bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multiple Adjunction in Feature-Based Tree-Adjoining Grammar
Authors: Gardent Claire , Narayan Shashi
Published: February 2015

In parsing with Tree Adjoining Grammar (TAG), independent derivations have been shown by Schabes and Shieber (1994) to be essential for correctly supporting syntactic analysis, semantic interpretation, and statistical language modeling. However, the parsing algorithm they propose is not directly applicable to Feature-Based TAGs (FB-TAG). We provide a recognition algorithm for FB-TAG that supports both dependent and independent derivations. The resulting algorithm combines the benefits of independent derivations with those of Feature-Based grammars. In particular, we show that it accounts for a range of interactions between dependent vs. independent derivation on the one hand, and syntactic constraints, linear ordering, and scopal vs. nonscopal semantic dependencies on the other hand.
Sidewalk’s Cloud (2014)
Authors: Attia Kader
Published: February 2015

Kader Attia lives and works in Berlin and Algiers. His first solo exhibition was held in 1996 in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In 2003, he gained international recognition at the 50th Venice Biennale. In 2014, he was awarded the Berlin Art Prize: Jubilee Foundation 1848/1948. Recent exhibitions include Culture, Another Nature Repaired (solo show), Middelheim Museum, Antwerp; Contre Nature (solo show), Beirut Art Center; Continuum of Repair: The Light of Jacob’s Ladder (solo show), Whitechapel Gallery, London; Repair. 5 Acts (solo show), KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin; Construire, Déconstruire, Reconstruire: Le Corps Utopique (solo show), Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris; the Biennale of Dakar; dOCUMENTA(13) in Kassel; Performing Histories (1) at MoMA, New York; and Contested Terrains, Tate Modern, London.
On the Making of Moses(es): Notes from a Dramaturg’s Journal
Authors: Manning Susan
Published: February 2015

Reggie Wilson’s creative process in making Moses(es) is charted from the perspective of the dramaturg: his research into seemingly disparate topics, which became surprisingly interrelated over time; his use of found movement in the studio; and his refusal to tell spectators how to interpret his dance.
Zora, Zar, Ohad, and Nubia: Research Memos for Reggie Wilson’s Moses(es)
Authors: Manning Susan
Published: February 2015

Extensive research memos written for choreographer Reggie Wilson informed the making of Moses(es). The excerpts here encompass such topics as writer and folklorist Zora Neale Hurston, Wilson’s relationship with his early mentor Ohad Naharin, anthropological literature on the possession ritual Zar, and Nubia as a crossroads in Africa.
Beyoncé’s Response (eh?): Feeling the Ihi of Spontaneous Haka Performance in Aotearoa/New Zealand
Authors: Hyland Nicola
Published: February 2015

The effectiveness of any haka performance is measured by the performers’ ability to elicit an emotional and psychic response in the spectator: to incite ihi. The (re)action of US pop star Beyoncé to an impromptu haka sparked vigorous online debate. Stripping back preconceptions regarding tradition, gender, and ethnicity, this spontaneous performance is read as an unbound moment where reciprocal awe and respect invoke a powerful tripartite performative energy, the wana.
The Holy See and Children’s Rights: International Human Rights Law and Its Ghosts
Authors: Tzouvala Ntina
Published: February 2015

The revelation of a series of child abuse incidents committed by Catholic priests and other members of religious orders has given rise to the question of establishing the responsibility of the Holy See for these acts under international human rights law. This article focuses on the report issued in 2014 by the Committee on the Rights of the Child, the monitoring body of the Convention of the Rights of the Child (crc). It is argued that in order to fulfil this task we need to take three steps: first, to establish the relationship between the Vatican City state and the Hole See, a distinct and peculiar international legal subject. To do so, a historical account of the Holy See and its position within the fabric of international law is considered necessary. Secondly, this article argues that the crc was ratified by the Holy See both in its capacity as the government of the Vatican City and as a non-territorial legal subject. Hence, the application of the crc is not confined within the limited territory of the Vatican City, but ‘follows’ the authority of the Holy See irrespective of state borders. Thirdly, it is argued that the vertical, hierarchical structure of the Holy See is homologous to that of the modern state and, therefore, attribution rules can be applied by analogy in this case. The final conclusion is that it is possible to hold the Holy See responsible under the crc for acts of child abuse that occurred under its authority around the globe.
Looking for a Safe Place
Authors: Tiilikainen Marja
Published: February 2015

This article explores human security from the perspective of those who live under the securitization and governance of Islam, i.e. Muslims themselves. I focus on one hand on the insecurities and threats that have been identified by Somali Muslims in the diaspora, and on the other hand on their means for managing insecurity and creating a sense of safety. The challenges, opportunities and experiences of the Somali diaspora are linked to the histories of immigration and race in different settlement countries, and also to global discourses and policies on Islam and Muslims. The experiences of Canadian Somalis will serve as a mirror on the situation in Europe, in particular the Nordic country of Finland, where both similarities and differences may be found.
Taxonomic revision of the genus Amaranthus (Amaranthaceae) in Italy
Authors: Iamonico Duilio
Published: February 2015

A taxonomic revision of the genus Amaranthus (Amaranthaceae) in Italy is here presented. Field surveys were carried out during the period 2006–2014. 58 herbaria (both European and American, including 12 personal herbaria) were consulted (more than 3,000 specimens were examined) as well as extensive literature was analized. Twenty-seven non-hybrid taxa (twenty-four species, and six varieties) are recognized (A. crassipes and A. graecizans subsp. graecizans are considered doubtful for the flora of Italy). Three taxa (A. blitum, A. cacciatoi, and A. graecizans subsp. sylvestris) are native, one (A. bouchonii) has doubtful origin, while the others are to be considered aliens, mostly neophytes native to the Americas. Information about nomenclature (accepted names, main synonyms, and types), morphology, chromosome number, chorology (for native taxa) or alien status (for exotic taxa, at national and regional levels), occurrence in Italy (at regional scale), ecology (preferential habitat, phenology, elevation), taxonomic annotations are provided for each taxon, as well as original photos were prepared. Diagnostic keys at species and infraspecific levels (for A. blitum subsp. blitum s.l., A. emarginatus s.l., and A. graecizans s.l.) are given. An isolectotype for the name A. bouchonii was found at Z. A list of the seven hybrids recorded and their main morphological characteristics are also given. Among them, A. × mauritii is recorded in the present study for the first time in Italy. The nomenclatural change Amaranthus × pyxidatus comb. et stat. nov. is proposed. Two specimens preserved at MPU are designated as lectotype and isolectotype of the name A. × mauritii s.s., while for A. × mauritii f. ramosissima the holotype was found; the two names are to be considered heterotypic synonyms (new synonymy).
Advanced age is associated with worsened outcomes and a unique genomic response in severely injured patients with hemorrhagic shock
Authors: Vanzant Erin L , Hilton Rachael E , Lopez Cecilia M , Zhang Jianyi , Ungaro Ricardo F , Gentile Lori F , Szpila Benjamin E , Maier Ronald V , Cuschieri Joseph , Bihorac Azra , Leeuwenburgh Christiaan , Moore Frederick A , Baker Henry V , Moldawer Lyle L , Brakenridge Scott C , Efron Philip A ,   The Inflammation and Host Response to Injury Investigators
Published: February 2015

Introduction

We wished to characterize the relationship of advanced age to clinical outcomes and to transcriptomic responses after severe blunt traumatic injury with hemorrhagic shock.

Methods

We performed epidemiological, cytokine, and transcriptomic analyses on a prospective, multi-center cohort of 1,928 severely injured patients.

Results

We found that there was no difference in injury severity between the aged (age ≥55, n = 533) and young (age <55, n = 1395) cohorts. However, aged patients had more comorbidities. Advanced age was associated with more severe organ failure, infectious complications, ventilator days, and intensive care unit length of stay, as well as, an increased likelihood of being discharged to skilled nursing or long-term care facilities. Additionally, advanced age was an independent predictor of a complicated recovery and 28-day mortality. Acutely after trauma, blood neutrophil genome-wide expression analysis revealed an attenuated transcriptomic response as compared to the young; this attenuated response was supported by the patients’ plasma cytokine and chemokine concentrations. Later, these patients demonstrated gene expression changes consistent with simultaneous, persistent pro-inflammatory and immunosuppressive states.

Conclusions

We concluded that advanced age is one of the strongest non-injury related risk factors for poor outcomes after severe trauma with hemorrhagic shock and is associated with an altered and unique peripheral leukocyte genomic response. As the general population’s age increases, it will be important to individualize prediction models and therapeutic targets to this high risk cohort.
An ADAM10 promoter polymorphism is a functional variant in severe sepsis patients and confers susceptibility to the development of sepsis
Authors: Cui Lili , Gao Yan , Xie Yuliu , Wang Yan , Cai Yujie , Shao Xin , Ma Xiaotang , LI You , Ma Guoda , Liu Gen , Cheng Wanwen , Liu Yu , Liu Tingting , Pan Qunwen , Tao Hua , Liu Zhou , Zhao Bin , Shao Yiming , Li Keshen
Published: February 2015

Introduction

Although genetic variants of the A disintegrin and metalloproteinase 10 (ADAM10) gene have been shown to be associated with susceptibility to several inflammatory-related diseases, to date little is known about the clinical relationship in the development of sepsis.

Methods

Two genetic variants in the promoter of ADAM10 were selected to analyze the potential association with the risk of sepsis. A total of 440 sepsis patients and 450 matched healthy individuals in two independent Chinese Han population were enrolled. Pyrosequencing and polymerase chain reaction-length polymorphism was used to determine the genotypes of the rs514049 and rs653765. A real-time qPCR method was used to detect the mRNA level of ADAM10. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure the expression levels of substrates CX3CL1, interleukin (IL)-6R, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-6. Luciferase assay was used to analyze the activities of the promoter haplotypes of ADAM10.

Results

No statistically significant differences between sepsis cases and controls in the genotype or allele frequencies were observed, suggesting that ADAM10 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) may not be risk factors for the occurrence of sepsis. A significant difference in the genotype and allele frequencies of the rs653765 SNP between patients with sepsis subtype and severe sepsis (P = 0.0014) or severe sepsis/sepsis shock (P = 0.0037) were observed. Moreover, the rs653765 CC genotype in severe sepsis showed a higher ADAM10 level compared to healthy groups, and the rs653765 CC polymorphism had a strong impact on the production of the ADAM10 substrates CX3CL1, IL-6R and TNF-α. Furthermore, the functional assay showed that ADAM10 C-A haplotype carriers exhibited significantly higher reporter activity compared with the T-A carriers and T-C carriers in human acute monocytic leukemia cell line.

Conclusions

Our data initially indicated the ADAM10 rs653765 polymorphism was associated with the development of severe sepsis; the risk CC genotype could functionally affect the expression level of ADAM10 mRNA and was accompanied by the up-regulation of its substrates. Thus, ADAM10 might be clinically important and play a critical role in the pathogenesis of the development of sepsis, with potentially important therapeutic implications.
Benefit profile of recombinant human soluble thrombomodulin in sepsis-induced disseminated intravascular coagulation: a multicenter propensity score analysis
Authors: Yoshimura Jumpei , Yamakawa Kazuma , Ogura Hiroshi , Umemura Yutaka , Takahashi Hiroki , Morikawa Miki , Inoue Yoshiaki , Fujimi Satoshi , Tanaka Hiroshi , Hamasaki Toshimitsu , Shimazu Takeshi
Published: February 2015

Introduction

The safety and efficacy of recombinant human soluble thrombomodulin (rhTM) have been demonstrated, with promising evidence suggestive of efficacy for patients with severe sepsis involving coagulopathy in a phase IIb randomized controlled trial. However, the benefit profiles of rhTM have not been elucidated. The purpose of this study was to explore whether patients with greater disease severity, determined according to the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) scores, would experience treatment benefit from rhTM administration.

Methods

This was a post hoc, subgroup analysis of a multicenter retrospective cohort study conducted in three Japanese tertiary referral hospitals. Patients with sepsis-induced disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) who required ventilator management were included. We stratified patients into several strata according to disease severity, determined by APACHE II and SOFA scores, using classification and regression trees for survival data. Intervention effects, expressed as hazard ratios (HR), were analyzed using Cox regression analysis adjusted for a propensity model to detect subgroup heterogeneity of the effects of rhTM on in-hospital mortality.

Results

Participants were 162 patients with sepsis-induced DIC; 68 of these patients received rhTM and 94 did not. After adjusting for imbalances, rhTM administration was significantly associated with reduced mortality in high-risk patients (APACHE II: 24 to 29; HR: 0.281; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.093 to 0.850; P = 0.025). A similar nonsignificant tendency was observed in the very high-risk subset (APACHE II: ≥30; HR: 0.529; 95% CI: 0.202 to 1.387; P = 0.195) but was not evident in the moderate-risk subset of patients (APACHE II: <24; HR: 0.814; 95% CI: 0.351 to 1.884; P = 0.630). A similar tendency was observed in analysis of SOFA scores (moderate-risk subset (SOFA: <11), P = 0.368; high-risk subset (SOFA: ≥11), P = 0.042).

Conclusions

Survival benefit was observed with rhTM treatment in sepsis-induced DIC and high risk of death according to baseline APACHE II and SOFA scores.
RAD51, XRCC3, and XRCC2 mutation screening in Finnish breast cancer families
Authors: Pelttari Liisa M , Kiiski Johanna I , Ranta Salla , Vilske Sara , Blomqvist Carl , Aittomäki Kristiina , Nevanlinna Heli
Published: February 2015

Majority of the known breast cancer susceptibility genes have a role in DNA repair and the most important high-risk genes BRCA1 and BRCA2 are specifically involved in the homologous recombination repair (HRR) of DNA double-strand breaks. A central player in HRR is RAD51 that binds DNA at the damage site. The RAD51 paralogs RAD51B, RAD51C, RAD51D, XRCC2, and XRCC3 facilitate the binding of RAD51 to DNA. While germline mutations in RAD51C and RAD51D are associated with high ovarian cancer risk and RAD51B polymorphisms with breast cancer, the contribution of RAD51, XRCC3, and XRCC2 is more unclear. To investigate the role of RAD51, XRCC3, and XRCC2 in breast cancer predisposition and to identify putative recurrent founder mutations in the Finnish population where such mutations have been observed in most of the currently known susceptibility genes, we screened 182 familial Finnish breast or ovarian cancer patients for germline variation in the RAD51and XRCC3 genes and 342 patients for variation in XRCC2, with a subset of the patients selected on the basis of decreased RAD51 protein expression on tumors. We also performed haplotype analyses for 1516 breast cancer cases and 1234 controls to assess the common variation in these genes. No pathogenic mutations were detected in any of the genes and the distribution of haplotypes was similar between cases and controls. Our results suggest that RAD51, XRCC3, and XRCC2 do not substantially contribute to breast cancer predisposition in the Finnish population.
Data analysis and visualization for the bridge deck inspection and evaluation robotic system
Authors: La Hung Manh , Gucunski Nenad , Kee Seong-Hoon , Nguyen Luan Van
Published: February 2015

Background

Bridge deck inspection is essential task to monitor the health of the bridges. Condition monitoring and timely implementation of maintenance and rehabilitation procedures are needed to reduce future costs associated with bridge management. A number of Nondestructive Evaluation (NDE) technologies are currently used in bridge deck inspection and evaluation, including impact-echo (IE), ground penetrating radar (GPR), electrical resistivity (ER), ultrasonic surface waves (USW) testing, and visual inspection. However, current NDE data collection is manually conducted and thus faces with several problems such as prone to human errors, safety risks due to open traffic, and high cost process.

Methods

This paper reports the automated data collection and analysis for bridge decks based on our novel robotic system which can autonomously and accurately navigate on the bridge. The developed robotic system can lessen the cost and time of the bridge deck data collection and risks of human inspections. The advanced software is developed to allow the robot to collect visual images and conduct NDE measurements. The image stitching algorithm to build a whole bridge deck image from individual images is presented in detail. The ER, IE and USW data collected by the robot are analyzed to generate the corrosion, delamination and concrete elastic modulus maps of the deck, respectively. These condition maps provide detail information of the bridge deck quality.

Conclusions

The automated bridge deck data collection and analysis is developed. The image stitching algorithm allowed to generate a very high resolution image of the whole bridge deck, and the bridge viewer software allows to calibrate the stitched image to the bridge coordinate. The corrosion, delamination and elastic modulus maps were built based on ER, IE and USW data collected by the robot to provide easy evaluation and condition monitoring of bridge decks.
Face and content validity of a novel, web-based otoscopy simulator for medical education
Authors: Wickens Brandon , Lewis Jordan , Morris David P , Husein Murad , Ladak Hanif M , Agrawal Sumit K
Published: February 2015

Background

Despite the fact that otoscopy is a widely used and taught diagnostic tool during medical training, errors in diagnosis are common. Physical otoscopy simulators have high fidelity, but they can be expensive and only a limited number of students can use them at a given time.

Objectives

1) To develop a purely web-based otoscopy simulator that can easily be distributed to students over the internet. 2) To assess face and content validity of the simulator by surveying experts in otoscopy.

Methods

An otoscopy simulator, OtoTrain™, was developed at Western University using web-based programming and Unity 3D. Eleven experts from academic institutions in North America were recruited to test the simulator and respond to an online questionnaire. A 7-point Likert scale was used to answer questions related to face validity (realism of the simulator), content validity (expert evaluation of subject matter and test items), and applicability to medical training.

Results

The mean responses for the face validity, content validity, and applicability to medical training portions of the questionnaire were all ≤3, falling between the “Agree”, “Mostly Agree”, and “Strongly Agree” categories. The responses suggest good face and content validity of the simulator. Open-ended questions revealed that the primary drawbacks of the simulator were the lack of a haptic arm for force feedback, a need for increased focus on pneumatic otoscopy, and few rare disorders shown on otoscopy.

Conclusion

OtoTrain™ is a novel, web-based otoscopy simulator that can be easily distributed and used by students on a variety of platforms. Initial face and content validity was encouraging, and a skills transference study is planned following further modifications and improvements to the simulator.
Innovative consolidating products for stone materials: field exposure tests as a valid approach for assessing durability
Authors: Natali Irene , Tomasin Patrizia , Becherini Francesca , Bernardi Adriana , Ciantelli Chiara , Favaro Monica , Favoni Orlando , Pérez Vicente J Forrat , Olteanu Iulian D , Sanchez Maria Dolores Romero , Vivarelli Arianna , Bonazza Alessandra
Published: February 2015

The impact of climate on cultural heritage surfaces leads to several damage processes and the protection and the preservation of works of art is a challenge for conservation scientists and restorers. Traditional and innovative products are used in consolidating treatments in order to reduce the effects of the interaction environment-materials. The EC NANOMATCH Project aims at the development of innovative consolidating agents for carbonate matrices, wood and glass whose features should result in high compatibility, efficiency and long-lasting effect. In this project, metal alkoxides, molecular precursors for the deposition of metal carbonate are synthesized, characterized, tested and proposed as an alternative to traditional consolidating agents as well as to calcium hydroxide nanoparticles. This paper gives an overall description of the methodological approach adopted for the in field evaluation of durability taking into account the environmental impact. Preliminary results of the analyses carried out on carbonate stones aimed at investigating the features of the consolidating treatment are here presented and discussed.
Clinical evaluation of respiration-induced attenuation uncertainties in pulmonary 3D PET/CT
Authors: Kruis Matthijs F , van de Kamer Jeroen B , Vogel Wouter V , Belderbos José SA , Sonke Jan-Jakob , van Herk Marcel
Published: February 2015

Background

In contemporary positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) scanners, PET attenuation correction is performed by means of a CT-based attenuation map. Respiratory motion can however induce offsets between the PET and CT data. Studies have demonstrated that these offsets can cause errors in quantitative PET measures. The purpose of this study is to quantify the effects of respiration-induced CT differences on the attenuation correction of pulmonary 18-fluordeoxyglucose (FDG) 3D PET/CT in a patient population and to investigate contributing factors.

Methods

For 32 lung cancer patients, 3D-CT, 4D-PET and 4D-CT data were acquired. The 4D FDG PET data were attenuation corrected (AC) using a free-breathing 3D-CT (3D-AC), the end-inspiration CT (EI-AC), the end-expiration CT (EE-AC) or phase-by-phase (P-AC). After reconstruction and AC, the 4D-PET data were averaged. In the 4Davg data, we measured maximum tumour standardised uptake value (SUV)max in the tumour, SUVmean in a lung volume of interest (VOI) and average SUV (SUVmean) in a muscle VOI. On the 4D-CT, we measured the lung volume differences and CT number changes between inhale and exhale in the lung VOI.

Results

Compared to P-AC, we found −2.3% (range −9.7% to 1.2%) lower tumour SUVmax in EI-AC and 2.0% (range −0.9% to 9.5%) higher SUVmax in EE-AC. No differences in the muscle SUV were found. The use of 3D-AC led to respiration-induced SUVmax differences up to 20% compared to the use of P-AC.

SUVmean differences in the lung VOI between EI-AC and EE-AC correlated to average CT differences in this region (ρ = 0.83). SUVmax differences in the tumour correlated to the volume changes of the lungs (ρ = −0.55) and the motion amplitude of the tumour (ρ = 0.53), both as measured on the 4D-CT.

Conclusions

Respiration-induced CT variations in clinical data can in extreme cases lead to SUV effects larger than 10% on PET attenuation correction. These differences were case specific and correlated to differences in CT number in the lungs.
A Population-Based Study of Prevalence and Risk Factors of Chronic Kidney Disease in León, Nicaragua
Authors: Lebov Jill F , Valladares Eliette , Peña Rodolfo , Peña Edgar M , Sanoff Scott L , Cisneros Efren Castellón , Colindres Romulo E , Morgan Douglas R , Hogan Susan L
Published: February 2015

Background:

Recent studies have shown an excess of chronic kidney disease (CKD) among younger adult males in the Pacific coastal region of Nicaragua and suggest a non-conventional CKD etiology in this region. These studies have been conducted in small, non-representative populations.

Objectives:

We conducted a large population-based cross-sectional study to estimate CKD prevalence in León, Nicaragua, and to evaluate the association between previously investigated risk factors and CKD.

Methods:

Estimated glomerular filtration rate, derived using the MDRD equation, was assessed to determine CKD status of 2275 León residents. Multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate adjusted prevalence odds ratios. León CKD prevalence was also standardized to the demographic distributions of the León Health and Demographic Surveillance System and the León 2005 Census.

Results:

CKD prevalence was 9.1%; twice as high for males (13.8%) than females (5.8%). In addition to gender, older age, rural zone, lower education level, and self-reported high blood pressure, more years of agricultural work, lija (unregulated alcohol) consumption, and higher levels of daily water consumption were significantly associated with CKD. Notably, self-reported diabetes was associated with CKD in adjusted models for females but not males.

Conclusions:

Our findings are comparable to those found in regional studies and further support the hypothesis of a Mesoamerican Nephropathy.
How Reduced Search Costs and the Distribution of Bidder Participation Affect Auction Prices
Authors: Overby Eric , Kannan Karthik
Published: February 2015

Electronic commerce allows bidders to find and participate in auctions regardless of location. This reduction in bidders’ search costs has important effects on bidders’ participation patterns and sellers’ revenue. The “demand expansion” effect occurs when reduced search costs allow bidders to participate in more auctions. The “demand distribution” effect occurs when reduced search costs allow bidders to distribute themselves more evenly across auctions. We focus on the latter effect by modeling when a more even distribution of bidder participation across auctions increases seller revenue. We apply our analytical insights to 65,718 sequential auctions (comprising over 10 million vehicles) in the wholesale used vehicle market. We show that reduced search costs can increase seller revenue by smoothing the distribution of bidder participation across auctions, even if the aggregate amount of bidder participation remains constant. This contributes new results to the auction theory literature and generates novel insights for sellers seeking increased revenue.

This paper was accepted by Lorin Hitt, information systems.
Managing Hospital Inpatient Bed Capacity Through Partitioning Care into Focused Wings
Authors: Best Thomas J. , Sandıkçı Burhaneddin , Eisenstein Donald D. , Meltzer David O.
Published: February 2015

We consider the partitioning of care types into wings from the perspective of a hospital administrator who wishes to optimize the use of a fixed number of beds that provide services for heterogeneous care types. The hospital administrator decides on the number of wings to form, the number of beds to allocate to each wing, and the set of care types to assign to each wing to maximize the total utility to the hospital. The administrator faces an inherent trade-off between forming large wings to pool demand and bed capacity, and forming specialized wings to focus on narrow ranges of care types. Specialized wings not only provide advantages from focused care but also allow the protection of beds for high-utility care types. We provide an optimization model for the wing formation decision and address the advantages of focus endogenously in our model. Using data from a large urban teaching hospital in the United States along with a national database, we report on a number of managerial insights. In particular, as the overall demand increases across all care types, wings are formed to reserve more beds for higher-utility types, which leads to higher overall hospital utility but also some disparity across types, such as increased hospital access for some and decreased access for others. Furthermore, overall bed occupancy decreases as the hospital is split into wings. However, if sufficient focus is attained, shorter lengths-of-stay associated with focused care may increase overall patient throughput. We also observe that when patients are willing to wait longer for admission, the hospital tends to form more wings. This implies that hospitals that garner longer waits can form more specialized wings and thereby benefit from focused care, whereas hospitals that cannot will tend to form fewer, if any, wings, choosing to pool demand and bed capacity.
Decision Models for Workforce and Technology Planning in Services
Authors: Li Gang , Field Joy M. , Jiang Hongxun , He Tian , Pang Youming
Published: February 2015

Many of today’s service companies operate in a technology-oriented and knowledge-intensive environment while recruiting and training individuals from an increasingly diverse population. One of the resulting challenges for these service companies is ensuring strategic alignment between their two key resources—technology and workforce—through the resource planning and allocation processes. The traditional hierarchical decision approach to resource planning and allocation considers only technology planning as a strategic-level decision, with workforce recruiting and training planning as a subsequent tactical-level decision. However, two other decision approaches—joint and integrated—elevate workforce planning to the same strategic level as technology planning. Thus, we investigate the impact of strategically aligning technology and workforce decisions through the comparison of joint and integrated models to each other and to a baseline hierarchical model in terms of total cost. Numerical experiments are conducted to characterize key features of solutions provided by these approaches under conditions typically found in this type of service company. Our results show that the integrated model has the lowest cost across all conditions. This is because the integrated approach maintains a small but skilled workforce that can operate new and more advanced technology with higher capacity. However, the cost performance of the joint model is very close to the integrated model under a number of conditions and is easier to implement computationally and managerially, making it a good choice in many environments. Managerial insights derived from this study can serve as a valuable guide for choosing the proper decision approach for technology-oriented and knowledge-intensive service companies.
Agricultura tóxica y pueblos fumigados en Argentina
Authors: Ávila Vazquez Medardo
Published: February 2015

Hace 18 años se instauró en Argentina un sistema de producción agraria cimentada en el uso de semillas transgénicas y aplicación masiva de agrotóxicoso plaguicidas. Desde entonces los vecinos de los pueblos fumigados protestan porque se ven afectados en su salud y los médicos de esos pueblos corroboran un cambio del patrón de enfermedad y de muerte en estas comunidades. Trastornos endócrinos e inmunológicos, neumopatías crónicas, abortos espontáneos en mujeres sanas, malformaciones congénitas y cáncer son las enfermedades que se reiteran en poblaciones expuestas a dosis crecientes de agrotóxicos. Estudios epidemiológicos e investigaciones de laboratorios confirman el vínculo entre pesticidas, como glifosato, y daños en la salud. A pesar de las protestas y denuncias, aumenta el consumo de agrotóxicos y las empresas biotecnológicas preparan nuevas semillas que auguran un futuro cercano de mayor toxicidad y contaminación, lo cual pone en peligro la salud colectiva.
El Programa Equidad en Salud y su incidencia en los Determinantes Sociales de la Salud
Authors: Kuttel Yelena
Published: February 2015

El presente artículo pretende presentar cómo, a partir de políticas e instrumentos de gestión universitaria, se desarrollan una estrategia y una metodología participativa de trabajo entre agentes sociales y universitarios que permiten dar cuenta de su incidencia en los Determinantes Sociales de la Salud (DSS).
Agroecologia urbana e a demanda pela racionalização das políticas municipais
Authors: Rocha Silva Cristiane , Da Silveira Bruno Alexandre
Published: February 2015

O projeto de extensão Agroecologia urbana coordenado pela Universidade Federal do Paraná, procura articular práticas urbanas saudáveis com foco na consciência ambiental junto à população do município de Matinhos, Paraná, região sul do Brasil. A metodologia do grupo permitiu que suas ações fossem enriquecidas e modificadas com o diálogo. Dessa forma, a intenção inicial do projeto, que consistia em quintais produtivos para melhoria da alimentação, ampliou–se para atender outras necessidades relacionadas com a captação da água da chuva, a compostagem, redes de troca. A experiência com o projeto evidenciou a necessidade de articulação com as políticas municipais para a gestão do espaço urbano, estimulando a racionalização dos recursos mediante políticas tributárias ou viabilização de espaços coletivos. Nesse sentido, nos arriscamos a pontuar algumas reflexões e ações políticas que viabilizariam uma ação coletiva ampliada, com o fomento a saúde pública, a partir das mudanças das práticas urbanas de convivência.
El espacio de teatro en el Taller de Parkinson
Authors: Dubois Vanina , Bacigalupe María de los Ángeles
Published: February 2015

Presentamos el espacio de teatro en el Taller de Parkinson, sus objetivos, metodología y resultados. Este taller es una iniciativa de un grupo interdisciplinario de profesionales (actualmente programa estable de extensión de la Facultad de Ciencias Médicas de la Universidad Nacional de La Plata) cuyo objetivo es el mejoramiento de la calidad de vida de las personas con enfermedad de Parkinson. Uno de los ejes centrales es el trabajo desde la salud, es decir, a partir de las potencialidades de los participantes, especialmente desde la denominada kinesia paradojal. En el espacio de teatro se desarrollan dos cuestiones centrales para alcanzar el objetivo del TdP: por un lado, la actuación, esto es, actuar un otro que no es la persona con Parkinson y, por otro lado, la práctica del habla y la sociabilidad. Consideramos que estas cuestiones son claves para que las personas con Parkinson puedan realizarse y superar los límites impuestos por la enfermedad.
El derecho a la salud sexual y reproductiva en el embarazo y parto: mapa de accesibilidad para pensar las políticas públicas
Authors: Pagura María Fernanda , Spina Paula , Marano Milagros , Busaniche Mabel
Published: February 2015

El presente escrito surge de un trabajo colectivo entre un equipo de trabajo del Programa de Género, Sociedad y Universidad de la Universidad Nacional del Litoral, la ong Palabras y la ong italiana Cestas. Los objetivos que direccionan la acción son los siguientes: 1) relevar la accesibilidad a los derechos sexuales y reproductivos de parte de las mujeres que están o estuvieron en situación de parto y posparto en el Hospital Iturraspe durante el segundo trimestre del año 2011; 2) generar recomendaciones e intervenciones con miras a transformar tanto las acciones de políticas públicas como las institucionales con el fin de eliminar barreras en el acceso a los derechos humanos por parte de las mujeres. En esta oportunidad se presentan algunos de los ejes relevados entramados con las recomendaciones generadas a partir de la lectura conjunta con efectores del sistema de salud público provincial (Hospital y Centros de Atención Primaria de Salud).
Human Capital Formation and International Trade
Authors: Unel Bulent
Published: February 2015

This paper develops a two-country, two-sector model of trade where the only difference between two countries is the cost of human capital formation. It is shown that this difference completely shapes the pattern of trade. Trade, in turn, affects the distribution of human capital both at extensive and at intensive margins, income distribution, and welfare in each country. Since not all agents gain from trade, the paper also investigates the conditions under which trade between two countries becomes possible if the final decision in each country is based on majority voting. Finally, the paper shows that lowering the cost of human capital in one country has asymmetric effects on human capital formation and the income inequality between skilled and unskilled workers across countries.
Adhesion of human mesenchymal stem cells can be controlled by electron beam-microstructured titanium alloy surfaces during osteogenic differentiation
Authors: Neuss Sabine , Panfil Claudia , Duarte Campos Daniela Filipa , Weber Michael , Otten Christian , Reisgen Uwe , Fischer Horst
Published: February 2015

Several studies focusing on bone tissue engineering demonstrated that given microstructuring of an implant surface has a strong effect on its interaction with cells, and their adhesion and differentiation. In the present study, geometrically structured titanium alloy surfaces are shown to be able to guide cell adhesion during differentiation
The Pragmatics of Pronoun Choice in China English: Corpus Evidence from Advanced English Students’ Oral Proficiency Exam
Authors: Xu Hongmei , Sayer Peter
Published: February 2015

China English is defined as a developing variety of international English spoken in China with some characteristic features at the level of phonology, grammar, lexis and pragmatics. The authors present the analysis of the use of the first-person plural pronoun
Optimizing cellulose fibrillation for the production of cellulose nanofibrils by a disk grinder
Authors: Hu Chuanshuang , Zhao Yu , Li Kecheng , Zhu J.Y. , Gleisner Roland
Published: February 2015

The fibrillation of a bleached kraft eucalyptus pulp was investigated by means of a laboratory-scale disk grinder for the production of cellulose nanofibrils (CNF), while the parameters disk rotating speed, solid loading, and fibrillation duration were varied. The cumulative energy consumption was monitored during fibrillation. The degree of polymerization (DP) and water retention value (WRV) of the resultant cellulose fibrils were determined as measures of the degree of fibrillation, which was also visualized by scanning electron microscopy, field emission-scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy imaging. A higher rotating speed than 1500 rpm did not improve the fibrillation judged by DP and WRV measurements. Solid loading has an insignificant effect on fibrillation in a wide range. The energy consumption (E) was determined as a function of the DP and WRV. The optimal grinding conditions were between 1200 and 1500 rpm at 2.0%–2.2% solid loading.
Nanofibrillation of TEMPO-oxidized bleached hardwood kraft cellulose at high solids content
Authors: Kekäläinen Kaarina , Liimatainen Henrikki , Biale Floriane , Niinimäki Jouko
Published: February 2015

Cellulose nanofibrils (NF) are usually produced by disintegration processes at low solids content (<5%). However, the high water content reduces the capacity of production, increases the transportation costs of NF suspensions and narrows the possible applications of NF. The goal of the present study was to test a grinding technique based on oscillatory ball milling. Bleached kraft pulp cellulose was nanofibrillated at high solids contents (≥50%), which was obtained from 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl radical-oxidized pulp. The grinding method was only successful when the charge density was at least 0.5 mmol g-1. NFs and cellulose nanocrystals were identified at a charge density of 1.1 mmol g-1and a solids content of 50%. The size reduction of the formed particles was observed by means of flow fractionation and imaging and viscosity measurements after increasing the charge density from 0.3 to 1.1 mmol g-1. A solids content increment and a charge density decrement resulted in particles with low aspect ratio rather than in nanofibrils. Wide angle X-ray diffraction measurements showed the transformation of crystalline cellulose into amorphous material in the case of grounding at 93% solids content.
Ayurveda in changing scenario of diabetes management for developing safe and effective treatment choices for the future
Authors: Banerjee Subhadip , Debnath Parikshit , Rao Prasanna N. , Tripathy Tapas Brata , Adhikari Anjan , Debnath Pratip K.
Published: February 2015

Ayurveda described diabetes mellitus (DM) as Madhumeha. This ancient evidence-based system of medicine enumerated various herbs and formulations for its management, which needs scientific validation. Whereas translational “bedside to bench” approach in biomedical research is an upcoming concept, its application in traditional and complementary medicine can be interesting. The intersecting concepts in the field Ayurveda and translational research needs “omics” approach. The Ayurvedic biology concepts about DM have its close relations with present systems biology approach. Metabolic changes causing tissue damage connected with genetic and immunological irregularities leading to insulin resistance coincide with ancient knowledge. Combinatorial therapy according to Prakriti type as elucidated by Ayurgenomics should be carried on for further research. “Bedside to bench” approaches in research utilizing metabolomics and pharmacogenomics approach can be a major step towards changing the therapeutic strategy towards diabetes. Prameha which is described as the pre-diabetic state is a novel concept in Ayurvedic etiopathogenesis, while metabolomic parameters like lipid level in urine can be a thrust area of research to have a pre-diabetic screening method in high-risk populations. This tradition-guided research paradigm can open up novel opportunities in traditional knowledge-inspired systems biology and drug discovery against diabetes.
A patient developing anaphylaxis and sensitivity to two different GnRH analogues and a review of literature
Authors: Ökdemir Deniz , Hatipoğlu Nihal , Akar Himmet Haluk , Gül Ülkü , Akın Leyla , Tahan Fulya , Kurtoğlu Selim
Published: February 2015

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogues are used in the treatment of prostate cancer, breast cancer, endometriosis, and uterine leiomyomas in adults and often in the treatment of precocious puberty in children. Many adverse effects have been reported for gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogues, but anaphylaxis is rarely reported as an adverse effect. Frequent cross-reactions, particularly during childhood, and diversity of the time of onset of anaphylactic manifestations complicate the diagnosis. A patient who exhibited anaphylactic allergic reactions to two different agents used in the treatment of central precocious puberty presented here because the case has an atypical course and is the first in the literature.
Party Autonomy in Tort Theory and Reform
Authors: Robinette Christopher J.
Published: February 2015

Tort theory has been dominated by a debate between scholars who view tort law as rooted in individualized justice and scholars who argue tort law is an instrument of social policy. This dialogue has distracted scholars from the more important issue of how to properly separate cases worthy of individualized justice treatment from those better suited to routinized resolution. Tort law already contains both types. One potentially fruitful method of separation is to empower the parties themselves to make the decision. They could do so by voluntarily trading liability for the elimination or substantial reduction in non-economic damages. Such an approach honors individualized justice by leaving the parties in control of the case and, if used, would increase both compensation and administrative efficiency, arguably without a reduction in the deterrent effect. Although the purpose of this article is not to design the ideal proposal(s) to embody such an approach, Jeffrey O’Connell has given us several models to begin our deliberations. It is only the latest contribution in his impressive legacy.
The Kirchhoff Index of Quasi-Tree Graphs
Authors: Xu Kexiang , Liu Hongshuang , Das Kinkar Ch.
Published: February 2015

Resistance distance was introduced by Klein and Randić as a generalisation of the classical distance. The Kirchhoff index Kf(G) of a graph G is the sum of resistance distances between all unordered pairs of vertices. In this article we characterise the extremal graphs with the maximal Kirchhoff index among all non-trivial quasi-tree graphs of order n. Moreover, we obtain a lower bound on the Kirchhoff index for all non-trivial quasi-tree graphs of order n.
Nitrogen-Containing Coronenes: Theoretical Evaluation of the Influence of Aza-substitution on their Aromaticity
Authors: Pop Raluca , van Staden Jacobus , Diudea Mircea
Published: February 2015

The aromaticity of coronene derivatives where two C atoms of each outer six-membered ring are replaced by N have been investigated. Three types of substitution, namely 1,2-, 1,3-, and 1,4- are proposed. Computations of the geometric (HOMA index), energetic (HOMO-LUMO gap), and magnetic indices (NICS(0) and NICS(1)) were performed, and the results compared to the ones obtained for the all-carbon species. The results outline that the aza-derivatives have aromatic character comparable to the all-carbon species and an enlarged HOMO-LUMO gap.
Resonant Raman Scattering in MoS2
Authors: Gołasa Katarzyna , Grzeszczyk Magdalena , Leszczyński Przemysław , Nogajewski Karol , Potemski Marek , Babiński Adam
Published: February 2015

Resonant Raman scattering in molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) is studied as a function of the sample thickness. Optical emission from 1ML, 2ML, 3ML and bulk MoS2 is investigated both at room and at liquid helium temperature. The experimental results are analysed in terms of the recently proposed attribution of the Raman peaks to multiphonon replica involving transverse acoustic phonons from the vicinity of the high-symmetry M point of the MoS2 Brillouin zone. It is shown that the corresponding processes are quenched in a few monolayer samples much stronger than the modes involving longitudinal acoustic phonons. It is also shown that along with the disappearance of multiphonon replica, the Raman modes, which are in-active in bulk become active in a few-monolayer flakes.