bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Technical Details of a Novel Wind Profiler Radar at 205 MHz
Authors: Mohanakumar K. , Kottayil Ajil , Anandan V. K. , Samson Titu , Thomas Linto , Satheesan K. , Rebello Rejoy , Manoj M. G. , Varadarajan Rakesh , Santosh K. R. , Mohanan P. , Vasudevan K.
Published: November 2017

The Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT), Cochin, India, hosts the world’s first 205-MHz stratosphere–troposphere (ST) wind profiler radar. This radar constitutes 619 three-element Yagi–Uda antennas with a power aperture product of 1.6 × 108 Wm2 and is capable of providing accurate three-dimensional wind profiles for an altitude range of 315 m–20 km. The system description and its first time validation and results from some of the radar’s potential applications are being presented. The radar wind profiles have been validated against collocated GPS–radiosonde measurements during the summer monsoon of 2016. The radar and radiosonde profiles show very good correlation with coefficients of 0.99 and 0.93 for zonal and meridional winds, respectively. The standard deviation of the radar measurements with respect to radiosonde measurements is found to be 1.85 m s−1 for zonal wind and 1.66 m s−1 for meridional wind. Moreover, the radar also detects echoes from the ionosphere. The ST radar at Cochin (10.04°N, 76.33°E; 40 m MSL) is an ideal observational facility, located in the tropics, for understanding the processes of the Indian summer monsoon at the region of its onset, which is expected to enhance science’s knowledge of monsoon dynamics.
Collaborators of the Apostles and the Reform of the Roman Curia
Authors: O’Collins Gerald
Published: November 2017

This article responds to Massimo Faggioli’s desire for early traditions that could be retrieved and supply a theological and moral vision for reforming the Roman Curia, the collaborators of the Bishop of Rome. From the New Testament we have scarce information about Peter’s ‘co-workers.’ Seven certainly authentic letters of Paul, however, show such apostolic collaborators functioning with Paul on his mission, and doing so in a variety of ways that prefigure the tasks of the modern Curia. The diocese of Rome is founded on the martyrdom of Peter and Paul. The Christian men and women who collaborated with Paul supply, not so much markers for some administrative changes, but rather an inspiring vision for a biblically based reform of the Roman Curia.
History from the View of the Cross: An Exploration of Lonergan and Latin American Theologies of Liberation
Authors: Vink Andrew T.
Published: November 2017

The article deals with questions of the relationship of theories of history and theologies of liberation. More specifically, the guiding question is what theory of history does a theology of liberation require. To answer this, Marx and Lonergan are brought into dialogue with Latin American liberation theologians to compare and test the cogency of these two thinkers with Latin American thought.
Experimental Evidence for the Role of Intonation in Evidential Marking
Authors: Vanrell Maria del Mar , Armstrong Meghan E. , Prieto Pilar
Published: November 2017

This paper investigates the role of intonation in the marking of directly-perceived information in Majorcan Catalan polar questions. We conducted a perception experiment in which a total of 72 participants were introduced to a set of twins who were exposed to different types of evidence for a given p(roposition). One twin inferred p based on direct sensory information (via one of the five senses), while the other had been told that p by a third party, that is, reported information. Participants listened to a set of discourse contexts that ended in critical stimuli with three attested combinations of particle/intonation in this variety of Catalan: (1) polar questions produced with a falling nuclear contour ¡H+L* L%; (2) polar questions headed with the particle que ‘that’ produced with ¡H+L* L%; and (3) polar questions headed with the particle que and produced with a rise-fall L+H* L%. After hearing the stimulus, participants had to decide which of the twins had uttered the question–the one who inferred a proposition ( p) based on direct sensory information or the one who had been told p by a third party. The results show that listeners very consistently associate the que + L+H* L% combination with inferences drawn from direct sensory evidence as opposed to reported evidence. This shows that particles may work in tandem with intonation to convey the information source. Importantly, we show that intonation is a part of grammar that may be recruited for evidential strategies.
Evaluation of a Novel Syndromic Surveillance Query for Heat-Related Illness Using Hospital Data From Maricopa County, Arizona, 2015
Authors: White Jessica R. , Berisha Vjollca , Lane Kathryn , Ménager Henri , Gettel Aaron , Braun Carol R.
Published: November 2017

Objectives:

We evaluated a novel syndromic surveillance query, developed by the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE) Heat Syndrome Workgroup, for identifying heat-related illness cases in near real time, using emergency department and inpatient hospital data from Maricopa County, Arizona, in 2015.

Methods:

The Maricopa County Department of Public Health applied 2 queries for heat-related illness to area hospital data transmitted to the National Syndromic Surveillance Program BioSense Platform: the BioSense “heat, excessive” query and the novel CSTE query. We reviewed the line lists generated by each query and used the diagnosis code and chief complaint text fields to find probable cases of heat-related illness. For each query, we calculated positive predictive values (PPVs) for heat-related illness.

Results:

The CSTE query identified 674 records, of which 591 were categorized as probable heat-related illness, demonstrating a PPV of 88% for heat-related illness. The BioSense query identified 791 patient records, of which 589 were probable heat-related illness, demonstrating a PPV of 74% for heat-related illness. The PPV was substantially higher for the CSTE novel and BioSense queries during the heat season (May 1 to September 30; 92% and 85%, respectively) than during the cooler seasons (55% and 29%, respectively).

Conclusion:

A novel query for heat-related illness that combined diagnosis codes, chief complaint text terms, and exclusion criteria had a high PPV for heat-related illness, particularly during the heat season. Public health departments can use this query to meet local needs; however, use of this novel query to substantially improve public health heat-related illness prevention remains to be seen.
Developing Syndromic Surveillance to Monitor and Respond to Adverse Health Events Related to Psychoactive Substance Use: Methods and Applications
Authors: Nolan Michelle L. , Kunins Hillary V. , Lall Ramona , Paone Denise
Published: November 2017

Introduction:

Recent increases in drug overdose deaths, both in New York City and nationally, highlight the need for timely data on psychoactive drug-related morbidity. We developed drug syndrome definitions for syndromic surveillance to monitor drug-related emergency department (ED) visits in real time.

Materials and Methods:

We used 2012 archived syndromic surveillance data from New York City hospitals to develop definitions for psychoactive drug-related syndromes. The dataset contained ED visit-level information that included patients’ chief complaints, dates of visits, ZIP codes of residence, discharge diagnoses, and dispositions. After manually reviewing chief complaints, we developed a classification scheme comprising 3 categories (overdose, drug mention, and drug abuse/misuse), which we used to define 25 psychoactive drug syndromes. From July 2013 through December 2015, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene performed daily syndromic surveillance of psychoactive drug-related ED visits using the 25 syndrome definitions.

Results:

Syndromic surveillance triggered 4 public health investigations, supported 8 other public health investigations that had been triggered by other mechanisms, and resulted in the identification of 5 psychoactive drug-related outbreaks. Syndromic surveillance also identified a substantial increase in synthetic cannabinoid-related visits (from an average of 3 per week in January 2014 to >300 per week in July 2015) and an increase in heroin overdose visits (from 80 to 171 in the first 3 quarters of 2012 and 2014, respectively) in a single neighborhood.

Practice Implications:

Syndromic surveillance using these novel definitions enabled monitoring of trends in psychoactive drug-related morbidity, initiation and support of public health investigations, and targeting of interventions. Health departments can refine these definitions for their jurisdictions using the described methods and integrate them into existing syndromic surveillance systems.
External ophthalmomyiasis caused by Oestrus ovis in east China
Authors: Zhang Aihui , Nie Qiaoli , Song Jingjing
Published: November 2017

External ophthalmomyiasis is a superficial infestation of the eye tissues by the larvae or maggots of flies. External ophthalmomyiasis, caused by Oestrus ovis, is found occasionally in shepherding areas, but is rare in the cities of eastern China. We present a case of a 30-year-old man with complaints of a foreign body sensation, lacrimation and itching in the right eye, with uncorrected visual acuity of 20/20 in each eye. Six larvae were removed from the conjunctival sac and were ultimately authenticated as the first instar larvae of Oestrus ovis. He responded well after prompt appropriate therapy.
Experimental investigations on performance and emission characteristics of variable speed multi-cylinder compression ignition engine using Diesel/Argemone biodiesel blends
Authors: Singh Mandeep , Gandhi Surjit Kumar , Mahla Sunil Kumar , Sandhu Sarbjot Singh
Published: November 2017

The present work explores the use of argemone mexicana (non-edible and adulterer to mustard oil) biodiesel in multicylinder compression ignition, indirect injection engine. Argemone Mexicana biodiesel was produced by transesterification process and the important physico-chemical properties of various blends were investigated. Blends of diesel/biodiesel (AB10, AB20, AB30 and AB40) were prepared and used for analysing the engine performance and emission characteristics at varying loads (0, 25, 50 and 75%) and speeds (2500–4000 r/min). The results show improvement in indicated thermal efficiency and indicated specific fuel consumption with increased proportion of biodiesel in diesel, when compared to conventional diesel. In addition, exhaust emissions such as carbon monoxide, unburnt hydrocarbon and smoke opacity were significantly reduced by AOME/diesel blends. The improvement in engine performance and exhaust emissions were observed up to 30% blending of AOME/diesel. Beyond that, higher blend (AB40) showed deterioration in performance characteristics in contrast to AB30 but still better as compared to conventional diesel.
Morphological Assessment of Visual Dysfunction
Authors: Heywood Ralph , Gopinath Chirukandath
Published: November 2017

The eye is an isolated unit but with a potentially high degree of sensitivity to toxic substances. The multiplicity of types of reaction to injury reflects the unique anatomical, physiological and biochemical features of the eye. The following are examples of such: The albino rat is not a good model for retinal toxicity because of problems of phototoxic retinopathy, the absence of pigment within the pigment epithelial layer and the high incidence of spontaneous retinal pathologies; The ocular toxicity of a compound cannot be anticipated from its chemical structure; Pharmacological side effects are similar between species, and are predictive for man; Mechanisms of ocular toxicity are poorly understood.
Correlation between Anxiety and Oppositionality in a Children's Mood and Anxiety Disorder Clinic
Authors: Garland E Jane , Garland Orion M
Published: November 2017

Objective:

While parents and clinicians have described oppositional features as interfering with the management of children with anxiety, research on this relation is lacking. We designed this study to investigate the presence of oppositional symptoms in children presenting with mood and anxiety symptoms.

Method:

In a mood and anxiety disorders clinic, we used the DSM-IV Child Symptom Inventory to document the presence and correlates of oppositional defiant symptoms in 145 preadolescents assessed during a 2-year period.

Results:

Oppositional defiant symptoms were found to correlate ( P < 0.01) with generalized anxiety symptoms in both parent and teacher ratings. Correlations remained significant after controlling for the presence of symptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Parents found both boys and girls to be equally oppositional, while teachers found boys to be significantly more oppositional.

Conclusion:

Oppositional features are found in clinically referred children with anxiety and are potentially significant for treatment and prognosis of anxiety disorders in children.
Linking Nurses' Clinical Leadership to Patient Care Quality: The Role of Transformational Leadership and Workplace Empowerment
Authors: Boamah Sheila
Published: November 2017

Background

While improving patient safety requires strong nursing leadership, there has been little empirical research that has examined the mechanisms by which leadership influences patient safety outcomes.

Aim

To test a model examining relationships among transformational leadership, structural empowerment, staff nurse clinical leadership, and nurse-assessed adverse patient outcomes.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey was conducted with a randomly selected sample of 378 registered nurses working in direct patient care in acute care hospitals across Ontario, Canada. Structural equation modeling was used to test the hypothesized model.

Results

The model had an acceptable fit, and all paths were significant. Transformational leadership was significantly associated with decreased adverse patient outcomes through structural empowerment and staff nurse clinical leadership.

Discussion

This study highlights the importance of transformational leadership in creating empowering practice environments that foster high-quality care. The findings indicate that a more complete understanding of what drives desired patient outcomes warrants the need to focus on how to empower nurses and foster clinical leadership practices at the point of care.

Conclusion

In planning safety strategies, managers must demonstrate transformational leadership behaviors in order to modify the work environment to create better defenses for averting adverse events.
Developmental Expression of Cytochrome P450S within Intrasplenically Transplanted Fetal Hepatocytes from Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats
Authors: Kato Kazuya , Hodgson W. John B. , Lutton John D. , Abraham Nader G.
Published: November 2017

Fetal hepatocytes were harvested at 20 days of gestation from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and then transplanted into recipient adult SHR spleens. Morphological examination of the recipient spleens revealed that after 4 wk, large masses of hepatocytes were present in the red pulp with apparent cord-like structures. Of major significance was the fact that hepatocyte transplanted spleens were able to express several families of cytochrome P450 (cyto P450) proteins 2-6 wk after transplantation. Thus, the transplanted hepatocyte tissue appeared to grow and develop a cyto P450 metabolic system. Immunochemical determinations revealed that cytos P450 IA1, P450 IIB1, P450 p, P450 HLp, and P450 LAω were over detected without any prior induction. None of the cyto P450s could be detected in control nontransplanted spleens, however all were detected in fetal hepatocyte microsomes before transplantation. All were intensely expressed 6 wk after transplantation, however P450 IA1 and P450 IIB1 did not appear to be expressed by 2 wk after transplantation. These results demonstrate that fetal hepatocytes can be successfully transplanted to the spleens of recipient hosts, and that the fetal hepatocytes appear to grow and develop functional cyto P450 metabolizing systems. Therefore, transplantation of fetal hepatocytes to splenic tissue represents a unique in vivo system of extra hepatic metabolizing tissue.
Progressive Morphogenesis IN VIVO after Transplantation of Cultured Small Bowel Epithelium
Authors: Tait I.S. , Evans G.S. , Kedinger M. , Flint N. , Potten C.S. , Campbell F.C.
Published: November 2017

An experimental model for the primary culture and transplantation of late foetal rat small intestinal epithelium is described. Multicellular aggregates of mucosal epithelium containing pre-crypt proliferative cells were isolated from 20-day foetal rat intestine by enzymatic disaggregation. Cellular aggregates, which we refer to as “epithelial organoids,” attached readily in culture, proliferated, and spread to produce coalescing colonies within 10 days. Enterocytes were maintained in culture for 3 days, removed as cell sheets, and incubated overnight with foetal mesenchyme. Fourteen recombinant preparations were then grafted to the renal subcapsular space of adult nude mice. Four of six grafts retrieved after 1 wk had developed. Histology demonstrated the formation of simple tubular structures lined by a polarized columnar epithelium. At 14 days, two of eight grafts had developed and demonstrated temporal progression of morphogenesis. Histology showed rudimentary crypts and villi lined by different epithelial cell types, including enterocytes and goblet cells. Small bowel proliferative cells within “epithelial organoids” from 20-day foetal intestine, may be maintained in primary culture for up to four days. After short term primary culture, these proliferative cells retain the capacity for progressive organotypic morphogenesis and pluripotent cytodifferentiation, after transplantation to adult recipients.
In Vitro Inhibition of Insulin Release by Blood Mononuclear Cells from Insulin-Dependent Diabetic and Healthy Subjects: Synergistic Action of IL-1 and TNF
Authors: Ablamunits Vitlaly , Baranova Flora , Mandrup-Poulsen Thomas , Nerup Jørn
Published: November 2017

Previous studies have demonstrated that peripheral blood mononuclear cells (BMC) from type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetic patients inhibit insulin release (IR) from rat or mouse islet cells in vitro. This phenomenon is of great interest as a model for islet graft rejection. We found that lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated BMC of healthy donors and type 1 diabetic patients suppress both basal and stimulated insulin secretion. To study whether this inhibition was due to soluble mediators we added supernatants of LPS-stimulated BMC or recombinant human interleukin-1β (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF) at concentrations comparable to those found in the supernatants to rat islet cells. The inhibitory effect of BMC on islet cells could be transferred by supernatants of LPS-stimulated BMC. We found that neither IL-1 nor TNF alone inhibit IR from dispersed adult rat islet cells. However, the combination of IL-1 and TNF was highly effective. Ultrafiltration of supernatants of LPS-stimulated BMC through a PM-10 membrane (10 kDa cutoff) deprived the supernatants of the inhibitory activity indicating that only intact IL-1 and TNF (m.w. about 17 kDa), but not smaller IL-1 and TNF fragments, were responsible for the effects on islet cells. These data suggest that activation of BMC and cytokine release at islet graft site may result in an early loss of graft function. Islet transplantation using microcapsules not permeable for molecules with m.w. > 10 kDa would be preferable.
Synapsin I in Intraocular Hippocampal Transplants during Maturation and Aging: Effects of Brainstem Cografts
Authors: Granholm Ann-Charlotte , Bergman Hanna , Dudek Ellen , Browning Michael
Published: November 2017

The role of target innervation for maintenance of synaptic proteins in the hippocampal formation during aging was investigated. Fetal CA1 tissue and brainstem tissue containing the nucleus locus coeruleus was dissected from albino rats and grafted sequentially into the anterior chamber of the eye of adult rat recipients. Synapsin protein distribution and levels were evaluated by immunohistochemistry and quantitative immunolabeling in single hippocampal grafts or brainstem-hippocampal double grafts at 6,12, or 24 mo postgrafting. The synapsin levels in 6-mo-old single hippocampal transplants were significantly lower than those in situ, and remained at these lower levels at 12 and 24 mo. On the contrary, synapsin levels were close to normal in the hippocampal portion of double grafts in the 6- and the 12-mo-group. However, in the 24-mo-old double transplants the levels had declined significantly, approaching levels seen in single hippocampal grafts. The immunoblot results were supported by morphological observations with synapsin antibodies and immunohistochemistry. The present data demonstrate that hippocampal tissue maintained near normal synapsin levels when grafted together with brainstem tissue, as compared to the lower levels seen in single hippocampal grafts. This normalization of synapsin levels was, however, not seen in the aged hippocampal-brainstem double grafts.
Diminished Expression of Microtubule-Associated Protein (MAP-2) and β-Tubulin as a Putative Marker for Ischemic Injury in Neocortical Transplants
Authors: Rosenstein Jeffrey M.
Published: November 2017

The present study examined the immunoexpression of the neuronal cytoskeletal proteins, MAP-2 and β-tubulin within a timed series of rat fetal neocortical transplants. β-tubulin is a major component of microtubules and MAP-2 regulates the assembly and stability of neuronal microtubules and is a major site for the phosphorylation cAMP dependent protein kinase in neurons. Both proteins are strongly expressed in the soma and dendrites of normal neurons. MAP-2 has been shown to be a sensitive marker for ischemia in neurons and is downregulated in this form of injury. Immunoexpression of both MAP-2 and β-tubulin in grafted cortical neurons was markedly reduced when compared to age-matched or even perinatal specimens at all postoperative times. Dendritic staining was confined to random, thin processes with no laminar patterns and staining within somata was very weak. In some specimens, somatic expression was increased and dendrites were more robustly stained when a portion of the graft was juxtaposed to a fiber tract even though in other regions of the same graft there was very weak immunostaining. The present results corroborate previous studies of cortical transplants indicating an immature structure and metabolism, and it is suggested here that the primary factor is a sublethal form of ischemic injury. Another possibility for the relative paucity of cytoskeletal protein expression could be that transplanted neurons undergo a new developmental scheme (neodevelopment) that is brought about by truncated migration patterns and abnormal synaptic connections.
Does Access to Basic Amenities Influence Health Status? Evidence from a Household Survey in Three States of India
Authors: Chowdhury Samik , Gupta Indrani , Prinja Shankar , Trivedi Mayur
Published: November 2017

Social determinants of health (SDH) are extremely important for a developing country like India that is battling a double burden of disease with exceptionally low levels of resources allocated for the health sector. This article adds to the evidence on the linkages between health status and SDH, with special focus on basic amenities, such as housing, water and sanitation. Based on data collected through a large sample household survey covering eight districts in three states of India, the study reports the status of basic amenities, disease burden and explores a link between the two. The study finds that access to basic amenities does affect the likelihood of a communicable disease in a statistically significant manner. The policy implication is that any successful communicable disease prevention agenda must take into account cross-cutting interventions involving multiple sectors, such as housing, water and sanitation. A sustained focus on these can rein in a lot of avoidable morbidity and mortality. In addition, it also has the potential for direct and indirect cost savings for the individual as well as the state.
An Empirical Re-examination
Authors: Anthony-Orji Onyinye I. , Orji Anthony , Ogbuabor Jonathan E. , Nwosu Emmanuel
Published: November 2017

The current decline in global oil prices and the attendant economic distortions it has caused in many oil-dependent economies, such as Nigeria, have become a cause of concern to researchers and economic managers alike. This research work, therefore, investigates the impact of non-oil export (NOIL) on capital formation and economic growth in Nigeria. It adopts a classical linear macroeconomic model using aggregate data time series from 1980 to 2013. Empirical results from the estimated model show that NOIL has a positive impact on capital formation and economic growth in Nigeria, respectively. However, the level of statistical significance differs between capital formation and economic growth. The study, therefore, recommends that there is a need for diversification of the economy as this will go a long way in boosting the growth of the Nigerian economy. Furthermore, the government should create an enabling environment that will ensure the survival and functioning of the ailing industries in order to diversify the economy. Finally, the problem of infrastructural deficits (water supply, transport system, telecommunication and energy) should be tackled by massive public expenditure and private investment, as this will enhance productivity in the non-oil sectors.
Dynamics of Services Exports in India
Authors: Khurana Richa , Nauriyal D. K.
Published: November 2017

The article examines the dynamics in specialization pattern of comparative advantage in services exports from India for the time period 2004–2013, while drawing a distinction between the pre- and the post-crisis trends. The analysis is based on a modified revealed symmetric comparative advantage index. It also employs the Galtonian regression and the Markovian transition matrices to study the distribution and intra-distribution dynamics of export patterns. The results reveal that India has a strong comparative advantage in modern services mainly business services and computer and information services. The findings suggest a stable but broadening pattern of specialization of India’s services exports. Further, the transition probabilities reveal that the chances of remaining in or switching to a state of comparative disadvantage are more pronounced than being or moving to a state of comparative advantage. Overall services exports exhibit high persistence in both the pre- and post-crisis period pointing towards a low impact of crisis on India’s services exports.

JEL: C14, F14, L80
Book Review: Ranjit Singh Ghuman and Rajeev Sharma (Eds). 2016. Corporate Social Responsibility in India: Quest for Socio-Economic Transformation
Authors: PhD Ketaki Dwivedi,
Published: November 2017

Ranjit Singh Ghuman and Rajeev Sharma (Eds). 2016. Corporate Social Responsibility in India: Quest for Socio-Economic Transformation. Chandigarh: Centre for Research in Rural and Industrial Development, pp. xv+334. ISBN: 978-81-85835-79-9
Developing a School-Based Multitiered Model for Self-Regulation
Authors: Webb M. Brady , Johnson Evelyn S. , Meek Julie , Herzog Brooke , Clohessy Anne B.
Published: November 2017

Self-regulation is the control mechanism that enables a student to manage attention, emotion, behavior, and cognition to engage in goal-directed actions, such as learning. Too often, students at risk for poor school outcomes do not enter school with strongly developed self-regulation skills and have difficulty developing them on their own. Self-regulation skills can be taught and are especially effective when introduced within the school setting. This article describes a school-based model for fostering self-regulation.
Impact of Perceived Risk and Friend Influence on Alcohol and Marijuana Use Among Students
Authors: Merianos Ashley L. , Rosen Brittany L. , Montgomery LaTrice , Barry Adam E. , Smith Matthew Lee
Published: November 2017

We performed a secondary analysis of Adolescent Health Risk Behavior Survey data ( N = 937), examining associations between lifetime alcohol and marijuana use with intrapersonal (i.e., risk perceptions) and interpersonal (e.g., peer approval and behavior) factors. Multinomial and binary logistic regression analyses contend students reporting lifetime alcohol use—compared to students who had never used alcohol or marijuana—perceived lower alcohol risk ( p < .001), higher friend drinking approval ( p < .001), and greater friend drinking ( p = .003). Using both alcohol and marijuana in one’s life was associated with being in public schools ( p = .010), higher grade levels ( p = .001), lower perceived alcohol ( p = .011) and marijuana use risk ( p = .003), higher friend approval of alcohol ( p < .001) and marijuana use ( p < .001), and believed more friends used alcohol ( p < .001). Compared to lifetime alcohol only, perceived friend academic performance decreased the risk of lifetime alcohol and marijuana use ( p = .043). Findings are beneficial to school nurses with students experiencing effects associated with substance use.
Who Is Responsible for the Gender Gap? The Dynamics of Men’s and Women’s Democratic Macropartisanship, 1950–2012
Authors: Ondercin Heather L.
Published: November 2017

I argue the gender gap is a function of men and women changing their partisanship as they seek the best representation of their gendered social identity from the political parties. Specifically, shifts in the parties due to party realignments and shifts in the composition of parties’ congressional delegations have provided individuals with a clearer signal on which to base their partisan attachments. Men and women have responded differently to these signals and developed different political identities over the past seventy years, resulting in the gender gap in partisanship. To test this theory, I have constructed an innovative macro-level dataset of men’s and women’s partisan attachments on a quarterly basis between 1950 and 2012. I use a Seemingly Unrelated Regression framework to estimate patterns of men’s and women’s Democratic macropartisanship and whether particular factors contribute to the gender gap by having different effects on men’s and women’s partisanship. The results are consistent with my theoretical expectations, highlighting how symbolic images shape partisan attachments, and demonstrate the gender gap is a function of changes in both men’s and women’s macropartisanship.
Legal Guidance on When Schools Can Remove Students for Exhibiting Dangerous Behaviors Through Injunctive Relief
Authors: Counts Jennifer , Katsiyannis Antonis , Beard Jenna
Published: November 2017

Violence in schools remains a complex and challenging issue. In this article, we examine schools’ responsibilities in placement and the provision of services for students who have chronically exhibited dangerous behaviors. Multiple court cases have provided schools guidance in evaluating when student removal through injunctive relief for dangerous behavior is warranted. A four-point criterion for informing removal decisions is discussed along with some practical implications for administrators.
Ankaferd Influences mRNA Expression of Iron-Regulated Genes During Iron-Deficiency Anemia
Authors: Gulec Afife , Gulec Sukru
Published: November 2017

Ankaferd Blood Stopper (ABS) comprises a mixture of plants and stops bleeding via forming a protein network by erythroid aggregation. Bleeding causes reduction of iron levels in body. It has been indicated that ABS contains significant amount of iron. Thus, we investigated the biological activity of ABS-derived iron on iron-regulated genes during iron-deficiency anemia (IDA). IDA We selected Caco-2 and HepG2 cell lines as in vitro models of human intestine and liver, respectively. Iron deficiency anemia was induced by deferoxamine. The cells were treated with ferric ammonium citrate (FAC) and ABS. Messenger RNA levels of iron-regulated genes were analyzed by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction to elucidate whether iron in ABS behaved similar to inorganic iron (FAC) during IDA. The results showed that ABS-derived iron influenced transcriptions of iron-regulated marker genes, including divalent metal transporter ( Dmt1), transferrin receptor ( TfR), ankyrin repeat domain 37 ( Ankrd37), and hepcidin ( Hamp) in IDA-induced Caco-2 and HepG2 cells. Our results suggest that when ABS is used to stop tissue bleeding, it might have an ability to reduce levels of IDA.
Factors Influencing the Probability of Clearance and Time to Clearance of Canadian Homicide Cases, 1991-2011
Authors: Pastia Cristina , Davies Garth , Wu Edith
Published: November 2017

Both homicide and clearance rates in Canada have declined significantly over the last few decades. The existing literature predominantly focuses on differentiating between cleared and uncleared cases, with less attention given to circumstances affecting the time taken to solve homicides. To address this gap, data were taken from the Homicide Survey; 11,297 police-reported homicides in Canada between 1991 and 2011 were examined using both Kaplan–Meier survival analysis and Cox regression. Although results showed some notable differences in clearance times among demographic variables, incident characteristics—notably drug or gang involvement—largely overshadowed the effects of victim characteristics.
BRCA1 Expression is an Important Biomarker for Chemosensitivity: Suppression of BRCA1 Increases the Apoptosis via Up-regulation of p53 and p21 during Cisplatin Treatment in Ovarian Cancer Cells
Authors: Horiuchi Akiko , Wang Cuiju , Kikuchi Norihiko , Osada Ryosuke , Nikaido Toshio , Konishi Ikuo
Published: November 2017

BRCA1 is a tumor suppressor which plays a crucial role in the repair of DNA double-strand breaks, and its abnormality is responsible for hereditary ovarian cancer syndrome. It has recently been reported that reduced expression of BRCA1 is also common in sporadic ovarian carcinoma via its promoter hypermethylation, and that ovarian carcinoma patients negative for BRCA1 expression showed favorable prognosis. To address if BRCA1 expression plays a role in the chemotherapeutic response, we analyzed the effect of BRCA1 suppression on the sensitivity to cisplatin and paclitaxel in ovarian cancer cells. Specific siRNA for BRCA1 gene was transfected into 3 ovarian cancer cell lines with various p53 status. Reduced expression of BRCA1 by transfection of BRCA1-siRNA resulted in a 5.3-fold increase in sensitivity to cisplatin in p53-wild A2780 cells, but not in p53-mutated A2780/CDDP and p53-deleted SKOV3 cells. Regarding the sensitivity to paclitaxel, BRCA1 suppression caused no significant changes in all the 3 cell lines. For ionizing radiation sensitivity, BRCA1 suppression also showed a significant higher sensitivity in A2780 cells. Growth curve and cell cycle analyses showed no significant differences between BRCA1-siRNA-transfected A2780 cells and control cells. However, cisplatin treatment under suppression of BRCA1 showed a significantly increased apoptosis along with up-regulation of p53 and p21 in A2780 cells. Accordingly, reduced expression of BRCA1 enhances the cisplatin sensitivity and apoptosis via up-regulation of p53 and p21, but does not affect the paclitaxel sensitivity. Expression of BRCA1 might be an important biomarker for cisplatin resistance in ovarian carcinoma.
Biomarkers in Cervical Cancer
Authors: Yim Eun-Kyoung , Park Jong-Sup
Published: November 2017

Cervical cancer, a potentially preventable disease, remains the second most common malignancy in women worldwide. Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the single most important etiological agent in cervical cancer, contributing to neoplastic progression through the action of viral oncoproteins, mainly E6 and E7. Cervical screening programs using Pap smear testing have dramatically improved cervical cancer incidence and reduced deaths, but cervical cancer still remains a global health burden. The biomarker discovery for accurate detection and diagnosis of cervical carcinoma and its malignant precursors (collectively referred to as high-grade cervical disease) represents one of the current challenges in clinical medicine and cytopathology.
Molecular Epidemiology of Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase–Producing Escherichia coli Pathotypes in Diarrheal Children from Low Socioeconomic Status Communities in Bihar, India: Emergence of the CTX-M Type
Authors: Mandal Abhishek , Sengupta Abhishek , Kumar Ajay , Singh Utpal K , Jaiswal Anil K , Das Pradeep , Das Sushmita
Published: November 2017

Background:

Childhood diarrheal diseases remain highly endemic in India, but the emergence of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli among children with diarrhea in Bihar remains elusive. In this study, we determine and characterize ESBL-producing E coli pathotypes among hospitalized diarrheal preschool children living in low socioeconomic level communities in Bihar, India.

Materials and methods:

The stool samples were collected everyday throughout the year for 2 consecutive years. In our study, we collected stool samples randomly from every fifth patient. Stool samples were collected from a total of 633 randomly selected diarrheal children (age: 0-60 months) belonging to 17 communities and screened for identification of virulent diarrheagenic E coli (DEC) pathotype (viz, enteropathogenic E coli [EPEC], enteroaggregative E coli [EAEC], enterotoxigenic E coli [ETEC], enteroinvasive E coli [EIEC], and enterohemorrhagic E coli [EHEC]) by a multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. Furthermore, ESBLs were screened by conventional antibiotic resistance pattern testing and later characterized for the presence of β-lactamase ( bla) genes by PCR and DNA sequencing.

Results:

Diarrheagenic E coli was detected in 191 cases (30.2%) of the total 633 diarrheic children. Maximum occurrence of DEC was found in ≤12 months age group (72.7%) with prevalence of the EAEC pathotype. Most isolates were resistant to ampicillin, ciprofloxacin, piperacillin, levofloxacin, ceftazidime, cefotaxime, ceftriaxone, and gentamicin, whereas over 96% of them were sensitive to amikacin. About 37.6% of total 191 DEC isolates were ESBL producers (n = 72), being prevalent among ETEC (n = 35; 18.32%), followed by EPEC (n = 21; 10.9%), EAEC (n = 13; 6.8%), and EIEC (n = 3; 1.57%). Interestingly, the commonest β-lactamase was CTX-M type ( blaCTX-M) in 86.1% (n = 62) of the ESBL isolates, followed by blaSHV (n = 49; 68%), blaTEM (n = 37; 51.8%), and blaOXA (n = 21; 29.1%) determinants. Resistance of ESBL isolates was mostly related to ampicillin (100%), ceftriaxone (98.1%), cefotaxime (92.4%), gentamicin (74.1%), and levofloxacin (73.2%), whereas best antimicrobial activities were observed for piperacillin-tazobactam, amikacin, meropenem, and imipenem.

Conclusions:

This study revealed that EAEC (72.1%) is the predominant pathotype in Bihar, significantly high in ≤12 months age group children ( P = .04). Moreover, the widespread prevalence of ESBLs in children, especially the CTX-M type, is of great concern, which requires monitoring of infection control measures through efficient antimicrobial management and detection of ESBL-producing isolates.
miR-486-3p, miR-139-5p, and miR-21 as Biomarkers for the Detection of Oral Tongue Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Chen Zujian , Yu Tianwei , Cabay Robert J. , Jin Yi , Mahjabeen Ishrat , Luan Xianghong , Huang Lei , Dai Yang , Zhou Xiaofeng
Published: November 2017

Oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) is a complex disease with extensive genetic and epigenetic defects, including microRNA deregulation. The aims of the present study were to test the feasibility of performing the microRNA profiling analysis on archived TSCC specimens and to assess the potential diagnostic utility of the identified microRNA biomarkers for the detection of TSCC. TaqMan array-based microRNA profiling analysis was performed on 10 archived TSCC samples and their matching normal tissues. A panel of 12 differentially expressed microRNAs was identified. Eight of these differentially expressed microRNAs were validated in an independent sample set. A random forest (RF) classification model was built with miR-486-3p, miR-139-5p, and miR-21, and it was able to detect TSCC with a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 86.7% (overall error rate = 6.7%). As such, this study demonstrated the utility of the archived clinical specimens for microRNA biomarker discovery. The feasibility of using microRNA biomarkers (miR-486-3p, miR-139-5p, and miR-21) for the detection of TSCC was confirmed.
Regulatory landscapes for biomarkers and diagnostic tests: Qualification, approval, and role in clinical practice
Authors: Mattes William B. , Goodsaid Federico
Published: November 2017

While the term ‘biomarker’ is relatively new, the concept is millennia old. However, with the introduction of new technologies to discover potential biomarkers comes the need to assess their utility and veracity for any given use. This is particularly true for the use of biomarkers to support regulatory decisions in medical product development. Hence the US Food and Drug Administration has developed processes for the qualification of biomarkers and other medical product development tools, processes that are underscored by recent legislation (i.e. the 21st Century Cures Act). In addition to these qualification processes, diagnostic tests that measure a biomarker may follow a process for regulatory decision through the processes that evaluate companion diagnostics. This mini-review provides an overview of these processes and their role in pharmaceutical development and clinical use.

Impact statement

This work summarizes very recent developments in the US FDA’s biomarker qualification program. Furthermore, it contrasts biomarker qualification with companion diagnostic evaluation. As such, it will be highly informative for researches considering taking a biomarker discovery farther along the road to validation.
Design and implementation of a container-based virtual client architecture for interactive digital signage systems
Authors: Park Youngki , Yang Hyunsik , Dinh Thanh , Kim Younghan
Published: November 2017

Interactive digital signage is an important Internet of things application and has been becoming a common type of human–machine interface for multiple users. By integrating with wireless sensor networks, a digital signage system can provide smart features and on-demand contents to users. However, the performance of current interactive digital signage systems depends heavily on the server. An increasingly high number of digital signage clients and sensor devices attached to the system generating a huge amount of traffic flowed to the server may create bottleneck, management and scalability issues at the server, especially in large-scale digital signage systems. In addition, the current system requires application installation and configuration at the client side, thus leading to a high cost and complexity of deployment as well as management. This article proposes and implements a container-based distributed virtual client architecture for interactive digital signage to solve the above issues. In the proposed architecture, a number of digital signage clients and Internet of things devices are virtualized and managed by a container-based middleware. Each container-based middleware is responsible to manage and process data for a cluster of digital signage clients and corresponding Internet of things devices to (1) reduce load to server and improve the service performance and (2) enable lightweight clients to reduce cost and complexity in deployment as well as management. Implementation and obtained analysis results show the advantages of the proposed architecture.
Design of underwater acoustic sensor communication systems based on software-defined networks in big data
Authors: Wang Jianping , Ma Lijuan , Chen Wei
Published: November 2017

The application based on big data is an important development trend of underwater acoustic sensor networks. However, traditional underwater acoustic sensor networks rely on the hardware infrastructure. The flexibility and scalability cannot be satisfied greatly. Due to the low performance of underwater acoustic sensor networks, it creates significant barriers to the implementation of big data. Software-defined network is regarded as a new infrastructure of next-generation network. It offers a novel solution for designing underwater acoustic sensor networks of high performance. In this article, a software-defined network–based solution is proposed to build the architecture of underwater acoustic sensor networks in big data. The design procedures of the data plane and control plane are described in detail. In the data plane, the works include the hardware design of OpenFlow-based virtual switch and the design of the physical layer based on software-defined radio. The hierarchical clustering technology and the node addressing techniques for designing media access control layer are well introduced. In the control plane, exploiting the hardware of the controller and designing the core module of controllers are presented as well. Through the study, it is supposed to maximize the capacity of underwater acoustic sensor networks, reduce the management complexity, and provide critical technical support for the high-performance underwater acoustic sensor networks.
Fluid-structure coupled wave scattering in a flexible duct at the junction of planar discontinuities
Authors: Nawaz Rab , Jan Aasim Ullah , Afzal Muhammad
Published: November 2017

This article applies the mode-matching technique to discuss acoustic scattering of waves in flexible duct/channel at the junction of planar discontinuities. Fields across the junction are expanded in normal modes that involve discontinuities in velocities at the flanged junction. The reflected and transmitted fields are matched at interface wherein the use of generalized orthogonal properties (in case of flexible bounded ducts) enables the mode coefficients in terms of system of infinite linear algebraic equations. This system is truncated and solved numerically. The numerical experiments show that the variation of structural discontinuities along with different bounding surfaces significantly alters the reflected and transmitted powers.