bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
On the Use of Perfect Sequences and Genetic Algorithms for Estimating the Indoor Location of Wireless Sensors
Authors: Ferreira M. , Bagarić J. , Lanza-Gutierrez Jose M. , Priem-Mendes S. , Pereira J. S. , Gomez-Pulido Juan A.
Published: April 2015

Determining the indoor location is usually performed by using several sensors. Some of these sensors are fixed to a known location and either transmit or receive information that allows other sensors to estimate their own locations. The estimation of the location can use information such as the time-of-arrival of the transmitted signals, or the received signal strength, among others. Major problems of indoor location include the interferences caused by the many obstacles in such cases, causing among others the signal multipath problem and the variation of the signal strength due to the many transmission media in the path from the emitter to the receiver. In this paper, the creation and usage of perfect sequences that eliminate the signal multipath problem are presented. It also shows the influence of the positioning of the fixed sensors to the precision of the location estimation. Finally, genetic algorithms were used for searching the optimal location of these fixed sensors, therefore minimizing the location estimation error.
The Role ofα-Synuclein and LRRK2 in Tau Phosphorylation
Authors: Kawakami Fumitaka , Ichikawa Takafumi
Published: April 2015

There is now a considerable body of experimental evidence that Parkinson’s disease arises through physiological interaction of causative molecules, leading to tau pathology. In this review, we discuss the physiological role ofα-synuclein and LRRK2 in the abnormal phosphorylation of tau. In addition, as recent reports have indicated that heat shock proteins- (HSPs-) inducing drugs can help to ameliorate neurodegenerative diseases associated with tau pathology, we also discuss therapeutic strategies for PD focusing on inhibition ofα-synuclein- and LRRK2-associated tau phosphorylation by HSPs.
Donor-Derived Myeloid Sarcoma in Two Kidney Transplant Recipients from a Single Donor
Authors: Palanisamy Amudha , Persad Paul , Koty Patrick P. , Douglas Laurie L. , Stratta Robert J. , Rogers Jeffrey , Reeves-Daniel Amber M. , Orlando Giuseppe , Farney Alan C. , Beaty Michael W. , Pettenati Mark J. , Iskandar Samy S. , Grier David D. , Kaczmorski Scott A. , Doares William H. , Gautreaux Michael D. , Freedman Barry I. , Powell Bayard L.
Published: April 2015

We report the rare occurrence of donor-derived myeloid sarcoma in two kidney transplant patients who received organs from a single deceased donor. There was no evidence of preexisting hematologic malignancy in the donor at the time of organ recovery. Both recipients developed leukemic involvement that appeared to be limited to the transplanted organ. Fluorescencein situhybridization (FISH) and molecular genotyping analyses confirmed that the malignant cells were of donor origin in each patient. Allograft nephrectomy and immediate withdrawal of immunosuppression were performed in both cases; systemic chemotherapy was subsequently administered to one patient. Both recipients were in remission at least one year following the diagnosis of donor-derived myeloid sarcoma. These cases suggest that restoration of the immune system after withdrawal of immunosuppressive therapy and allograft nephrectomy may be sufficient to control HLA-mismatched donor-derived myeloid sarcoma without systemic involvement.
Wire in the Heart: Fracture and Fragment Embolization of Retrievable Inferior Vena Cava Filter into the Right Ventricle
Authors: Thakur Kshitij , Dhawan Naveen , Winchester Chia , Singh Amandeep , Bodukam Vijay , Bahl Jaya
Published: April 2015

We report a case of a 58-year-old female who was found to have a fractured limb of her IVC filter in her right ventricle during a cardiac catheterization. A 25 mm radioopaque thin linear structure was seen in the proximal portion of the right ventricle. It was fixed and did not migrate or change position during investigations. On fluoroscopy, the IVC filter was observed in an appropriate location in the midabdomen. Yet, fractures of at least two of the metal filamentous legs of the IVC device were noticed. The patient was made aware of the many risks associated with filter removal. Due to the high risks of the procedure, she refused surgery and the filter fragment was not removed. We present this case to underscore the potential complications of IVC filters.
Enhancing Phenolic Contents and Antioxidant Potentials ofAntidesma thwaitesianumby Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Extraction
Authors: Poontawee Warut , Natakankitkul Surapol , Wongmekiat Orawan
Published: April 2015

Supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) has increasingly gained attention as an alternative technique for extraction of natural products without leaving toxic residues in extracts.Antidesma thwaitesianumMuell. Arg. (Phyllanthaceae), or ma mao, has been reported to exhibit antioxidant health benefits due to its phenolic constituents. To determine whether SFE technique could impact on phenolic contents and associated antioxidant potentials, ripe fruits ofAntidesma thwaitesianum(Phyllanthaceae) were extracted using supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2) and conventional solvents (ethanol, water). The results showed that the SC-CO2extract contained significantly higher yield, total phenolic, flavonoid, and proanthocyanidin contents than those obtained from ethanol and water. It also demonstrated the greatest antioxidant activities as assessed by ABTS radical cation decolorization, DPPH radical scavenging, and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. Further analysis using high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array and mass spectrometry detectors (HPLC-DAD/MSD) revealed the presence of catechin as a major phenolic compound ofAntidesma thwaitesianum(Phyllanthaceae), with the maximum amount detected in the SC-CO2extract. These data indicate that SFE technology improves both quantity and quality ofAntidesma thwaitesianumfruit extract. The findings added more reliability of using this technique to produce high added value products from this medicinal plant.
Jugular Vein Insufficiency and Choroidal Neovascularization in Moderate Myopia: A New Unknown Factor of Additional Risk?
Authors: Farina Massimiliano , Ratti Cristiano , Novelli Eugenio
Published: April 2015

To date, choroidal blood flow reduction in highly myopic eyes appears to be related to the development of choroidal neovascularization secondary to local reduction of arterial flow. Instead, no evidence of choroidal neovascularization was found in subjects with low or moderate myopia. The authors’ aim has been to encourage new studies regarding the potential role of chronic retinal venous congestion in the pathogenesis of choroidal neovascularization. In December 2011, a 54-year-old woman with moderate bilateral myopia had a sudden block upon swallowing while she was eating. Subsequently (January 2013) metamorphopsia in the left eye revealed macular degeneration with choroidal neovascularization. The related echo-color Doppler study of the neck veins, performed in November 2014, showed an atypical left jugular insufficiency associated with homolateral hypertension of the superior ophthalmic veins. This singular case highlights the necessity to further investigate the potential role of chronic alterations of intra- and extracranial venous drainage in the disruption of choroidal flow in myopic patients.
IL13 Receptor α2 Signaling Requires a Scaffold Protein, FAM120A, to Activate the FAK and PI3K Pathways in Colon Cancer Metastasis
Authors: Bartolomé Rubén A. , García-Palmero Irene , Torres Sofía , López-Lucendo María , Balyasnikova Irina V. , Casal J. Ignacio
Published: April 2015

IL13 signaling through its receptor IL13Rα2 plays a critical role in colon cancer invasion and liver metastasis, but the mechanistic features of this process are obscure. In this study, we identified a scaffold protein, FAM120A (C9ORF10), as a signaling partner in this process. FAM120A was overexpressed in human colon cancer cell lines and 55% of human colon cancer specimens. IL13Rα2-FAM120A coimmunoprecipitation experiments revealed further signaling network associations that could regulate the activity of IL13Rα2, including FAK, SRC, PI3K, G-protein–coupled receptors, and TRAIL receptors. In addition, FAM120A associated with kinesins and motor proteins involved in cargo movement along microtubules. IL13Rα2-triggered activation of the FAK and PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathways was mediated by FAM120A, which also recruited PI3K and functioned as a scaffold protein to enable phosphorylation and activation of PI3K by Src family kinases. FAM120A silencing abolished IL13-induced cell migration, invasion, and survival. Finally, antibody blockade of IL13Rα2 or FAM120A silencing precluded liver colonization in nude mice or metastasis. In conclusion, we identified FAM120A in the IL13/IL13Rα2 signaling pathway as a key mediator of invasion and liver metastasis in colon cancer. Cancer Res; 75(12); 2434–44. ©2015 AACR.
Mitochondrial DNA Content as Risk Factor for Bladder Cancer and Its Association with Mitochondrial DNA Polymorphisms
Authors: Williams Stephen B. , Ye Yuanqing , Huang Maosheng , Chang David W. , Kamat Ashish M. , Pu Xia , Dinney Colin P. , Wu Xifeng
Published: April 2015

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) content has been shown to be associated with cancer susceptibility. We identified 926 bladder cancer patients and compared these with 926 healthy controls frequency matched on age, gender, and ethnicity. Patients diagnosed with bladder cancer had significantly decreased mtDNA content when compared with control subjects (median, 0.98 vs. 1.04, P < 0.001). Low mtDNA content (i.e., less than the median in control subjects) was associated with a statistically significant increased risk of bladder cancer, when compared with high mtDNA content [Odds ratio (OR), 1.37; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.13–1.66; P < 0.001). In a trend analysis, a statistically significant dose–response relationship was detected between lower mtDNA content and increasing risk of bladder cancer (Ptrend <0.001). When stratified by host characteristics, advanced age (>65 years), male sex and positive smoking history were significantly associated with low mtDNA content and increased risk of bladder cancer. We identified two unique mtDNA polymorphisms significantly associated with risk of bladder cancer: mitot10464c (OR, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.00–1.93; P = 0.048) and mitoa4918g (OR, 1.40; 95% CI, 1.00–1.95; P = 0.049). Analysis of the joint effect of low mtDNA content and unfavorable mtDNA polymorphisms revealed a 2.5-fold increased risk of bladder cancer (OR, 2.50; 95% CI, 1.60–3.94; P < 0.001). Significant interaction was observed between mitoa4918g and mtDNA content (Pinteraction = 0.028). Low mtDNA content was associated with increased risk of bladder cancer and we identified new susceptibility mtDNA alleles associated with increased risk that require further investigation into the biologic underpinnings of bladder carcinogenesis. Cancer Prev Res; 8(7); 607–13. ©2015 AACR.
Tonsillectomy and Risk of Oropharyngeal Cancer: Implications for Research and Prevention
Authors: Chaturvedi Anil K.
Published: April 2015

The association of tonsillectomy, a common surgical procedure involving the removal of a majority of the palatine tonsillar tissue, with risk of tonsil cancer specifically or oropharyngeal cancers overall is not known. In this issue of Cancer Prevention Research, Fakhry and colleagues conduct an analysis within the Danish Cancer Registry and show that tonsillectomies were associated with significantly reduced risk of tonsil cancer, but were unrelated to risk of base of tongue cancers. This editorial discusses the implications of the results by Fakhry and colleagues for key prevailing questions in the field related to risk, rising incidence, secondary prevention, and treatment of oropharyngeal cancers. Cancer Prev Res; 8(7); 577–9. ©2015 AACR.

See related article by Fakhry et al., p. 583
State of the Art in the Treatment of Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors
Authors: Garlipp Benjamin , Bruns Christiane J.
Published: April 2015

Background: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are the most frequently diagnosed mesenchymal neoplasms of the gastrointestinal tract. Despite their biological and clinical heterogeneity, the majority of these tumors are positive for the receptor tyrosine kinase KIT and are driven by KIT- or platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRA)-activating mutations. There are still uncertainties regarding their clinical and molecular characterization and the optimal treatment regimens, making it difficult to establish a universal treatment algorithm for these tumors. Summary: From a clinical perspective, the main difference between GISTs and other gastrointestinal neoplasms is that the benign or malignant behavior of GISTs cannot be predicted from histopathology, but instead relies on empirically established scoring systems. Clinical data suggest that malignant potential may be an inherent quality of some GISTs rather than a feature acquired by the tumor during disease progression. Thus, some patients may require prolonged anti-tumor treatment even after complete surgical removal of the tumor. Key Message: Although GISTs are the most frequently occurring mesenchymal neoplasms in the gastrointestinal tract, no universal treatment algorithms exist. This paper reviews the current evidence that guides the management of GISTs. Practical Implications: The management of localized GISTs involves the use of surgical resection, with the inclusion of preoperative tyrosine kinase inhibitor treatment for locally advanced, primarily unresectable tumors and for resectable cases requiring extensive surgery. Imatinib is also indicated as adjuvant therapy after complete surgical removal of GISTs with a high estimated risk of recurrence unless specific mutations conferring imatinib resistance are present. The optimal duration of adjuvant treatment is still controversial. For patients with metastatic imatinib-sensitive GISTs, imatinib constitutes the first-line standard treatment. Molecular characterization of the tumor (with respect to the PDGFRA and KIT genes) is mandatory prior to imatinib therapy. Sunitinib and regorafenib are established as alternative treatments for patients demonstrating generalized disease progression on imatinib. New tyrosine kinase inhibitors such as ponatinib and crenolanib as well as drugs targeting alternative pathways are currently under investigation. Surgery and locally ablative treatments may be indicated in some metastatic patients.
Outcome of Recipients of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplants Who Require Intensive Care Unit Support: A Single Institution Experience
Authors: Galindo-Becerra Samantha , Labastida-Mercado Nancy , Rosales-Padrón Jaime , García-Chavez Jessica , Soto-Vega Elena , Rivadeneyra-Espinoza Liliana , León-Peña Andres A. , Fernández-Lara Danitza , Dominguez-Cid Monica , Anthon-Méndez Javier , Arizpe-Bravo Daniel , Ruiz-Delgado Guillermo J. , Ruiz-Argüelles Guillermo J.
Published: April 2015

Admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) of a patient who has been grafted with hematopoietic stem cells is a serious event, but the role of the ICU in this setting remains controversial. Data were analyzed from patients who underwent autologous or allogeneic bone marrow transplantation at the Centro de Hematología y Medicina Interna de Puebla, México, between May 1993 and October 2014. In total, 339 patients were grafted: 150 autografts and 189 allografts; 68 of the grafted patients (20%) were admitted to the ICU after transplantation: 27% of the allografted and 11% of the autografted patients (p = 0.2). Two of 17 autografted patients (12%) and 5 of 51 allografted patients (10%) survived. All patients who required insertion of an endotracheal tube died, whereas 7 of 11 patients without invasive mechanical ventilation survived (p = 0.001). Only 10% of the grafted patients survived their stay in the ICU; this figure is lower than those reported from other centers and may reflect several facts, varying from the quality of the ICU support to ICU admission criteria to the initial management of all the grafts in an outpatient setting, which could somehow delay the arrival of patients to the hospital.
Integrated Metabolomics and Genomics
Authors: Shah Svati H. , Newgard Christopher B.
Published: April 2015

The genetic architecture underlying the heritability of cardiovascular disease is incompletely understood. Metabolomics is an emerging technology platform that has shown early success in identifying biomarkers and mechanisms of common chronic diseases. Integration of metabolomics, genetics, and other omics platforms in a systems biology approach holds potential for elucidating novel genetic markers and mechanisms for cardiovascular disease. We review important studies that have used metabolomic profiling in cardiometabolic diseases, approaches for integrating metabolomics with genetics and other molecular profiling platforms, and key studies showing the potential for such studies in deciphering cardiovascular disease genetics, biomarkers, and mechanisms.
Nitric Oxide Decreases the Permselectivity of the Paracellular Pathway in Thick Ascending Limbs
Authors: Monzon Casandra M. , Garvin Jeffrey L.
Published: April 2015

Thick ascending limbs reabsorb 25% to 30% of the filtered NaCl. About 50% to 70% is reabsorbed via the transcellular pathway and 30% to 50% is reabsorbed through the Na-selective paracellular pathway. Nitric oxide (NO) inhibits transepithelial Na reabsorption, but its effects on the paracellular pathway are unknown. We hypothesized that NO decreases the selectivity of the paracellular pathway in thick ascending limbs via cGMP-dependent protein kinase. To assess relative Na/Cl permeability ratios (P
Na
/P
Cl
), we perfused rat thick ascending limbs and measured the effect of reducing bath NaCl on transepithelial voltage, creating dilution potentials, with vehicle, NO donors, and endogenous NO. P
Na
/P
Cl
was calculated using the Goldman–Hodgkin–Katz equation. Reducing bath Na/Cl to 16/8, 32/24, and 64/56 mmol/L created dilution potentials of −13.6±2.2, −10.8±3.0, and −6.1±0.9 mV, respectively. Calculated P
Na
/P
Cl
s were 2.0±0.2, 2.2±0.5, and 1.9±0.2. The NO donor spermine NONOate (200 µmol/L) blunted the dilution potential caused by 32/24 mmol/L Na/Cl from −11.1±2.1 to −6.5±1.6 mV (
P
<0.004) and P
Na
/P
Cl
from 2.2±0.4 to 1.5±0.2. Nitroglycerin (200 µmol/L), another NO donor, also reduced P
Na
/P
Cl
. Controls showed no significant changes. Dibutyryl-cGMP decreased dilution potentials from −13.4±2.9 to −7.5±1.8 mV (n=6;
P
<0.01). cGMP-dependent protein kinase inhibition with KT5823 (4 µmol/L) blocked the effect of spermine NONOate, whereas phosphodiesterase 2 inhibition did not. Endogenously produced NO mimicked the effect of the NO donors. In conclusion, NO reduces the selectivity of the paracellular pathway in thick ascending limbs via cGMP and cGMP-dependent protein kinase.
The Gates Cosmology of the Astronomical Book of Enoch
Authors: Ratzon Eshbal
Published: April 2015

This paper finds a parallel to the division of each Babylonian zodiacal sign into 30 degrees in the Enochic cosmology. In particular a new explanation of the rare Aramaic word חרתיה in 4Q209 (4Q209 7iii 1–2, 6) from the Aramaic Astronomical Book is offered as describing heavenly openings on the horizon for the daily rising and setting of the sun. These openings were smaller parts of each one of the twelve gates compared previously by scholars to the zodiacal signs. It seems plausible that the description of the daily openings appeared four times in the account of every year at the end of each season. The addition of these four days can be seen as part of the author’s polemic against the Mesopotamian 360-day year. An implication of the repetition of the sentence in 4Q209 8 3–4 is that this scroll was probably longer than previously assumed and included a triennial cycle synchronizing lunar and solar years.
Mayflies of the Caucasus Mountains. III. A new representative of the subgenus Rhodobaetis Jacob, 2003 (Baetidae: Baetis) from the South-Western Caucasus
Authors: GODUNKO ROMAN J. , PALATOV DMITRY M. , MARTYNOV ALEXANDER V.
Published: April 2015

A new species of the subgenus Rhodobaetis Jacob, 2003, namely Baetis (Rhodobaetis) vadimi sp. nov., is described based on immature larvae from several localities in Georgia and Turkey. It is the ninth species of the subgenus for Transcaucasia, following six species formally recorded from Turkey and two endemic species described from the Central Caucasus.         Larval characters are investigated and illustrated by means of scanning electron microscopy, and discussed in details. The differential diagnosis of this species is provided with regard to other representatives of the subgenus considering the feature set common for Rhodobaetis. The new species can be distinguished from its relatives (species which lack stout setae on the gills’ margins), mainly by some characters of mouthparts (particularly labium), the shape and arrangement of stout setae and scales on the body surface, as well as the lack of subapical tiny setae on tarsal claw, and presence of numerous marginal spines and semilunar scale bases on the paraproct plate.
A new species of Hemigrammus Gill, 1858 (Characiformes: Characidae) from the central and western Amazon and rio Paraná-Paraguai basins
Authors: Ota Rafaela P. , Lima Flávio C. T. , Pavanelli Carla S.
Published: April 2015

A new species of Hemigrammus is described from the middle rio Solimões/Amazonas and tributaries, upper and middle rio Madeira, and rio Paraná-Paraguai basins in Brazil and Paraguay. The new species is most similar among congeners with Hemigrammus marginatus, with which it shares similar caudal-fin pigmentation pattern. The new species can be distinguished from Hemigrammus marginatus by possessing two conspicuous dark patches of pigmentation on caudal fin, occupying most of caudal-fin lobes, except the tips, by having two dark narrow stripes along anal-fin base, and by possessing 5–8 pored lateral line scales. The new species differs from Hyphessobrycon diancistrus, which is similar in color pattern and general body shape, by the presence of small scales on caudal-fin lobes, occupying approximately its basal third, by the presence of two narrow stripes along anal fin base, and by the absence of bony hooks on analfin in mature males. The occurrence of the new species in both Amazon and rio Paraná-Paraguai basins is discussed in order to clarify and expand recent discussions on the biogeographical relationships between both river systems.
Bayesian Echo Classification for Australian Single-Polarization Weather Radar with Application to Assimilation of Radial Velocity Observations
Authors: Rennie S. J. , Curtis M. , Peter J. , Seed A. W. , Steinle P. J. , Wen G.
Published: April 2015

The Australian Bureau of Meteorology’s operational weather radar network comprises a heterogeneous radar collection covering diverse geography and climate. A naïve Bayes classifier has been developed to identify a range of common echo types observed with these radars. The success of the classifier has been evaluated against its training dataset and by routine monitoring. The training data indicate that more than 90% of precipitation may be identified correctly. The echo types most difficult to distinguish from rainfall are smoke, chaff, and anomalous propagation ground and sea clutter. Their impact depends on their climatological frequency. Small quantities of frequently misclassified persistent echo (like permanent ground clutter or insects) can also cause quality control issues. The Bayes classifier is demonstrated to perform better than a simple threshold method, particularly for reducing misclassification of clutter as precipitation. However, the result depends on finding a balance between excluding precipitation and including erroneous echo. Unlike many single-polarization classifiers that are only intended to extract precipitation echo, the Bayes classifier also discriminates types of nonprecipitation echo. Therefore, the classifier provides the means to utilize clear air echo for applications like data assimilation, and the class information will permit separate data handling of different echo types.
How to read Bonhoeffer’s peace statements: Or, Bonhoeffer was a Lutheran and not an Anabaptist
Authors: DeJonge Michael
Published: April 2015

Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s strong statements in support of peace have encouraged Stanley Hauerwas and other interpreters to read him, explicitly or implicitly, as participating in the theological tradition of the peace churches. This paper argues that this reading misinterprets Bonhoeffer’s peace statements, which ought to be interpreted in the context of the Lutheran theological tradition with which Bonhoeffer identified. In fact, this misinterpretation of Bonhoeffer’s peace statements is one that he himself worked hard to avoid by carefully distinguishing his own position on peace from what he understood as that of the Anabaptists.
No Aladdin’s Cave in New South Wales? Local Government Amalgamation, Scale Economies, and Data Envelopment Analysis Specification
Authors: Drew Joseph , Kortt Michael A. , Dollery Brian
Published: April 2015

Local government structural reform programs are often based on the purported benefits of increased scale. We examine this question in relation to the proposed amalgamation program for New South Wales (NSW) by the NSW Independent Local Government Review Panel using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). We find evidence that a significant proportion of municipalities scheduled for amalgamation already exceed optimal scale and that the great majority of “amalgamated” entities will initially exhibit decreasing returns to scale. Our findings thus stand in stark contrast to the Independent Local Government Review Panel (ILGRP) contention that municipal mergers are the optimal approach to capturing economies of scale in NSW local government.
The determinants of work autonomy and employee involvement: A multilevel analysis
Authors: Lopes Helena , Calapez Teresa , Lopes Diniz
Published: April 2015

Although the effects of work autonomy (WA) and employee involvement (EI) have been largely studied, their determinants, especially at the macro/institutional level, have attracted much less attention. To better understand (a) the extent to which WA and EI are distinct constructs and (b) the factors that explain their respective levels, this article uses the 2010 European Working Conditions Survey to build sound indexes of WA and EI, provide a picture of the level of both constructs in 33 European countries and analyse their predictors through a multilevel structural model. The results show that WA and EI differ in what concerns their macro-level but not micro-level predictors. Whereas union density and generalized trust strongly influence EI, only generalized trust impacts WA. Documenting that generalized trust as a macro-social trait is powerfully associated with organizational choices is a key contribution of the article.
Validation of the Society of Critical Care Medicine and American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition Recommendations for Caloric Provision to Critically Ill Obese Patients
Authors: Mogensen Kris M. , Andrew Benjamin Y. , Corona Jasmine C. , Robinson Malcolm K.
Published: April 2015

Background:The Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) and American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN) recommend that obese, critically ill patients receive 11–14 kcal/kg/d using actual body weight (ABW) or 22–25 kcal/kg/d using ideal body weight (IBW), because feeding these patients 50%‐70% maintenance needs while administering high protein may improve outcomes. It is unknown whether these equations achieve this target when validated against indirect calorimetry, perform equally across all degrees of obesity, or compare well with other equations. Methods: Measured resting energy expenditure (MREE) was determined in obese (body mass index [BMI] ≥30 kg/m2), critically ill patients. Resting energy expenditure was predicted (PREE) using several equations: 12.5 kcal/kg ABW (ASPEN‐Actual BW), 23.5 kcal/kg IBW (ASPEN‐Ideal BW), Harris‐Benedict (adjusted‐weight and 1.5 stress‐factor), and Ireton‐Jones for obesity. Correlation of PREE to 65% MREE, predictive accuracy, precision, bias, and large error incidence were calculated. Results: All equations were significantly correlated with 65% MREE but had poor predictive accuracy, had excessive large error incidence, were imprecise, and were biased in the entire cohort (N = 31). In the obesity cohort (n = 20, BMI 30–50 kg/m2), ASPEN‐Actual BW had acceptable predictive accuracy and large error incidence, was unbiased, and was nearly precise. In super obesity (n = 11, BMI >50 kg/m2), ASPEN‐Ideal BW had acceptable predictive accuracy and large error incidence and was precise and unbiased. Conclusions: SCCM/ASPEN‐recommended body weight equations are reasonable predictors of 65% MREE depending on the equation and degree of obesity. Assuming that feeding 65% MREE is appropriate, this study suggests that patients with a BMI 30–50 kg/m2 should receive 11–14 kcal/kg/d using ABW and those with a BMI >50 kg/m2 should receive 22–25 kcal/kg/d using IBW.
Medication‐Related Expenditures by Individuals with Allergic Rhinitis in Nigeria
Authors: Adebola Stephen Oluwatosin , Sogebi Olusola Ayodele , Adebola Oyebola Eyitayo , Oyinloye Isaac Femi , Oguntoye Michael Sunday
Published: April 2015

Objective

To assess the medication‐related expenditures in individuals with allergic rhinitis (AR) and identify contributory factors that affect these expenditures.

Study Design

Cross‐sectional study from August 2013 to January 2014.

Setting

Kwara state has 16 local government areas, a total land mass of 36,825 km2, and a population of 2,591,555.

Subjects and Methods

Of the 308 adult subjects, 66 had AR using the Score for Allergic Rhinitis (SFAR). Information on medication‐related expenditure and associated factors in AR was obtained using a structured questionnaire. Descriptive and comparative analyses between AR and non‐AR subjects were performed using an independent‐sample t test and χ2 test. Factors associated with cost of care were assessed using logistic regression analysis.

Results

The AR crude prevalence rate was 21.4%. Of the subjects, the mean ± SD age was 37.6 ± 10.0 years, and 87.9% were married, 72.7% were self‐employed, and 69.7% were in the low socioeconomic class. In total, 69.7% had intermittent symptoms, while 66.7% had a positive family history of allergy. Polypharmacy care was employed in 76.1%, and 30.3% had comorbidity with asthma. The mean monthly income was 842 US dollars (USD), while the mean monthly cost of care was 81 USD, constituting 9.6% of mean monthly income. All payments were through out‐of‐pocket‐expenses. Factors associated with convenience of cost of care were positive family history (odds ratio [OR], 7.93; P =. 021) and presence of intermittent symptoms (OR, 9.36; P =. 013).

Conclusion

The medication‐related expenditure of AR is burdensome with an average expenditure of almost 10% of monthly income.
Animal geographies III
Authors: Buller Henry
Published: April 2015

There is no animal geography without ethics. The very coupling of the words gives rise to an ethical endeavour; an acceptance that animals have a geography, a making visible of animals within our human geography and scholarship, an acknowledgement that our relationship with animals has consequences. For some, this ethical endeavour extends to politics and includes engaged activism or to individual commitment such as not to eat meat, not to ‘own’ a pet, not to visit zoos and so on. This is a personal choice but, at a broader level, animal geography, in recognizing animals as co-respondent subjects, gives them a moral placing within the academy that, arguably, they rarely enjoyed before. This final report considers the contribution of animal geography and animal geographers to a more informed ethics of human-animal relations, one that increasingly confounds an over-simplistic view of animals as merely moral patients to suggest an ethics which guides a broader, more inclusive moral community.
Improved poly(d,l-lactide-co-1,3-trimethylene carbonate)6 copolymer microparticle vehicles for sustained and controlled delivery of bioactive basic fibroblast growth factor
Authors: Gao Mingyong , Zeng Chenguang , Zhu Aiping , Tao Haiyin , Yang Liu , Quan Daping
Published: April 2015

A novel, biocompatible and biodegradable six-arm branched copolymer poly(d,l-lactide)-co-(1,3-trimethylene carbonate)6 has been synthesized and fabricated as a porous microparticle with an oil-in-water single emulsion method. Poly(d,l-lactide-co-1,3-trimethylene carbonate)6 microparticles were further conjugated with heparin by 1-ethyl-3-3-dimethylamino-propylcarbodiimide/ N-hydroxysuccinimide chemistry and characterized using 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance and scanning electron microscopy. The heparin-loading capacity of poly(d,l-lactide-co-1,3-trimethylene carbonate)6 microparticles was identified as 213 ± 6 pmol/mg-particle determined with toluidine blue method. The resultant binding efficiency and release profile of basic fibroblast growth factor which is bound on heparin–poly(d,l-lactide-co-1,3-trimethylene carbonate)6 microparticles were quantitatively analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Thus, the developed poly(d,l-lactide-co-1,3-trimethylene carbonate)6 porous microparticles presented superior capacity of growth factor cargo as 1965 ± 117 pg basic fibroblast growth factor per mg-microparticles and displayed a sustained release profile over 4 weeks with quite low initial burst. Additionally, the viability of dissociated basic fibroblast growth factor was confirmed with methylthiazolyltetrazolium quantitative assay along with in vitro culturing model of rodent neural stem cell. Collectively, our results demonstrate that heparin–poly(d,l-lactide-co-1,3-trimethylene carbonate)6 microparticles attained controllable and sustained delivery of bioactive basic fibroblast growth factor for 4 weeks with significantly reduced burst release. The present heparin–poly(d,l-lactide-co-1,3-trimethylene carbonate)6 porous microparticulate system could be potentially developed to foster a novel bioengineering platform for repair and regeneration of injured nervous system.
Timing and Determinants of the Introduction of Complementary Foods in Kuwait
Authors: Scott Jane A. , Dashti Manal , Al-Sughayer Mona , Edwards Christine A.
Published: April 2015

Background:

The early introduction of complementary foods is common in Middle Eastern countries but little is known about the determinants of this practice in this region.

Objectives:

This prospective cohort study conducted from October 2007 to October 2008 investigated the determinants of the very early (before 17 weeks) introduction of complementary foods in Kuwait and compared rates of this practice against rates reported in the mid-1990s.

Methods:

A total of 373 women were recruited from maternity hospitals in Kuwait City and followed to 26 weeks postpartum. Data on complementary feeding practices were available from 303 women. Multivariate logistic regression was used to estimate the association of very early introduction of complementary foods with infant sex and maternal characteristics including age, years of education, employment intentions at 6 months postpartum, parity, prepregnancy body mass index, and prepregnancy smoking status.

Results:

All infants had received complementary foods by 26 weeks of age, with 30.4% receiving complementary foods before 17 weeks of age. Women born in other Arabic countries were less likely to introduce complementary foods before 17 weeks (adjusted odds ratio [adj OR] = 0.40; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.22-0.73) than women born in Kuwait. Women who were exclusively formula feeding at 6 weeks postpartum were less likely to introduce complementary foods before 17 weeks (adj OR = 0.40; 95% CI, 0.23-0.71) than women who were still breastfeeding.

Conclusion:

Compared to the mid-1990s, fewer infants in Kuwait were receiving complementary foods before 17 weeks. Nevertheless, all infants had received complementary foods by 6 months of age.
“This Isn’t Just Another Gay Group”: Privileging Heterosexuality in a Mixed-Sexuality LGBTQ Advocacy Group
Authors: Mathers Lain A. B. , Sumerau J. Edward , Ueno Koji
Published: April 2015

This paper examines how members of a southeastern LGBTQ advocacy group privileged heterosexuality through group interactions. Based on twelve months of fieldwork, we analyze how LGBTQ members and their heterosexual allies traded power for (heterosexual) patronage by (1) heterosexualizing their group, (2) sanctifying allies, and (3) privileging parenthood. In so doing, all the members, regardless of their intentions, ultimately reproduced societal patterns of sexual inequality within the context of their group. In conclusion, we draw out implications for understanding (1) the ways LGBTQ people and their heterosexual allies negotiate heterosexual privilege, (2) the ways they construct the meaning and status of heterosexual allies, and (3) some ways dominant groups’ affiliation with subordinate groups may inadvertently facilitate processes of inequality reproduction.
Calvinists among the Virtues: Reformed Theological Contributions to Contemporary Virtue Ethics
Authors: Vos Pieter
Published: April 2015

Since virtue and the virtues have been important in Reformed theology for most of its history, this essay is devoted to the question of how this tradition may contribute to and interact with contemporary virtue ethics (MacIntyre, Hauerwas). Reformed concepts of sanctification as open to moral growth, covenant as a narrative context of divine commandments, and unio cum Christo as defining human teleology and virtuousness provide valuable contributions to the development of such an ethics. On the other hand, Reformed conceptions of (social) reform, natural law, common grace (Calvin) and christological eschatology (Barth) offer theological arguments for overcoming Hauerwas’s problematic overemphasis on the distinctiveness of the church’s ethic.
Dynamic response of cracked Timoshenko beams on elastic foundations under moving harmonic loads
Authors: Attar M , Karrech A , Regenauer-Lieb K
Published: April 2015

A thorough understanding of the dynamic behavior of one-dimensional structural members such as beams plays a crucial role in specialized disciplines including ocean, bridge and railway engineering. The vibratory response of an in-service beam-like component may deviate from that expected from the intact structure when defects are present. In this work, we present a semi-analytical approach to predict the forced response of a multi-cracked Timoshenko beam traversed by a moving harmonic load with constant speed. The beam is fully or partially supported by the viscoelastic foundation, where the normal stiffness and shear modulus of the subgrade are considered. The effects of transverse open cracks are modeled by massless rotational springs with a linear moment-rotation constitutive law to account for the local flexibility induced by the damage. Based on the transfer matrix method, the defective structure is treated as an assembly of sub-beams to derive the eigenvalue solution of the system. The time response is then obtained by utilizing identical generalized coordinates for lateral and rotational displacement components when applying the modal expansion technique. The use of general elastic end constraints allows us to recover all possible boundary conditions. Numerical examples are also provided to demonstrate the robustness and accuracy of the proposed method, and also to investigate the influence of important parameters on the dynamic behavior of the damaged structure.
Alterations in the Ventral Attention Network During the Stop-Signal Task in Children With ADHD: An Event-Related Potential Source Imaging Study
Authors: Janssen Tieme W. P. , Heslenfeld Dirk J. , van Mourik Rosa , Geladé Katleen , Maras Athanasios , Oosterlaan Jaap
Published: April 2015

Objective: Deficits in response inhibition figure prominently in models of ADHD; however, attentional deficiencies may better explain previous findings of impaired response inhibition in ADHD. We tested this hypothesis at the neurophysiological level. Method: Dense array ERPs (event-related potentials) were obtained for 46 children with ADHD and 51 controls using the stop-signal task (SST). Early and late components were compared between groups. N2 and P3 components were localized with LAURA distributed linear inverse solution. Results: A success-related N1 modulation was only apparent in the ADHD group. N2 and P3 amplitudes were reduced in ADHD. During the successful inhibition N2, the ADHD group showed reduced activation in right inferior frontal gyrus (rIFG), supplementary motor area (SMA), and right temporoparietal junction (rTPJ), and during failed inhibition in the rIFG. During the successful inhibition P3, reduced activation was found in anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and SMA. Conclusion: Impairments in the ventral attention network contribute to the psychopathology of ADHD and challenge the dominant view that ADHD is underpinned by impaired inhibitory control.
Tele-Ophthalmology for the Treatment in Primary Care of Disorders in the Anterior Part of the Eye
Authors: Blomdahl Sven , Marén Nils , Lof Rolf
Published: April 2015

Desktop videoconferencing at 384 kbit/s was used for a trial of tele-ophthalmology consultations between a general practitioner (GP) and an experienced ophthalmologist. Forty-two consecutive patients from St Erik's Eye Hospital emergency ward with disorders in the anterior part of the eye were examined. There was an excellent correlation between the diagnoses made with telemedicine support and those made by the ophthalmologist directly. Subsequently, the GP made 121 eye examinations in two years out of a total of approximately 300–400 examinations at the health-care centre. In the first year the GP examined and treated 45–50% of the cases on his own and 30–50% with telemedicine support. In the second year he treated 55–80% of the cases on his own and 5–35% with telemedicine support. Tele-ophthalmology in primary care appears to be reliable and is likely to be valuable in rural areas, where the distance to an ophthalmologist can be a significant obstacle to satisfactory diagnosis and treatment.
Transmission Trials with a Support System for the Treatment of Cardiac Arrest outside Hospital
Authors: Rodríguez A , Villalar J L , Arredondo M T , Cabrera M F , Del Pozo F
Published: April 2015

A mobile electrocardiogram (ECG) transmission system was developed which could transmit single-lead ECG data via GSM mobile telephony. Ambulance transmission trials comprised a total of 72 communications, of which 94% were successful. The system was able to redial up to a predetermined number of times until the GSM call was re-established (during the trials this value was set to five). The average number of GSM call tries was 1.3 per connection. The mean time required to establish a connection was 45 s; the minimum was 34 s, when only one attempt was needed to establish a GSM call. The average duration of ECG transmission between communication breakdowns was 5 min 12 s. When a link breakdown occurred, the user had to wait for an average of only 42 s to continue monitoring the signal.
Gender, ethnicity and the division of household labour within heterosexual couples in Australia
Authors: Ting Shun , Perales Francisco , Baxter Janeen
Published: April 2015

Women continue to undertake substantially more unpaid labour than men, with the gaps closing if women bring economic resources to the household, spend time in paid work, or both partners hold egalitarian gender-role attitudes. Some attention has been given to how these patterns vary across ethnic groups, but the research is sparse and dominated by US studies. We examine the relationships between gender, ethnicity and housework supply within heterosexual couples in Australia using longitudinal data and individual- and couple-level panel regression models. We find large and statistically significant ethnic differences in gender divisions of household labour in Australia, with particularly egalitarian arrangements within Indigenous couples. These results have implications for understanding the processes underlying gender divisions of household labour, and highlight important, previously unknown, issues in Indigenous family processes. Particularly, our findings constitute first-time evidence of positive gender-equality outcomes for this subpopulation and call for further research on this topic.
Beyond social ties: The impact of social capital on labour market outcomes for young Swedish people
Authors: Behtoui Alireza
Published: April 2015

This study makes use of a dataset which contains material relating to young Swedish people who have recently completed their studies and started working. It explores whether using social networks as such or using individuals’ resources which are accessible through social networks (social capital) provides relative advantages in the competition for better jobs. Interest in this topic stems from the recent development of sociological theories in this field. The results indicate that the use of social ties is a common way to find a job in the highly regulated Swedish labour market, but that informal recruitment methods per se provide no relative advantages in the competition for better jobs. On the other hand, given the same demographic characteristics, socioeconomic background and educational attainments, there is a positive association between resources embedded in an individual’s social network (social capital) and the quality of the jobs obtained.
Iranian EFL Learners’ and Teachers’ Beliefs About the Usefulness of Vocabulary Learning Strategies
Authors: Amiryousefi Mohammad
Published: April 2015

Vocabulary is an important part of language which is central to all language skills and meaningful communication. One way through which vocabulary learning can be facilitated is by the use of vocabulary learning strategies (VLS). VLSs can empower language learners to be more self-directed, regulated, and autonomous. Also, they can help language learners to discover and consolidate the meaning of the words more effectively. Teachers’ and students’ behavior, functioning, and learning are, however, controlled by their thoughts, beliefs, attitudes, and perceptions. The present study was an effort to explore the Iranian EFL (English as a Foreign Language) learners’ and teachers’ beliefs about the usefulness of different types of VLSs. To that end, a VLS questionnaire developed for this purpose was given to 392 EFL teachers and learners. Based on the results of the study, the Iranian EFL learners and teachers believed that strategies such as paying attention to vocabulary forms, functions, and semantic relations; guessing the meaning of new words from the context; and using monolingual dictionaries can be very useful in discovering and consolidating the meaning of new words. They, nevertheless, expressed hesitancy to use L1, bilingual dictionaries, and mnemonic devices. The results of Kruskal–Wallis Test also showed that the preference for a few strategies differed across levels of education.