bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Systems engineering meets quantitative systems pharmacology: from low‐level targets to engaging the host defenses
Authors: Androulakis Ioannis P.
Published: March 2015

Quantitative systems pharmacology aims at systematizing, in a model‐based manner, the integration of systems biology and pharmacology in an effort to rationalize the process of assessing the ability of a drug to enhance well‐being by off‐setting the effects of a disease. Systems engineering, on the other hand, has enabled us to develop principles and methodologies for designing and operating engineered networks of structures exploring the integration of the underlying governing (design) laws. Although the computational tools which have resulted in major advances in the design, analysis, and operation of complex engineered structures have had tremendous success in the analysis of systems pharmacology models, it is argued in this opinion paper, that exploring the underlying conceptual foundation of complex systems engineering will enable us to move toward integrated models at the host level to explore, and possibly, induce synergies between low‐level drug targets and higher level, systemic, defense mechanisms. This is an approach which would require refocusing of the key activities; however, it is likely the more promising approach as we enter the new era of personalized and precision medicine. We finally argue for the development of an allostatic approach to quantitative systems pharmacology and the development of an integrated framework for considering drugs in their broader context, beyond their local site of action. WIREs Syst Biol Med 2015, 7:101–112. doi: 10.1002/wsbm.1294

This article is categorized under:

Models of Systems Properties and Processes > Mechanistic Models

Physiology > Mammalian Physiology in Health and Disease

Translational, Genomic, and Systems Medicine > Translational Medicine
Japanese Society for Cancer of the Colon and Rectum (JSCCR) Guidelines 2014 for treatment of colorectal cancer
Authors: Watanabe Toshiaki , Itabashi Michio , Shimada Yasuhiro , Tanaka Shinji , Ito Yoshinori , Ajioka Yoichi , Hamaguchi Tetsuya , Hyodo Ichinosuke , Igarashi Masahiro , Ishida Hideyuki , Ishihara Soichiro , Ishiguro Megumi , Kanemitsu Yukihide , Kokudo Norihiro , Muro Kei , Ochiai Atsushi , Oguchi Masahiko , Ohkura Yasuo , Saito Yutaka , Sakai Yoshiharu , Ueno Hideki , Yoshino Takayuki , Boku Narikazu , Fujimori Takahiro , Koinuma Nobuo , Morita Takayuki , Nishimura Genichi , Sakata Yuh , Takahashi Keiichi , Tsuruta Osamu , Yamaguchi Toshiharu , Yoshida Masahiro , Yamaguchi Naohiko , Kotake Kenjiro , Sugihara Kenichi ,   Japanese Society for Cancer of the Colon and Rectum
Published: March 2015

Colorectal cancer is a major cause of death in Japan, where it accounts for the largest number of deaths from malignant neoplasms among women and the third largest number among men. Many new methods of treatment have been developed during recent decades. The Japanese Society for Cancer of the Colon and Rectum Guidelines 2014 for treatment of colorectal cancer (JSCCR Guidelines 2014) have been prepared as standard treatment strategies for colorectal cancer, to eliminate treatment disparities among institutions, to eliminate unnecessary treatment and insufficient treatment, and to deepen mutual understanding among health-care professionals and patients by making these guidelines available to the general public. These guidelines have been prepared as a result of consensuses reached by the JSCCR Guideline Committee on the basis of careful review of evidence retrieved by literature searches and taking into consideration the medical health insurance system and actual clinical practice in Japan. They can, therefore, be used as a guide for treating colorectal cancer in clinical practice. More specifically, they can be used as a guide to obtaining informed consent from patients and choosing the method of treatment for each patient. As a result of the discussions of the Guideline Committee, controversial issues were selected as clinical questions, and recommendations were made. Each recommendation is accompanied by a classification of the evidence and a classification of recommendation categories, on the basis of consensus reached by Guideline Committee members. Here we present the English version of the JSCCR Guidelines 2014.
Phase 1 study of ixazomib, an investigational proteasome inhibitor, in advanced non-hematologic malignancies
Authors: Smith David C. , Kalebic Thea , Infante Jeffrey R. , Siu Lillian L. , Sullivan Daniel , Vlahovic Gordana , Kauh John S. , Gao Feng , Berger Allison J. , Tirrell Stephen , Gupta Neeraj , Di Bacco Alessandra , Berg Deborah , Liu Guohui , Lin Jianchang , Hui Ai-Min , Thompson John A.
Published: March 2015

Purpose Ixazomib is an investigational proteasome inhibitor with demonstrated antitumor activity in xenograft models of multiple myeloma (MM), lymphoma, and solid tumors. This open-label, phase 1 study investigated intravenous (IV) ixazomib, in adult patients with advanced non-hematologic malignancies. Methods Patients received IV ixazomib twice-weekly for up to twelve 21-day cycles. The 0.125 mg/m2 starting dose was doubled (one patient/dose) until 1.0 mg/m2 based on dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) in cycle 1. This was followed by 3 + 3 dose-escalation and expansion at the maximum tolerated dose (MTD). Primary objectives included safety and MTD assessment. Secondary objectives included assessment of pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and disease response. Results Ixazomib was escalated from 0.125 to 2.34 mg/m2 to determine the MTD (n = 23); patients were then enrolled to MTD expansion (n = 73) and pharmacodynamic (n = 20) cohorts. Five patients experienced DLTs (1.0 and 1.76 mg/m2: grade 3 pruritic rash; 2.34 mg/m2: grade 3 and 4 thrombocytopenia, and grade 3 acute renal failure); thus, the MTD was 1.76 mg/m2. Drug-related grade ≥3 adverse events (AEs) included thrombocytopenia (23 %), skin and subcutaneous (SC) tissue disorders (16 %), and fatigue (9 %). Among 92 evaluable patients, one (head and neck cancer) had a partial response and 30 had stable disease. Ixazomib terminal half-life was 3.8–7.2 days; plasma exposures increased dose-proportionally and drug was distributed to tumors. Inhibition of whole-blood 20S proteasome activity and upregulation of ATF-3 in tumor biopsies demonstrated target engagement. Conclusions In patients with solid tumors, ixazomib was associated with a manageable safety profile, limited antitumor activity, and evidence of downstream proteasome inhibition effects.
Neurophysiological modeling of bladder afferent activity in the rat overactive bladder model
Authors: Choudhary Mahipal , van Asselt Els , van Mastrigt Ron , Clavica Francesco
Published: March 2015

The overactive bladder (OAB) is a syndrome-based urinary dysfunction characterized by “urgency, with or without urge incontinence, usually with frequency and nocturia”. Earlier we developed a mathematical model of bladder nerve activity during voiding in anesthetized rats and found that the nerve activity in the relaxation phase of voiding contractions was all afferent. In the present study, we applied this mathematical model to an acetic acid (AA) rat model of bladder overactivity to study the sensitivity of afferent fibers in intact nerves to bladder pressure and volume changes. The afferent activity in the filling phase and the slope, i.e., the sensitivity of the afferent fibers to pressure changes in the post-void relaxation phase, were found to be significantly higher in AA than in saline measurements, while the offset (nerve activity at pressure ~0) and maximum pressure were comparable. We have thus shown, for the first time, that the sensitivity of afferent fibers in the OAB can be studied without cutting nerves or preparation of single fibers. We conclude that bladder overactivity induced by AA in rats is neurogenic in origin and is caused by increased sensitivity of afferent sensors in the bladder wall.
Corporate Social Responsibility Practice from 1800–1914: Past Initiatives and Current Debates
Authors: Husted Bryan W.
Published: March 2015

The history of the practice of corporate social responsibility (CSR) has largely been limited to the twentieth century, with a focus on the United States. This paper provides a brief introduction to CSR practice from the nineteenth century through World War I in the United Kingdom, United States, Japan, India, and Germany. The relevance of nineteenth-century CSR to current debates and research regarding the motivations for CSR, the business cases for CSR, stakeholder management, political CSR, industry self-regulation, and income inequality are also discussed.
Education in Disaster Management and Emergencies: Defining a New European Course
Authors: Khorram-Manesh Amir , Ashkenazi Michael , Djalali Ahmadreza , Ingrassia Pier Luigi , Friedl Tom , von Armin Gotz , Lupesco Olivera , Kaptan Kubilay , Arculeo Chris , Hreckovski Boris , Komadina Radko , Fisher Philipp , Voigt Stefan , James James , Gursky Elin
Published: March 2015

Objective

Unremitting natural disasters, deliberate threats, pandemics, and humanitarian suffering resulting from conflict situations necessitate swift and effective response paradigms. The European Union’s (EU) increasing visibility as a disaster response enterprise suggests the need not only for financial contribution but also for instituting a coherent disaster response approach and management structure. The DITAC (Disaster Training Curriculum) project identified deficiencies in current responder training approaches and analyzed the characteristics and content required for a new, standardized European course in disaster management and emergencies.

Methods

Over 35 experts from within and outside the EU representing various organizations and specialties involved in disaster management composed the DITAC Consortium. These experts were also organized into 5 specifically tasked working groups. Extensive literature reviews were conducted to identify requirements and deficiencies and to craft a new training concept based on research trends and lessons learned. A pilot course and program dissemination plan was also developed.

Results

The lack of standardization was repeatedly highlighted as a serious deficiency in current disaster training methods, along with gaps in the command, control, and communication levels. A blended and competency-based teaching approach using exercises combined with lectures was recommended to improve intercultural and interdisciplinary integration.

Conclusion

The goal of a European disaster management course should be to standardize and enhance intercultural and inter-agency performance across the disaster management cycle. A set of minimal standards and evaluation metrics can be achieved through consensus, education, and training in different units. The core of the training initiative will be a unit that presents a realistic situation “scenario-based training.” (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2015;9:245-255)
Cold-Air Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Against Clostridium difficile Spores: A Potential Alternative for the Decontamination of Hospital Inanimate Surfaces
Authors: Claro Tânia , Cahill Orla J. , O’Connor Niall , Daniels Stephen , Humphreys Hilary
Published: March 2015

Clostridium difficile spores survive for months on environmental surfaces and are highly resistant to decontamination. We evaluated the effect of cold-air plasma against C. difficile spores. The single-jet had no effect while the multi-jet achieved 2–3 log10 reductions in spore counts and may augment traditional decontamination.

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2015;00(0):1–3
THE EARLY DYNASTIC MONUMENTAL BUILDINGS AT UMM AL-AQARIB
Authors: Oraibi Almamori Haider
Published: March 2015

This article presents the results of excavations conducted at the site of Umm al-Aqarib, in the Dhi Qar Governorate of Iraq, in the years 1999–2002 and 2008–2010. Despite significant practical difficulties, the excavations revealed an Early Dynastic city of major importance, with monumental architecture including two large temples, called here the White Temple and Temple H, and a palace. In interpreting the excavation results, the author argues that Umm al-Aqarib, and not Jokha (Umma) as has previously been thought, was the central settlement of the kingdom of Gišša during the Early Dynastic III period, and that the White Temple, the largest yet known from Early Dynastic Sumer, is to be identified as the temple of Šara, city god of Gišša.
REPORT ON THE EXCAVATIONS AT TELL SITAK: THE 2010 SEASON
Authors: Saber Saber Ahmed , Hamza Hussein , Altaweel Mark
Published: March 2015

Recent excavations at Tell Sitak in Iraqi Kurdistan contribute new information on the Neo-Assyrian and Sasanian occupation of this region. The site was most likely occupied between the eighth and sixth centuries b.c., in other words during the Neo-Assyrian period and perhaps for some time after. Architectural remains suggest that during this phase its primary function may have been as a fortress; smaller finds include ceramics and one Neo-Assyrian cuneiform tablet. The site was occupied again in the later Sasanian period, perhaps between the fourth and seventh centuries a.d. Remains from this period include ceramics carrying a variety of stamp seal impressions and substantial evidence for ironworking at the site.
REPORT ON THE EXCAVATIONS AT MERQULY: THE 2009 SEASON
Authors: Saber Saber Ahmed , Rejeb Zuhair , Altaweel Mark
Published: March 2015

The site of Merquly is located in a mountain passc. 40 km north-west of Slemani (Sulaimaniyah), Iraq. Excavation at the site in 2009 revealed a fortified structure whose rooms at multiple elevations reflect a terraced structure adapted to the steep landscape contours of its setting. Both architectural preservation and quantity of finds were relatively limited; however, despite the nearby presence of a prominent Parthian period rock relief, ceramics suggest a later Sasanian date for the site. The authors discuss the 2009 season's results, and consider possible parallels for the preserved architecture, although further work is needed to securely date and characterize the site.
Negative symptoms in schizophrenia show association with amygdala volumes and neural activation during affective processing
Authors: Rahm Christoffer , Liberg Benny , Reckless Greg , Ousdal Olga , Melle Ingrid , Andreassen Ole A. , Agartz Ingrid
Published: March 2015

Objectives

Negative symptoms in schizophrenia have been associated with structural and functional alterations of the amygdala. We hypothesised that there would be between-group differences in amygdala volume and neural activation patterns during processing of affective stimuli among patients with schizophrenia and healthy controls. We further hypothesised correlations between neuroimaging metrics and clinical ratings of negative symptoms in patients with schizophrenia.

Methods

We used structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging to assess volume and neural activation of the amygdala in 28 patients with schizophrenia and 28 healthy controls.

Results

We found no between-group differences in amygdala volume or neural activation. However, we found a significant negative correlation between emotional blunting and neural activation in the left amygdala during processing of positive affect. We also found a significant negative correlation between stereotyped thinking and the volume of right amygdala.

Conclusion

Our findings implicate the amygdala in a subgroup of negative symptoms in schizophrenia that are characterised by reduced expression with blunted affect and stereotyped thinking.
Levels of functional disability in elderly people in Tanzania with dementia, stroke and Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Kisoli Aloyce , Gray William K. , Dotchin Catherine L. , Orega Golda , Dewhurst Felicity , Paddick Stella-Maria , Longdon Anna , Chaote Paul , Dewhurst Matthew , Walker Richard W.
Published: March 2015

Background

Disability is associated with increasing age and poverty, yet there are few reliable data regarding disability amongst the elderly in low-income countries. The aim of this study was to compare disability levels for three of the most common neurological, non-communicable diseases: dementia, stroke and Parkinson’s disease (PD).

Methods

We performed a community-based study of people aged 70 years and over in 12 randomly selected villages in the rural Hai district of Tanzania. Participants underwent disability assessment using the Barthel Index, and clinical assessment for dementia, stroke and PD.

Results

In a representative cohort of 2232 people aged 70 years and over, there were 54 cases of stroke, 12 cases of PD and estimated (by extrapolation from a sub-sample of 1198 people) to be 112 cases of dementia. People with stroke were the most disabled, with 62.9% having moderate or severe disability. Levels of moderate or severe disability were 41.2% in people with dementia and 50.0% in people with PD. However, the higher prevalence of dementia meant that, at a population level, it was associated with similar levels of disability as stroke, with 18.5% of 249 people identified as having moderate or severe disability having dementia, compared to 13.7% for stroke and 2.4% for PD.

Conclusions

Levels of disability from these conditions is high and is likely to increase with demographic ageing. Innovative, community-based strategies to reduce disability levels should be investigated.
Whales as an Economic Factor in Prehistoric Europe
Authors: Clark Grahame
Published: March 2015

Archaeologists have long been aware that whales were extensively utilized by dwellers on the Atlantic sea-board of prehistoric Europe (1). The frequent discovery of cetacean bones in ancient middens and, in regions such as the extreme north of Scotland and the Orkneys, of implements and other objects fabricated from them prompts one to inquire into the source of the whales. Were some of them hunted, or did prehistoric man confine himself to stranded specimens? Again, it is interesting to speculate on the various ways in which whales, whether hunted or stranded, contributed to the economy of early man.
Is there something missing in scientific provenance studies of prehistoric artefacts?
Authors: Pollard A. Mark , Bray Peter J. , Gosden Chris
Published: March 2015

Determination of the provenance of material culture by means of chemical analysis has a long and distinguished history in archaeology. The chemical analysis of archaeological objects started in the intellectual ferment of late-eighteenth-century Europe (Caley 1948, 1949, 1967; Pollard 2013), almost as soon as systematic (gravimetric) means of chemical analysis had been devised (Pollard in prep.). Many of the leading scientists of the day, such as Vauquelin, Klaproth, Davy, Faraday and Berzelius, carried out analyses of archaeological objects as part of their interests in the contents of the ‘cabinets of curiosities’ of the day (Pollard&Heron 2008). The subject moved frommere curiosity to systematic and problemorientated study with the work of G¨obel (1842),Wocel (1854), Damour (1865) and Helm (1886), who essentially formulated the idea of ‘provenance studies’—that some chemical characteristic of the geological rawmaterial(s) provides a ‘fingerprint’ which can bemeasured in the finished object, and that if an object from a remote source is identified at a particular place, then it is evidence of some sort of direct or indirect contact and ‘trade’ between the two places.
Vestibular dysfunction in patients with post-mumps sensorineural hearing loss
Authors: El-Badry M M , Abousetta A , Kader R M A
Published: March 2015

Objective:

To study the possible damage to the vestibular system in patients with post-mumps sensorineural hearing loss.

Methods:

Nineteen patients with recent mumps infection participated in the study. All patients had unilateral profound sensorineural hearing loss or total hearing loss. Patients were subjected to video-nystagmography and vestibular-evoked myogenic potential testing.

Results:

Eight patients (42.1 per cent) had normal video-nystagmography results and intact vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials on both sides, whereas the other 11 patients (57.9 per cent) had vestibular lesions in the form of marked canal weakness and absent vestibular-evoked myogenic potential responses on the same side as hearing loss. The overall findings indicated a peripheral site for the lesions.

Conclusion:

The majority of patients with post-mumps sensorineural hearing loss had peripheral vestibular pathology in the same ear as hearing loss. Further research should be directed to saving the inner ear following mumps infection.
Bone-anchored hearing aids and unilateral sensorineural hearing loss: why do patients reject them?
Authors: Siau D , Dhillon B , Andrews R , Green K M J
Published: March 2015

Objectives:

This study aimed to report the bone-anchored hearing aid uptake and the reasons for their rejection by unilateral sensorineural deafness patients.

Methods:

A retrospective review of 90 consecutive unilateral sensorineural deafness patients referred to the Greater Manchester Bone-Anchored Hearing Aid Programme between September 2008 and August 2011 was performed.

Results:

In all, 79 (87.8 per cent) were deemed audiologically suitable: 24 (30.3 per cent) eventually had a bone-anchored hearing aid implanted and 55 (69.6 per cent) patients declined. Of those who declined, 26 (47.3 per cent) cited perceived limited benefits, 18 (32.7 per cent) cited reservations regarding surgery, 13 (23.6 per cent) preferred a wireless contralateral routing of sound device and 12 (21.8 per cent) cited cosmetic reasons. In all, 32 (40.5 per cent) suitable patients eventually chose the wireless contralateral routing of sound device.

Conclusion:

The uptake rate was 30 per cent for audiologically suitable patients. Almost half of suitable patients did not perceive a sufficient benefit to proceed to device implantation and a significant proportion rejected it. It is therefore important that clinicians do not to rush to implant all unilateral sensorineural hearing loss patients with a bone-anchored hearing aid.
Effect of the electron beam modulation on the sub-THz generation in the vircator with the field-emission cathode
Authors: Kurkin S. A. , Koronovskii A. A. , Hramov A. E.
Published: March 2015

In this paper, we focus on the numerical investigation of the vircator with a controlling emission from a field-emission cathode. The external harmonic signal is added to the accelerating electric field in the beam formation region and effects on the beam emission process leading to the electron emission modulation. As a consequence, the beam is injected into the drift chamber of the vircator being density-modulated. The strong influence of the modulation parameters (modulation depth and frequency) on the characteristics of virtual cathode oscillations has been discovered. We have shown that the tuning of the modulation frequency to the harmonics of the basic frequency of virtual cathode oscillations leads to the considerable power increase of its higher harmonics in the output spectrum.
Some aspects of the reproductive biology of albacore Thunnus alalunga from the western Mediterranean Sea
Authors: Saber Sámar , Ortiz de Urbina Josetxu , Gómez-Vives María José , Macías David
Published: March 2015

Thunnus alalunga is an important commercial tuna species widely distributed in the three major oceans and the Mediterranean Sea. The Mediterranean population is currently classified as a data-poor stock and little is known about its basic life history parameters. This study provides the first detailed information on some aspects of the reproductive biology of T. alalunga from the western Mediterranean Sea. A total of 16 104 specimens were measured between 2005 and 2012. The overall sex ratio of females to males was 1.1:1, although the ratio was female biased in fish <70 cm fork length (LF) and male biased in those >75 cm LF. Histological analysis of the ovaries (N = 587) and the monthly variation of the gonadosomatic index for both sexes showed that spawning occurred from June to August, which is a much shorter period than the 7 months reported for T. alalunga in tropical oceanic waters. Thunnus alalunga caught during June and July are capable of spawning daily. The gonadosomatic index values for T. alalunga from the western Mediterranean were up to eight times higher than those of T. alalunga from other oceans. Histological examination of the ovaries showed that the minimum length at sexual maturity of females was 56 cm LF, which is considerably smaller than those estimated for other stocks.
The similarity of the structure of DSM-IV criteria for major depression in depressed women from China, the United States and Europe
Authors: Kendler K. S. , Aggen S. H. , Li Y. , Lewis C. M. , Breen G. , Boomsma D. I. , Bot M. , Penninx B. W. J. H. , Flint J.
Published: March 2015

Background

Do DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for major depression (MD) in Chinese and Western women perform in a similar manner?

Method

The CONVERGE study included interview-based assessments of women of Han Chinese descent with treated recurrent MD. Using Mplus software, we investigated the overall degree of between-sample measurement invariance (MI) for DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for MD in the CONVERGE sample and samples selected from four major Western studies from the USA and Europe matched to the inclusion criteria of CONVERGE. These analyses were performed one pair at a time. We then compared the results from CONVERGE paired with Western samples to those obtained when examining levels of MI between pairs of the Western samples.

Results

Assuming a single factor model for the nine diagnostic criteria for MD, the level of MI based on global fit indexes observed between the CONVERGE and the four Western samples was very similar to that seen between the Western samples. Comparable results were obtained when using a two-factor structure for MI testing when applied to the 14 diagnostic criteria for MD disaggregated for weight, appetite, sleep, and psychomotor changes.

Conclusions

Despite differences in language, ethnicity and culture, DSM criteria for MD perform similarly in Chinese women with recurrent MD and comparable subjects from the USA and Europe. The DSM criteria for MD may assess depressive symptoms that are relatively insensitive to cultural and ethnic differences. These results support efforts to compare findings from depressed patients in China and Western countries.
Written and oral aspects of an early Wahhābī epistle
Authors: Cook Michael
Published: March 2015

Epistles of Muḥammad ibn ʿAbd al-Wahhāb, the founder of the Wahhābī movement in eighteenth-century Najd, are preserved in profusion in Wahhābī sources. One of them is a short epistle, clearly intended for a lay audience, that sets out basic Wahhābī dogma in terms of four principles (qawāʿid). This epistle is preserved by Wahhābī sources in several different versions; none of them are dated, making it hard to establish how the text evolved over time. The present study is based on two dated external witnesses to the text of the epistle. One is taken from an unpublished Baṣran refutation of 1745, and is translated here. The other is found in a Yemeni chronicle under the events of the year 1212/1797f. Thanks to these two fixed points, it is possible to construct a plausible account of the evolution of the text over the intervening decades. From this it is clear that while written transmission played a significant part in the evolution of the text, some of the more dramatic changes are the result of oral intervention. Moreover the role of orality is confirmed by evidence suggesting the extensive use of the epistle in oral settings, an illustration of the strong concern of Ibn ʿAbd al-Wahhāb to spread his message among the laity.
The significance of theḥadīthof the position of Aaron for the formulation of the Shīʿī doctrine of authority
Authors: Miskinzoda G.
Published: March 2015

From quite early on, the Shīʿa endeavoured to provide both historical and rational arguments for their central claim that ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib (d. 40/661), the cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet Muḥammad (d. 11/632), was not only his legitimate successor but also the person best qualified to lead theumma. In particular, there are several statements attributed to the Prophet Muḥammad which are used as evidence of the special position of ʿAlī and his family. One of these is a report known in the Muslim tradition as theḥadīth manzilat Hārūn(ḥadīthof the position of Aaron). According to this report, cited by such eminent authorities onḥadīthas Muslim ibn al-Ḥajjāj (d. 261/875), al-Tirmidhī (d. 279/892) and Ibn Ḥanbal (d. 241/855), Muḥammad said to ʿAlī: “Are you not content to be with respect to me as Aaron was to Moses, except that after me there shall be no other Prophet?” Theḥadīthalludes to the parallels and similarities between the status of Muḥammad and ʿAlī and their close relationship, and that of Moses and Aaron in the Jewish tradition. The article examines the significance of this report for the formulation of the doctrine of the special status of ʿAlī in Shīʿī Islam through its use and interpretation in the Muslim literary and historical tradition.
Beyond theology: Muʿtazilite scholars and their authority in al-Rummānī'stafsīr
Authors: Kulinich Alena
Published: March 2015

Muʿtazilite exegetical tradition has been defined primarily by reference to the theological dimensions of thetafsīrworks authored by the Muʿtazila. This article is an attempt to go beyond this focus by exploring the significance of an exegete's affiliation to the tradition that is implicit in his selection of interpretations and his references to authorities. Focusing on thetafsīrof the tenth-century Muʿtazilite scholar ʿAlī ibn ʿĪsā al-Rummānī, the article analyses al-Rummānī's references to his three Muʿtazilite predecessors: Abū ʿAlī al-Jubbāʾī, Abū l-Qāsim al-Balkhī and Ibn al-Ikhshīd. The content of these references indicates that, for al-Rummānī, the authority of these Muʿtazilite scholars extended beyond their views on the theological implications of the Quranic verses. The context suggests that the scholars were part of a distinct exegetical tradition that allowed for certain differences of opinion.
‘Since My Part has Been Well Played’: Conflicting Evaluations of Augustus
Authors: Davis P.J.
Published: March 2015

In hisLife of AugustusSuetonius records that just before his death the emperor requested that his appearance be made right, and that he then spoke some lines of Greek verse:

petito speculo capillum sibi comi ac malas labantes corrigi praecepit et admissos amicos percontatus, ecquid iis uideretur mimum uitae commode transegisse, adiecit et clausulam:

ἐπεὶ δὲ πάνυ καλῶς πέπαισται, δότε κρότον

καὶ πάντες ἡμᾶς μετὰ χαρᾶς προπέμψατε

(Suet.Div. Aug.99)

Asking for a mirror, he ordered that his hair be done and that his drooping jaws be set straight. And having summoned his friends, he asked whether he seemed to them to have played life's farce adequately and added this ending:

Since my part has been well played, give me applause

And all of you dismiss us with a kind farewell.
Learning vocabulary through meaning-focused input: Replication of Elley (1989) and Liu & Nation (1985)
Authors: Webb Stuart
Published: March 2015

There has been a great deal of research on first language (L1) and second language (L2) learning through meaning-focused input since Nagy, Herman & Anderson's (1985) seminal study of incidental vocabulary learning through reading. Two strands of research within this area are incidental vocabulary learning through listening and guessing from context. This article discusses widely-cited studies from each of these areas – Elley (1989) and Liu & Nation (1985) – that deserve to be replicated. Both studies made important contributions to the field, were original in their designs, and advanced our understanding of how vocabulary is learned in context. The benefits of replicating these two studies are described and several suggestions are made for how the replications might be completed.
Testing a threshold: an approximate replication of Johnson, Mercado & Acevedo 2012
Authors: Johnson Mark D. , Nicodemus Christine L.
Published: March 2015

In order to better understand the role of working memory in second language (L2) written production, this study contributes to recent research attempting to apply Kellogg's model of working memory in first language (L1) writing to L2 writing research (Ellis & Yuan 2004; Ong & Zhang 2010; Johnson, Mercado & Acevedo 2012). This paper describes an approximate replication of a study presented by Johnson et al. (2012) in order to determine whether the effects of pre-task planning sub-processes (idea generation, organization, and goal setting) are mediated by a hypothesized threshold of proficiency in the target language. To do this, the current study replicated a quasi-experimental research design to test the effect of specific pre-task planning sub-processes on the written language production of a group of L1 speakers of English. Using measures identical to those in Johnson et al. (2012), the study found no significant, multivariate effect of pre-task planning on the fluency and complexity of the participants' written language production, suggesting no support for the hypothesized threshold of general proficiency in the target language. The implications of the study's results are discussed in terms of Kellogg's model (1996) of working memory in L1 writing and its ability to describe L2 composing processes.
Spatio-temporal patterns of leptospirosis in Thailand: is flooding a risk factor?
Authors: SUWANPAKDEE S. , KAEWKUNGWAL J. , WHITE L. J. , ASENSIO N. , RATANAKORN P. , SINGHASIVANON P. , DAY N. P. J. , PAN-NGUM W.
Published: March 2015

We studied the temporal and spatial patterns of leptospirosis, its association with flooding and animal census data in Thailand. Flood data from 2010 to 2012 were extracted from spatial information taken from satellite images. The incidence rate ratio (IRR) was used to determine the relationship between spatio-temporal flooding patterns and the number of human leptospirosis cases. In addition, the area of flood coverage, duration of waterlogging, time lags between flood events, and a number of potential animal reservoirs were considered in a sub-analysis. There was no significant temporal trend of leptospirosis over the study period. Statistical analysis showed an inconsistent relationship between IRR and flooding across years and regions. Spatially, leptospirosis occurred repeatedly and predominantly in northeastern Thailand. Our findings suggest that flooding is less influential in leptospirosis transmission than previously assumed. High incidence of the disease in the northeastern region is explained by the fact that agriculture and animal farming are important economic activities in this area. The periodic rise and fall of reported leptospirosis cases over time might be explained by seasonal exposure from rice farming activities performed during the rainy season when flood events often occur. We conclude that leptospirosis remains an occupational disease in Thailand.
IFITM3 rs12252 T>C polymorphism is associated with the risk of severe influenza: a meta-analysis
Authors: XUAN Y. , WANG L. N. , LI W. , ZI H. R. , GUO Y. , YAN W. J. , CHEN X. B. , WEI P. M.
Published: March 2015

The interferon-inducible transmembrane protein 3 (IFITM3), as one of the key genes involved in the interferon pathway, is critical for defending the host against influenza virus, and the rs12252 T>C variant in IFITM3 might be associated with susceptibility to severe influenza. Owing to contradictory and inconclusive results, we performed a meta-analysis to assess the association between rs12252 T>C polymorphism and severe influenza risk. A comprehensive literature search up to 1 August 2014 was conducted in EMBASE, Pubmed, Web of Science, VIP, Wanfang and CNKI databases. Four eligible studies with a total of 445 influenza patients and 3396 controls were included in this meta-analysis. Overall, our results demonstrated a significant association between the IFITM3 rs12252 T>C polymorphism and influenza risk [C vs. T: odds ratio (OR) 1·68, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1·32–2·13; CC vs. CT+TT: OR 2·38, 95% CI 1·52–3·73; CC+CT vs. TT: OR 1·62, 95% CI 1·18–2·22]. Stratification by ethnicity indicated that the variant C allele was associated with an 88% increased risk of influenza in Asians (C vs. T: OR 1·88, 95% CI 1·34–2·62). Moreover, subjects carrying the variant C allele had an increased risk of developing severe illness upon influenza infection (C vs. T: OR 2·70, 95% CI 1·86–3·94). However, no significant association was observed in patients with mild infection (C vs. T: OR 1·26, 95% CI 0·93–1·71). Our meta-analysis suggests that IFITM3 rs12252 T>C polymorphism is significantly associated with increased risk of severe influenza but not with the chance of initial virus infection.
Multilocus variable-number tandem-repeat analysis of Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C in China
Authors: SHAN X. Y. , ZHOU H. J. , ZHANG J. , ZHU B. Q. , XU L. , XU Z. , HU G. C. , BAI A. Y. , SHI Y. W. , JIANG B. F. , SHAO Z. J.
Published: March 2015

This study characterized Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C strains in China in order to establish their genetic relatedness and describe the use of multilocus variable-number tandem-repeat (VNTR) analysis (MLVA) to provide useful epidemiological information. A total of 215 N. meningitidis serogroup C strains, obtained from 2003 to 2012 in China, were characterized by MLVA with different published schemes as well as multilocus sequence typing. (i) Based on the MLVA scheme with a combination of five highly variable loci, 203 genotypes were identified; this level of discrimination supports its use for resolving closely related isolates. (ii) Based on a combination of ten low variable loci, clear phylogenetic relationships were established within sequence type complexes. In addition, there was evidence of microevolution of VNTR loci over the decade as strain lineages spread from Anhui to other provinces, the more distant the provinces from Anhui, the higher the genetic variation.
How to mingle streams
Authors: BIRD RICHARD S.
Published: March 2015

The setting is a class on functional programming. There are four students: Anne, Jack, Mary and Theo.
Anomalous left pulmonary artery origin from internal carotid artery: prospective echocardiographic diagnosis of a previously unknown variant
Authors: Thankavel Poonam P. , Martho Laura C. , Zeltser Ilana
Published: March 2015

We present a neonate with dextrocardia, tetralogy of Fallot, right arch, and aberrant left subclavian artery with left pulmonary artery origin from the left internal carotid artery, which is previously unreported.
Book Reviews: CBT for Those at Risk of a First Episode Psychosis: evidence-based psychotherapy for people with an “At Risk Mental State” – Erratum
Authors: Collinson C.
Published: March 2015

Please note the author of this book review is Dr Catherine Campbell, Clinical Psychologist, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Kings College London, and not Collinson, C. (2015) as cited in the original article. The book review editors extend their sincere apologies to Dr Campbell for this error.
A Model Ni–Al–Mo Superalloy Studied by Ultraviolet Pulsed-Laser-Assisted Local-Electrode Atom-Probe Tomography
Authors: Tu Yiyou , Plotnikov Elizaveta Y. , Seidman David N.
Published: March 2015

This study investigates the effects of the charge-state ratio of evaporated ions on the accuracy of local-electrode atom-probe (LEAP) tomographic compositional and structural analyses, which employs a picosecond ultraviolet pulsed laser. Experimental results demonstrate that the charge-state ratio is a better indicator of the best atom-probe tomography (APT) experimental conditions compared with laser pulse energy. The thermal tails in the mass spectra decrease significantly, and the mass resolving power (m/Δm) increases by 87.5 and 185.7% at full-width half-maximum and full-width tenth-maximum, respectively, as the laser pulse energy is increased from 5 to 30 pJ/pulse. The measured composition of this alloy depends on the charge-state ratio of the evaporated ions, and the most accurate composition is obtained when Ni2+/Ni+ is in the range of 0.3–20. The γ(f.c.c.)/γ'(L12) interface is quantitatively more diffuse when determined from the measured concentration profiles for higher laser pulse energies. Conclusions of the APT compositional and structural analyses utilizing the same suitable charge-state ratio are more comparable than those collected with the same laser pulse energy.
Dispensing doctor practices and community pharmacies: exploring the quality of pharmaceutical services
Authors: Weiss Marjorie C. , Grey Elisabeth , Harris Michael , Rodham Karen
Published: March 2015

Aims

This research sought (a) to investigate the similarities and differences in how pharmaceutical services are provided by community pharmacies (CPs) and dispensing doctor practices (DPs) and (b) to identify the issues relevant to determining the quality of pharmaceutical services in these settings.

Background

UK pharmaceutical services, including dispensing prescriptions and public health advice, can be provided from both (CP) and, in rural areas, (DP). While there is much similarity between CPs and DPs in the types of services provided, there is also the potential for variation in service quality across settings.

Methods

A postal questionnaire of DPs and CPs in South West England was conducted to provide a descriptive overview of pharmaceutical services across the settings. A subsection of questionnaire respondent sites were selected to take part in case studies, which involved documentary analyses, observation and staff interviews.

Findings

Survey response was 39% for CPs (52/134) and 48% (31/64) for DPs. There were three CP and four DP case study sites, with 17 staff interviews. More pharmacies than practices were open at the weekend and they had more staff trained above NVQ level 2. Both doctors and pharmacists saw themselves as medicines experts, as being accessible and having good relationships with patients. Workplace practices and organisational ethos varied both within and across settings, with good practice observed in both. Overall, CPs and DPs have much in common. Workplace culture and an evidence-based approach to checking prescriptions and error reporting need to be considered in future assessments of service quality.
SWEETWISE: developing a multi-professional approach to diabetes mellitus
Authors: Takhar Amrit , Herbert Jenny , Plum Rosemary , Lad Mukesh , Manger Deborah , Murdoch Tony , Patel Vinesh , Tanna Piyus
Published: March 2015

The formation of a local joint professional network (LJPN) in Northamptonshire has led to a joint Continuing professional development initiative and an audit project to determine the take up of annual health checks by patients with diabetes mellitus with dentists, optometrists, pharmacists as well as the usual check with the General Medical Practice team. The findings showed that a significant number of patients (29–50%) do not access available dental, optometry and pharmacy advice. Better collaboration between the professions has the potential to improve health outcomes in diabetes mellitus and other areas where lifestyle modification reduces adverse health risks. A patient advice card (SWEETWISE) was developed by the group and could be used to help educate patients and health professionals.
Genetic variation of the granule-bound starch synthase I (GBSSI) genes in waxy and non-waxy accessions of Chenopodium berlandieri ssp. nuttalliae from Central Mexico
Authors: Cepeda-Cornejo Verónica , Brown Douglass C. , Palomino Guadalupe , de la Cruz Eulogio , Fogarty Melissa , Maughan Peter J. , Jellen Eric N.
Published: March 2015

Huauzontle (Chenopodium berlandieri ssp. nuttalliae) is a locally important vegetable crop native to the highland valleys of Central Mexico and a potential source of genes for improving its Andean sister crop, quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa). A previous work involving two huauzontle lines identified one waxy genotype that lacked amylose due to mutations in granule-bound starch synthase I (GBSSI), major amylose-synthesis genes with two constituent subgenomes, A and B. We conducted this study to determine the extent of waxy genotypes and cryptic GBSSI mutations in 11 huauzontle accessions or landrace populations extending from Puebla in the southeast to Jalisco in the northwest. This represents one of the first published studies of genetic variation in C. berlandieri ssp. nuttalliae. Accessions were phenotyped for opaque versus translucent seed morphology and their seed starches were stained with Lugol's Stain. In addition, complete or partial GBSSI genes from their A and B genomes were polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-amplified, cloned and sequenced. Seven accessions were either wholly or partially non-waxy while six were either entirely or partially waxy. All waxy accessions carried the same putatively null alleles, designated gbssIa-tp (A-genome) and gbssIb-del (B-genome). The identification of publicly available genotypes carrying gbssIa-tp and their potential use in breeding waxy grain quinoa is discussed.
Racializing Gender: Public Opinion at the Intersection
Authors: Cassese Erin C. , Barnes Tiffany D. , Branton Regina P.
Published: March 2015

Efforts to understand the political implications of categorical prejudices—like racism and sexism—are complicated by the intersectional nature of social groups. Evaluating attitudes toward members of a single social category (e.g., African-Americans) in isolation can produce misleading conclusions, as racial cues commonly coincide with gender cues and create meaningful subgroups (McConnaughy and White 2014). The idea that different subgroups of women experience distinctive forms of discrimination is reflected in the concept of “double jeopardy.” Double jeopardy suggests that black and Hispanic women experience discrimination differently from white women or men of color because they simultaneously belong to a low-status gender group and a low-status racial/ethnic group (King 1988; Levin et al. 2002; cf. Sidanius and Veniegas 2000). As a result, women who are racial or ethnic minorities face a cumulative discrimination that extends beyond racism or sexism alone (King 1988; Purdie-Vaughns and Eibach 2008).
Party Gatekeepers' Support for Viable Female Candidacy in PR-List Systems
Authors: Luhiste Maarja
Published: March 2015

It is difficult to overestimate the role candidate selection plays in determining the number of women in elected office. While an increasing amount of research has been dedicated to the impact political parties have on women's electoral representation (Caul 1999; Davidson-Schmich 2010; Kittilson 2006; Krook 2009, 2010; Matland and Studlar 1996; Murray, Krook, and Opello, 2012), the relationship between gender and candidate selection remains a relatively understudied area. Ashe and Stewart (2012) and Nieven (1998), however, provide empirical evidence that the majority of the variance in women's underrepresentation can be explained with demand-side factors.
Gender Quotas in Taiwan: The Impact of Global Diffusion
Authors: Huang Chang-Ling
Published: March 2015

Two things distinguish Taiwan from other Asian countries regarding women's political representation: a high level of female political representation by Asian standards and an early implementation of quotas by global standards. Women constitute 33.6% in the country's parliament, second in Asia only to East Timor (38.5%). Taiwan has also achieved a higher level of women's parliamentary representation than Japan (8.1%), South Korea (15.7%), and Singapore (23%). Unlike other young democracies that adopted gender quotas in the 1990s or even later, Taiwan has had reserved seats for women since the early 1950s when the country was under authoritarian rule. Quota reforms were later instigated subsequent to Taiwan's democratization.