bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Simulation and sensitivity analysis of transport in asymmetric hollow fiber membrane permeators for air separation
Authors: Hosseini Seyed Saeid , Najari Sara , Kundu Prodip K. , Tan Nicolas R. , Roodashti Seyed Mehrdad
Published: October 2015

Development of advanced membranes requires deep insights about the process. Sensitivity analysis is performed to analyze the effects of module properties and process operational conditions on the performance of air separation membrane permeators.
Role of acidic sites in beta-hexachlorocyclohexane (β-HCH) adsorption by activated carbons: molecular modelling and adsorption–desorption studies
Authors: Durimel A. , Passé-Coutrin N. , Jean-Marius C. , Gadiou R. , Enriquez-Victorero C. , Hernández-Valdés D. , Jauregui-Haza U. , Gaspard S.
Published: October 2015

The role played by acidic groups on the removal of β-HCH from contaminated water by adsorption on activated is shown.
Cubic and octahedral Cu2O nanostructures as anodes for lithium-ion batteries
Authors: Kim Min-Cheol , Kim Si-Jin , Han Sang-Beom , Kwak Da-Hee , Hwang Eui-Tak , Kim Da-Mi , Lee Gyu-Ho , Choe Hui-Seon , Park Kyung-Won
Published: October 2015

An octahedron-shaped Cu2O nanostructured electrode having {111} facets with high surface energy favourable for lithium ion transport revealed an enhanced conversion reaction mechanism with high reversible capacity and high rate cycling performance.
Coalescence-induced jumping of droplet: Inertia and viscosity effects
Authors: Farokhirad Samaneh , Morris Jeffrey F. , Lee Taehun
Published: October 2015

The problem of coalescence-induced self-propelled jumping of droplet is studied using three-dimensional numerical simulation. The focus is on the effect of inertia and in particular the effect of air density on the behavior of the merged droplet during jumping. A lattice Boltzmann method is used for two identical, static micro-droplets coalescing on a homogeneous substrate with contact angle ranging from 0∘ to 180∘. The results reveal that the effect of air density is significant on detachment of the merged droplet from the substrate at the later stage of the jumping process; the larger the air density, the larger the jumping height of the droplet. Analysis of streamlines and vorticity contours is performed for density ratios ranging from 60 to 800. These show a generation of vortical structures inside and around the droplet. The intensity of these structures gets weaker after droplet departure as the air inertia is decreased. The results are also presented in terms of phase diagrams of the merged droplet jumping for different Ohnesorge numbers (Oh) and surface wettabilities for both small and large density ratios. The critical value of contact angle where the merged droplet jumps away from the substrate is independent of density ratio and has a value around 150∘. However, the critical value of Oh depends on both density ratio and wettability of the surface for contact angles greater than 150∘. In this range of contact angle, the diagrams show two distinct dynamical regimes for different density ratios, namely, inertial and viscous regimes.
Solitary waves in a self-gravitating opposite polarity dust-plasma medium
Authors: Mamun A. A. , Schlickeiser R.
Published: October 2015

A more general and realistic dusty plasma model, namely, self-gravitating opposite polarity dust-plasma system (containing inertial positive and negative dust, and inertialess ions and electrons following Maxwellian distribution) is considered. The possibility for the formation of solitary electrostatic and self-gravitational potential structures in such a dust-plasma system is thoroughly examined. The standard reductive perturbation method, which is valid for small but finite amplitude solitary structures, is employed. The parametric regimes for the existence of solitary electrostatic and self-gravitational potential structures, and their basic properties (viz., polarity, amplitude, width, and speed) are found to be significantly modified by the combined effects of positively charged dust component and self-gravitational field. The applications of the present investigation in different space dusty plasma environments and laboratory dusty plasma devices are briefly discussed.
An express sexual health service: in and out in a jiffy
Authors: Harrison Peta , Ooi Catriona , Schlub Timothy E.
Published: October 2015

Objectives The aims of the present study were to assess client satisfaction with existing services, gauge the interest in an express service option and to compare waiting times before and after the introduction of an express service. Methods A survey evaluating satisfaction with existing services, waiting times and interest in an express service was offered to all clients attending the Western Sydney Sexual Health Centre in May 2013. A pilot of the express service ran from May to December 2013, and a follow-up survey was conducted in December 2013. Results There was a high level of interest in the express service. Median waiting times and satisfaction with waiting times improved following introduction of the express clinic. A high level of satisfaction was reported in those who had used the express service. Conclusions The express service was well received by clients and has the potential to improve client waiting times, increase clinic capacity and improve the overall client journey through the clinic. What is known about the topic? Express service options for testing for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are being introduced both in Australia and overseas. Express services have been shown to increase clinic capacity and can create cost savings. They appear to be acceptable to clients. What does this paper add? This paper demonstrates that an express service option can be successfully introduced in an at-risk multicultural population. What are the implications for practitioners? The present study helps show that new models can be successfully introduced into long-standing traditional service models. Such models can help improve efficiency, clinic capacity and may produce cost savings. An express clinic is an option for screening asymptomatic clients for STIs. Clients complete a self-collected history and take self-collected specimens, and clinician-collected blood tests and throat swabs are advised accordingly.
Report on the 4-h rule and National Emergency Access Target (NEAT) in Australia: time to review
Authors: Staib Andrew , Sullivan Clair , Griffin Bronwyn , Bell Anthony , Scott Ian
Published: October 2015

Objective The aim of the present study was to provide a summary of a systematic review of literature reporting benefits and limitations of implementing National Emergency Access Target (NEAT), a target stipulating that a certain proportion of patients presenting to hospital emergency departments are admitted or discharged within 4 h of presentation. Methods A systematic review of published literature using specific search terms, snowballing techniques applied to retrieved references and Google searches was performed. Results are presented as a narrative synthesis given the heterogeneity of included studies. Results Benefits of a time-based target for emergency care are improved timeliness of emergency care and reduced in-hospital mortality for emergency admissions to hospital. Limitations centre on using a process measure (time) alone devoid of any monitoring of patient outcomes, the threshold nature of a time target and the fact that currently NEAT combines the measurement of clinical management of two very different patient cohorts seeking emergency care: less acute patients discharged home and more acute patients admitted to hospital. Conclusions Time-based access targets for emergency presentations are associated with significant improvements in in-hospital mortality for emergency admissions. However, other patient-important outcomes are deserving of attention, choice of targets needs to be validated by empirical evidence of patient benefit and single targets need to be partitioned into separate targets pertaining to admitted and discharged patients. What is known about the topic? Time targets for emergency care originated in the UK. The introduction of NEAT in Australia has been controversial. NEAT directs that a certain proportion of patients will be admitted or discharged from an emergency department (ED) within 4 h. Recent dissolution of the Australian National Partnership Agreement (which provided hospitals with financial incentives for achieving NEAT compliance) has prompted a re-examination of the 4-h rule, the evidence underpinning its introduction and its benefits and risks to patients What does this paper add? This paper is executive summary of key findings from a systematic literature review on the benefits and limitations of NEAT (the 4-h rule) commissioned by the Queensland Clinical Senate to inform future policy and targets. What are the implications for practitioners? There is evidence that a time-based target has been associated with a reduction in in-hospital mortality for emergency admissions to Australian hospitals. Concerns remain regarding a time-based target alone being used to drive redesign efforts at improving access to emergency care. A time-based target should be coupled with close monitoring of patient outcomes of emergency care. Target thresholds need to be evidence based and separate targets should be reported for admitted, discharged and all patients presenting to the ED.
Selecting cases for feedback to pre-hospital clinicians – a pilot study
Authors: Brichko Lisa , Jennings Paul , Bain Christopher , Smith Karen , Mitra Biswadev
Published: October 2015

Background
There are currently limited avenues for routine feedback from hospitals to pre-hospital clinicians aimed at improvements in clinical practice.

Objective
The aim of this study was to pilot a method for selectively identifying cases where there was a clinically significant difference between the pre-hospital and in-hospital diagnoses that could have led to a difference in pre-hospital patient care.

Methods
This was a single-centre retrospective study involving cases randomly selected through informatics extraction of final diagnoses at hospital discharge. Additional data on demographics, triage and diagnoses were extracted by explicit chart review. Blinded groups of pre-hospital and in-hospital clinicians assessed data to detect clinically significant differences between pre-hospital and in-hospital diagnoses.

Results
Most (96.9%) patients were of Australasian Triage Scale category 1–3 and in-hospital mortality rate was 32.9%. Of 353 cases, 32 (9.1%; 95% CI: 6.1–12.1) were determined by both groups of clinical assessors to have a clinically significant difference between the pre-hospital and final in-hospital diagnoses, with moderate inter-rater reliability (kappa score 0.6, 95% CI: 0.5–0.7).

Conclusion
A modest proportion of cases demonstrated discordance between the pre-hospital and in-hospital diagnoses. Selective case identification and feedback to pre-hospital services using a combination of informatics extraction and clinician consensus approach can be used to promote ongoing improvements to pre-hospital patient care.

What is known about the topic?
Highly trained pre-hospital clinicians perform patient assessments and early interventions while transporting patients to healthcare facilities for ongoing management. Feedback is necessary to allow for continual improvements; however, the provision of formal selective feedback regarding diagnostic accuracy from hospitals to pre-hospital clinicians is currently not routine.

What does this paper add?
For a significant proportion of patients, there is a clinically important difference in the diagnosis recorded by their pre-hospital clinician compared with their final in-hospital diagnosis. These clinically significant differences in diagnoses between pre-hospital and in-hospital clinicians were most notable among acute myocardial infarction and trauma subgroups of patients in this study.

What are the implications for practitioners?
Identification of patients who have a significant discrepancy between their pre-hospital and in-hospital diagnoses could lead to the development of feedback mechanisms to pre-hospital clinicians. Providing pre-hospital clinicians with this selective feedback would be intended to promote ongoing improvements in pre-hospital assessments and thereby to improve service delivery.
Oils ain’t oils: can truffle-infused food additives improve detection of rare and cryptic mycophagous mammals?
Authors: Claridge Andrew W. , Paull David J. , Cunningham Ross B.
Published: October 2015

We tested whether an artificial food additive, truffle oil, improved detection of mycophagous mammals when added to a standard bait type of peanut butter and rolled oats used with camera traps. Sixteen mammalian taxa were subsequently recorded, the most common being antechinus, bush rat (Rattus fuscipes), swamp wallaby (Wallabia bicolor) and long-nosed bandicoot (Perameles nasuta) as well as the long-nosed potoroo (Potorous tridactylus) and southern brown bandicoot (Isoodon obesulus). The only species for which detection rate was improved by the addition of truffle oil to standard bait was the ringtail possum (Pseudocheirus peregrinus), a species that has never been recorded eating fungi. In contrast, the total number of detections of all species at any given site was significantly higher, on average, using standard bait without truffle oil, as was the average number of detections of the partially mycophagous bush rat. Time to first detection of bush rats and swamp wallabies was significantly shorter using the standard bait type, compared with one with truffle oil added. Overall, the use of the truffle oil additive did not improve the chance or rate of detecting mycophagous mammals. To maximise the number of detections of mammals at camera traps the use of a standard bait type of peanut butter and rolled oats is recommended.
First Principle Study of Electronic and Non-Linear Optical (NLO) Properties of Triphenylamine Dyes: Interactive Design Computation of New NLO Compounds
Authors: Janjua Muhammad Ramzan Saeed Ashraf , Yamani Zain Hassan , Jamil Saba , Mahmood Asif , Ahmad Imran , Haroon Muhammad , Tahir Mudassir Hussain , Yang Zhihua , Pan Shilie
Published: October 2015

In this study, density functional theory and time-dependent density functional theory are used to determine how the size of π-conjugated system influences the absorption spectra and non-linear optical (NLO) properties of dyes. Double and triple bonds, as well the benzene rings, are used in conjugated systems. The results of the theoretical computation show that the absorption spectra are gradually broadened and red-shifted with increases in the conjugation length. Theoretical examination of the NLO properties was performed on the key parameters of polarizability and hyperpolarizability. A notable increase in the non-linear optical response was observed with an increase in the conjugation length of the π-spacer.
The Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Anithiactin A/Thiasporine C and Analogues
Authors: Lamb Richard A. , Badart Michael P. , Swaney Brooke E. , Gai Sinan , Baird Sarah K. , Hawkins Bill C.
Published: October 2015

The synthesis of anithiactin A has been achieved in four steps. Several closely related analogues were synthesised and their biological activity against colon and breast cancer cell lines evaluated. Anithiactin A was found not to be cytotoxic even at a high concentration (100 μM); however, two 4-substituted phenyl thiazoles were found to be moderately cytotoxic at 10 μM. Based on these results, 4-substitution on the phenyl group appears to be critical for cytotoxicity. However, the exact electronic and structural requirements are unclear.
Importance of plant sources of magnesium for human health
Authors: Nielsen Forrest H.
Published: October 2015

Based on established dietary reference intakes (DRIs) (e.g. estimated average requirements, recommended dietary allowances (RDAs), and reference nutrient intakes), magnesium (Mg) deficiency in the range 50–99% of the requirement commonly occurs throughout the world. Yet, Mg is not often considered a major nutrient of concern for health and wellbeing, although deficient intakes and serum concentrations have been associated with numerous pathological conditions including atherosclerosis, diabetes, osteoporosis and some cancers. Probable reasons for this dichotomy are that evidence of Mg deficiency is not consistently found in pathological conditions with which it has been associated, and not all individuals considered Mg-deficient consistently exhibit these pathological conditions. These inconsistencies could be the outcome of chronic inflammatory stress exacerbated or induced by Mg deficiency being alleviated or prevented by other factors that have anti-inflammatory action (e.g. long-chain n-3 fatty acids). Questionable DRIs resulting in the incorrect conclusion that individuals are Mg-deficient when they are not also may be responsible for the inconsistencies. Since 1997, improved balance data have been reported for the determination of DRIs, which suggest that the RDA for a 70-kg healthy adult would be ~250 mg day–1. Based on the finding that neutral Mg balance was determined to be 2.36 mg day–1 kg–1 bodyweight, the RDA would vary by bodyweight. Even with changed DRIs, a significant number of adults who do not eat recommended amounts of foods of plant origin would not achieve the suggested adequate intake of Mg. Foods of plant origin, including green vegetables, nuts, pulses and whole grains, are good sources of Mg. However, Mg in these foods can be influenced by the availability of Mg to plants from the soil, and plant genotype. Thus, crop breeding and cultural practices, through modifying the amount of Mg in plant-origin foods, can have a significant impact on achieving an adequate dietary intake of Mg for health.
Global magnesium supply in the food chain
Authors: Kumssa Diriba B. , Joy Edward J. M. , Ander E. Louise , Watts Michael J. , Young Scott D. , Rosanoff Andrea , White Philip J. , Walker Sue , Broadley Martin R.
Published: October 2015

Magnesium (Mg) is an essential mineral micronutrient in humans. Risks of dietary Mg deficiency are affected by the quantity of Mg ingested and its bioavailability, which is influenced by the consumption of other nutrients and ‘anti-nutrients’. Here, we assess global dietary Mg supplies and risks of dietary deficiency, including the influence of other nutrients. Food supply and food composition data were used to derive the amount of Mg available per capita at national levels. Supplies of Mg were compared with estimated national per capita average requirement ‘cut points’. In 2011, global weighted mean Mg supply was 613 ± 69 mg person–1 day–1 compared with a weighted estimated average requirement for Mg of 173 mg person–1 day–1. This indicates a low risk of dietary Mg deficiency of 0.26% based on supply. This contrasts with published data from national individual-level dietary surveys, which indicate greater Mg deficiency risks. However, individuals in high-income countries are likely to under-report food consumption, which could lead to overestimation of deficiency risks. Furthermore, estimates of deficiency risk based on supply do not account for potential inhibitors of Mg absorption, including calcium, phytic acid and oxalate, and do not consider household food wastage.
Integrating rehabilitation, restoration and conservation for a sustainable jarrah forest future during climate disruption
Authors: Wardell-Johnson Grant W. , Calver Michael , Burrows Neil , Di Virgilio Giovanni
Published: October 2015

The environment of the northern jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata) forest (NJF) of Mediterranean-climate, south-western Australia is characterised by deeply weathered soil profiles and low fertility, reflecting long geological stasis. This fire-prone environment is characterised by primary forests of low productivity but high biomass. Since European settlement (1829), the NJF has been structurally transformed by deforestation and resource extraction, including logging and mining (principally for bauxite). Rainfall has declined by 15–20% since 1970, with projections for further decline. A new hydrological regime foreshadows regolith drying, with a changed climate leading to more unplanned, intense fires. Declining productivity, coupled with rehabilitation more suited to a wetter climate, places stress on tree growth and compromises biodiversity. Thus, ecological disruption likely follows from interactions between climate change and historical exploitation. The complex challenges posed by these interactions require multifaceted and novel solutions. We argue that under drying conditions, maintenance of productivity while conserving biodiversity can best be achieved by changing the focus of rehabilitation to the understorey. This would coincide with protecting and restoring surrounding unmined forest with emphasis on the overstorey. Presently, state-of-the-science rehabilitation seeks to restore jarrah forest, following bauxite mining. This goal is unlikely to be achievable across extensive areas under climate change projections. Rather, a focus on restoring understorey following mining would provide a more positive water balance in the wider forest matrix. This approach recognises loss of forest values through mining, but anticipates conservation of biodiversity and important elements of forest structure by minimising ecologically unacceptable disturbance to surrounding forest.
Understanding the nutrition care needs of patients newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes: a need for open communication and patient-focussed consultations
Authors: Ball Lauren , Davmor Ruth , Leveritt Michael , Desbrow Ben , Ehrlich Carolyn , Chaboyer Wendy
Published: October 2015

Patients who are newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) commonly attempt to modify their dietary intake after receiving nutrition care from primary health professionals. Yet, adherence to dietary recommendations is rarely sustained and factors influencing adherence are poorly understood. This study explored T2DM patients’ experiences of dietary change and their views on how primary health professionals can best support long-term maintenance of dietary change. A purposive sample of 10 individuals recently diagnosed with T2DM participated in three individual semi-structured qualitative telephone interviews: at baseline, then at 3 and 6 months after recruitment. Interview questions were modified from the initial interview in order to investigate emerging findings. A two-step data analysis process occurred through content analysis of individual interviews and meta-synthesis of findings over time. Participants initially made wide-ranging attempts to improve dietary behaviours, but most experienced negative emotions from the restraint required to maintain a healthy diet. Participants felt confused by the conflicting advice received from health professionals and other sources such as friends, family, internet and diabetes organisations. Participants frequently reported feeling rushed and not heard in consultations, resulting in limited ongoing engagement with primary healthcare services. These findings suggest that there is opportunity for primary health professionals to enhance the dietary support provided to patients by: acknowledging the challenges of sustained improvements in dietary intake; open communication; and investing in patient relationships through more patient-focussed consultations.
Problematic recreational drug use: is there a role for outpatient sexual health clinics in identifying those not already engaged with treatment services?
Authors: Lovett Caitlyn , Yamamoto T. , Hunter Laura , White John , Dargan Paul I. , Wood David M.
Published: October 2015

Background
There is an association between recreational drug use, high-risk sexual activity and sexually transmissible infections. Studies have shown a higher prevalence of drug use in those accessing sexual health services; however, there are minimal data on the proportion with problematic recreational drug use. We aimed to understand whether sexual health clinics could identify problematic drug and alcohol use as a novel referral pathway into treatment services. Methods: Males attending two sexual health clinics in London completed questionnaires. Data were collected on demographics; gender of sexual partner; use of alcohol and recreational drugs; if they felt they had problematic use of drugs, alcohol or both; and if they had sought help for their problematic use. Results: In total, 867 males completed the questionnaire; 387 (44.7%) were men who have sex with men (MSM). MSM had significantly higher lifetime use of any drug compared with non-MSM (80.6% vs. 62.5%; P < 0.0001). Thirty-five (4.7%) self-identified problematic drug or alcohol use, with no difference between MSM and non-MSM (6.3% vs. 3.5%; P = 0.08). Of those with problematic drug or alcohol use, 20 were currently or had been engaged with a treatment service and 15 had never engaged with treatment services. MSM were more likely to have ever sought help for drug or alcohol problems compared with non-MSM (P = 0.003). Conclusions: Some individuals attending sexual health clinics with problematic drug use have not engaged with treatment services. It is therefore appropriate to develop screening tools for sexual health clinics to identify these individuals and novel referral pathways to engage them in treatment services.
Penises not required: a systematic review of the potential for human papillomavirus horizontal transmission that is non-sexual or does not include penile penetration
Authors: Liu Zhiyue , Rashid Tasnuva , Nyitray Alan G.
Published: October 2015

The primary mode of human papillomavirus (HPV) transmission is through penetrative sex; however, there is evidence of other modes of transmission. No systematic review was found that focussed on HPV horizontal transmission that is not penocentric. A systematic review of the literature by searching Medline (Ovid), PubMed (NLM) and Embase (Ovid) was conducted to retrieve articles published from 1946 to March 2014. Studies that suggested evidence of non-sexual or non-penetrative sexual transmission of α-HPV genotypes were included. After review of 2061 titles and abstracts, 51 studies were abstracted. Fifteen studies examined HPV fomites from medical settings or public environments, and 36 examined HPV in humans. Human papillomavirus DNA was detected in the genital tract of female virgins, with prevalence estimates ranging from 0% to 51.1%. HPV transmission from hands to genitals or genitals to hands was reported for both sexes and heterosexual couples. Other studies commonly found HPV on surfaces in medical settings and public environments. Further studies on non-sexual and non-penetrative sexual transmission are needed to understand the complexity of HPV transmission. Health-care policies may need to be reassessed/established to ensure the safety of medical instruments and to reduce the risk of HPV nosocomial infection.
Favourable attitudes towards serosorting are associated with overall less frequent condom use among young Black men having sex men
Authors: Crosby Richard A. , Mena Leandro , Geter Angelica
Published: October 2015

This study determined whether YBMSM endorsing serosorting are less likely to use condoms. A questionnaire assessed men’s attitudes towards serosorting with a three-item scale; various sexual risk behaviours were measured using a 90-day recall period. Favourable attitudes toward serosorting were associated with a greater likelihood of condomless sex as a top (P < 0.001) and as a bottom (P < 0.001), as well as a lower likelihood of using condoms with main partners (P = 0.003). Findings suggest that YBMSM having favourable attitudes toward serosorting may be more likely to report condomless sex than their counterparts without favourable attitudes.
Rapid communication the Mental Number Line Dominates Alternative, Explicit Coding of Number Magnitude
Authors: Dollman Justin , Levine William H.
Published: October 2015

Numerical judgments are facilitated for left-space responses to a smaller number and right-space responses to a larger number (the spatial–numerical association of response codes, SNARC, effect). Despite support for a mental number line (i.e., spatial) explanation of the SNARC effect, this account has been challenged by an intermediate-coding theory that makes use of a polarity-correspondence principle. The latter is a general explanatory framework whereby stimulus and response dimensions are represented in a categorical, binary manner, with complementary categories coded as having either positive or negative polarity. When stimulus and response polarity match, responding is facilitated. In the present experiment we pitted explicitly presented close–far coding against an implicit mental number line (i.e., left–right coding). Subjects categorized numbers (1, 4, 6, and 9) as greater or less than a standard (5) using keys defined only as close to and far from a starting key. We found that, despite instructing subjects to use a close–far coding scheme, they exhibited a typical SNARC effect, with small-number responses facilitated on the left and large-number responses on the right. These results are discussed in the context of results supporting the polarity explanation and with respect to representational pluralism.
Proinflammatory High‐Density Lipoprotein Results from Oxidized Lipid Mediators in the Pathogenesis of Both Idiopathic and Associated Types of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
Authors: Ross David J. , Hough Greg , Hama Susan , Aboulhosn Jamil , Belperio John A. , Saggar Rajan , Van Lenten Brian J. , Ardehali Abbas , Eghbali Mansoureh , Reddy Srinivasa , Fogelman Alan M. , Navab Mohamad
Published: October 2015

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is characterized by abnormal elaboration of vasoactive peptides, endothelial cell dysfunction, vascular remodeling, and inflammation, which collectively contribute to its pathogenesis. We investigated the potential for high‐density lipoprotein (HDL) dysfunction (i.e., proinflammatory effects) and abnormal plasma eicosanoid levels to contribute to the pathobiology of PAH and assessed ex vivo the effect of treatment with apolipoprotein A‐I mimetic peptide 4F on the observed HDL dysfunction. We determined the “inflammatory indices” HII and LII for HDL and low‐density lipoprotein (LDL), respectively, in subjects with idiopathic PAH (IPAH) and associated PAH (APAH) by an in vitro monocyte chemotaxis assay. The 4F was added ex vivo, and repeat LII and HII values were obtained versus a sham treatment. We further determined eicosanoid levels in plasma and HDL fractions from patients with IPAH and APAH relative to controls. The LIIs were significantly higher for IPAH and APAH patients than for controls. Incubation of plasma with 4F before isolation of LDL and HDL significantly reduced the LII values, compared with sham‐treated LDL, for IPAH and APAH. The increased LII values reflected increased states of LDL oxidation and thereby increased proinflammatory effects in both cohorts. The HIIs for both PAH cohorts reflected a “dysfunctional HDL phenotype,” that is, proinflammatory HDL effects. In contrast to “normal HDL function,” the determined HIIs were significantly increased for the IPAH and APAH cohorts. Ex vivo 4F treatment significantly improved the HDL function versus the sham treatment. Although there was a significant “salutary effect” of 4F treatment, this did not entirely normalize the HII. Significantly increased levels for both IPAH and APAH versus controls were evident for the eicosanoids 9‐HODE, 13‐HODE, 5‐HETE, 12‐HETE, and 15‐HETE, while no statistical differences were evident for comparisons of IPAH and APAH for the determined plasma eicosanoid levels in the HDL fractions. Our study has further implicated the putative role of “oxidant stress” and inflammation in the pathobiology of PAH. Our data suggest the influences on the “dysfunctional HDL phenotype” of increased oxidized fatty acids, which are paradoxically proinflammatory. We speculate that therapies that target either the “inflammatory milieu” or the “dysfunctional HDL phenotype,” such as apoA‐I mimetic peptides, may be valuable avenues of further research in pulmonary vascular diseases.
Constitutional Law in the Greek World
Authors: Rhodes P. J.
Published: October 2015

This chapter discusses public law and the political institutions in the Greek poleis and other political units. The first part surveys modes of citizenship with a focus on political participation. The second provides an extensive account of deliberative bodies and procedures in the Greek poleis. The third section discusses officials, their appointment and duties, and their accountability.
Making and Changing Laws in Ancient Athens
Authors: Canevaro Mirko
Published: October 2015

This chapter explores the development of ideas about legislation and legislative procedures in ancient Athens. It isolates in Solon and in the Archaic lawgivers an ideology of legislation that mistrusted legal change. This ideology of legislation was still dominant throughout the fifth century BCE, but progressively came into conflict with democratic ideas and practices. The chapter examines how this conflict played out in the oligarchic revolutions and the democratic restorations at the end of the fifth century, and then discusses the creation of nomothesia procedures that reconciled the need for legal change with that for consistent and stable laws. The last part of the chapter follows the workings of these procedures throughout the fourth century BCE, and their progressive disintegration after the Lamian War.
Parading Protestantisms and the Flute Bands of Postconflict Northern Ireland
Authors: Witherow Jacqueline
Published: October 2015

This chapter examines the Protestant parading tradition in Northern Ireland with particular focus on the dominance of the flute band scene within it. It provides an in-depth discussion into the central characteristics of each flute band type, namely, blood and thunder, melody and part-music, through an ethnographic analysis of five flute bands. The social, political and religious orientations of each band are examined, as well as their choices in instruments, uniforms and symbolism. An understanding of these orientations indicates how the musical choices and symbolic choices of these bands are linked to the ways in which they construct and articulate their notions of Ulster Protestantism in postconflict Northern Ireland.
Temporal Trends in Anesthesia-related Adverse Events in Cesarean Deliveries, New York State, 2003–2012
Authors: Guglielminotti Jean , Wong Cynthia A. , Landau Ruth , Li Guohua
Published: October 2015

AbstractAbstract

In a review of approximately 800,000 cesarean deliveries in New York state from 2003 to 2012, the overall rate of anesthesia-related adverse events was 730 per 100,000, and there was a decrease in major events by 43% and minor events by 23% during this time. During the same time period, the incidence of nonanesthesia complications increased 47%.

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text.

Background

Cesarean delivery (CD) is associated with significantly increased risks of anesthesia-related adverse events (ARAEs) and nonanesthetic perioperative morbidity compared with vaginal delivery. Temporal trends in these adverse outcomes remain unknown despite efforts to improve maternal safety. This study examines temporal trends in ARAEs and nonanesthetic perioperative complications in CDs in New York hospitals.

Methods

Data are from the State Inpatient Database for New York, 2003–2012. ARAEs, including minor and major ARAEs, and nonanesthetic perioperative complications were identified through International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification codes. Statistical significance in time trends was assessed using the Cochran–Armitage test and multivariable logistic regression.

Results

Of the 785,854 CDs studied, 5,715 (730 per 100,000; 95% CI, 710 to 750) had at least one ARAE and 7,040 had at least one perioperative complication (890 per 100,000; 95% CI, 870 to 920). The overall annual rate of ARAEs decreased from 890 per 100,000 in 2003 to 660 in 2012 (25% decrease; 95% CI, 16 to 34; P < 0.0001). The rate of minor ARAEs decreased 23% (95% CI, 13 to 32) and of major ARAEs decreased 43% (95% CI, 23 to 63). No decrease was observed in the rate of ARAEs for CDs performed under general anesthesia. The rate of nonanesthetic complications increased 47% (95% CI, 31 to 63; P < 0.0001).

Conclusions

Anesthesia-related outcomes in cesarean deliveries appear to have improved significantly across hospitals in New York in the past decade. Perioperative nonanesthetic complications remain a serious healthcare issue.
Fossil evidence and stages of elongation of theGiraffa camelopardalisneck
Authors: Danowitz Melinda , Vasilyev Aleksandr , Kortlandt Victoria , Solounias Nikos
Published: October 2015

Several evolutionary theories have been proposed to explain the adaptation of the long giraffe neck; however, few studies examine the fossil cervical vertebrae. We incorporate extinct giraffids, and the okapi and giraffe cervical vertebral specimens in a comprehensive analysis of the anatomy and elongation of the neck. We establish and evaluate 20 character states that relate to general, cranial and caudal vertebral lengthening, and calculate a length-to-width ratio to measure the relative slenderness of the vertebrae. Our sample includes cervical vertebrae (n=71) of 11 taxa representing all seven subfamilies. We also perform a computational comparison of the C3 ofSamotheriumandGiraffa camelopardalis, which demonstrates that cervical elongation occurs disproportionately along the cranial–caudal vertebral axis. Using the morphological characters and calculated ratios, we propose stages in cervical lengthening, which are supported by the mathematical transformations using fossil and extant specimens. We find that cervical elongation is anisometric and unexpectedly precedes Giraffidae. Within the family, cranial vertebral elongation is the first lengthening stage observed followed by caudal vertebral elongation, which accounts for the extremely long neck of the giraffe.
Characterising Complex Enzyme Reaction Data
Authors: Dönertaş Handan Melike , Martínez Cuesta Sergio , Rahman Syed Asad , Thornton Janet M.
Published: October 2015

The relationship between enzyme-catalysed reactions and the Enzyme Commission (EC) number, the widely accepted classification scheme used to characterise enzyme activity, is complex and with the rapid increase in our knowledge of the reactions catalysed by enzymes needs revisiting. We present a manual and computational analysis to investigate this complexity and found that almost one-third of all known EC numbers are linked to more than one reaction in the secondary reaction databases (e.g. KEGG). Although this complexity is often resolved by defining generic, alternative and partial reactions, we have also found individual EC numbers with more than one reaction catalysing different types of bond changes. This analysis adds a new dimension to our understanding of enzyme function and might be useful for the accurate annotation of the function of enzymes and to study the changes in enzyme function during evolution.
Mechanisms of blood homeostasis: lineage tracking and a neutral model of cell populations in rhesus macaque
Authors: Goyal Sidhartha , Kim Sanggu , Chen Irvin S. Y. , Chou Tom
Published: October 2015

How a potentially diverse population of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) differentiates and proliferates to supply more than 1011mature blood cells every day in humans remains a key biological question. We investigated this process by quantitatively analyzing theclonalstructure of peripheral blood that is generated by a population of transplanted lentivirus-marked HSCs in myeloablated rhesus macaques. Each transplanted HSC generates a clonal lineage of cells in the peripheral blood that is then detected and quantified through deep sequencing of the viral vector integration sites (VIS) common within each lineage. This approach allowed us to observe, over a period of 4-12 years, hundreds of distinct clonal lineages. Surprisingly, while the distinct clone sizes varied by three orders of magnitude, we found that collectively, they form a steady-state clone size-distribution with a distinctive shape. Our concise model shows that slow HSC differentiation followed by fast progenitor growth is responsible for the observed broad clone size-distribution. Although all cells are assumed to be statistically identical, analogous to a neutral theory for the different clone lineages, our mathematical approach captures the intrinsic variability in the times to HSC differentiation after transplantation. Steady-state solutions of our model show that the predicted clone size-distribution is sensitive to only two combinations of parameters. By fitting the measured clone size-distributions to our mechanistic model, we estimate both the effective HSC differentiation rate and the number of active HSCs.
Two phases of aging separated by the Smurf transition as a public path to death
Authors: Dambroise Emilie , Monnier Lea , Ruisheng Lu , Aguilaniu Hugo , Joly Jean-Stephane , Tricoire Herve , Rera Michael
Published: October 2015

Aging s most obvious characteristic is the time dependent increase of an individual s probability to die. This lifelong process is accompanied by a large number of molecular and physiological changes. Although numerous genes involved in aging have been identified in the past decades its leading factors have yet to be determined. To identify the very processes driving aging we have developed in the past years an assay to identify physiologically old individuals in a synchronized population of Drosophila melanogaster. Those individuals show an age-dependent increase of intestinal permeability followed by a high risk of death. Here we show that this physiological marker of aging is conserved in 3 invertebrate species Drosophila mojavensis, Drosophila virilis, Caenorhabditis elegans and 1 vertebrate specie Danio rerio. Our findings suggest that intestinal barrier dysfunction may be an important event in the aging process conserved across a broad range of species, thus raising the possibility that it may also be the case in Homo sapiens.
SinaPlot: an enhanced chart for simple and truthful representation of single observations over multiple classes
Authors: Sidiropoulos Nikos , Sohi Sina Hadi , Rapin Nicolas , Bagger Frederik Otzen
Published: October 2015

Recent developments in data driven science, in particular computational biology, have led scientists to integrate data from several sources, over diverse experimental procedures, or databases. This alone poses a major challenge in truthfully visualising data, especially when the amount of data points varies between classes. To aid the presentation of datasets with differing sample size we have developed a new type of plot overcoming limitations of current standard visualization charts. Plots like bar charts, violin plots, strip charts or box-and-whiskers plots may provide visual information about mean/median, variance of the data, number of data points or density distribution of data; still, only a combination of these plots may provide all relevant information. We have designed a new and simple plot inspired by the strip chart and the violin plot that operates by letting the normalized density of points restrict the jitter along the x-axis. Τhe plot displays the same contour as a violin plot, but resembles a simple strip chart for small number of data points. In this way the plot conveys information of both the number of data points, the density distribution, outliers and data spread in a very simple, comprehensible and condensed format. The package for producing the plots is available for R through the CRAN network (https://cran.r-project.org/web/packages/sinaplot/index.html). In order to aid users without experience in R we also provide access to a web-server accepting excel sheets to produce the plots (http://servers.binf.ku.dk:8890/sinaplot/) .
QuicK-mer: A rapid paralog sensitive CNV detection pipeline
Authors: Shen Feichen , Kidd Jeffrey
Published: October 2015

QuicK-mer is a unified pipeline for estimating genome copy-number from high-throughput Illumina sequencing data. QuicK-mer utilizes the Jellyfish application to efficiently tabulate counts of predefined sets of k-mers. The program performs GC-normalization using defined control regions and reports paralog-specific estimates of copy-number suitable for downstream analysis. The package is freely available athttps://github.com/KiddLab/QuicK-mer
Gene discovery for Mendelian conditions via social networking:de novovariants inKDM1Acause developmental delay and distinctive facial features
Authors: Chong Jessica X. , Yu Joon-Ho , Lorentzen Peter , Park Karen M. , Jamal Seema M. , Tabor Holly K. , Rauch Anita , Saenz Margarita Sifuentes , Boltshauser Eugen , Patterson Karynne E. , Nickerson Deborah A. ,   University of Washington Center for Mendelian Genomics, Bamshad Michael J.
Published: October 2015

Purpose:The pace of Mendelian gene discovery is slowed by the “n-of-1 problem” – the difficulty of establishing causality of a putatively pathogenic variant in a single person or family. Identification of an unrelated person with an overlapping phenotype and suspected pathogenic variant in the same gene can overcome this barrier but is often impeded by lack of a convenient or widely-available way to share data on candidate variants / genes among families, clinicians and researchers.

Methods:Social networking among families, clinicians and researchers was used to identify three children with variants of unknown significance inKDM1Aand similar phenotypes.

Results:De novo variants inKDM1Aunderlie a new syndrome characterized by developmental delay and distinctive facial features.

Conclusion:Social networking is a potentially powerful strategy to discover genes for rare Mendelian conditions, particularly those with non-specific phenotypic features. To facilitate the efforts of families to share phenotypic and genomic information with each other, clinicians, and researchers, we developed the Repository for Mendelian Genomics Family Portal (RMD-FP). Design and development of a web-based tool, MyGene2, that enables families, clinicians and researchers to search for gene matches based on analysis of phenotype and exome data deposited into the RMD-FP is underway.
A Dynamical Model for the Low Efficiency of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Reprogramming
Authors: Abdallah Hussein , Del Vecchio Domitilla , Qian Yili
Published: October 2015

In the past decade, researchers have been able to obtain pluripotent stem cells directly from an organism's differentiated cells through a process called cell reprogramming. This opens the way to potentially groundbreaking applications in regenerative and personalized medicine, in which ill patients could use self-derived induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells where needed. While the process of reprogramming has been shown to be possible, its efficiency remains so low after almost ten years since its conception as to render its applicability limited to laboratory research. In this paper, we study a mathematical model of the core transcriptional circuitry among a set of key transcription factors, which is thought to determine the switch among pluripotent and differentiated cell types. By employing standard tools from dynamical systems theory, we analyze the effects on the system's dynamics of overexpressing the core factors, which is what is performed during the reprogramming process. We demonstrate that the structure of the system is such that it can render the switch from an initial stable steady state (differentiated cell type) to the desired stable steady state (pluripotent cell type) highly unlikely. This finding provides insights into a possible reason for the low efficiency of current reprogramming approaches.