bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Deaf Liberation Theology and Social Justice
Authors: Lewis Hannah
Published: October 2017

Deaf Liberation Theology is a branch of theology that has been developed over the past twenty years, with the book Deaf Liberation Theology published by Ashgate in 2007 (Lewis 2007) as a focal point of this development. This article briefly looks at the roots of Deaf Liberation Theology in both the concept of Deaf people as an oppressed linguistic minority and the principles of Liberation theology as an engaged contextual theology using the methodology of the hermeneutical circle. It then seeks to examine the impact of Deaf Liberation Theology in practice over the past decade, in particular the impact especially through increasing self-confidence and self-esteem so that deaf people themselves feel empowered to work for social justice. It will use personal reflections by a number of deaf individuals in the UK as source material, and look at how this experience and developments in Deaf studies might develop into the future to further develop social justice.
Governance and Risk–Value Constructions in Closing Loops of Rare Earth Elements in Global Value Chains
Authors: Machacek Erika , Richter Jessika , Lane Ruth
Published: October 2017

This article addresses a research gap on the challenges—specifically risk and value—connected to realizing the potential for closing loops for rare earth elements (REE). We develop an analytical framework from conceptual elements of the global value chain (GVC) framework and the relational theory of risk to examine several empirical REE industry cases for loop closure. The aim of the paper is to identify how risk–value relationships are constructed by different actors as governance structures form in transactions prior to price setting and how these have impacts on the closure of REE loops. Often, REE loops are not closed, and we find that constructions of the risk–value relationship by industrial actors and by government agencies are unstable as they pursue different motivations, consequently hindering REE loop closure in GVCs. In light of this, we propose that governments mediate against the construction of risk–value relationships by facilitating information on the characteristics of end-of-life materials that qualify these for re-entry into loops.
Computing Coastal Ocean Surface Currents from MODIS and VIIRS Satellite Imagery
Authors: Liu Jianfei , Emery William , Wu Xiongbin , Li Miao , Li Chuan , Zhang Lan
Published: October 2017

We explore the potential of computing coastal ocean surface currents from Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) satellite imagery using the maximum cross-correlation (MCC) method. To improve on past versions of this method, we evaluate combining MODIS and VIIRS thermal infrared (IR) and ocean color (OC) imagery to map the coastal surface currents and discuss the benefits of this combination of sensors and optical channels. By combining these two sensors, the total number of vectors increases by 58.3 % . In addition, we also make use of the different surface patterns of IR and OC imagery to improve the tracking performance of the MCC method. By merging the MCC velocity fields inferred from IR and OC products, the spatial coverage of each individual MCC field is increased by 65.8 % relative to the vectors derived from OC images. The root mean square (RMS) error of the merged currents is 18 cm · s − 1 compared with coincident HF radar surface currents. A 5-year long time serious of merged MCC computed currents was used to investigate the current structure of the California Current (CC). Weekly, seasonal, and 5-year mean flows provide a unique space-time picture of the oceanographic variability of the CC.
Three-Axis Ground Reaction Force Distribution during Straight Walking
Authors: Hori Masataka , Nakai Akihito , Shimoyama Isao
Published: October 2017

We measured the three-axis ground reaction force (GRF) distribution during straight walking. Small three-axis force sensors composed of rubber and sensor chips were fabricated and calibrated. After sensor calibration, 16 force sensors were attached to the left shoe. The three-axis force distribution during straight walking was measured, and the local features of the three-axis force under the sole of the shoe were analyzed. The heel area played a role in receiving the braking force, the base area of the fourth and fifth toes applied little vertical or shear force, the base area of the second and third toes generated a portion of the propulsive force and received a large vertical force, and the base area of the big toe helped move the body’s center of mass to the other foot. The results demonstrate that measuring the three-axis GRF distribution is useful for a detailed analysis of bipedal locomotion.
mlCAF: Multi-Level Cross-Domain Semantic Context Fusioning for Behavior Identification
Authors: Razzaq Muhammad , Villalonga Claudia , Lee Sungyoung , Akhtar Usman , Ali Maqbool , Kim Eun-Soo , Khattak Asad , Seung Hyonwoo , Hur Taeho , Bang Jaehun , Kim Dohyeong , Ali Khan Wajahat
Published: October 2017

The emerging research on automatic identification of user’s contexts from the cross-domain environment in ubiquitous and pervasive computing systems has proved to be successful. Monitoring the diversified user’s contexts and behaviors can help in controlling lifestyle associated to chronic diseases using context-aware applications. However, availability of cross-domain heterogeneous contexts provides a challenging opportunity for their fusion to obtain abstract information for further analysis. This work demonstrates extension of our previous work from a single domain (i.e., physical activity) to multiple domains (physical activity, nutrition and clinical) for context-awareness. We propose multi-level Context-aware Framework (mlCAF), which fuses the multi-level cross-domain contexts in order to arbitrate richer behavioral contexts. This work explicitly focuses on key challenges linked to multi-level context modeling, reasoning and fusioning based on the mlCAF open-source ontology. More specifically, it addresses the interpretation of contexts from three different domains, their fusioning conforming to richer contextual information. This paper contributes in terms of ontology evolution with additional domains, context definitions, rules and inclusion of semantic queries. For the framework evaluation, multi-level cross-domain contexts collected from 20 users were used to ascertain abstract contexts, which served as basis for behavior modeling and lifestyle identification. The experimental results indicate a context recognition average accuracy of around 92.65% for the collected cross-domain contexts.
Millennial Generation and Environmental Sustainability: The Role of Social Media in the Consumer Purchasing Behavior for Wine
Authors: Sogari Giovanni , Pucci Tommaso , Aquilani Barbara , Zanni Lorenzo
Published: October 2017

In the coming years, social media technology will have a crucial role in environmental involvement and in encouraging sustainable behaviors in the wine industry. Sustainable development is becoming a crucial topic for many consumers. Also, in the wine industry much research has been carried out to decrease the environmental impact, with a particular focus on renewable energy use, greenhouse gas emissions, pesticides reduction, water and waste management, biodiversity, soil and landscape preservation. In recent years, social media technologies have gained increased attention for their potential to amplify environmental concerns and encourage sustainable behaviors among people. This study aims to study the role of social media in the consumer purchasing behavior for wine between the millennial and non-millennial generations. A total sample of 2597 Italian wine consumer responses were collected and a structured questionnaire was used to test our hypothesis. The main results show that the greater the import the consumer places on the product/process dimension of environmental sustainability, the higher the self-selection in market segments. This is true for both millennials and non-millennials. The results show the power of social media to increase sustainability awareness and consecutively influence the consumer’s buying behavior for wine (higher price segment). From a marketing perspective, companies should improve their capacity to share and communicate their environmental activities through social media.
Attitudes in Korea toward Introducing Smart Policing Technologies: Differences between the General Public and Police Officers
Authors: Moon HyungBin , Choi Hyunhong , Lee Jongsu , Lee Ki
Published: October 2017

This study analyzes different attitudes toward introduction of smart policing technologies in cybercrime policing among the Korean public and police. Policing is essential for a sustainable community. Technological advances in policing have both positive and negative aspects, making it essential to investigate perceptions of both public and police when introducing smart policing technologies. A discrete choice experiment was undertaken to survey preferences of the public and police toward introduction of such technologies and conduct simulation analysis to compare changes in the acceptance of various scenarios. The study divides cybercrime policing into prevention and investigation. The sample included 500 members of the public and 161 police officers. The results show that the public thinks an increase in yearly taxes and invasion of privacy are the most important factors. Conversely, the police think factors enhancing the efficiency of policing are most important. Moreover, when smart policing technologies are introduced, the public and police perceive more utility in the prevention and investigation of cybercrime, respectively. Few studies in this field separate the prevention and investigation of crimes, or compare perceptions of the public and police toward the introduction of smart policing technologies. This study’s quantitative analysis provides insights lacking in previous literature.
Statin initiations and QRISK2 scoring in UK general practice: a THIN database study
Authors: Finnikin Samuel , Ryan Ronan , Marshall Tom
Published: October 2017

Background

Statin prescribing should be based on cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, but evidence suggests overtreatment of low-risk groups and undertreatment of high-risk groups.

Aim

To investigate the relationship between CVD risk scoring in primary care and initiation of statins for the primary prevention of CVD, and the effect of changes to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance in 2014.

Design and setting

Historical cohort study using UK electronic primary care records.

Method

A cohort was created of statin-naïve patients without CVD between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2015. CVD risk scores (calculated using QRISK2 available from 2012) and statin initiations were identified. Rates of CVD risk score recording were calculated and relationships between CVD risk category (low-, intermediate-, and high-risk: <10%, 10–19.9%, and ≥20% 10-year CVD risk) and statin initiation were analysed.

Results

A total of 1.4 million patients were identified from 248 practices. Of these, 151 788 had a recorded CVD risk score since 2012 (10.67%) and 217 860 were initiated on a statin (15.31%). Among patients initiated on a statin after 2012, 27.1% had a documented QRISK2 score: 2.7% of low-risk, 13.8% of intermediate-risk, and 35.0% of high-risk patients were initiated on statins. Statin initiation rates halved from a peak in 2006. After the 2014 NICE guidelines, statin initiation rates declined in high-risk patients but increased in intermediate-risk patients.

Conclusion

Most patients initiated on statins had no QRISK2 score recorded. Most patients at high risk of CVD were not initiated on statins. One in six statin initiations were to low-risk patients indicating significant overtreatment. Initiations of statins in intermediate-risk patients rose after NICE guidelines were updated in 2014.
Czech Foreign Fighters in the Ukrainian Conflict: Legal Aspects and Propagandist Use
Authors: Mareš Miroslav
Published: October 2017

This article deals with the phenomenon of Czech foreign fighters in the Ukrainian conflict, mostly from the point of view of the propagandist use and from the point of view of the Czech penal law. Both issues are interconnected, because according to the Czech law, service in foreign armies or in terrorist entities can be penalised. On the other hand, foreign fighters can be assessed as an important propagandist element and their participation in the conflict can strengthen the political position of the warring party. This tension between these legal impacts and the propagandist use creates the main theme of this article. The concept of hybrid warfare frames the current development. The author comes to the conclusion that the legal consequences pose only a limited obstacle for the propagandist use.
Characterization of HCV Resistance from a 3-Day Monotherapy Study of Voxilaprevir, a Novel Pangenotypic NS3/4A Protease Inhibitor
Authors: Lawitz Eric , Yang Jenny C , Stamm Luisa M , Taylor James G , Cheng Guofeng , Brainard Diana M , Miller Michael D , Mo Hongmei , Dvory-Sobol Hadas
Published: October 2017

Background

Voxilaprevir (VOX; GS-9857) is a pangenotypic HCV NS3/4A protease inhibitor (PI) with potent antiviral activity against HCV genotypes (GTs) 1–6 and improved coverage of GT1 NS3 resistance-associated substitutions (RAS) associated with other HCV PIs. In a 3-day Phase Ib monotherapy study in patients infected with HCV GT1a, 1b, 2, 3 and 4, VOX was well-tolerated and resulted in maximal mean viral load reduction >3 log10 IU/ml at the 100 mg dose across all genotypes evaluated. This report characterizes the HCV NS3 RAS in the study.

Methods

The NS3 gene was amplified and successfully deep sequenced using MiSeq for 66 patients at baseline and 61 patients post-baseline using 15% and 1% assay cutoffs.

Results

With a 15% assay cutoff, pretreatment HCV NS3 RAS were present in the HCV of 38% (9/24) of patients with GT1a and 5% (1/19) with GT3a; there were no pre-treatment NS3 RAS present in patients with GT1b ( n=6), GT2 ( n=7) or GT4 ( n=4). In patients with and without pretreatment NS3 RAS, ≥3.4 log10 mean maximal viral load reductions over 3 days of VOX administration were observed. The majority of patients did not have detectable treatment-emergent NS3 RAS and only 12% (7/53) and 26% (14/53) had emergent NS3 RAS using 15% and 1% cutoffs, respectively. No NS3 RAS were detected in patients with GT2 or GT4. A156T or A156V were the most prevalent emergent NS3 RAS in patients with GT1a or GT1b infection, but were not observed in patients with GT3 infection.

Conclusions

The lack of selection of NS3 RAS in the majority of patients demonstrates a high resistance barrier for VOX. ClinicalTrails.gov identifier NCT02185794.
The Structural Basis for Complement Inhibition by Gigastasin, a Protease Inhibitor from the Giant Amazon Leech
Authors: Pang Siew Siew , Wijeyewickrema Lakshmi C. , Hor Lilian , Tan Sheareen , Lameignere Emilie , Conway Edward M. , Blom Anna M. , Mohlin Frida C. , Liu Xuyu , Payne Richard J. , Whisstock James C. , Pike Robert N.
Published: October 2017

Complement is crucial to the immune response, but dysregulation of the system causes inflammatory disease. Complement is activated by three pathways: classical, lectin, and alternative. The classical and lectin pathways are initiated by the C1r/C1s (classical) and MASP-1/MASP-2 (lectin) proteases. Given the role of complement in disease, there is a requirement for inhibitors to control the initiating proteases. In this article, we show that a novel inhibitor, gigastasin, from the giant Amazon leech, potently inhibits C1s and MASP-2, whereas it is also a good inhibitor of MASP-1. Gigastasin is a poor inhibitor of C1r. The inhibitor blocks the active sites of C1s and MASP-2, as well as the anion-binding exosites of the enzymes via sulfotyrosine residues. Complement deposition assays revealed that gigastasin is an effective inhibitor of complement activation in vivo, especially for activation via the lectin pathway. These data suggest that the cumulative effects of inhibiting both MASP-2 and MASP-1 have a greater effect on the lectin pathway than the more potent inhibition of only C1s of the classical pathway.
Thymic-Specific Serine Protease Limits Central Tolerance and Exacerbates Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis
Authors: Serre Laurent , Girard Maeva , Ramadan Abdoulraouf , Menut Paul , Rouquié Nelly , Lucca Liliana E. , Mahiddine Karim , Leobon Bertrand , Mars Lennart T. , Guerder Sylvie
Published: October 2017

The genetic predisposition to multiple sclerosis (MS) is most strongly conveyed by MHC class II haplotypes, possibly by shaping the autoimmune CD4 T cell repertoire. Whether Ag-processing enzymes contribute to MS susceptibility by editing the peptide repertoire presented by these MHC haplotypes is unclear. Thymus-specific serine protease (TSSP) is expressed by thymic epithelial cells and thymic dendritic cells (DCs) and, in these two stromal compartments, TSSP edits the peptide repertoire presented by class II molecules. We show in this article that TSSP increases experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis severity by limiting central tolerance to myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein. The effect on experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis severity was MHC class II allele dependent, because the lack of TSSP expression conferred protection in NOD mice but not in C57BL/6 mice. Importantly, although human thymic DCs express TSSP, individuals segregate into two groups having a high or 10-fold lower level of expression. Therefore, the level of TSSP expression by thymic DCs may modify the risk factors for MS conferred by some MHC class II haplotypes.
Palmitate Conditions Macrophages for Enhanced Responses toward Inflammatory Stimuli via JNK Activation
Authors: Riera-Borrull Marta , Cuevas Víctor D. , Alonso Bárbara , Vega Miguel A. , Joven Jorge , Izquierdo Elena , Corbí Ángel L.
Published: October 2017

Obesity is associated with low-grade inflammation and elevated levels of circulating saturated fatty acids, which trigger inflammatory responses by engaging pattern recognition receptors in macrophages. Because tissue homeostasis is maintained through an adequate balance of pro- and anti-inflammatory macrophages, we assessed the transcriptional and functional profile of M-CSF–dependent monocyte-derived human macrophages exposed to concentrations of saturated fatty acids found in obese individuals. We report that palmitate (C16:0, 200 μM) significantly modulates the macrophage gene signature, lowers the expression of transcription factors that positively regulate IL-10 expression (MAFB, AhR), and promotes a proinflammatory state whose acquisition requires JNK activation. Unlike LPS, palmitate exposure does not activate STAT1, and its transcriptional effects can be distinguished from those triggered by LPS, as both agents oppositely regulate the expression of CCL19 and TRIB3. Besides, palmitate conditions macrophages for exacerbated proinflammatory responses (lower IL-10 and CCL2, higher TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β) toward pathogenic stimuli, a process also mediated by JNK activation. All of these effects of palmitate are fatty acid specific because oleate (C18:1, 200 μM) does not modify the macrophage transcriptional and functional profiles. Therefore, pathologic palmitate concentrations promote the acquisition of a specific polarization state in human macrophages and condition macrophages for enhanced responses toward inflammatory stimuli, with both effects being dependent on JNK activation. Our results provide further insight into the macrophage contribution to obesity-associated inflammation.
Evolution of Godoy & Godoy Manual Lymph Drainage. Technique with Linear Movements
Authors: Pereira de Godoy José Maria , Pereira de Godoy Ana Carolina , Guerreiro Godoy Maria de Fatima
Published: October 2017

Manual lymph drainage has become the mainstay in the treatment of lymphedema for decades now. Five evolving variants have been described by Godoy & Godoy over the years: i) manual lymph drainage using rollers; ii) self-applied manual lymph drainage using rollers; iii) manual lymph drainage using the hands (manual lymphatic therapy); iv) mechanical lymphatic therapy using the RAGodoy® device; and v) lymphatic therapy using cervical stimulation in general lymphatic treatment. After breast cancer treatment using adapted technique with intermittent compression therapy. Lymphoscintigraphy, volumetry and bioimpedance were employed to analyze such treatment techniques applied to the upper and lower extremities. These treatment and evaluation topics are described in this brief report.
OUTCOME OF FRONTLINE TREATMENT WITH “GENERIC” IMATINIB IN ADULT PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC MYELOID LEUKEMIA IN ALGERIAN POPULATION: A MULTICENTER STUDY.
Authors: BEKADJA Mohamed Amine
Published: October 2017

Introduction:In a developing country like Algeria, such expensive therapy is not available. Alternative approaches are needed to help these adult. In Algeria ‘imatib’ (CIPLA-India) was introduced in 2006; but no study has been published yet in the North Africa region regarding response and outcome of this copy in CML patients. The goal of this multicenter study is to characterize newly adult CML in the western region of Algeria and to assess the effectiveness and safety of imatib (IM, copy) as frontline therapy for patients with CML.Patients and Methods:The study was carried out in 7 hematology centers in the western Algeria. Patients, who were diagnosed to be suffering from CML between January 1st, 2007 and  December 31st, 2014 were selected for data analysis. All patients received a copy preparation, consisting of the alpha crystal form of imatinib, (IM, copy) at a oral dose of 400 mg daily and monitored for tolerance and side effects while on therapy.Results:Between January 2007 and December 2014, 355 patients with CML were treated with imatib (Copy). The median follow- up of the study was 46 months (range: 13–107 months). Complete hematological response (CHR) was seen in 83% of patients within 3 months. According to the Sokal score, 72% patients with low, 78% with intermediate and 69% with high risk disease achieved a CHR in 3 months (p=0.26) and according to the EUTOS score, 81% of patients with low and 70% with high risk disease achieved a CHR in 3 months (p=0.08). The major molecular response (MMR) at six months (M6), M9, M12, M18 and M24 was 21%, 38%, 35%, 51% and 67% respectively and 34% of patients achieved a complete molecular response (CMR). The projected 5-year overall survival (OS) rate was 83%. Side effects of imatib (copy) in this study were similar to those reported previously for the entire imatinib mesylate treatment study and only 8% of patients were intolerant to imatib (copy) and treated with a second generation of BCR-ABL inhibitor.Conclusion:This study reflects real world experience treating patients with CML in a developing country and thus sheds light on differences in this population compared to Western countries. In conclusion, imatib (copy) is effective and safe in treating patients with CML in chronic phase and proves to have a durable outcome. To our knowledge this is the first study reporting the response to imatib (copy) in a Algerian population.
Barriers and facilitators to adherence to anti-diabetic medications: Ethiopian patients’ perspectives
Authors: Habte Bruck M. , Kebede Tedla , Fenta Teferi G. , Boon Heather
Published: October 2017

Background: Little is known about the experiences of Ethiopian patients with type 2 diabetes related to adherence to their anti-diabetic medications. This may limit attempts to develop and implement patient-centred approaches that consider Ethiopian contexts.Objectives: To conduct an exploratory study with a focus on identifying barriers and facilitators to anti-diabetic medications adherence in Ethiopian patients with type 2 diabetes.Methods: Qualitative methods were used to conduct semi-structured interviews with 39 purposively selected participants attending clinic in three public hospitals in central Ethiopia. Open coding was used to analyse the data to identify key themes.Results: A number of factors were identified as barriers and facilitators to participants’ adherence to their anti-diabetic medications. The most common factors were perceptions related to their illness including symptoms, consequences and curability; perceptions of medications including safety concerns, convenience and their necessity; religious healing practices and beliefs; perceptions about and experiences with their healthcare providers and the healthcare system including the availability of medications and diabetes education; and finally perceived self-efficacy and social support.Conclusions: The findings of this study provide guidance to strengthen diabetes education programmes so that they reflect local patient contexts focusing among other things on the illness itself and the anti-diabetic medications.
Knowledge, adherence and control among patients with hypertension attending a peri-urban primary health care clinic, KwaZulu-Natal
Authors: Olowe Olumuyiwa A. , Ross Andrew J.
Published: October 2017

Background: Despite hypertension being a common condition among patients attending primary health care (PHC) clinics, blood pressure (BP) control is often poor. Greater insight into patient-related factors that influence the control of hypertension will assist in the development of an intervention to address the issues identified.Aim: The aim of the study was to assess patient-related variables associated with hypertension control among patients attending a peri-urban PHC clinic.Setting: The setting for this study was a peri-urban PHC clinic in KwaZulu-Natal.Method: This was an observational, descriptive and cross-sectional study with 348 patients selected over a 1-month period. A validated questionnaire was used to collect data on patients’ hypertension knowledge and self-reported adherence, and BP recordings from their medical record were recorded to ascertain control.Results: Of the 348 participants, only 49% had good BP control and 44% (152/348) had concurrent diabetes mellitus. The majority of patients had moderate levels of knowledge on hypertension and exhibited moderate adherence. There was a significant relationship between knowledge and reported adherence, between reported adherence and control, but not between reported knowledge and control.Conclusion: Despite over 90% of the study population having moderate knowledge, and 62% with moderate reported adherence, BP was well controlled in only less than 50% of the study population. These findings suggest a need to emphasise adherence and explore new ways of approaching adherence.
Generalized $\beta$-transformations and the entropy of unimodal maps
Authors: Thompson Daniel J.
Published: October 2017

Generalized

\beta

-transformations are the class of piecewise continuous interval maps given by taking the

\beta

-transformation

x \mapsto \beta x

(mod 1), where

\beta >1

, and replacing some of the branches with branches of constant negative slope. If the orbit of 1 is finite, then the map is Markov, and we call

\beta

(which must be an algebraic number) a
generalized Parry number
. We show that the Galois conjugates of such

\beta

have modulus less than 2, and the modulus is bounded away from 2 apart from the exceptional case of conjugates lying on the real line. We give a characterization of the closure of all these Galois conjugates, and show that this set is path connected. Our approach is based on an analysis of Solomyak for the case of

\beta

-transformations. One motivation for this work is that the entropy of a post-critically finite (PCF) unimodal map is the logarithm of a generalized Parry number. Thus, our results give a mild restriction on the set of entropies that can be attained by PCF unimodal maps.
Boundedness and decay of scalar waves at the Cauchy horizon of the Kerr spacetime
Authors: Hintz Peter
Published: October 2017

Adapting and extending the techniques developed in recent work with Vasy for the study of the Cauchy horizon of cosmological spacetimes, we obtain boundedness, regularity and decay of linear scalar waves on subextremal Reissner–Nordström and (slowly rotating) Kerr spacetimes, without any symmetry assumptions; in particular, we provide simple microlocal and scattering theoretic proofs of analogous results by Franzen. We show polynomial decay of linear waves relative to a Sobolev space of order slightly above 1/2. This complements the generic

H_{\mathrm {loc}}^1

blow-up result of Luk and Oh.
European veterinary research : from the seventh framework programme of the european community for research, technological development and demonstration activities, to Horizon 2020
Authors: Cavitte Jean-Charles
Published: October 2017

Recherche vétérinaire européenne : du septième programme cadre de la communauté européenne pour des actions de recherche, de développement technologique et de démonstration, à Horizon 2020.

Il n’est pas aisé de circonscrire le périmètre des sciences vétérinaires. À côté du coeur de métier, la santé des animaux (terrestres) et la sécurité des aliments, de multiples autres domaines associés ne concernent pas que la profession vétérinaire : zootechnie y compris bien-être animal, nutrition, génétique ; aquaculture etc. Les programmes cadres européens de recherche successifs ont régulièrement financé les activités de recherche «vétérinaire», plus particulièrement la santé des animaux de rente et la sécurité des aliments ; mais aussi de nombreux domaines associés, et ce notamment depuis le 7ème Programme Cadre (période 2007-2013). On estime que le budget du programme cadre européen ne représente pas plus de 5 à 10% des dépenses en recherche et développement en Europe, et c’est probablement le cas dans le domaine de la santé animale. Néanmoins, les Programmes Cadres sont devenus un moyen important de coordination des programmes de recherche en Europe, contribuant notamment à construire «l’Espace Européen de la Recherche». Les co-publications transnationales intra-européennes dans le domaine vétérinaire/santé animale/bien-être animal représentent une minorité des publications des pays européens, mais sont proportionnellement plus fréquentes que les co-publications dans les continents Américain ou Asiatique. Les entités françaises sont présentes sur la scène de la recherche vétérinaire européenne ou mondiale, mais leur proportion pourrait sans doute être améliorée. Avec Horizon 2020, l’accent mis sur les défis de société et l’innovation notamment, demande souvent une approche multi-disciplinaire, multi-acteurs, dans laquelle la santé animale, et au-delà l’élevage, sont souvent intégrés dans des problématiques plus larges telles que la sécurité alimentaire et la nutrition, la durabilité de l’agriculture, ou la bio-économie. La coopération internationale au-delà de l’Europe peut-être cruciale pour relever des défis sociétaux qui sont bien souvent communs au monde entier. C’est d’autant plus vrai pour les maladies infectieuses animales. Des sujets -projets de recherche récents, pertinents pour les vétérinaires, illustrent cette approche d’Horizon 2020.
Bleu-Blanc-Cœur : un nouveau modèle agricole basé sur une démarche de filière dédiée à la santé de la Terre, des animaux et des hommes
Authors: Kerhoas Nathalie
Published: October 2017

Bleu-Blanc-Coeur : A new agriculture approach dedicated to animal health, human health and environnent.

Bleu-Blanc-Coeur is an organization created to improve the nutritional and environmental quality of our diet leading to a new responsible agriculture. The basic idea of Bleu-Blanc-Coeur is “to feed people well, we must first take care of our crops and the health of our animals”. The association brings farmers, companies, practitioners, scientists and consumers together. Bleu-Blanc-Coeur manages specification guidelines that impose a double obligation of means and results which describe improved nutritional qualities of food related with feeding and breeding practices. The Bleu-Blanc-Coeur approach is based on a strong scientific background of 320 publications and 5 clinical trials. These scientific data have demonstrated the value of these farming practices for animal and human health and also for the environment. Bleu-Blanc-Coeur is an approach of nutritional and environmental interest recognized by Authorities such as the French Ministries of Agriculture and Health.
Dengue Fever Surveillance in India Using Text Mining in Public Media
Authors: Villanes Andrea , Griffiths Emily , Rappa Michael , Healey Christopher G.
Published: October 2017

Despite the improvement in health conditions across the world, communicable diseases remain among the leading mortality causes in many countries. Combating communicable diseases depends on surveillance, preventive measures, outbreak investigation, and the establishment of control mechanisms. Delays in obtaining country-level data of confirmed communicable disease cases, such as dengue fever, are prompting new efforts for short- to medium-term data. News articles highlight dengue infections, and they can reveal how public health messages, expert findings, and uncertainties are communicated to the public. In this article, we analyze dengue news articles in Asian countries, with a focus in India, for each month in 2014. We investigate how the reports cluster together, and uncover how dengue cases, public health messages, and research findings are communicated in the press. Our main contributions are to 1) uncover underlying topics from news articles that discuss dengue in Asian countries in 2014; 2) construct topic evolution graphs through the year; and 3) analyze the life cycle of dengue news articles in India, then relate them to rainfall, monthly reported dengue cases, and the Breteau Index. We show that the five main topics discussed in the newspapers in Asia in 2014 correspond to 1) prevention; 2) reported dengue cases; 3) politics; 4) prevention relative to other diseases; and 5) emergency plans. We identify that rainfall has 0.92 correlation with the reported dengue cases extracted from news articles. Based on our findings, we conclude that the proposed method facilitates the effective discovery of evolutionary dengue themes and patterns.
Molecular Detection and Characterization of Wolbachia pipientis from Culex quinquefasciatus Collected from Lahore, Pakistan
Authors: Sarwar Muhammad Sajjad , Jahan Nusrat , Shahbaz Fatima
Published: October 2017

The gram-negative, pleomorphic endosymbiont Wolbachia is known to infect a large number of insects and other arthropods naturally. This bacterium modifies the host biology, mainly causing reproductive alterations including feminization, death of male, parthenogenesis, and importantly cytoplasmic incompatibility. Wolbachia-induced cytoplasmic incompatibility results in nonviable offspring and vector population suppression. In addition, this bacterium rapidly spreads and propagates within the host population. This study is the first report on Wolbachia detection and characterization from Culex quinquefasciatus collected from Lahore, Pakistan. For this purpose, mosquito adults were collected from different localities of Lahore and identified at the species level. A total of 145 pairs of ovaries were individually subjected to DNA isolation, and polymerase chain reaction amplification of three (wsp, 16S rRNA, and ftsZ) genes were investigated. In all, 128 females were found positive, representing 82.3% infection rate. The phylogenetic analysis indicated that the detected endosymbiont had 100% homology with Wolbachia pipientis wPip strain and supergroup B. The detection of the local strain of Wolbachia (wPip) will be useful in investigating its potential for the control of dengue vector (Aedes aegypti) and reducing dengue transmission in Pakistan.
Histology and Serum Cytokine Responses in an Imported Rickettsia slovaca Infection, Germany
Authors: Tappe Dennis , Booken Nina , Böer-Auer Almut , Rauch Jessica , Schmiedel Stefan , Reich Kristian
Published: October 2017

Rickettsia slovaca, a spotted fever group rickettsial pathogen, causes a syndrome consisting of scalp eschar and neck lymphadenopathy following tick bite. We analyzed the histologic skin reaction in the eschar, showing a prominent eosinophilic infiltration, as well as the presence of B lymphocytes and CD4- and CD8-positive T cells. Examination of the serum cytokine responses over time demonstrated an initial proinflammatory cytokine elevation followed by normalization.
Protein-Specific Features Associated with Variability in Human Antibody Responses to Plasmodium falciparum Malaria Antigens
Authors: Liu Eugene W. , Skinner Jeff , Tran Tuan M. , Kumar Krishan , Narum David L. , Jain Aarti , Ongoiba Aissata , Traoré Boubacar , Felgner Philip L. , Crompton Peter D.
Published: October 2017

The magnitude of antibody responses varies across the individual proteins that constitute any given microorganism, both in the context of natural infection and vaccination with attenuated or inactivated pathogens. The protein-specific factors underlying this variability are poorly understood. In 267 individuals exposed to intense seasonal malaria, we examined the relationship between immunoglobulin G (IgG) responses to 861 Plasmodium falciparum proteins and specific features of these proteins, including their subcellular location, relative abundance, degree of polymorphism, and whether they are predicted to have human orthologs. We found that IgG reactivity was significantly higher to extracellular and plasma membrane proteins and also correlated positively with both protein abundance and degree of protein polymorphism. Conversely, IgG reactivity was significantly lower to proteins predicted to have human orthologs. These findings provide insight into protein-specific factors that are associated with variability in the magnitude of antibody responses to natural P. falciparum infection—data that could inform vaccine strategies to optimize antibody-mediated immunity as well as the selection of antigens for sero-diagnostic purposes.
A Hospital-Based Study of Intestinal Capillariasis in Thailand: Clinical Features, Potential Clues for Diagnosis, and Epidemiological Characteristics of 85 Patients
Authors: Sadaow Lakkhana , Sanpool Oranuch , Intapan Pewpan M. , Sukeepaisarnjaroen Wattana , Prasongdee Thidarat K. , Maleewong Wanchai
Published: October 2017

Intestinal capillariasis caused by Capillaria philippinensis, a fish-borne nematode, is an important, emerging zoonotic helminthiasis. Cases may be fatal if suitable treatment is not administered in time. We reported a hospital-based study of 85 cases in Thailand, most of which were in the northeast. All patients had a history of eating raw or insufficiently cooked fresh water fish or prawns. The clinical manifestations are characterized by chronic diarrhea, borborygmi, abdominal pain, marked weight loss, muscle weakness, fatigue, dizziness, anorexia, and edema, as well as protein and electrolyte loss. Fecal examination revealed C. philippinensis in all patients. Although 16 of the total of 85 (18.8%) cases were initially found to be negative for C. philippinensis using fecal examination, further examination using an immunoblotting technique found them to be positive for the IgG antibody against Trichinella spiralis larval antigen. One day after administration of 400 mg of albendazole, eggs and/or larvae and/or adult C. philippinensis were found in 16 fecal samples. After treatment with mebendazole (200 mg twice a day for 30 days) or albendazole (200 mg twice a day for 10 days), all 85 patients recovered. The potential clues for diagnosis are clinical manifestations, history of eating raw contaminated food, and positive serological test, and fecal examinations under professional. Administration of anthelminthic drugs stimulates the excretion of larvae, eggs, and/or adult worms and can be used as a supportive method for the diagnosis of intestinal capillariasis in areas where serological test is not available.
Prevention Practices among United States Pregnant Women Who Travel to Zika Outbreak Areas
Authors: Berenson Abbey B. , Hirth Jacqueline M. , Guo Fangjian , Fuchs Erika L. , Weaver Scott C.
Published: October 2017

We surveyed pregnant women from the United States to assess the prevention practices they used when traveling to countries with ongoing Zika virus (ZIKV) outbreaks. Of the 749 who agreed to participate, 710 completed the survey’s travel questions and 59 of those had traveled to a ZIKV outbreak area in the past 12 months. Only 43% of the women who had traveled to ZIKV outbreak areas reported frequently using mosquito repellant with 32% stating they did not use it at all. They also did not frequently use other recommended methods to prevent mosquito bites. With the established risks to babies born to women who contract the ZIKV during pregnancy, it is a great concern that a large number of women who travel to outbreak areas during pregnancy are not protecting themselves against mosquito bites. Pregnant women need to be educated on the importance of taking precautions.
Sometimes Means Some of the Time: Residents' Overlapping Responses to Vague Quantifiers on the ACGME-I Resident Survey
Authors: Yock Yvonne , Lim Issac , Lim Yong Hao , Lim Wee Shiong , Chew Nicholas , Archuleta Sophia
Published: October 2017

Background 

Vague quantifiers used in the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education–International (ACGME-I) resident survey are open to interpretation, raising concerns about the validity of survey scores. Residency programs may be unduly cited if survey responses are affected by differing judgments of vague quantifiers.

Objective 

Through investigating frequency judgment overlap, we assessed the validity of vague quantifiers by quantifying variation in residents' frequency judgment of the following response options: never, rarely, sometimes, very often, and extremely often.

Methods 

We conducted a cross-sectional survey of residents in 2 ACGME-I accredited institutions in Singapore. Participants assigned a frequency judgment to response options in 8 questions in the ACGME-I Resident Survey. Overlap in frequency judgment was computed using the minimum and maximum frequency judgment for each response option. This was ascertained to have occurred when the maximum frequency of the preceding category exceeded the minimum frequency of the downstream categories. The percentage of participants whose frequency judgment overlapped was computed.

Results 

Of 652 residents, 289 (44%) responded; after exclusions of incomplete and careless responses, 119 responses (18%) were included in the study. Frequency judgment overlap was more frequent for vague quantifiers that are adjacent, ranging from 11% to 50% for questions in faculty, evaluation, and resources domains. The percentage of frequency judgment overlap was greatest for duty hour questions, with an overlap between 21% and 47% for adjacent categories.

Conclusions 

Residents demonstrated wide variation in frequency judgment of vague quantifiers, especially on the duty hour questions in the ACGME-I resident survey.
Aspectos personales que favorecen la autorregulación del aprendizaje en la comprensión de textos académicos en estudiantes universitarios
Authors: Gaeta González Martha Leticia
Published: October 2017

La exigencia académica y de investigación científica que demanda la universidad, requiere que los estudiantes gestionen, analicen e integren la información de diversas fuentes, en la construcción de conocimientos de manera significativa. Así, las prácticas lectoras universitarias cumplen una función vertebradora para el desarrollo de aprendizajes y de conocimiento disciplinar. Estudios actuales en este campo han encontrado que los niveles de comprensión lectora se vinculan con el tipo de estrategias implicadas en el manejo de la información escrita. De ahi que, las estrategias de autorregulación del aprendizaje a partir de textos académicos son fundamentales al permitir una aproximación a la lectura de manera más reflexiva y comprometida, lo que contribuye a un mayor aprendizaje. El propósito del presente trabajo es analizar algunos aspectos personales que favorecen la autorregulación del aprendizaje en la comprensión de textos académicos en estudiantes universitarios mexicanos, como son los conocimientos previos y las metas académicas. Participaron 364 estudiantes universitarios (69.5% varones y 30.5% mujeres) de primer semestre de Ingeniería, con una edad media de 19.77 (DT=1.20). A través de análisis de regresión se pudo constatar que el conocimiento previo y las metas relacionadas con la tarea favorecen el uso de estrategias de autorregulación del aprendizaje en la comprensión de textos académicos. Estos hallasgos pueden ser una guia para la práctica docente, a fin de promover la orientación a metas de aprendizaje y el andamiaje necesario para el uso de estrategias de autorregulación a partir de textos, que contribuya a un aprendizaje significativo en alumnos de educación superior.
La acogida de los nuevos estudiantes
Authors: Michavila Pitarch Francisco
Published: October 2017

El éxito académico de los estudiantes, de perfil cada vez más diverso, está condicionado, en gran medida, por una adecuada adaptación a los estudios universitarios y a la vida en la universidad. Adaptación al ámbito universitario, académico y extra académico. En su aspecto académico, el estudiante debe poseer un nivel adecuado de conocimientos y competencias previas en materias básicas, y estar en condiciones de adquirir nuevos de una forma exitosa. En el plano extra académico el alumno debe adaptarse a un nuevo entorno repleto de servicios de todo tipo, de nuevos espacios físicos, de una administración diferente y de una comunidad más o menos amplia.

El cambio concierne al alumnado y, también, a la universidad como institución, a los agentes políticos y los agentes sociales. Una adecuada acogida del alumno universitario redundará, no solamente en el desarrollo y bienestar personal del propio estudiante, sino en su contribución  al logro de una sociedad más formada y avanzada. El presente artículo recoge algunos de los modelos de acogida de referencia, tanto internacionales como nacionales, y reflexiona acerca de los retos de futuro al respecto.
Corazones, no solo cabezas en la universidad. Los sentimientos de los estudiantes ante la evaluación
Authors: Santos Guerra Miguel Ángel
Published: October 2017

Se plantea en el artículo, en primer lugar, el papel de los sentimientos en los procesos de aprendizaje de los estudiantes universitarios. Posteriormente se hacen algunas reflexiones sobre el proceso de evaluación de los estudiantes, distinguiéndolo de otros tipos de evaluación y señalando algunas trampas del lenguaje. A continuación se analizan las repercusiones que tiene la evaluación, especialmente en la vida emocional de los alumnos y alumnas. Se plantean cinco casos de evaluación de estudiantes y los efectos secundarios en la esfera emocional: influencia en el autoconcepto, profecías de autocumplimiento, repercusión de la frialdad, calvario de las reclamaciones y evaluación como tortura.  A continuación se muestra la necesidad de evaluar con el corazón, ya que la evaluación es un proceso técnico pero, sobre todo, es un proceso psicológico y ético. Se cierra el artículo con algunos comentarios sobre la comprensión y mejora de las prácticas evaluadoras en la Universidad. Se invita a dialogar, participar y negociar las evaluaciones y se propone un modelo de racionalidad práctica como estrategia básica para la mejora.