bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Studies on Schistidium (Grimmiaceae, Bryophyta) in Europe, with particular reference to the Alps: I. A description of S. marginale sp. nov.
Authors: BLOM HANS H. , BEDNAREK-OCHYRA HALINA , OCHYRA RYSZARD
Published: February 2016

Schistidium marginale is described as a new species from several European states including Austria, Georgia, Italy, Macedonia, Spain, Switzerland and Turkey. The species is fully illustrated, its affinities are discussed in detail and its current distribution is mapped. The new species is closely related to S. confertum and S. echinatum from which it differs in having a coarser and thicker costa which is 3–4-stratose in mid-leaf and 4-layered at the base; strongly thickened, 2–4-stratose and (1–)2–5-seriate leaf margins; and a thicker and stiffer leaf hair-point. It clearly belongs to Schistidium Bruch & Schimp. sect. Conferta (Vilh.) Ochyra on account of the distinct 3–6(–7)-seriate basal marginal border of quadrate to short-rectangular, often subhyaline cells with distinctly thickened transverse walls.
Taxonomic revision of the spider genus Rualena Chamberlin & Ivie 1942 and description of Hoffmannilena, a new genus from Mexico (Araneae: Agelenidae)
Authors: MAYA-MORALES JULIETA , JIMÉNEZ MARÍA LUISA
Published: February 2016

The genus Rualena Chamberlin & Ivie 1942 (Araneae: Agelenidae) is revised and a new genus, Hoffmannilena, is described. Four new species are described for Rualena: R. cedros sp. nov. (♂ ♀), R. parritas sp. nov. (♂ ♀), R. thomas sp. nov. (♂ ♀), and R. ubicki sp. nov. (♀). The males of R. alleni Chamberlin & Ivie 1942 and R. avila Chamberlin & Ivie 1942 and the female of R. rua (Chamberlin 1919) are described for the first time. Rualena goleta Chamberlin & Ivie 1942 is a junior synonym of R. surana Chamberlin & Ivie 1942. Rualena cavata (F.O. Pickard-Cambridge 1902) and R. pasquinii Brignoli 1974 are considered incertae sedis. Two species are transferred from Rualena to Novalena Chamberlin & Ivie 1942: N. shlomitae (García-Villafuerte 2009) comb. nov. and N. simplex (F.O. Pickard-Cambridge 1902) comb. nov. For Hoffmannilena gen. nov., five new species are described: H. apoala sp. nov. (♀), H. cumbre sp. nov. (♂ ♀), H. huajuapan sp. nov. (♀), H. mitla sp. nov. (♀), and H. tizayuca sp. nov. (♂ ♀). Three species are transferred from Novalena to Hoffmannilena gen. nov.: H. lobata (F.O. Pickard-Cambridge 1902) comb. nov., H. marginata (F.O. Pickard-Cambridge 1902) comb. nov., and H. variabilis (F.O. Pickard-Cambridge 1902) comb. nov. Novalena cuspidata (F.O. Pickard-Cambridge 1902) is a junior synonym of H. marginata.
Gendered Pragmatism and Subaltern Masculinity in China
Authors: Choi Susanne Y. P.
Published: February 2016

Would migration be a transformative process to change gender and masculinity? This study explores the question by putting men at center stage and from their perspectives. The 2010 population census in China estimated that around 220 million people migrated from rural to urban areas. The majority of the earliest cohorts of female migrants in China were either dependents of migrants or their migration trajectory was truncated by family responsibilities. This is consistent with the traditional Chinese gender norm that anchors femininity in wifehood and motherhood. However, there is evidence that an increasing number of married female migrant workers have returned to the city in order to work even after giving birth to their children. This article examines how male migrant workers have gradually accepted their wives’ decision to migrate to the city for work, and hence how the gender norm of the male provider and female homemaker is changing. It also examines how these men reconcile the discrepancy between the new pattern with respect to the gender division of labor and their cherished ideal using a gendered discourse of pragmatism. By locating the intersection between migration and the shift of the male gender identity within the Chinese context, this article speaks to the general literature on gender and migration. It also sheds light on how gender relationships and identity are negotiated within a specific national and cultural context.
From Open to Secret Ballot
Authors: Aidt Toke S. , Jensen Peter S.
Published: February 2016

The secret ballot is one of the cornerstones of democracy. We contend that the historical process of modernization caused the switch from open to secret ballot with the underlying mechanism being that income growth, urbanization, and rising education standards undermined vote markets. We undertake event history studies of ballot reform in Western Europe and the U.S. states during the 19th and 20th centuries to establish that modernization was systematically related to ballot reform. We study electoral turnout before and after ballot reform among the U.S. states and British parliamentary constituencies to substantiate the hypothesis that modernization reduced the volume of trade in the vote market.
The Editor’s Note
Authors: Richardson Joan
Published: February 2016

Tenure started for a legitimate reason: Early reformers wanted to ensure that teachers could be dismissed only for cause, which, roughly translated, means a teacher could be discharged only if she wasn’t doing a good job. Then unions, drunk with their own power for several decades, went too far in supporting teachers who did not deserve their support. That overzealousness gave so-called reformers a perfect opening during their general attack on public education. Their ham-handed and dismissive approach to the public schools is wrong. But they are right about trying to tie tenure to evidence of quality teaching. If the profession wants to retain the privilege of tenure, that privilege must be attached to high standards, or it becomes another albatross on the profession.
Teacher tenure has a long history and, hopefully, a future
Authors: Kahlenberg Richard D.
Published: February 2016

Tenure is under fire. Conservatives have long attacked such policies as tenure that constrain the ability of managers to fire whomever they want, but the latest assaults on tenure have invoked liberal egalitarian ideals. With all the problems in education, why are we so fixated on teacher tenure? What is really going on? How did tenure get its start, and why is it still necessary? The author ventures to answer all these questions, positing that tenure is necessary because it significantly strengthens legal protections by shifting to the employer the burden to prove the termination is justified. Tenure protects a range of discriminatory firings not covered under race and gender antidiscrimination laws. The author also points out that there are better ways to running the tenure system than what is happening currently. Places that have used master teachers to contribute to a peer assessment system have had good results.
What can we learn from the Atlanta cheating scandal?
Authors: Saultz Andrew , Murphy Kristin M. , Aronson Brittany
Published: February 2016

In April 2015, 11 educators were convicted for their roles in the cheating scandal in the Atlanta Public Schools. The authors examine the lessons that teachers, administrators, and policy makers can learn from the cheating scandal: Teachers and school leaders were not adequately prepared to navigate the school district’s environment; there were multiple indicators that cheating would likely occur in the district; and single-measure reward systems are problematic. The authors conclude with suggested reforms for teacher and principal preparation programs.
Math and ELA meet at the Common Core
Authors: Gardner Nancy S. , Smith Nicole
Published: February 2016

Math and English language arts seem such disparate content areas but the Common Core State Standards actually draw out their similarities in the teaching and learning process. Both require students to learn grit and perseverance; both ask students to use reasons or evidence to support arguments; both require precision; both require structures to be analyzed; and both require tools to be used strategically.
Identifying and understanding effective high school practices
Authors: Rutledge Stacey A. , Cannata Marisa
Published: February 2016

The authors report on a yearlong investigation into similar schools that performed well and less well in the same district. They found that the higher-performing schools engaged in an intentional set of systemic practices that encourage Personalization for Academic and Social Learning (PASL) in one district and integrated structures of academic press and support that scaffolded the development of Student Ownership and Responsibility (SOAR) in another.
The futility of PLC Lite
Authors: DuFour Rick , Reeves Douglas
Published: February 2016

Although many schools around the world have claimed to embrace the Professional Learning Community process, it would be more accurate to describe the current state of affairs in many schools as PLC Lite. Educators rename their traditional faculty or department meetings as PLC meetings, engage in book studies that result in no action, or devote collaborative time to topics that have no effect on student achievement -- all in the name of the PLC process. These activities fail to embrace the central tenants of the PLC process and will not lead to higher levels of learning for students or adults. The genuine PLC process calls for working together in collaborative teams; establishing a guaranteed and viable curriculum; using formative assessments stemming from the curriculum; and using the result of the assessments to inform interventions and teaching.
Dither in a rolling airframe flight vehicle with a two-position actuator: An amplitude distribution approach
Authors: Mohammadi Bahram , Arvan Mohammad Reza , Koohmaskan Yousof
Published: February 2016

Rolling airframe manoeuvring is a type of manoeuvre in which the missile provides continuous roll during flight. Cross-coupling between the angle of attack and sideslip in rolling airframe missiles (RAMs) yields a coning motion around the flight path. As the pitch and yaw cross-coupling effect decreases, the radius of this coning motion decreases and the accuracy of the control system increases. Two-position (on–off) actuators are used in most RAMs. The presence of a two-position actuator in a feedback system makes its characteristics non-linear. A high-frequency signal so-called dither is applied to compensate for the non-linearity effect of the actuator characteristic in the feedback system and to stabilize the coning motion. The amplitude distribution function (ADF) method in dither analysis shows that the smoothed non-linearity characteristic can be computed as the convolution of the original non-linearity and the ADF of the dither signal. According to the four-degrees-of-freedom (4-DOF) equations of RAMs in a non-rolling frame and regarding various dither signals through the ADF approach on a two-position actuator, an analytical condition for dither amplitude in coning motion stability of RAMs is derived. It was shown that the triangular signal with specified amplitude and high enough frequency led to a smoother response of two-position actuators. Finally, by applying beam-riding guidance to a RAM, the performance of dithers for decreasing the distance of the missile from the centre of the beam is validated through simulations. It is illustrated that applying the triangular dither resulted in minimal error.
The Use of Sonographically Guided Botulinum Toxin Type A (Dysport) Injections Into the Tensor Fasciae Latae for the Treatment of Lateral Patellofemoral Overload Syndrome
Authors: Stephen Joanna M. , Urquhart David W.J. , van Arkel Richard J. , Ball Simon , Jaggard Matthew K.J. , Lee Justin C. , Church J.S.
Published: February 2016

Background:

Pain in the anterior and lateral parts of the knee during exercise is a common clinical problem for which current management strategies are often unsuccessful.

Purpose:

To investigate the effect of an ultrasound-guided botulinum toxin (BT) injection into the tensor fasciae latae (TFL), followed by physical therapy, in patients classified with lateral patellofemoral overload syndrome (LPOS) who failed to respond to conventional treatment.

Study Design:

Case series; Level of evidence, 4.

Methods:

A total of 45 patients (mean ± SD age, 32.4 ± 8.6 years) who met the inclusion criteria of (1) activity-related anterolateral knee symptoms, (2) symptoms lasting longer than 3 months, (3) a pathological abnormality confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging, and (4) previous failed physical therapy received an ultrasound-guided injection of BT into the TFL followed by physical therapy. Patient-reported outcomes were collected at 5 intervals: before the injection; at 1, 4, and 12 weeks after the injection; and at a mean 5 years after the injection. In 42 patients, relative iliotibial band (ITB) length changes were assessed using the modified Ober test at the first 4 time points. A computational model was run to simulate the effect of TFL weakening on gluteus medius (GMed) activity. Statistical analysis was undertaken using 1-way analysis of variance and paired t tests with Bonferroni post hoc correction.

Results:

There was a significant improvement in Anterior Knee Pain Scale scores from before the injection (61 ± 15) to 1 (67 ± 15), 4 (70 ± 16), and 12 weeks (76 ± 16) after the injection and in 87% of patients (39/45 patients available for follow-up) at approximately 5 years (from 62.9 ± 15.4 to 87.0 ± 12.5) after the injection (all P < .010). A significant effect on the modified Ober test was identified as a result of the intervention, with an increase in leg drop found at 1 (3° ± 5°), 4 (4° ± 5°), and 12 (7° ± 6°) weeks after the injection compared with before the injection (all P < .010). Simulating a progressive reduction in TFL strength resulted in corresponding increases in GMed activity during gait.

Conclusion:

An injection of BT into the TFL, combined with physical therapy, resulted in a significant improvement of symptoms in patients with LPOS, which was maintained at 5-year follow-up. This may result from reduced lateral TFL/ITB tension or to an increase in GMed activity in response to inhibition of the TFL.
Lessons Learned From a Program Evaluation of a Statewide Continuing Education Program for Staff Members Working in Assisted Living and Adult Day Care Centers in Virginia
Authors: Gendron Tracey L. , Pryor Jennifer M. , Welleford E. Ayn
Published: February 2016

The number of older adults residing in assisted living facilities (ALF) and utilizing adult day care services is expanding with the increasing population of older adults. Currently, there are no standardized requirements for continuing education for assisted living and adult day care service staff at a national level. Given that 62% of states within the United States require continuing education for ALF staff and/or administrators, a more formalized system is needed that provides evidence-based gerontological training to enhance the quality of care and services provided to older adults. This article describes the challenges and lessons learned from conducting a program evaluation of a Statewide Training and Continuing Education Program for Assisted Living Facility and Adult Day Care Service staff in Virginia. Survey evaluation data from a 6-year period was examined and a formative program evaluation was conducted. The findings from the survey evaluation and formative evaluation are discussed as are the lessons learned.
Multidrug Resistance Acinetobacter Bacteremia Secondary to Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia: Risk Factors and Outcome
Authors: Brotfain Evgeni , Borer Abraham , Koyfman Leonid , Saidel-Odes Lisa , Frenkel Amit , Gruenbaum Shaun E. , Rosenzweig Vsevolod , Zlotnik Alexander , Klein Moti
Published: February 2016

Purpose:

Acinetobacter baumannii is a multidrug resistant (MDR), gram-negative bacterium commonly implicated in ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in critically ill patients. Patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) with VAP often subsequently develop A baumannii bacteremia, which may significantly worsen outcomes.

Materials and Methods:

In this study, we retrospectively reviewed the clinical and laboratory records of 129 ICU patients spanning 6 years with MDR A baumannii VAP; 46 (35%) of these patients had concomitant MDR A baumannii bacteremia.

Results:

The ICU mortality rate was higher in patients with VAP having A baumannii bacteremia compared to nonbacteremic patients (32.4% vs 9.6% respectively, P < .005). Age >65 years, an Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE-II) score higher than 20, a Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score higher than 7 on the day of bacteremia, and the presence of comorbid disease (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD] and chronic renal failure) were found to be independent risk factors for in-hospital mortality in this population. Multidrug resistant A baumannii was not an independent risk factor for mortality.

Conclusion:

Although the presence of comorbid diseases (COPD and chronic renal failure) and severity of disease (APACHE > 20 and SOFA >7) were found to be independent risk factors for ICU mortality, MDR A baumannii bacteremia was not an independent risk factor for mortality in our critically ill population.
Now or later? A dynamic analysis of judicial appointments
Authors: Jo Jinhee
Published: February 2016

Observing substantial variations in Senate confirmation durations, existing studies have tried to explain when the Senate takes more or less time to confirm presidential nominees. However, they have largely ignored the president’s incentives to nominate someone who he expects will be delayed and do not specify conditions under which delay occurs. To improve on existing literature, I develop a dynamic model of presidential appointments in which the Senate decides whether to delay as well as whether to confirm the nominee. The model shows that the president rationally chooses a nominee who he expects the Senate will delay if the status quo belongs to a certain interval in a one-dimensional policy space. Moreover, the president sometimes chooses a nominee who may fail to gain confirmation after a delay. Finally, the effects of important factors on expected confirmation duration are analyzed: most interestingly, as presidential popularity increases, the Senate takes longer to confirm the nominee.
Assessment of the locations of fatigue failure in a commercial vehicle cab using the virtual iteration method
Authors: Wang Tao , Wang Liangmo , Wang Yuanlong
Published: February 2016

In this paper, fatigue damage analysis and structural improvement of a commercial vehicle cab were carried out, in which a simulation technique and durability road tests were combined. A full-scale finite element model of the cab was established and then validated by means of physical testing and analysis of its stiffness and its modal performance. The loading spectra, in accordance with the durability road test, were obtained by adopting the virtual iteration method. With the established finite element model, the stress distributions in the cab under unit excitation were determined. The obtained stress distributions were then used to assess the total fatigue life of the cab by employing the strain–life ( ε–N) method; thus, the critical regions were determined. The results showed that some components near the pillars and mounts are easy to damage because of the stress concentrations. It was also demonstrated that the predicted regions are reliable, which was verified by comparison with the physical durability road tests. Finally, structural improvements in the critical structures were made; the fatigue life assessment of the improved cab showed an obvious improvement in its durability performance.
The use of conversation-based programming in public libraries to support integration in increasingly multiethnic societies
Authors: Johnston Jamie
Published: February 2016

This paper theoretically explores how conversation-based programming in public libraries might support meaningful interactions between immigrants and individuals from the dominant ethnic group, and as a result, facilitate integration. The theoretical lens consists of Intergroup Contact Theory and a social-psychological model of integration. Four examples of library-based conversation-based programming are given in order to illustrate and expand upon the theoretical discussion: the Women’s Story Circle at the Reykjavik Public Library in Iceland; Expat Dinners at public libraries in Denmark; the Memory Group at the Torshov branch of the Deichman Library in Norway; and the Språkhörnan programme at Malmö City Library in Sweden. Based on these examples, conversation-based programming shows potential for supporting integration through its ability to support, to varying degrees, equal status contact, common goals, intergroup cooperation and explicit social sanction, as well as the extensive and repeated contact needed for intergroup friendships to be established.
Forensic Technologies in Music Copyright
Authors: Bellido Jose
Published: February 2016

The essay explores some recent controversies in British music copyright through the evolving technologies used to perform or play music in the courtroom. Whilst the conceptual tension between cases has caused doctrinal anxiety about the effect of popular music in copyright, the essay contends that the recent stream of music copyright cases can be considered from a historical perspective, taking into account the tools, materials and experts as they featured in court. In doing so, the essay connects a history of legal expertise to the emergence of new technologies whilst arguing that legal knowledge about music copyright was, in fact, stabilized in the courtroom.
Parents' Views of their Children's Participation in Phase I Oncology Clinical Trials
Authors: Deatrick Janet A. , Angst Denise B. , Moore Carol
Published: February 2016

Data from two descriptive studies regarding decision making in pediatric oncol ogy were analyzed using qualitative, secondary analysis techniques to describe how parents view their children's participation in phase I oncology clinical trials. A conceptual framework on family management styles (defining, managing, and consequence themes) was used as an organizational framework to analyze the available parental data. Parents defined or viewed their situation in relationship to their choices and expectations, health care provider expectations, children's illness situation, and family and personal situations. These themes are contrasted to clinical, parental, and ethical perspectives from the literature to make recom mendations for further research emphasizing the concerns of families.
Development and Implementation of a Carboplatin Desensitization Protocol for Children with Neurofibromatosis, Type 1 and Hypersensitivity Reactions in an Outpatient Oncology Clinic
Authors: Ogle Susan K. , Rose Margaret M. , Wildes Cynthia Tate
Published: February 2016

Neurofibromatosis, type 1 (NF 1), is a relatively common disorder. Children with NF 1 are at much greater risk for the development of optic pathway tumors, which are sometimes treated with chemotherapy. As a result, many oncology centers and clinics are now seeing and treating NF patients. One of the most frequently used drugs is carboplatin. However, as many as 30% of NF patients may develop a reaction to carboplatin, which can include anaphylaxis. This often results in the cessation of the medication and treatment protocol. At the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia a desensitization protocol has been instituted with children who have had such reactions and whose tumors have demonstrated a positive response to the treatment. The desensitization process is quite complex and requires an interdisciplinary approach. However, it is the nursing personnel that are key to the successful coordination and delivery of such a protocol in an oncology outpatient clinic on a regular basis.
Damage identification and bearing capacity evaluation of bridges based on distributed long-gauge strain envelope line under moving vehicle loads
Authors: Wu Bitao , Wu Gang , Yang Caiqian , He Yi
Published: February 2016

In this article, a new method to identify damage and assess the bearing capacity of a bridge is put forward, and the long-gauge strain influence line coefficient is chosen as the damage index. First, the relationship between the local element bending stiffness and long-gauge strain was studied according to the theory of the strain influence line under moving vehicle loads. Then, the static strain response is extracted from the long-gauge strain history using empirical mode decomposition method, and the maximum value is used to construct the strain envelope coefficient curve. A series of studies on damage identification and bearing capacity assessment based on the long-gauge strain envelope coefficient index are conducted, and a real bridge test is carried out on a continuous box girder bridge. The numerical analysis and practical bridge test results show that the method exhibits good performance in locating and quantifying damage, and that it has engineering significance in bearing capacity evaluation and post-bridge structure reinforcement design.
Active Labour Market Programme Participation for Unemployment Insurance Recipients
Authors: Filges Trine , Smedslund Geir , Jørgensen Anne-Marie Klint
Published: February 2016

Objective:

This review evaluates the effectiveness of Active Labour Market Programme (ALMP) participation on employment status for unemployment insurance recipients.

Methods and Analysis:

We followed Campbell Collaboration guidelines to conduct a systematic review.

Results:

A total of 73 studies met the inclusion criteria and were critically appraised by the review authors. The available evidence suggests that there is a general effect of participating in ALMP. The findings are mixed, however, depending on the approach used to investigate the effect, with no effect found of being assigned to ALMP participation at a particular moment.

Authors’ Conclusions:

The available evidence does suggest that there is an effect of participating in ALMP, but the effect is small and we found no effect of being assigned to ALMP participation at a particular moment.
Keeping in Touch
Authors: Claypoole Victoria Lynne , Schroeder Bradford L. , Mishler Ada D.
Published: February 2016

Dependence on touch-screen devices is becoming unavoidable as the technology grows in ubiquity in commonly used devices such as smartphones, tablets, and ATMs. Unfortunately, when designing these devices, too little attention is paid to a large and growing portion of the population: older adults. Because many older adults find touch screens to be highly appealing and useful, it is important to strengthen the focus on the older user. Toward that end, this article synthesizes the relevant research to provide design guidelines on touch screens for the elderly. The guidelines include such considerations as gestures, element sizes, complexity, and feedback.
Trust-Based Analysis of an Air Force Collision Avoidance System
Authors: Lyons Joseph B. , Ho Nhut T. , Koltai Kolina S. , Masequesmay Gina , Skoog Mark , Cacanindin Artemio , Johnson Walter W.
Published: February 2016

This case study analyzes the factors that influence trust and acceptance among users (in this case, test pilots) of the Air Force’s Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance System. Our analyses revealed that test pilots’ trust depended on a number of factors, including the development of a nuisance-free algorithm, designing fly-up evasive maneuvers consistent with a pilot’s preferred behavior, and using training to assess, demonstrate, and verify the system’s reliability. These factors are consistent with the literature on trust in automation and could lead to best practices for automation design, testing, and acceptance.
Influence of Intimate Partner Violence on Domestic Relocation in Metropolitan and Non-Metropolitan Young Australian Women
Authors: Dillon Gina , Hussain Rafat , Kibele Eva , Rahman Saifur , Loxton Deborah
Published: February 2016

Data from a national, population-based longitudinal study of Australian women (26-34 years) were analyzed to investigate the association between domestic relocation and multiple explanatory factors, namely intimate partner violence (IPV), metropolitan versus non-metropolitan residence, education, income, housing tenure, number of children, and changes in relationship status. Experience of IPV in the past 12 months was significantly associated with increased odds of domestic relocation. This association remained significant after controlling for age, social support, area of residence, income, number of children, education, and housing situation. Change in relationship status attenuated the association between recent IPV and domestic relocation. Metropolitan versus non-metropolitan residence had no major influence on these results.
Investigation into the utility of an immunocytochemical assay in body cavity effusions for diagnosis of feline infectious peritonitis
Authors: Felten Sandra , Matiasek Kaspar , Gruendl Stefanie , Sangl Laura , Wess Gerhard , Hartmann Katrin
Published: February 2016

Objectives

Feline coronaviruses (FCoVs) exist as two biotypes, feline enteric coronavirus and feline infectious peritonitis virus. Although feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is a very common disease, the ante-mortem diagnosis of this disease still remains a challenge. Immunofluorescence staining of FCoV in macrophages in effusion has been considered as the reference standard for the diagnosis, but recently this method has been shown to have lower specificity than previously reported. In addition, this method is not widely available and requires the use of fluorescence microscopes. Therefore, it was the aim of this study to evaluate the diagnostic potential of an immunocytochemical (ICC) assay using body cavity effusion.

Methods

Effusion samples from 27 cats with immunohistochemically confirmed FIP and 29 cats with suspected FIP but a definitive diagnosis of another disease were examined. ICC specimens were evaluated with respect to positive immunostaining. In addition, effusion samples were stained with haematoxylin and eosin and evaluated cytologically.

Results

A diagnostic sensitivity of 85.2% was recorded for effusion specimens (95% confidence interval [CI] 66.3–95.8), while the diagnostic specificity was only 72.4% (95% CI 52.8–87.3).

Conclusions and relevance

Once the clinical disease of FIP develops in a cat, it always leads to death, and most of the cats are euthanased within a few days or weeks. As false-positive results might lead to euthanasia of cats suffering from potentially treatable diseases, the diagnostic specificity of a diagnostic tool is the most important factor in a fatal disease like FIP. Thus, the diagnostic utility of this test proved to be insufficient and positive ICC results should be interpreted with caution. Nevertheless, full-body necropsy could not be performed in 13/29 control cats. It is possible that these cats actually suffered from early-stage FIP and that this fact might have influenced the diagnostic specificity of the ICC. Based on the results of the present study, however, ICC of effusion samples currently cannot be recommended to confirm a suspicion of FIP.
First Presentation of Hereditary Leiomyomatosis and Renal Cell Cancer Syndrome in Pregnancy
Authors: Woolner Kathryn , O’Toole Ashley , LaBerge Lauren
Published: February 2016

Background:

Reed’s syndrome, also known as hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell cancer (HLRCC) syndrome, is an autosomal dominant condition in which affected individuals may develop cutaneous leiomyomas, uterine fibroids, and renal cell carcinoma.

Objective:

This report describes a unique case of HLRCC because it presented in pregnancy with development of cutaneous pilar leiomyomas.

Methods:

Review of the literature for previous cases of Reed’s syndrome during pregnancy including PubMed and Medline search.

Results:

Genetic testing of this patient demonstrated a mutation in the fumarate hydratase ( FH) gene. Review of the literature showed only 1 previous case series that described the onset of cutaneous lesions during pregnancy.

Conclusion:

This case serves as a reminder that there may exist a correlation between pregnancy and the first manifestation of cutaneous lesions in patients with HLRCC, and thus an increased clinical suspicion is warranted during this period.
Study of low-noise face gear drives associated with micro-punch webs
Authors: Li Zhengminqing , Chen Hongshang , Zhu Rupeng
Published: February 2016

Face gear dynamics is addressed by many scholars. However, design solutions of low-noise face gear drives without gear tooth modifications are not to be constructed. Thus, in this study, a design solution of low-noise face gear drives associated with micro-punch webs is proposed. A calculation procession of geometric parameters of micro-punch webs is constructed, an example case of a micro-punch web for a low-noise face gear drive is calculated, which is based on the proposed calculation procession, and the noise elimination effect of the example case is predicted. Meanwhile, the impacts of geometric parameters of micro-punch webs on sound resonant frequencies are discussed. Furthermore, an experiment of the example case is conducted to check the effect of micro-punch webs on noise reductions and the proposed calculation procession and design solution. The experimental results indicate that the noise reductions of face gear drives can be accomplished by micro-punch webs under the almost same dynamic response conditions, and the fidelity of the proposed calculation procession of geometric parameters of micro-punch webs and design solution of low-noise face gear drives can be accepted. These contributions would improve engineering applications of low-noise face gear drives.
‘Tracing’ Europeanisation: School leavers’ and graduates’ information systems as an example
Authors: Hordósy Rita
Published: February 2016

This paper analyses the extent to which the process of Europeanisation can be observed within a specific policy area: that of school leaving and graduation. The paper investigates what is known about school leavers and graduates at the national and the European levels on the one hand, and how the data collections portray Europe and European policy agendas on the other. Documentary data are used along with expert interviews conducted in three national contexts about school leavers’ and graduates’ information systems (SLGIS). This paper suggests that the policy area of school leaving and graduation, and thus that of SLGIS, show some rather blurred connections to the process of Europeanisation. The paper argues that the internationalisation agenda, especially at the higher education level, could be the driving force for better comparability amongst national data on school leaving and graduation if this is deemed an important policy area.
The contribution and attitudes of research ethics committees to complete registration and non-selective reporting of clinical trials: A European survey
Authors: Strech Daniel , Littmann Jasper ,   on behalf of the OPEN consortium
Published: February 2016

Background: For many years, studies have shown that the results of clinical trials are often published or reported selectively with a statistically significant bias in favour of positive trial results. Trial registration as a precondition for publication had only limited effects on current practice. Results of trials which were approved by research ethics committees (RECs) are often published only partially, with a substantial time lag or not at all. This study examined existing procedures of RECs in the European Union to monitor and prevent incomplete registration of trials and selective reporting of trial results. It further investigated opinions of REC members about the need to update current legislation on this matter. Methods: Web-based survey on members of RECs in 22 European countries. Results: Over 90 percent of respondents agreed that the incomplete publication of trial results had a strong or somewhat negative impact on public health and on healthcare professionals’ trust in the validity of clinical research, yet only 30 percent reported that their REC had some (often unsystematic) mechanism in place to check that findings of approved studies are published in some form. Less than 10 percent stated that their REC has further specific procedures in place to prevent or minimize selective reporting of study results. Respondents stated variously that their REC did not have the resources to follow up on this matter. Conclusions: The existing legislation to regulate trial registration and encourage complete publication of trial results leaves room for improvement. REC members welcome guidelines to adequately address both problems. The new Regulation EU No. 536/2014 as well as the FDA Amendment Act from 2007 require the reporting of summary results within 1 year after study end. As recent reviews demonstrated, without any systematic approach to monitor the adherence to these regulations, publication rates remain rather low.
The relationship between new media exposure and fast food consumption among Chinese children and adolescents in school: a rural–urban comparison
Authors: Hansstein Francesca Valeria , Hong Yu , Di Chen
Published: February 2016

Background:

In recent decades, China has experienced an exponential growth in the number of internet users, especially among the youngest population, as well as a rapid proliferation of Western-type fast food restaurants. The health consequences of internet availability and fast food consumption among youth have been largely studied in Western countries, but few studies have focused on China.

Objectives:

This paper has two goals. The first is to evaluate the differences in new media exposure and preferences for fast foods between rural and urban areas. The second goal is to test the association between new media exposure and fast food consumption. The targets of this analysis are Chinese children and adolescents aged 6–18 attending school at the time of the interview.

Methods:

Research hypotheses were tested using mean-groups comparisons for differences between rural urban sub-samples, and logistic regressions with odds ratios to estimate the relationship between media exposure and preferences towards fast foods. Cross-sectional data from the 2009 China Health and Nutrition Survey were employed.

Results:

Watching online videos and playing computer games are behaviors associated with higher probabilities of eating at fast food restaurants in both rural and urban young residents, with higher odds in rural areas. Surfing the internet is associated with higher odds of being overweight in both rural and urban settings. Results also show that children living in rural areas spend significantly more time playing computer games, watching TV and videotapes, but less time doing homework than their urban peers.

Conclusions:

This paper suggests that monitoring the nutritional effects of new media exposure in China is of key importance in order to develop adequate health promotion policies, in both rural and urban areas.
The regulatory jewel of the South Pacific: Samoa’s decade of telecommunications reform
Authors: Meese James , Chan Mow Ioana
Published: February 2016

During the last decade Samoa significantly reformed its telecommunications sector. It introduced a new competitor—Digicel—into the market, privatised the state-owned company SamoaTel (now Bluesky Samoa) and established an independent regulator. These reforms have had a dramatic impact on mobile usage in Samoa, and now mobile phones and regular Internet access have become an everyday (and affordable) reality for a vast majority of the population. This paper provides a critical account of one of the most mature mobile markets in the Pacific region. Drawing on semistructured key informant interviews with individuals in the Samoan telecommunications sector and the public service (conducted in April 2014), the paper explores the emergence of a Samoan digital culture, a transformation which has only been possible thanks to the widespread take up of mobile phones on 3G networks. We outline how mobiles are being used in Samoa, the ways in which they integrate (or don’t) with existing social and cultural norms and discuss the wider infrastructural issues that have emerged in light of this increased usage. We end by reflecting on what the Samoan experience can tell us about telecommunications reform in developing countries more generally.
Transrectal Elastographic Biopsy and Contrast-Enhanced Transrectal Biopsy May Offer Improvements Over the Current Transrectal Systemic Biopsy Technique
Authors: Bagley Jennifer E. , Savage Rayna , DiGiacinto Dora
Published: February 2016

Prostate cancer is a common cause of cancer-related death of men in the United States. The purpose of this review is to compare the validity of transrectal ultrasound–guided systemic biopsy with contrast-enhanced transrectal ultrasound–guided systemic biopsy and transrectal elastography–guided systemic biopsy for the detection of prostate cancer. Adding contrast-enhanced or transrectal elastography core targeting to transrectal ultrasound–guided biopsy is a feasible approach to increase detection rates of higher-grade prostate cancers. Because contrast-enhanced imaging of the prostate is not approved for use in the United States, elastography is the most effective sonographic solution to improve prostate cancer detection with current screening techniques.
Sonographic Detection of Cervical Carcinoma With Metastases
Authors: Chappell Clare E. , Fisher Kelsy
Published: February 2016

Cervical cancer is not considered to be a highly prevalent carcinoma, as there are more cases of pre-cancer detected than invasive cases. It is also on the decline due to the use of routine Papanicolaou (Pap) tests, and immunizations against Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) have also helped diminish the number of cases. A case is presented of a cervical mass with metastases into the bladder and hydronephrosis of the kidneys detected using computed tomography (CT) and further evaluated using sonography. These imaging modalities together were able to provide global visualization of the pathology, resulting in accurate diagnosis and plan for treatment.
Krüppeling erythropoiesis: an unexpected broad spectrum of human red blood cell disorders due to KLF1 variants
Authors: Perkins Andrew , Xu Xiangmin , Higgs Douglas R. , Patrinos George P. , Arnaud Lionel , Bieker James J. , Philipsen Sjaak ,   the KLF1 Consensus Workgroup
Published: February 2016

Until recently our approach to analyzing human genetic diseases has been to accurately phenotype patients and sequence the genes known to be associated with those phenotypes; for example, in thalassemia, the globin loci are analyzed. Sequencing has become increasingly accessible, and thus a larger panel of genes can be analyzed and whole exome and/or whole genome sequencing can be used when no variants are found in the candidate genes. By using such approaches in patients with unexplained anemias, we have discovered that a broad range of hitherto unrelated human red cell disorders are caused by variants in KLF1, a master regulator of erythropoiesis, which were previously considered to be extremely rare causes of human genetic disease.
Galaxy-M: a Galaxy workflow for processing and analyzing direct infusion and liquid chromatography mass spectrometry-based metabolomics data
Authors: Davidson Robert L , Weber Ralf J M , Liu Haoyu , Sharma-Oates Archana , Viant Mark R
Published: February 2016

Background:

Metabolomics is increasingly recognized as an invaluable tool in the biological, medical and environmental sciences yet lags behind the methodological maturity of other omics fields. To achieve its full potential, including the integration of multiple omics modalities, the accessibility, standardization and reproducibility of computational metabolomics tools must be improved significantly.

Results:

Here we present our end-to-end mass spectrometry metabolomics workflow in the widely used platform, Galaxy. Named Galaxy-M, our workflow has been developed for both direct infusion mass spectrometry (DIMS) and liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS) metabolomics. The range of tools presented spans from processing of raw data, e.g. peak picking and alignment, through data cleansing, e.g. missing value imputation, to preparation for statistical analysis, e.g. normalization and scaling, and principal components analysis (PCA) with associated statistical evaluation. We demonstrate the ease of using these Galaxy workflows via the analysis of DIMS and LC-MS datasets, and provide PCA scores and associated statistics to help other users to ensure that they can accurately repeat the processing and analysis of these two datasets. Galaxy and data are all provided pre-installed in a virtual machine (VM) that can be downloaded from the GigaDB repository. Additionally, source code, executables and installation instructions are available from GitHub.

Conclusions:

The Galaxy platform has enabled us to produce an easily accessible and reproducible computational metabolomics workflow. More tools could be added by the community to expand its functionality. We recommend that Galaxy-M workflow files are included within the supplementary information of publications, enabling metabolomics studies to achieve greater reproducibility.
Depressive Symptoms in Patients Scheduled for Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy With Cytoreductive Surgery: Prospective Associations With Morbidity and Mortality
Authors: Low Carissa A. , Bovbjerg Dana H. , Ahrendt Steven , Alhelo Sara , Choudry Haroon , Holtzman Matthew , Jones Heather L. , Pingpank James F. , Ramalingam Lekshmi , Zeh Herbert J. , Zureikat Amer H. , Bartlett David L.
Published: February 2016

Purpose

The current study examined prospective relationships between preoperative depressive symptoms and short-term (30-day morbidity and readmission) and long-term (overall survival) outcomes after hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy with cytoreductive surgery (HIPEC + CS).

Methods

Ninety-eight patients scheduled for HIPEC + CS completed the Center for Epidemiologic Studies–Depression (CES-D) scale before surgery. Demographic and disease-specific factors and information about morbidity and readmission within 30 days after discharge were gathered from medical records. Survival was measured from date of surgery to death.

Results

Twenty-eight percent of patients had CES-D scores indicative of clinically significant depressive symptoms. Thirty-day morbidity occurred in 31.9% of patients and readmission in 22.2%. At the time of analysis (median follow-up of 49 months), 71.6% of patients were deceased, with median survival time of 11 months for those who died. After adjusting for relevant preoperative demographic and disease-specific factors, depressive symptoms were associated with greater odds of 30-day morbidity (n = 68; odds ratio, 5.50; 95% CI, 1.23 to 24.73; P = .03) and greater likelihood of 30-day readmission (n = 72; odds ratio, 5.92; 95% CI, 1.27 to 27.64; P = .02). Depressive symptoms were associated with shorter survival after adjustment for preoperative demographic and disease-specific factors (n = 87; hazard ratio, 1.88; 95% CI, 1.07 to 3.31; P = .03). This association was no longer significant when intraoperative/postoperative prognostic variables were added to the statistical model (n = 87; hazard ratio, 1.31; 95% CI, 0.72 to 2.37; P = .37).

Conclusion

Patients with clinically significant levels of preoperative depressive symptoms are at risk for poor clinical outcomes after HIPEC + CS, including greater risk of 30-day morbidity and readmission. Further research is warranted to determine biobehavioral mechanisms and examine whether effective interventions targeting preoperative depressive symptoms can reduce postoperative risk in this patient population.