bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Predictors of healthcare professionals’ attitudes towards family involvement in safety-relevant behaviours: a cross-sectional factorial survey study
Authors: Davis Rachel , Savvopoulou M , Shergill R , Shergill S , Schwappach D
Published: September 2014

Objectives

To investigate predictors of healthcare professionals’ (HCPs) attitudes towards family involvement in safety-relevant behaviours.

Design

A cross-sectional fractional factorial survey that assessed HCPs’ attitudes towards family involvement in two error scenarios relating to hand hygiene and medication safety. Each survey comprised two randomised vignettes that described the potential error, how the family member communicated with the HCP about the error and how the HCP responded to the family member’s question.

Setting

5 teaching hospitals in London, the Midlands and York. HCPs were approached on a range of medical and surgical wards.

Participants

160 HCPs (73 doctors; 87 nurses) aged between 21 and 65 years (mean 37) 102 were female.

Outcome measures

HCP approval of family member’s behaviour; HCP reaction to the family member; anticipated effects on the family member–HCP relationship; HCP support for being questioned about hand hygiene/medication; affective rating responses.

Results

HCPs supported family member's intervening (88%) but only 41% agreed this would have positive effects on the family member/HCP relationship. Across vignettes and error scenarios the strongest predictors of attitudes were how the HCP (in the scenario) responded to the family member and whether an error actually occurred. Doctors (vs nurses) provided systematically more positive affective ratings to the vignettes.

Conclusions

Important predictors of HCPs’ attitudes towards family members’ involvement in patient safety have been highlighted. In particular, a discouraging response from HCP’s decreased support for family members being involved and had strong perceived negative effects on the family member/HCP relationship.
The Relative Effectiveness of Pumps Over MDI and Structured Education (REPOSE): study protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial
Authors: White David , Waugh Norman , Elliott Jackie , Lawton Julia , Barnard Katharine , Campbell Michael J , Dixon Simon , Heller Simon
Published: September 2014

Introduction

People with type 1 diabetes (T1DM) require insulin therapy to sustain life, and need optimal glycaemic control to prevent diabetic ketoacidosis and serious long-term complications. Insulin is generally administered using multiple daily injections but can also be delivered using an infusion pump (continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion), a more costly option with benefits for some patients. The UK National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommend the use of pumps for patients with the greatest need, citing insufficient evidence to approve extension to a wider population. Far fewer UK adults use pumps than in comparable countries. Previous trials of pump therapy have been small and of short duration and failed to control for training in insulin adjustment. This paper describes the protocol for a large randomised controlled trial comparing pump therapy with multiple daily injections, where both groups are provided with high-quality structured education.

Methods and analysis

A multicentre, parallel group, cluster randomised controlled trial among 280 adults with T1DM. All participants attended the week-long dose adjustment for normal eating (DAFNE) structured education course, and receive either multiple daily injections or pump therapy for 2 years. The trial incorporates a detailed mixed-methods psychosocial evaluation and cost-effectiveness analysis. The primary outcome will be the change in glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) at 24 months in those participants whose baseline HbA1c is at or above 7.5% (58 mmol/mol). The key secondary outcome will be the proportion of participants reaching the NICE target of an HbA1c of 7.5% (58 mmol/mol) or less at 24 months.

Ethics and dissemination

The protocol was approved by the Research Ethics Committee North West, Liverpool East and received Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) clinical trials authorisation. Each participating centre gave National Health Service R&D approval. We shall disseminate study findings to study participants and through peer reviewed publications and conference presentations, including lay user groups.

Trial registration number

ISRCTN 61215213.
Presentation and lecturing tips
Authors: Bell Catriona , Murison Pamela , Warman Sheena
Published: September 2014

This article, the last in a series aimed at providing tips and tools to enhance teaching and learning for veterinary staff and students, considers how to give lectures and presentations in an effective manner, enhancing your audience's engagement and understanding.
Sudden death in sheep
Authors: Lovatt Fiona , Stevenson Heather , Davies Ian
Published: September 2014

Several factors conspire to make the definition of ‘sudden death’ in sheep problematic. The most commonly accepted definition is death that occurs since the last inspection (ie, within 12 to 24 hours). However, it can be challenging for the shepherd to detect early clinical signs of disease in sheep due to extensive husbandry, limited supplementary feeding and sometimes, despite the legal requirements, infrequent inspection. In addition, group sizes tend to be large, making recognition of individual animals difficult. Consequently, veterinary investigation into any case where sheep have been found dead may not always reveal an acute cause. This article aims to consider such situations as well as those of truly ‘sudden death’.
Geotechnical properties of Søvind Marl — a plastic Eocene clay
Authors: Grønbech Gitte Lyng , Nielsen Benjaminn Nordahl , Ibsen Lars Bo , Stockmarr Peter
Published: September 2014

Results are presented of the analyses of the geotechnical properties of a fissured and highly plastic Danish tertiary clay: Søvind Marl. The analyses demonstrate the difficulties that can arise when dealing with this particular clay due to its unique characteristics. To characterize Søvind Marl and its pore water, samples were collected at multiple depths from five different borings located at the same site at Aarhus Harbour, Denmark, and all encountering the same Søvind Marl strata. Although Søvind Marl was deposited under circumstances very similar to those of London Clay, its properties show a poor resemblance to London Clay or other known clays. One of the key properties of Søvind Marl was found to be its extremely high plasticity, which can exceed 300%. Søvind Marl has high concentrations (up to 95%) of clay minerals, with a particularly large portion of smectite. Several key index parameters are presented and discussed including natural water content, Atterberg limits (plasticity in the typical range of 100%–250%), and calcite content (up to 65%). Results of vane shear tests and cone penetration tests are also presented. Oedometer tests yield two very different values for the preconsolidation stress level, although only one of these is correct. The dual calculation is associated with the fissured nature of Søvind Marl, which may confound traditional interpretation of test results, but must be taken into account for understanding of test results leading to proper classification of the material.
Mixed-valence properties of a dinuclear ruthenium complex bridged by bis(phenylcyanamido)tetrazine
Authors: Habibagahi Fatemeh , Crutchley Robert J.
Published: September 2014

The novel bridging ligand 3,6-bis(phenylcyanamido)-1,2,4,5-tetrazine (tdpcH2) and its dinuclear complex [{Ru(ttpy)(bpy)}2(μ-tdpc)][PF6]2 were prepared and characterized by elemental analysis and 1H NMR spectroscopy. Cyclic voltammetry and vis-NIR and IR spectroelectrochemistry of [{Ru(ttpy)(bpy)}2(μ-tdpc)]2+ showed that [{Ru(ttpy)(bpy)}2(μ-tdpc)]3+ is a Class II mixed-valence system with metal−metal coupling of 400 cm−1 assuming a transition dipole moment length of 21 Å. DFT calculations of tdpc2− suggested that the stability of the HOMO results in weak metal−metal coupling via the hole-superexchange mechanism.
DFT-D studies on structural variation and absorption properties of crystalline benzotrifuroxan under high pressure
Authors: Xiang Dong , Wu Qiong , Liu Zhichao , Zhu Weihua , Xiao Heming
Published: September 2014

The structural, electronic, and absorption properties of crystalline benzotrifuroxan (BTF) under hydrostatic compression of 0–150 GPa have been studied by using density functional theory with dispersion correction. The crystal structure of BTF was relaxed using three types of van der Waals corrections such as the PBE-G06, PBE-TS, and PW91-OBS functionals at ambient conditions. The results indicate that PBE-G06 is the best functional for studying BTF. The a and c directions may be more sensitive to van der Waals interactions than the b direction. The structure is the stiffest in the b direction in the whole pressure range. At 107 GPa, BTF decomposes by the breaking of the N2−O2 and O1−N6 bonds. An analysis of the band gap and density of states indicates that BTF becomes more and more sensitive under compression. The absorption spectra show that BTF has relatively high optical activity with increasing pressure; moreover, the absorption region is broadened in the energy range of below 1.5 and above 16.5 eV, respectively. This work may provide useful information in understanding how BTF behaves under high pressure.
Microplastic pollution in St. Lawrence River sediments
Authors: Castañeda Rowshyra A. , Avlijas Suncica , Simard M. Anouk , Ricciardi Anthony
Published: September 2014

Although widely detected in marine ecosystems, microplastic pollution has only recently been documented in freshwater environments, almost exclusively in surface waters. Here, we report microplastics (polyethylene microbeads, 0.40–2.16 mm diameter) in the sediments of the St. Lawrence River. We sampled 10 freshwater sites along a 320 km section from Lake St. Francis to Québec City by passing sediment collected from a benthic grab through a 500 μm sieve. Microbeads were discovered throughout this section, and their abundances varied by four orders of magnitude across sites. Median and mean (±1 SE) densities across sites were 52 microbeads·m−2 and 13 832 (±13 677) microbeads·m−2, respectively. The highest site density was 1.4 × 105 microbeads·m−2 (or 103 microbeads·L−1), which is similar in magnitude to microplastic concentrations found in the world’s most contaminated marine sediments. Mean diameter of microbeads was smaller at sites receiving municipal or industrial effluent (0.70 ± 0.01 mm) than at non-effluent sites (0.98 ± 0.01 mm), perhaps suggesting differential origins. Given the prevalence and locally high densities of microplastics in St. Lawrence River sediments, their ingestion by benthivorous fishes and macroinvertebrates warrants investigation.
Classical gravitational bremsstrahlung in R2-gravity
Authors: Ajabshirizadeh A. , Jahan A. , Niri B. Nadiri
Published: September 2014

The R2-gravity contribution to the gravitational energy loss in a classical scattering of two charged particles is calculated using the classical formula of the quadrupole radiation, assuming the small angle scattering approximation.
Relation between the mass coefficients for rotational and γ-vibrational motion in axially symmetric deformed nuclei
Authors: Jolos R. V. , Shirikova N. Yu. , Sushkov A. V.
Published: September 2014

In this paper, the ratio of the mass coefficients for the γ-vibrational and rotational motion for the well deformed axially symmetric nuclei is calculated. Calculations are performed based on the Cranking model approach. The results obtained show that the microscopic model based on the Woods–Saxon nuclear mean field potential and the pairing forces with a constant strength coefficient qualitatively explain the existing experimental data on the ratio of the mass coefficients. The important role of the blocking effect in the calculation of the mass coefficients is demonstrated.
AN ANALYSIS OF MINE WATER INRUSH BASED ON FRACTAL AND NON-DARCY SEEPAGE THEORY
Authors: WU JINSUI , CAI JIANCHAO , ZHAO DONGYUN , CHEN XUEXI
Published: September 2014

Mining rock mechanics is a new cross subject of mechanics and mining engineering, the seepage theory is one of the important research directions. This paper combines Wu-fractal/Ergun high-speed flow theory and dynamic system instability, reveals the influence factors of mine water inrush. Research shows that: Mine water inrush related to rock porosity, particle size, shape, fractal dimension, ratio of pore and throat, and other factors. Compared the critical Reynolds number which are got from Wu-fractal model and Ergun equation, Wu-fractal model can reveal more influence factors of mine water inrush than Ergun equation.
COMPUTER SIMULATION OF RANDOM PACKINGS FOR SELF-SIMILAR PARTICLE SIZE DISTRIBUTIONS IN SOIL AND GRANULAR MATERIALS: POROSITY AND PORE SIZE DISTRIBUTION
Authors: MARTÍN MIGUEL ANGEL , MUÑOZ FRANCISCO J. , REYES MIGUEL , TAGUAS F. JAVIER
Published: September 2014

A 2D computer simulation method of random packings is applied to sets of particles generated by a self-similar uniparametric model for particle size distributions (PSDs) in granular media. The parameter p which controls the model is the proportion of mass of particles corresponding to the left half of the normalized size interval [0,1]. First the influence on the total porosity of the parameter p is analyzed and interpreted. It is shown that such parameter, and the fractal exponent of the associated power scaling, are efficient packing parameters, but this last one is not in the way predicted in a former published work addressing an analogous research in artificial granular materials. The total porosity reaches the minimum value for p = 0.6. Limited information on the pore size distribution is obtained from the packing simulations and by means of morphological analysis methods. Results show that the range of pore sizes increases for decreasing values of p showing also different shape in the volume pore size distribution. Further research including simulations with a greater number of particles and image resolution are required to obtain finer results on the hierarchical structure of pore space.
CORROSION BEHAVIOR OF ZIRCONIUM TREATED MILD STEEL WITH AND WITHOUT ORGANIC COATING: A COMPARATIVE STUDY
Authors: GHANBARI ALIREZA , ATTAR MOHAMMADREZA MOHAMMADZADE
Published: September 2014

In this study, the anti-corrosion performance of phosphated and zirconium treated mild steel (ZTMS) with and without organic coating was evaluated using AC and DC electrochemical techniques. The topography and morphology of the zirconium treated samples were studied using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) respectively. The results revealed that the anti-corrosion performance of the phosphate layer was superior to the zirconium conversion layer without an organic coating due to very low thickness and porous nature of the ZTMS. Additionally, the corrosion behavior of the organic coated substrates was substantially different. It was found that the corrosion protection performance of the phosphate steel and ZTMS with an organic coating is in the same order.
Model theory of fields with free operators in characteristic zero
Authors: Moosa Rahim , Scanlon Thomas
Published: September 2014

Generalizing and unifying the known theorems for difference and differential fields, it is shown that for every finite free algebra scheme 𝒟 over a field A of characteristic zero, the theory of 𝒟-fields has a model companion 𝒟-CF0 which is simple and satisfies the Zilber dichotomy for finite-dimensional minimal types.
Identifying and Analyzing Risks and Responses for Risk Management in Information Technology Outsourcing Projects Under Fuzzy Environment
Authors: Samadi Homa , Nazari-Shirkouhi Salman , Keramati Abbas
Published: September 2014

Due to ever-increasing trend in outsourcing information technology projects in today's competitive world, the risk management in information technology outsourcing (ITO) projects is a challenging issue. Hence, this paper reviews and extracts present corresponding risks by literature review to implement risk management in ITO. After reviewing a number of frameworks in the literatures related to prioritizing of extracted risk factors, a new framework is presented to determine the priority of them. Because of network structure of the proposed framework and multi-dimensional nature of the project risk, the fuzzy analytic network process (fuzzy ANP) is applied to prioritize risk factors. Also, since identifying and prioritizing of risk factors cannot necessarily meet the organization's needs related to the project risk, the ways to respond to these factors are evaluated. For this purpose, responses to the five highest ranked risk factors are considered. Prioritization of responses to these risk factors is done by applying fuzzy technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (fuzzy TOPSIS) based on four criteria: quality, cost, time, and scope. Results, achieved from experts' judgment, show that the risk factor "Supplier's lack of expertise with an IT operation" is the most significant. Also, the best response for this factor, is "Review of monetary value and volume of suppliers' contracts prior to their selection" according to experts' point of view. In addition, a sensitivity analysis is carried out for validating the results.
On quasimodular eigenforms
Authors: Das Soumya , Meher Jaban
Published: September 2014

We derive a multiplicity one result for quasimodular eigenforms on SL2(ℤ) by completing the description of all quasimodular eigenforms. As applications of our results, we complete the answer to the question of finding all quasimodular eigenforms arising as a product of two eigenforms and also give an estimate for the size of the maximum gap in the sequence of the Fourier coefficients of a quasimodular form.
Real zeros of Dedekind zeta functions
Authors: Louboutin Stéphane R.
Published: September 2014

Building on Stechkin and Kadiri's ideas we derive an explicit zero-free region of the real axis for Dedekind zeta functions of number fields. We then explain how this new region enables us to improve upon the previously known explicit lower bounds for class numbers of number fields and relative class numbers of CM-fields.
Effects of Size and Dispersity of Microcrystalline Celluloses on Size, Structure and Stability of Nanocrystalline Celluloses Extracted by Acid Hydrolysis
Authors: Liu Qi , Hao Weiping , Yang Yongguang , Richel Aurore , Ouyang Canbin , Liu Huan , Guo Rui , Xia Xu , Yang Jing , Song Jiqing , Goffin Dorothée
Published: September 2014

Nanocrystalline celluloses (NCCs) were separated from four commercial microcrystalline celluloses (MCCs) by an acid hydrolysis–sonication treatment. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrum, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were conducted to investigate the NCCs. MCCs with different morphologies and particle sizes showed different aggregation degrees. The aggregation of MCCs followed the order MCC1 > MCC3 > MCC2 > MCC4, which is the same order of the heights of the resulting NCCs. The best uniformity and thermal stability were characterized for NCC3, which was produced by MCC3 with smallest original particle size and good dispersity among the four MCCs. This result suggests that both the original particle size and dispersity of MCCs had significant effects on separated NCCs.
Making it thick: a volcanic plateau origin of Palaeoarchean continental lithosphere of the Pilbara and Kaapvaal cratons
Authors: Van Kranendonk Martin J. , Smithies R. Hugh , Griffin William L. , Huston David L. , Hickman Arthur H. , Champion David C. , Anhaeusser Carl R. , Pirajno Franco
Published: September 2014

How and when continents grew and plate tectonics started on Earth remain poorly constrained. Most researchers apply the modern plate tectonic paradigm to problems of ancient crustal formation, but these are unsatisfactory because diagnostic criteria and actualistic plate configurations are lacking. Here, we show that 3.5–3.2 Ga continental nuclei in the Pilbara Craton, Australia, and the eastern Kaapvaal Craton, southern Africa, formed as thick volcanic plateaux built on a substrate of older continental lithosphere and did not accrete through horizontal tectonic processes. These nuclei survived because of the contemporaneous development of buoyant, non-subductable mantle roots. This plateau-type of Archean continental crust is distinct from, but complementary to, Archean gneiss terranes formed over shallowly dipping zones of intraoceanic underplating (proto-subduction) on a vigorously convecting early Earth with smaller plates and primitive plate tectonics.
Pietra Serena: the stone of the Renaissance
Authors: Fratini F. , Pecchioni E. , Cantisani E. , Rescic S. , Vettori S.
Published: September 2014

The most frequently used material in Florentine Renaissance architecture was Pietra Serena, a sandstone that nowadays is found in a quite satisfactory state of conservation. The reason for this is that architects and stone cutters in the past made careful selections of the materials they employed. This conscientious picking out was very important because most sandstone layers have a composition that is not always suitable for assuring an acceptable durability. This paper deals with the mineralogical, chemical, petrographical and physical characteristics of the Pietra Serena sandstone quarried in the hills near Florence in order to verify what was affirmed by
Vasari (1568)
, Tuscan painter, architect and historian of art of the 16th century, and other Tuscan naturalists regarding the quality of this sandstone.

As a matter of fact, analyses demonstrate that the Pietra Serena sandstones quarried in the hills of Settignano (to the northeast of Florence) and in the Gonfolina area (Lastra a Signa, to the west of Florence), are composed of layers particularly rich in calcite present mainly as sparitic cement. This calcitic cement gives great durability to the stone as is demonstrated by the good state of conservation of some Florentine monuments realized with Pietra Serena.
Fluid-mediated alteration of eclogite lenses in subduction complexes: a case from the Leaota Massif (South Carpathians)
Authors: Negulescu Elena , Săbău Gavril
Published: September 2014

Large ion lithophile element enrichment is a feature of the lithologies affected by mass transfer owing to fluids from the subduction zones (Sorensen
et al.
1997), well documented, for example, in mélanges of two subduction complexes: the Franciscan Complex (California) and Samana Metamorphic Complex (Dominican Republic). Here we illustrate a similar style of K–Ba–Rb alteration of various types of eclogites and their host rocks acquired during subduction zone metamorphism and subsequent inclusion in a metamorphosed subduction–accretion mélange complex in the Leaota Massif (South Carpathians). Textural evidence at different scales (knockers-with-rinds structures, phengite and atoll garnet overprints, open cavities) and thermobaric calculations document protracted fluid–rock interaction from near-peak conditions to the retrograde stages during detachment and ascension along the subduction channel. Fluids reverting to the surface along the subduction channel play an important part in the fluid budget of subduction zones.
Next steps for sustainable HCI
Authors: Silberman M. Six , Nathan Lisa , Knowles Bran , Bendor Roy , Clear Adrian , Håkansson Maria , Dillahunt Tawanna , Mankoff Jennifer
Published: September 2014

In this forum we highlight innovative thought, design, and research in the area of interaction design and sustainability, illustrating the diversity of approaches across HCI communities.
---Lisa Nathan and Samuel Mann, Editors
Towards the formalization of SPARK 2014 semantics with explicit run-time checks using coq
Authors: Courtieu Pierre , Aponte Maria Virginia , Crolard Tristan , Zhang Zhi , Robby Fnu , Belt Jason , Hatcliff John , Guitton Jerome , Jennings Trevor
Published: September 2014

We present the first steps of a broad effort to develop a formal representation of SPARK 2014 suitable for supporting machine-verified static analyses and translations. In our initial work, we have developed technology for translating the GNAT compiler's abstract syntax trees into the Coq proof assistant, and we have formalized in Coq the dynamic semantics for a toy subset of the SPARK 2014 language. SPARK 2014 programs must ensure the absence of certain run-time errors (for example, those arising while performing division by zero, accessing non existing array cells, overflow on integer computation). The main novelty in our semantics is the encoding of (a small part of) the run-time checks performed by the compiler to ensure that any well-formed terminating SPARK programs do not lead to erroneous execution. This and other results are mechanically proved using the Coq proof assistant. The modeling of on-the-fly run-time checks within the semantics lays the foundation for future work on mechanical reasoning about SPARK 2014 program correctness (in the particular area of robustness) and for studying the correctness of compiler optimizations concerning run-time checks, among others.
Technology for inferring contracts from code
Authors: Logozzo Francesco
Published: September 2014

Contracts are a simple yet very powerful form of specification. They consists of method preconditions and post-conditions, of object invariants, and of assertions and loop invariants. Ideally, the programmer will annotate all of her code with contracts which are mechanically checked by some static analysis tool. In practice, programmers only write few contracts, mainly preconditions and some object invariants. The reason for that is that other contracts are "clear from the code": Programmers do not like to repeat themselves. As a consequence, any usable static verification tool should provide some form of contract inference.
Consolidation of queries with user-defined functions
Authors: Sousa Marcelo , Dillig Isil , Vytiniotis Dimitrios , Dillig Thomas , Gkantsidis Christos
Published: September 2014

Motivated by streaming and data analytics scenarios where many queries operate on the same data and perform similar computations, we propose
program consolidation
for merging multiple user-defined functions (UDFs) that operate on the same input. Program consolidation exploits common computations between UDFs to generate an equivalent optimized function whose execution cost is often much smaller (and never greater) than the sum of the costs of executing each function individually. We present a sound consolidation calculus and an effective algorithm for consolidating multiple UDFs. Our approach is purely static and uses symbolic SMT-based techniques to identify shared or redundant computations. We have implemented the proposed technique on top of the Naiad data processing system. Our experiments show that our algorithm dramatically improves overall job completion time when executing user-defined filters that operate on the same data and perform similar computations.
Herding cats
Authors: Alglave Jade , Maranget Luc , Tautschnig Michael
Published: September 2014

There is a joke where a physicist and a mathematician are asked to herd cats. The physicist starts with an infinitely large pen which he reduces until it is of reasonable diameter yet contains all the cats. The mathematician builds a fence around himself and declares the outside to be the inside. Defining memory models is akin to herding cats: both the physicist's or mathematician's attitudes are tempting, but neither can go without the other.
Energy efficient data access and storage through HW/SW co-design
Authors: Guo Minyi
Published: September 2014

Massive energy consumption has become a major factor for the design and implementation of datacenters. This has led to numerous academic and industrial efforts to improve the energy efficiency of datacenter infrastructures. As a result, in state-of-the-art datacenter facilities, over 80% of power is now consumed by servers themselves. Historically, the processor has dominated energy consumption in the server. However, as processors have become more energy efficient, their contribution has been decreasing. On the contrary, energy consumed by data accesses and storage is growing, since multi- and many-core severs are requiring increased main memory bandwidth/capacity, large register file and large-scale storage system. Accordingly, energy consumed by data accesses and storage approaching or even surpassing that consumed by processors in many servers. For example, it has been reported that main memory contributes to as much as 40-46% of total energy consumption in server applications. In this talk, we present our continuing efforts to improve the energy efficiency of data accesses and storage. We study on a series of approaches with hardware-software cooperation to save energy consumption of on-chip memory, register file, main memory and storage devices for embedded systems, multi- and many-core servers, respectively. Experiments with a large set of workloads show the accuracy of our analytical models and the effectiveness of our optimizations.
Why Employers Can't Ignore Onboarding with Tech
Authors: Fayad Andrew
Published: September 2014

The traditional onboarding process for new hires is broken, and with today's technology, there's no excuse for saying: "That's the best we can do."
Joint latency and cost optimization for erasurecoded data center storage
Authors: Xiang Yu , Lan Tian , Aggarwal Vaneet , Chen Yih Farn R.
Published: September 2014

Modern distributed storage systems offer large capacity to satisfy the exponentially increasing need of storage space. They often use erasure codes to protect against disk and node failures to increase reliability, while trying to meet the latency requirements of the applications and clients. This paper provides an insightful upper bound on the average service delay of such erasure-coded storage with arbitrary service time distribution and consisting of multiple heterogeneous files. Not only does the result supersede known delay bounds that only work for homogeneous files, it also enables a novel problem of joint latency and storage cost minimization over three dimensions: selecting the erasure code, placement of encoded chunks, and optimizing scheduling policy. The problem is efficiently solved via the computation of a sequence of convex approximations with provable convergence. We further prototype our solution in an open-source, cloud storage deployment over three geographically distributed data centers. Experimental results validate our theoretical delay analysis and show significant latency reduction, providing valuable insights into the proposed latency-cost tradeoff in erasure-coded storage.
Spectral efficiency of energy efficient multicarrier systems
Authors: Haddad Majed , Habachi Oussama , Wiecek Piotr , Hayel Yezekael
Published: September 2014

We investigate the achievable performances of multi-carrier energy efficient power control game. Both the simultaneous-move and the hierarchical games are addressed. For the first time, we derive analytical closed-form expressions of the spectrum coordination and the spectral efficiency of such models. Our results indicate that the spectrum coordination capability induced by the power control game model enables the wireless network to enjoy the energy efficiency improvement while still achieving a high spectral efficiency. Such an important result offers insights into how to design power control in multi-carrier radio environments.
Egalitarian fairness framework for joint rate and power optimization in wireless networks
Authors: Zheng Liang , Tan Chee Wei
Published: September 2014

How do we efficiently and fairly allocate the resource in a wireless network? We study a joint rate and power control optimization to achieve egalitarian fairness (max-min weighted fairness) in multiuser wireless networks. The key challenge to optimizing the fairness of maximizing the data rates for all the users is the nonconvexity and of the problem. We exploit the nonlinear Perron-Frobenius theory and nonnegative matrix theory to solve this nonconvex resource control problem. A fixed-point algorithm that resembles a nonlinear version of the Power Method in linear algebra and converges very fast to the optimal solution is also proposed.
Indomethacin administered early in the postnatal period results in reduced glomerular number in the adult rat
Authors: Kent A. L. , Koina M. E. , Gubhaju L. , Cullen-McEwen L. A. , Bertram J. F. , Lynnhtun J. , Shadbolt B. , Falk M. C. , Dahlstrom J. E.
Published: September 2014

Indomethacin and ibuprofen are administered to close a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) during active glomerulogenesis. Light and electron microscopic glomerular changes with no change in glomerular number were seen following indomethacin and ibuprofen treatment during glomerulogenesis at 14 days after birth in a neonatal rat model. This present study aimed to determine whether longstanding renal structural changes are present at 30 days and 6 mo (equivalent to human adulthood). Rat pups were administered indomethacin or ibuprofen antenatally on days 18–20 (0.5 mg·kg−1·dose−1indomethacin; 10 mg·kg−1·dose−1ibuprofen) or postnatally intraperitoneally from day 1 to 3 or day 1 to 5 (0.2 mg·kg−1·dose−1indomethacin; 10 mg·kg−1·dose−1ibuprofen). Control groups received no treatment or normal saline intraperitoneally. Pups were killed at 30 days of age and 6 mo of age. Tissue blocks from right kidneys were prepared for light and electron microscopic examination, while total glomerular number was determined in left kidneys using unbiased stereology. Eight pups were included in each group from 14 maternal rats. At 30 days and 6 mo, there were persistent electron microscopy abnormalities of the glomerular basement membrane in those receiving postnatal indomethacin and ibuprofen. There were no significant light microscopy findings at 30 days or 6 mo. At 6 mo, there were significantly fewer glomeruli in those receiving postnatal indomethacin but not ibuprofen ( P = 0.003). In conclusion, indomethacin administered during glomerulogenesis appears to reduce the number of glomeruli in adulthood. Alternative options for closing a PDA should be considered including ibuprofen as well as emerging therapies such as paracetamol.
The fall and rise of corticomotor excitability with cancellation and reinitiation of prepared action
Authors: MacDonald H. J. , Coxon J. P. , Stinear C. M. , Byblow W. D.
Published: September 2014

The sudden cancellation of a motor action, known as response inhibition (RI), is fundamental to human motor behavior. The behavioral selectivity of RI can be studied by cueing cancellation of only a subset of a planned response, which markedly delays the remaining executed components. The present study examined neurophysiological mechanisms that may contribute to these delays. In two experiments, human participants received single- and paired-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation while performing a bimanual anticipatory response task. Participants performed most trials bimanually (Go trials) and were sometimes cued to cancel the response with one hand while responding with the other (Partial trials). Motor evoked potentials were recorded from left first dorsal interosseous (FDI) as a measure of corticomotor excitability (CME) during Go and Partial trials. CME was temporally modulated during Partial trials in a manner that reflected anticipation, suppression, and subsequent initiation of a reprogrammed response. There was an initial increase in CME, followed by suppression 175 ms after the stop signal, even though the left hand was not cued to stop. A second increase in excitability occurred prior to the (delayed) response. We propose an activation threshold model to account for nonselective RI. To investigate the inhibitory component of our model, we investigated short-latency intracortical inhibition (sICI), but results indicated that sICI cannot fully explain the observed temporal modulation of CME. These neurophysiological and behavioural results indicate that the default mode for reactive partial cancellation is suppression of a unitary response, followed by response reinitiation with an inevitable time delay.
Encoding of graded changes in spatial specificity of prior cues in human visual cortex
Authors: Hara Yuko , Gardner Justin L.
Published: September 2014

Prior information about the relevance of spatial locations can vary in specificity; a single location, a subset of locations, or all locations may be of potential importance. Using a contrast-discrimination task with four possible targets, we asked whether performance benefits are graded with the spatial specificity of a prior cue and whether we could quantitatively account for behavioral performance with cortical activity changes measured by blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) imaging. Thus we changed the prior probability that each location contained the target from 100 to 50 to 25% by cueing in advance 1, 2, or 4 of the possible locations. We found that behavioral performance (discrimination thresholds) improved in a graded fashion with spatial specificity. However, concurrently measured cortical responses from retinotopically defined visual areas were not strictly graded; response magnitude decreased when all 4 locations were cued (25% prior probability) relative to the 100 and 50% prior probability conditions, but no significant difference in response magnitude was found between the 100 and 50% prior probability conditions for either cued or uncued locations. Also, although cueing locations increased responses relative to noncueing, this cue sensitivity was not graded with prior probability. Furthermore, contrast sensitivity of cortical responses, which could improve contrast discrimination performance, was not graded. Instead, an efficient-selection model showed that even if sensory responses do not strictly scale with prior probability, selection of sensory responses by weighting larger responses more can result in graded behavioral performance benefits with increasing spatial specificity of prior information.
Extent of Surgery and Implications of Transection Margin Status after Resection of IPMNs
Authors: Paini Marina , Crippa Stefano , Scopelliti Filippo , Baldoni Andrea , Manzoni Alberto , Belfiori Giulio , Partelli Stefano , Falconi Massimo
Published: September 2014

Appropriate surgical strategies for management of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) of the pancreas are a matter of debate. Preoperative and intraoperative evaluation of malignant potential of IPMN and of patient’s comorbidities is of paramount importance to balance potential complications of surgery with tumors’ risk of being or becoming malignant; the decision about the extent of pancreatic resection and the eventual total pancreatectomy needs to be determined on individual basis. The analysis of frozen-section margin of pancreas during operation is mandatory. The goal should be the complete resection of IPMN reaching negative margin, although there is still no agreed definition of “negative margin.” Of note, the presence of deepithelization is often wrongly interpreted as absence of neoplasia. Management of resection margin status and stratification of surveillance of the remnant pancreas, based on characteristics of primary tumour, are of crucial importance in the management of IPMNs in order to decrease the risk of tumor recurrence after resection. Although risk of local and distant recurrence for invasive IPMNs is increased even in case of total pancreatectomy, also local recurrence after complete resection of noninvasive IPMNs is not negligible. Therefore, a long-term/life-time follow-up monitoring is of paramount importance to detect eventual recurrences.
Alleviation of Antioxidant Defense System by Ozonized Olive Oil in DNBS-Induced Colitis in Rats
Authors: Abu-Gharbieh Eman , Bayoumi Fatehia A. , Ahmed Naglaa G.
Published: September 2014

The aim of the study was to evaluate the potential protective effect of ozonized olive oil (OZO) in 2,4-dinitrobenzene sulphuric acid (DNBS) induced colitis in rats and to elucidate the role of some antioxidant defense system (superoxide dismutase “SOD,” glutathione peroxidase “GSH-Px,” and catalase “CAT”) in these effects. The physicochemical parameters including viscosity, peroxide, and acid values of olive oil and OZO were evaluated. The animals were divided into several groups and the colitis was induced in the rats by intracolonic instillation of DNBS at dose of 15 mg/rat. Olive oil (OO) at dose of 6 mg/kg and OZO at doses of 3 and 6 mg/kg was administered orally for 7 days, starting the day before induction of colitis. Our results showed that macroscopic and microscopic damage scores were significantly reduced in a dose response manner in rats pretreated with OZO only. In contrast, CAT, GSH-Px, and SOD activities were significantly increased in the distal colon of inflamed animals pretreated with OZO with respect to control group dose dependently. Results demonstrate that OZO pretreatment exerts protective effects in DNBS induced colitis in rats and provide evidence that the protective effects of OZO are mediated by stimulation of some antioxidant enzymes.
Traumatic Distal Ulnar Artery Thrombosis
Authors: Karaarslan Ahmet A. , Karakaşlı Ahmet , Mayda Aslan , Karcı Tolga , Aycan Hakan , Kobak Şenol
Published: September 2014

This paper is about a posttraumatic distal ulnar artery thrombosis case that has occurred after a single blunt trauma. The ulnar artery thrombosis because of chronic trauma is a frequent condition (hypothenar hammer syndrome) but an ulnar artery thrombosis because of a single direct blunt trauma is rare. Our patient who has been affected by a single blunt trauma to his hand and developed ulnar artery thrombosis has been treated by resection of the thrombosed ulnar artery segment. This report shows that a single blunt trauma can cause distal ulnar artery thrombosis in the hand and it can be treated merely by thrombosed segment resection in suitable cases.
Whole-Genome Sequencing of Asian Lung Cancers: Second-Hand Smoke Unlikely to Be Responsible for Higher Incidence of Lung Cancer among Asian Never-Smokers
Authors: Krishnan Vidhya G. , Ebert Philip J. , Ting Jason C. , Lim Elaine , Wong Swee-Seong , Teo Audrey S.M. , Yue Yong G. , Chua Hui-Hoon , Ma Xiwen , Loh Gary S.L. , Lin Yuhao , Tan Joanna H.J. , Yu Kun , Zhang Shenli , Reinhard Christoph , Tan Daniel S.W. , Peters Brock A. , Lincoln Stephen E. , Ballinger Dennis G. , Laramie Jason M. , Nilsen Geoffrey B. , Barber Thomas D. , Tan Patrick , Hillmer Axel M. , Ng Pauline C.
Published: September 2014

Asian nonsmoking populations have a higher incidence of lung cancer compared with their European counterparts. There is a long-standing hypothesis that the increase of lung cancer in Asian never-smokers is due to environmental factors such as second-hand smoke. We analyzed whole-genome sequencing of 30 Asian lung cancers. Unsupervised clustering of mutational signatures separated the patients into two categories of either all the never-smokers or all the smokers or ex-smokers. In addition, nearly one third of the ex-smokers and smokers classified with the never-smoker–like cluster. The somatic variant profiles of Asian lung cancers were similar to that of European origin with G.C>T.A being predominant in smokers. We found EGFR and TP53 to be the most frequently mutated genes with mutations in 50% and 27% of individuals, respectively. Among the 16 never-smokers, 69% had an EGFR mutation compared with 29% of 14 smokers/ex-smokers. Asian never-smokers had lung cancer signatures distinct from the smoker signature and their mutation profiles were similar to European never-smokers. The profiles of Asian and European smokers are also similar. Taken together, these results suggested that the same mutational mechanisms underlie the etiology for both ethnic groups. Thus, the high incidence of lung cancer in Asian never-smokers seems unlikely to be due to second-hand smoke or other carcinogens that cause oxidative DNA damage, implying that routine EGFR testing is warranted in the Asian population regardless of smoking status. Cancer Res; 74(21); 6071–81. ©2014 AACR.
Whole Transcriptome Sequencing Reveals Extensive Unspliced mRNA in Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer
Authors: Sowalsky Adam G. , Xia Zheng , Wang Liguo , Zhao Hao , Chen Shaoyong , Bubley Glenn J. , Balk Steven P. , Li Wei
Published: September 2014

Men with metastatic prostate cancer who are treated with androgen deprivation therapies (ADT) usually relapse within 2 to 3 years with disease that is termed castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). To identify the mechanism that drives these advanced tumors, paired-end RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) was performed on a panel of CRPC bone marrow biopsy specimens. From this genome-wide approach, mutations were found in a series of genes with prostate cancer relevance, including AR, NCOR1, KDM3A, KDM4A, CHD1, SETD5, SETD7, INPP4B, RASGRP3, RASA1, TP53BP1, and CDH1, and a novel SND1:BRAF gene fusion. Among the most highly expressed transcripts were 10 noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), including MALAT1 and PABPC1, which are involved in RNA processing. Notably, a high percentage of sequence reads mapped to introns, which were determined to be the result of incomplete splicing at canonical splice junctions. Using quantitative PCR (qPCR), a series of genes (AR, KLK2, KLK3, STEAP2, CPSF6, and CDK19) were confirmed to have a greater proportion of unspliced RNA in CRPC specimens than in normal prostate epithelium, untreated primary prostate cancer, and cultured prostate cancer cells. This inefficient coupling of transcription and mRNA splicing suggests an overall increase in transcription or defect in splicing.

Implications: Inefficient splicing in advanced prostate cancer provides a selective advantage through effects on microRNA networks but may render tumors vulnerable to agents that suppress rate-limiting steps in splicing. Mol Cancer Res; 13(1); 98–106. ©2014 AACR.
A Transient Increase in Eosinophils Is Associated with Prolonged Survival in Men with Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer Who Receive Sipuleucel-T
Authors: McNeel Douglas G. , Gardner Thomas A. , Higano Celestia S. , Kantoff Philip W. , Small Eric J. , Wener Mark H. , Sims Robert B. , DeVries Todd , Sheikh Nadeem A. , Dreicer Robert
Published: September 2014

Sipuleucel-T is an autologous cellular immunotherapy used to treat asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). Traditional short-term indicators of clinical response commonly used with chemotherapy have not correlated with survival in patients treated with sipuleucel-T. This retrospective study aimed to evaluate laboratory parameters as possible early biomarkers associated with clinical benefit following sipuleucel-T treatment. Patients treated with sipuleucel-T from three randomized, controlled, phase III clinical trials in mCRPC were considered: IMPACT (NCT00065442; n = 512), D9901 (NCT00005947; n = 127), and D9902A (NCT01133704; n = 98). Patients from these trials were included in this study if their samples were analyzed by the central laboratory and if data were available from baseline and ≥1 posttreatment time point (n = 377). We found that sipuleucel-T treatment was associated with a transient increase in serum eosinophil count at week 6 that resolved by week 14 in 28% of patients (105 of 377). This eosinophil increase correlated with induced immune response, longer prostate cancer–specific survival [HR, 0.713; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.525–0.970; P = 0.031], and a trend in overall survival (HR, 0.753; 95% CI, 0.563–1.008; P = 0.057). Median serum globulin protein levels also increased transiently, which was associated with antigen-specific antibody responses; however, this finding did not correlate with longer survival. We conclude that transient increases in eosinophils at week 6 may be a useful, objective, short-term indicator of global immune activation and survival benefit with sipuleucel-T in patients with mCRPC. This observation warrants prospective evaluation in future clinical trials. Cancer Immunol Res; 2(10); 988–99. ©2014 AACR.