F.
Published: August 2015

This study investigates empirically whether or not the presence of minority governments is more likely to induce the erosion of democracy. This is in light of how extant research in comparative democratization has focused on the deleterious effect of ethnic fractionalization on democratic survival. However, more recent work that re‐examined the ethnic heterogeneity and democratic collapse nexus finds mostly null effects. This article shows that ethnic fractionalization per se does not hinder the process of democratization. The study finds that the assumption to power of minority heads of government and their length of tenure in office lead to ethnic minority dominance that has a pernicious effect on democratic development and the promotion of human rights. The implications suggest that the presence of minority governments may generate ethnic tensions that precipitate longstanding political instability, which makes it difficult for democratic politics and its practices to endure.

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Kim, Hae. 2009. “.” Politics & Policy 37 (): 395‐414. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1747‐1346.2009.00177.x/abstract

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Symmetric and asymmetric motivations for compliance and violation: A crisp set qualitative comparative analysis ofChinese farmers
Authors: Yan Huiqi , van der Heijden Jeroen , van Rooij Benjamin
Published: August 2015

This article applies crisp set qualitative comparative analysis (csQCA) to gain insight into the compliance motivations and behaviors of 101Chinese farmers. It seeks to understand how eight motivations (capacity to comply, legal knowledge, deterrent effect of sanctions, cost–benefit analysis, descriptive social norms, morals, general duty to obey, and procedural justice) combine in compliant and non‐compliant behavior, and whether there is only one combination of motivations or several that lead to compliance and non‐compliance. It illustrates howcsQCAassists in making visible and analyzing situations of interacting compliance motivations (conjunctural causality) and situations where different combinations of motivations result in similar compliance behavior (equifinality). It identifies symmetrical and non‐symmetrical relationships between specific compliance motivations and compliance behaviors – indicating that motivations for non‐compliance are not necessarily the opposite of those for compliance. This non‐symmetry may logically be explained because deterrence plays a different role in compliance decisions than in non‐compliance decisions. The article concludes by highlighting the relevance of such insights for theorizing on compliance and for law enforcement, and the limitations of the method applied.
New fossils from China elucidating the phylogeny of Praesiricidae (Insecta: Hymenoptera)
Authors: WANG MEI , RASNITSYN ALEXANDR P. , SHIH CHUNGKUN , SHARKEY MICHAEL J. , REN DONG
Published: August 2015

A new subfamily of Praesiricidae (Pamphilioidea), Decorisiricinae subfam.n., is erected based on three new genera: Decorisiricius gen.n., Limbisiricius gen.n. and Brevisiricius gen.n. Two new species – Decorisiricius patulus gen. et sp.n. and D. longus sp.n. – from the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation and three species –Limbisiricius aequalis gen. et sp.n., Limbisiricius complanatus sp.n. and Brevisiricius partialis gen. et sp.n. – from the Middle Jurassic Jiulongshan Formation, are described. Based on these well‐preserved new fossil specimens and previously published data, the nonmonophyly of Praesiricidae is confirmed and the phylogenetic relationships of species of Praesiricidae are analysed for the first time. Two main clades within Praesiricidae are recognized from the cladistic analysis: Decorisiricinae subfam.n. forms a monophyletic lineage, with the remaining members of Praesiricidae plus Megalodontes (Megalodontesidae) forming its sister group. The two subfamilies Archoxyelydinae and Praesiricinae are discarded with no strong supported synapomorphic characters based on phylogenetic research. A key to all genera of Praesiricidae is provided.

This published work has been registered in ZooBank, http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:38D703ED‐127A‐4DB0‐8153‐8D78AF4AC212.
Implementation of a patient blood management monitoring and feedback program significantly reduces transfusions and costs
Authors: Mehra Tarun , Seifert Burkhardt , Bravo‐Reiter Silvina , Wanner Guido , Dutkowski Philipp , Holubec Tomas , Moos Rudolf M. , Volbracht Jörk , Manz Markus G. , Spahn Donat R.
Published: August 2015

BACKGROUND

Patient blood management (PBM) measures have been shown to be effective in reducing transfusions while maintaining patient outcome. The issuance of transfusion guidelines is seen as being key to the success of PBM programs. As the introduction of guidelines alone did not visibly reduce transfusions in our center, a monitoring and feedback program was established. The aim of our study was to show the effectiveness of such measures in reducing transfusions and cost.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

We designed a prospective, interventional cohort study with a 3‐year time frame (January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2014). In total, 101,794 patients aged 18 years or older were included. The PBM monitoring and feedback program was introduced on January 1, 2014, with the subsequent issuance of quarterly reporting.

RESULTS

Within the first year of introduction, transfusion of all allogeneic blood products per 1000 patients was reduced by 27% (red blood cell units, −24%; platelet units, −25%; and fresh‐frozen plasma units, −37%; all p < 0.001) leading to direct allogeneic blood product related savings of more than 2 million USD. The number of blood products transfused per case was significantly reduced from 9 ± 19 to 7 ± 14 (p < 0.001). With an odds ratio of 0.86 (95% confidence interval, 0.82‐0.91), the introduction of our PBM monitoring and feedback program was a significant independent factor in the reduction of transfusion probability (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Our PBM monitoring and feedback program was highly efficacious in reducing the transfusion of allogeneic blood products and transfusion‐related costs.
Pretransplant platelet transfusion refractoriness is not associated with platelet nonengraftment in T‐replete hematopoietic progenitor cell transplantation for hematologic malignancies
Authors: Scott Ashleigh , Baidya Shoma , Butler Jason , Morris Kirk , Thornton Alycia , Kennedy Glen A.
Published: August 2015

BACKGROUND

Cellular engraftment after allogeneic hematopoietic progenitor cell transplantation (HPCT) can be affected by pre‐HPCT antibodies against donor human leukocyte antigen (HLA; donor‐specific antibodies [DSAs]), which are commonly acquired by either pregnancy or transfusion. Issues regarding high assay sensitivity and variable interpretation limit routine screening for DSAs. Platelet (PLT) transfusion refractoriness (PTR) is relatively common in patients with hematologic malignancies, and anti‐HLA alloantibodies can be identified in up to 20% of cases. For patients with PTR undergoing subsequent allogeneic HPCT, however, the effect if any on subsequent PLT nonengraftment is unknown.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

We conducted a retrospective study of 480 adults who underwent T‐replete HPCT for hematologic malignancy and compared the posttransplantation clinical outcomes between patients who were PTR before HPCT and those who were not.

RESULTS

Multivariate analysis demonstrated that PTR was not directly associated with PLT nonengraftment or graft failure, but did predict for early intensive care unit admission, which was the only variable associated with these outcomes (p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that PTR before HPCT identifies patients at higher risk of early clinical rather than immunologic complications.
The use of code‐mixing in Indian billboard advertising
Authors: KATHPALIA SUJATA S. , WEE ONG KENNETH KENG
Published: August 2015

One major area of interest in the study of contemporary linguistic landscapes worldwide is the interaction of English with local languages in public spaces. One such example of this is the use of ‘Hinglish’ in Indian media, particularly in Indian advertising. Although some researchers have previously investigated Hindi‐English code‐switching in Bollywood films as well as print advertisements, relatively little research has been done on the interplay of these two languages on billboards. This current study aims to analyze this aspect of Hindi‐English code‐mixing involving literary devices in the ‘Amul butter’ advertising campaign which uses billboards to advertise its product throughout India.
Attitudes in Fiji towards varieties of English
Authors: Hundt Marianne , Zipp Lena , Huber André
Published: August 2015

In Schneider's (2007) influential model, the emergence of positive attitudes towards the local, post‐colonial variety is an important step for the evolution of new Englishes, not least of all because it is likely to mark a shift from an external towards an internal norm. This paper explores attitudes towards varieties of English among a group of young Fiji citizens in tertiary education. The results indicate that British English is still a strong reference variety, while American English is clearly favoured over more local Pacific varieties, like Australian and New Zealand English. A closer analysis of the survey data indicates that a simple dichotomy of exo‐ vs. endonormative orientation may be difficult to maintain in this context.
TOUCHING THE MIND OF GOD: PATRISTIC CHRISTIAN THOUGHT ON THE NATURE OF MATTER
Authors: Schooping Joshua
Published: August 2015

This paper seeks to examine the nature of matter from an Orthodox Christian patristic perspective, specifically that of St. Gregory of Nyssa, and compare this with David Bohm's concept of wholeness and the implicate order. By examining the ramifications of the doctrine of creation ex nihilo, the basic nature of matter as being rooted in the mind of God reveals itself, and furthermore shows that certain conceptions of quantum physics can provide language with which to give voice to this ancient view.
THE SECULARIZATION OF CHANCE: TOWARD UNDERSTANDING THE IMPACT OF THE PROBABILITY REVOLUTION ON CHRISTIAN BELIEF IN DIVINE PROVIDENCE
Authors: Reeves Josh
Published: August 2015

This article gives a brief history of chance in the Christian tradition, from casting lots in the Hebrew Bible to the discovery of laws of chance in the modern period. I first discuss the deep‐seated skepticism towards chance in Christian thought, as shown in the work of Augustine, Aquinas, and Calvin. The article then describes the revolution in our understanding of chance—when contemporary concepts such as probability and risk emerged—that occurred a century after Calvin. The modern ability to quantify chance has transformed ideas about the universe and human nature, separating Christians today from their predecessors, but has received little attention by Christian historians and theologians.
THE DUALISTIC, DISCARNATE PICTURE THAT HAUNTS THE COGNITIVE SCIENCE OF RELIGION
Authors: Nikkel David H.
Published: August 2015

A dualistic, discarnate picture haunts contemporary cognitive science of religion (CSR). Cognitive scientists of religion generally assert or assume a reductive physicalism, primarily through unconscious mental mechanisms that detect supernatural agency where none exists and a larger purpose to life when none exists. Accompanying this focus is a downplaying of conscious reflection in religious belief and practice. Yet the mind side of dualism enters into CSR in interesting ways. Some cognitive scientists turn practitioners of religion into dualists who allegedly believe in disembodied spirits. By emphasizing supernatural agency, CSR neglects nonpersonal powers and meanings in religion, both in terms of magical thinking and practice and of nonpersonal conceptions of divinity. Additionally, some cognitive scientists of religion declare that all humans are innate dualists. They use this alleged dualism to explain beliefs about both an afterlife and transfers of consciousness. Finally, some call on this dualism to serve a salvific function, trying to salvage some meaning to human life.
The Combustion of Synthetic Jet Fuels (Gas to Liquid and Coal to Liquid) and Multi-Component Surrogates: Experimental and Modeling Study
Authors: Dagaut Philippe , Dayma Guillaume , Karsenty Florent , Serinyel Zeynep
Published: August 2015

Research on synthetic jet fuels production and combustion has recently gained importance because they could help addressing security of supply and sustainable air transportation challenges. The combustion of a 100% Gas to Liquid from Shell (C10.45H23.06; M=148.44 g.mol−1; H/C=2.20; density=737.7 g L−1), a 100% vol. Coal to Liquid from Sasol (C11.06H21.6; M=154.32 g mol−1; H/C=1.95; density= 815.7 g L−1) and surrogates composed of various concentrations of n-decane iso-octane, n-propylcyclohexane, n-propylbenzene, and decalin, were studied in a jet-stirred reactor under the same conditions (temperature, 550–1150 K; pressure, 10 bar; equivalence ratio, 0.5–2). Comparison of these results helped designing optimum surrogate model fuels for the chemical kinetic computations.

For simulating the kinetics of oxidation of the synthetic fuels we used new surrogates consisting of mixtures of n-decane, iso-octane, 2-methylheptane, 3-methylheptane, decalin, n-propylcyclohexane, n-propylbenzene, and tetralin. The detailed chemical kinetic reaction mechanism proposed here consisted of 2430 species reacting in 10962 reversible reactions. It was validated using the entire experimental database obtained previously in our laboratory and in the present work. The current chemical kinetic model was also tested for the auto-ignition under shock tubes using data from the literature. Kinetic computations involving reaction paths analyses and sensitivity analyses were used to interpret the results.
Iterative Learning Active Flow Control Applied to a Compressor Stator Cascade With Periodic Disturbances
Authors: Steinberg Simon J. , King Rudibert , Staats Marcel , Nitsche Wolfgang
Published: August 2015

This contribution presents the capability of iterative learning active flow control to decrease the impact of periodic disturbances in an experimental compressor stator cascade with sidewall actuation. The periodic disturbances of the individual passage flows are generated by a damper flap device that is located downstream of the trailing edges of the blades. These mimic the throttling effect of periodically closed combustion tubes in a pulsed detonation engine. For the purpose of rejecting this disturbance the passage flow is manipulated by fluidic actuators that introduce an adjustable amount of pressurized air through slots in the sidewalls of the cascade. Pressure sensors that are mounted flush to the suction surface of the middle blade provide information on the current flow situation. This data is fed back in real-time to an optimal iterative learning controller. By learning from period to period the controller modifies the actuation amplitude such that, eventually, a control command trajectory is calculated that reduces the impact of the periodic disturbance on the flow in an optimal manner.
Effect of Segment Endwall Boundary Layer Suction on Compressor 3D Corner Separation
Authors: Chen Ping-Ping , Qiao Wei-Yang , Liesner Karsten , Meyer Robert
Published: August 2015

Due to the strong secondary flow behavior in the compressor endwall/blade suction-side corner region, a large three-dimensional corner separation will usually be formed with large amounts of compressor aerodynamic loss. In this paper, a linear high-speed compressor cascade, with five NACA 65-K48 stator profiles, is numerically simulated to understand the state of this phenomenon. Based on the experiment, the base flow is validated for the numerical result. Active control of 3D corner separation was investigated by using segment endwall boundary layer suction, which is located along the pressure-side leg of leading-edge horse-shoe vortex during its development in the frontal part of the blade passage. The influence of suction flow ratio was investigated in an effort to quantify the improvements of compressor cascade performance. The results show the optimal suction flow ratio is not the largest, but a critical value, which is 0.83% of inflow mass flow rate. Taking all performance parameters’ changes into consideration, the best is with 1% suction flow ratio. The total-pressure loss is eventually reduced by 11.2% with the optimal suction flow ratio compared to the design condition, and an increase of 9.84% is obtained for the static-pressure ratio.
Closed-Loop Active Flow Control of the Wake of a Compressor Blade by Trailing-Edge Blowing
Authors: Kiesner Matthias , King Rudibert
Published: August 2015

This paper presents a closed-loop active flow control strategy to reduce the velocity deficit of the wake of a compressor stator blade. The unsteady stator-rotor interaction, caused by the incoming stator wakes, generates fast changes of the rotor blade loading, affecting the stability and the performance of the overall compressor. Negative effects will be seen likewise when unsteady combustion concepts, such as a pulsed detonation, produce upstream disturbances. Furthermore, the periodic unsteady flow leads to additional undesired effects such as noise and blade vibrations. A controlled reliable manipulation of the stator wake is a way to handle these issues. Therefore, investigations on wake manipulation with trailing-edge blowing were carried out on a new low-speed cascade test rig. Detailed information about the wake profile is obtained by five-hole probe measurements in a plane downstream of the cascade for the natural and the actuated flow at a Reynolds number of 6×105. These measurements show a significant reduction of the wake velocity deficit for the investigated actuator geometry with an injection mass flow of less than 1% of the passage mass flow. Based on these results a position in the wake was chosen which is representative for the actuation impact on the velocity deficit. There, a hot-wire-probe measurement serves as the controlled variable. A family of linear dynamic black-box models was identified from experimental data to account for nonlinear and unmodelled effects. Static nonlinearitiy was compensated for by a Hammerstein model to reduce the model uncertainty and get a higher controller performance. To handle off-design conditions, a robust controller working in a range of Reynolds numbers from 5×105 to 7×105 was synthesized. The task of the controller is to rapidly regulate the controlled variable to a reference velocity by changing the blowing amplitude. The synthesized robust controller was successfully tested in closed-loop experiments with good results in reference tracking for pulse series up to 20 Hz. This translates into a much higher frequency when scaled to the dimension of a real machine.