bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A METAFÍSICA DO BEM NA REPÚBLICA (LIVROS V-VII) DE PLATÃO
Authors: Santos Bento Silva
Published: October 2016

Nos livros centrais da República, a reflexão ética de Platão se fixa no Bem absoluto e nas condições do conhecimento deste Bem. Diferentemente dos diálogos “socráticos”, procura-se justificar a ética recorrendo aos últimos princípios transcendentes. A filosofia do Platão metafísico aqui é um imenso esforço especulativo e programático desenvolvido em sua obraprima, a saber: A República. Nesta se fará sentir a exigência de um Bem absoluto, ao mesmo tempo fim último e princípio primeiro das razões do agir. O conhecimento do Sumo Bem, do qual o Filósofo se serve para regular a própria vida e a vida do Estado, é a conditio sine qua non para a realização da felicidade na Cidade. Tendo Platão já esboçado a Idéia do Bem sob a forma de propriedades categoriais (Inteligibilidade, Imutabilidade, Incorporeidade e Perseidade) em conhecidas passagens do Fédon (65 d; 78 d-e; 79 a-b), examinamos neste artigo tão somente as célebres metáforas da República: o Sol [507 b-509 c], a linha segmentada [509 d-511e] e a caverna [514 a-519 b].Abstract: In the central books of the Republic, Plato’s ethical reflection is entirely directed to the absolute Good and its state of knowledge. Unlike the Socratic dialogues, it aims to justify ethics by appealing to the last transcendent principles. In his masterpiece, The Republic, Plato’s metaphysical philosophy is an immense speculative and pragmatic effort that establishes the demand for an absolute Good as the ultimate aim and underlying principle of the reasons for acting. The knowledge of the ultimate Good, that the Philosopher uses to regulate his own life and the life of the State, is conditio sine qua non for the achievement of happiness in the City. As Plato already sketched the Idea of the Good with its intrinsic properties (Intelligibility, Immutability, Incorporeity and Inherency) in known passages of Phedo (65 d; 78 d-e; 79 a-b), this article will only examine, the most famous metaphors of the Republic: the Sun [507 b-509 c], the segmented line [509 d-511e] and the cave [514a-519 b].
KANT, SANTOS E HERÓIS
Authors: Esteves Julio
Published: October 2016

Neste artigo, defendo a tese de que o valor moral das assim chamadas ações supererrogatórias, i.e. ações que supostamente estão para além do dever, como os feitos de santos e heróis, pode ser adequadamente capturado pela concepção kantiana do dever imperfeito da beneficência. Diferentemente da maioria dos intérpretes, levo seriamente em conta a perspectiva dos próprios agentes, os quais normalmente declaram que não fizeram nada além do seu dever. De fato, nos textos de Kant, encontro argumentos que fundamentam a tese de que “supererrogatório” não pode sequer existir como uma categoria, posto que é um conceito autocontraditório. Por fim, mostro que a doutrina do supererrogatório repousa tanto numa confusão teórica quanto numa deficiência moral por parte de seus defensores.Abstract: This paper argues that the moral value of the so-called supererogatory actions, i.e. actions that allegedly go beyond the call of duty, like the deeds of saints and heroes, can be adequately captured by Kant’s theory of the imperfect duty of beneficence. In so doing, unlike most interpreters, I will take seriously in account the perspective of the agents themselves, who commonly declare that they did nothing but their duty. In fact, to support the claim that “supererogatory” cannot even exist as a category because it is self-contradictory, evidence will be adduced from Kant’s texts. Finally, supererogationism will be shown as a doctrine that rests on a theoretical confusion as much as on a moral flaw on the part of its defenders.
Special Issue on New Development in Adaptive & Learning Control
Authors: Fujisawa Shoichiro ,   Professor, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Tokushima University, Yamamoto Toru , Mizumoto Ikuro , Henmi Tomohiro
Published: October 2016

This special issue, which focuses on adaptive/learning control, includes 18 contributions classified as follows:
  • Closed-loop identification and controller redesign

  • Adaptive output feedback control

  • Data-driven control

  • Multirate control

  • Computational intelligence-based approaches

  • Applications centering on electric motors, engine systems, hydraulic excavators, rotary cranes, etc.
In addition, one review paper covers performance-driven control.

The theoretical study of adaptive/learning control has few actual applied examples in the form of real systems but is flourishing. Applied studies are expected to increasingly progress and adaptive/learning control theory holds big changes for industrial fields.
Antisway Control for a Rotary Crane by Using Evolutionary Computation
Authors: Abe Akira ,   Department of Systems, Control and Information Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Asahikawa College, Okabe Keisuke ,   Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, School of Engineering, Tohoku University
Published: October 2016

[abstFig src='/00280005/05.jpg' width='250' text='Photograph of the experimental setup' ] We present a simple antisway control method for a rotary crane, whose load can move in a two-dimensional plane. In particular, we investigate the suppression of residual sway motion of a rotary crane with a boom that performs point-to-point motion. In the proposed method, we attempt to generate the trajectory of the boom using a combination of polynomial and cycloidal functions. The profile of the generated trajectory depends on the coefficients of the polynomial function. Thus, it is necessary to tune the coefficients to minimize the sway motion in the two-dimensional plane as much as possible. We adopt a particle swarm optimization algorithm, an evolutionary computation technique, to tune the coefficients and then obtain the optimal trajectory. By rotating the boom along the optimal trajectory, the two-dimensional residual sway motion is suppressed, i.e., an open-loop control is realized. The effectiveness and feasibility of the proposed control scheme is demonstrated via simulations and experiments.
Method Evaluation for Short-Term Wind Speed Prediction Considering Multi Regions in Japan
Authors: Tanaka Ikki ,   School of Integrated Design Engineering, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Keio University, Ohmori Hiromitsu
Published: October 2016

[abstFig src='/00280005/09.jpg' width='300' text='Prediction errors at observation points' ] Wind energy use is being developed worldwide. Improving wind speed forecasting techniques has become important due to their economic impact on power system operation with increasing wind power penetration. Wind speed prediction is generally difficult due to wind’s intermittent nature, so many approaches have been proposed by researchers. The viability of these techniques has been verified, however, in only a certain few areas, rather than being evaluated quantitatively in many different locations. We use data from different parts of Japan for one-step-ahead prediction and applied different approaches at each point, which was then evaluated such as mean absolute error. We used the persistent model, the ARMA-GARCH model, the nonlinear autoregressive network with external input (NARX), the recurrent neural network (RNN), and support vector regression (SVR). Our results suggest that it is difficult to create the same model which minimizes error in all areas, confirming the need for individual predictors for individual regions.
A Prospective Evaluation of Opioid Utilization After Upper-Extremity Surgical Procedures: Identifying Consumption Patterns and Determining Prescribing Guidelines
Authors: Kim Nayoung , Matzon Jonas L. , Abboudi Jack , Jones Christopher , Kirkpatrick William , Leinberry Charles F. , Liss Frederic E. , Lutsky Kevin F. , Wang Mark L. , Maltenfort Mitchell , Ilyas Asif M.
Published: October 2016

Background:

Although adequate management of postoperative pain with oral analgesics is an important aspect of surgical procedures, inadvertent overprescribing can lead to excess availability of opioids in the community for potential diversion. The purpose of our study was to prospectively evaluate opioid consumption following outpatient upper-extremity surgical procedures to determine opioid utilization patterns and to develop prescribing guidelines.

Methods:

All patients undergoing outpatient upper-extremity surgical procedures over a consecutive 6-month period had the following prospective data collected: patient demographic characteristics, surgical details, anesthesia type, and opioid prescription and consumption patterns. Analysis of variance and post hoc comparisons were performed using t tests, with the p value for multiple pairwise tests adjusted by the Bonferroni correction.

Results:

A total of 1,416 patients with a mean age of 56 years (range, 18 to 93 years) were included in the study. Surgeons prescribed a mean total of 24 pills, and patients reported consuming a mean total of 8.1 pills, resulting in a utilization rate of 34%. Patients undergoing soft-tissue procedures reported requiring fewer opioids (5.1 pills for 2.2 days) compared with fracture surgical procedures (13.0 pills for 4.5 days) or joint procedures (14.5 pills for 5.0 days) (p < 0.001). Patients who underwent wrist surgical procedures required a mean number of 7.5 pills for 3.1 days and those who underwent hand surgical procedures required a mean number of 7.7 pills for 2.9 days, compared with patients who underwent forearm or elbow surgical procedures (11.1 pills) and those who underwent upper arm or shoulder surgical procedures (22.0 pills) (p < 0.01). Procedure type, anatomic location, anesthesia type, age, and type of insurance were also all significantly associated with reported opioid consumption (p < 0.001).

Conclusions:

In this large, prospective evaluation of postoperative opioid consumption, we found that patients are being prescribed approximately 3 times greater opioid medications than needed following upper-extremity surgical procedures. We have provided general prescribing guidelines, and we recommend that surgeons carefully examine their patients’ opioid utilization and consider customizing their opioid prescriptions on the basis of anatomic location and procedure type to prescribe the optimal amount of opioids while avoiding dissemination of excess opioids.
Contamination of the Surgical Field with Propionibacterium acnes in Primary Shoulder Arthroplasty
Authors: Falconer Travis M. , Baba Mohammed , Kruse Lisa M. , Dorrestijn Oscar , Donaldson Matthew J. , Smith Margaret M. , Figtree Melanie C. , Hudson Bernard J. , Cass Benjamin , Young Allan A.
Published: October 2016

Background:

Propionibacterium acnes is a common pathogen identified in postoperative shoulder infection. It has been shown to be present in culture specimens during primary shoulder arthroplasty; however, recent work has suggested that it is most likely to be a contaminant. Our aim was to identify the potential sources of contamination in shoulder arthroplasty.

Methods:

Tissue swabs were obtained for microbiological analysis from consecutive patients undergoing primary shoulder arthroplasty. Routine surgical technique was maintained, and 5 specimens were taken from different sites: (1) the subdermal layer, (2) the tip of the surgeon’s glove, (3) the inside scalpel blade (used for deeper incision), (4) the forceps, and (5) the outside scalpel blade (used for the skin incision).

Results:

Forty patients (25 female patients and 15 male patients) were included. Thirteen (33%) of the 40 patients had at least 1 culture specimen positive for P. acnes. Two (8%) of the 25 female patients and 11 (73%) of the 15 male patients had ≥1 culture specimen positive for P. acnes. The most common site of growth of P. acnes was the subdermal layer (12 positive samples), followed by the forceps (7 positive samples), the tip of the surgeon’s glove (7 positive samples), the outside scalpel blade (4 positive samples), and the inside scalpel blade (1 positive sample). There were 27 of 75 swabs that were positive on culture for P. acnes in male patients compared with 4 of 125 swabs in female patients. Male patients had 66 times (95% confidence interval, 6 to 680 times) higher odds of having a positive culture indicating subdermal colonization compared with female patients (p < 0.001).

Conclusions:

P. acnes is a common contaminant of the surgical field in primary shoulder arthroplasty. The subdermal layer may be the source of this contamination, and the prevalence of P. acnes in the surgical wound may be due to the surgeon’s manipulation with gloves and instruments. Our findings are consistent with those regarding the increased rates of P. acnes bacterial load and intraoperative growth in male patients compared with female patients.

Clinical Relevance:

P. acnes is likely to be spread throughout the surgical field from the subdermal layer via soft-tissue handling by the surgeon and instruments. Strategies need to be utilized to minimize this contact and to reduce the chance of colonization.
Surgical Outcome and Prognostic Analysis of Transoral Atlantoaxial Reduction Plate System for Basilar Invagination
Authors: Wei Gejin , Shi Chenglong , Wang Zhiyun , Xia Hong , Yin Qingshui , Wu Zenghui
Published: October 2016

Background:

The use of a transoral atlantoaxial reduction plate (TARP) system is an effective surgical approach for the treatment of basilar invagination. With the aim of improving the therapeutic efficacy of the TARP operation, we conducted a voxel-based morphometric study to quantitatively investigate the descent of the odontoid process and craniocervical volume changes.

Methods:

We enrolled 20 patients with basilar invagination who underwent a TARP procedure. Craniocervical computed tomography (CT) scanning and a 3-dimensional (3-D) reconstruction of the craniocervical junction were performed. Craniocervical volumes and odontoid process descent distances were measured preoperatively and postoperatively. Individual neurological function was evaluated according to the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scoring system for cervical disorders. Pearson correlation analysis was applied for statistical testing.

Results:

Surgical efficacy (the JOA-score improvement rate) was significantly associated with the craniocervical volume improvement rate, the odontoid descent distance, and the absolute craniocervical volume changes (p < 0.01 for all), with correlation coefficients (r) of 0.83, 0.80, and 0.61, respectively. No significant correlation was noted between surgical efficacy and age, symptom duration, preoperative neurological function, odontoid process displacement, or change in clivus-odontoid angle (p > 0.05). The craniocervical volume improvement rate was significantly associated with the odontoid descent distance (r = 0.8; p < 0.01), but it was not associated with the odontoid displacement or the change in the clivus-odontoid angle (p > 0.05).

Conclusions:

We found that the odontoid descent distance predicted the craniocervical volume improvement rate following TARP procedures in patients with basilar invagination, and we believe that both can serve as predictors of surgical efficacy. We believe that planning the odontoid descent distance preoperatively may help to improve the efficacy of TARP operations.

Level of Evidence:

Prognostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Asymptomatic Pseudotumors in Patients with Taper Corrosion of a Dual-Taper Modular Femoral Stem
Authors: Kwon Young-Min , Khormaee Sariah , Liow Ming Han Lincoln , Tsai Tsung-Yuan , Freiberg Andrew A. , Rubash Harry E.
Published: October 2016

Background:

Modularity in total hip arthroplasty facilitates intraoperative restoration of patient anatomy. Although dual-taper modular total hip arthroplasty offers potential advantages for optimizing the hip center of rotation, it has been associated with modular taper corrosion. This corrosion has led to adverse local tissue reactions (pseudotumors) at the neck-stem junction and elevated metal-ion levels. However, the occurrence of taper-corrosion-related pseudotumors in patients who remain asymptomatic following total hip arthroplasty with a dual-taper modular femoral stem remains largely unknown. The aims of this study were (1) to determine the prevalence of asymptomatic pseudotumors by utilizing metal artifact reduction sequence magnetic resonance imaging (MARS-MRI) and (2) compare serum metal-ion levels between symptomatic and asymptomatic patients with a dual-taper modular stem total hip replacement.

Methods:

We performed a retrospective cross-sectional study of 97 consecutive patients who had been treated with a dual-taper modular femoral stem total hip arthroplasty. Eighty-three patients were stratified into symptomatic and asymptomatic groups and evaluated with MARS-MRI, measurement of serum metal-ion levels, and the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) functional hip score.

Results:

The prevalence of pseudotumors as determined with MARS-MRI was 15% in our asymptomatic patients and 36% in the overall cohort. The median serum cobalt level and cobalt/chromium ratio were significantly higher in patients with a pseudotumor than in those without a pseudotumor (8.0 versus 2.0 μg/L [p = 0.004] and 10.3 versus 2.4 μg/L [p = 0.012], respectively). However, there was no significant difference in the serum cobalt level or cobalt/chromium ratio between symptomatic patients with a pseudotumor and asymptomatic patients with a pseudotumor (7.6 versus 6.2 μg/L [p = 0.37] and 8.3 versus 10.6 μg/L [p = 0.46], respectively). The UCLA scores of asymptomatic patients with a pseudotumor were similar to those of patients without a pseudotumor (6.7 versus 6.6).

Conclusions:

The prevalence of asymptomatic taper-corrosion-related pseudotumors on MARS-MRI in this study demonstrated that the absence of symptoms does not exclude the presence of adverse local tissue reactions. Elevated cobalt levels and cobalt/chromium ratios were associated with the presence of pseudotumors in asymptomatic and symptomatic patients. Cross-sectional imaging such as MARS-MRI is indicated for patients with elevated metal-ion levels. A longitudinal study is required to determine whether asymptomatic patients with taper-corrosion-related pseudotumors will develop symptoms with time.

Level of Evidence:

Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Comparison Between Cyclic Gas Injection and Cyclic Solvent + Gas Injection
Authors: Rivera J. E. , Duarte C. A. , Chaparro C. H. , Fernández F. R. , Quintero L. M. , Villareal R. M. , Pinto J. C. , Sárquez J. R. , Sáchica J. A. , Amaya R. F. , Ferreira U. F. , Arrieta V. J.
Published: October 2016

This paper shows the comparison obtained in the oil and gas production increase by cyclic gas injection produced at Provincia field and the cyclic solvent + gas injection (same field). According the composition of the production gas of Provincia Field (Table 1) used during the cyclic injection, is denominated as "rich gas", the molar fraction between C2 to C7+ is 31%.

The Provincia Field is a mature field that has since the late 80's the Gas Lift as artificial lift system and for our particular case, that resource compressed gas was taken at 1000 psig to cyclically inject gas production. Besides, the cyclic gas injection & cyclic solvent + gas injection technology was proved.

The cyclic rich gas injection of was put in practice in 9 wells of the field and the cyclic injection + gas was applied in the well Santos 94. For our specific case, the application of both technologies in the increase of productivity obtained in Santos 94 (API Gravity 20°) is going to compare. During the total cycle of injection & production of cyclic gas in Santos 94 an increase of oil production was obtained, 2134 Bls and 32,4 MMCF of gas. The oil and gas incremental production during the injection cycle of solvent + rich gas was 3232 Bls and 171 MMCF (32715 Equivalent Barrels).
Compact and Highly Efficient Heat Exchanger Based on Packed Beds of Nanoparticle-Doped Spheres
Authors: Alvarado A.. , Lancon E.. , Blanco C.. , Briceno M. I. , Espin D..
Published: October 2016

In this work, we demonstrate at a laboratory scale the possibility of using a radio frequency (RF) heating system as a heat exchanger, with future applications for heavy oil processing. This laboratory work is the base for further improvements in heavy oil operations. The system consists of a pipe packed with nanoparticle-doped, superparamagnetic spheres as the bed material. The experimental results are compared to the data obtained with a volume average numerical method.

In the RF heating system, the spheres are excited when subjected to oscillating electric fields ensuing thermal energy dissipation; this mechanism is called the Neel relaxation, a type of electrical induction heating. We have tested this system’s performance using water and heavy crude oil flowing in non-electrically conductive ceramic pipes packed with different sizes and spheres materials. Pressure, temperature and electric consumption data corresponding to varying flow rates have been collected and the numerically solved heat transfer equations are used to extend the system characterization; this will allow for industrial apparatus design considerations.

Steady state data indicate that fluid heating is achieved at smaller residence times than in conventional heaters; temperature can be controlled with a great accuracy by varying the parameters of the RF generator. When heat leakage could be contained (through insulating the pipe outer wall and relatively low temperature gradients), heating efficiencies were significantly higher than 80 %. The volume average numerical method shows that the liquid flowing through the packed bed gets uniformly heated. Thermal and flow characterization are achieved for Reynolds and Nusselt numbers in the range of 10−2−102 respectively.

This set up is able to heat in an efficient and temperature accurate manner for a wide range of flow conditions, and can be potentially used as a highly efficient heat exchanger for production operations (e.g., steam generation) in areas where the construction of surface facilities (fuel storage tanks, boilers) is not possible, either for environmental reasons or for lack of land space. A RF heat exchanger would only require a reliable source of electricity.
Combating river pollution in China and India: policy measures and governance challenges
Authors: Wang Yahua , Mukherjee Maitreyee , Wu Dan , Wu Xun
Published: October 2016

Severe water pollution is among the top policy priorities in both China and India. This paper undertakes a comparative case analysis to examine efforts in combating river pollution in two major rivers – the Yangtze in China and the Ganga in India. Our analysis suggests that efforts in combating river pollution in the two Asian giants have encountered substantial challenges, such as the lack of comprehensive legal mechanisms to control pollution at the basin level, the lack of coordination among multiple government agencies, and significant gaps in policy implementation. Our analysis also points out considerable differences between China and India in institutional structure, regulatory approaches and policy instruments in dealing with river pollution.
Targeting Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha for Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Decourt Boris , Lahiri Debomoy K. , Sabbagh Marwan N.
Published: October 2016

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) affects an estimated 44 million individuals worldwide, yet no
therapeutic intervention is available to stop the progression of the dementia. Neuropathological hallmarks
of AD are extracellular deposits of amyloid beta (Aβ) peptides assembled in plaques, intraneuronal
accumulation of hyperphosphorylated tau protein forming tangles, and chronic inflammation. A
pivotal molecule in inflammation is the pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-α. Several lines of evidence
using genetic and pharmacological manipulations indicate that TNF-α signaling exacerbates both Aβ
and tau pathologies in vivo. Interestingly, preventive and intervention anti-inflammatory strategies
demonstrated a reduction in brain pathology and an amelioration of cognitive function in rodent models
of AD. Phase I and IIa clinical trials suggest that TNF-α inhibitors might slow down cognitive decline
and improve daily activities in AD patients. In the present review, we summarize the evidence pointing
towards a beneficial role of anti-TNF-α therapies to prevent or slow the progression of AD. We also
present possible physical and pharmacological interventions to modulate TNF-α signaling in AD subjects
along with their limitations.
Therapeutic Noninvasive Brain Stimulation in Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Gonsalvez Irene , Baror Roey , Fried Peter , Santarnecchi Emiliano , Pascual-Leone Alvaro
Published: October 2016

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a looming public health crisis that currently lacks an effective
treatment. Noninvasive Brain Stimulation (NBS), particularly transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)
and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), offers a promising alternative approach to pharmacological
interventions for an increasing number of neurological and psychiatric conditions. The aim of this
review is summarize data from therapeutic trials of NBS in AD and other dementing illnesses.

Despite the potential of NBS, there is limited theoretical framework and a lack of guidelines for its applications
to AD. Several published clinical trials failed to report key parameters of the interventions thus
limiting the utility of the study to assess efficacy and safety. Our review concludes with some suggestions
for future studies aimed to advance research into NBS as a potential treatment for the symptoms and
disabilities caused by AD and to enable comparison of results across trials. Ultimately, appropriately
powered, and controlled, multi-site randomized clinical trials will be needed to evaluate the therapeutic
potential of NBS in AD.
Prognostic Value of Histologic Classification of ANCA-Associated Glomerulonephritis
Authors: Bjørneklett Rune , Sriskandarajah Sanjeevan , Bostad Leif
Published: October 2016

Background and objectives

A kidney biopsy is preferred for the diagnosis of ANCA-associated vasculitis with renal involvement. The aim of our study was to evaluate the prognostic value of a histopathologic classification scheme recently proposed by an international consortium of renal pathologists in a large Norwegian cohort.

Design, setting, participants, & measurements

Patients diagnosed with ANCA-associated GN were included from the Norwegian Kidney Biopsy Registry 1991–2012. Renal morphology was classified as focal, mixed, crescentic, or sclerotic. Study end point was ESRD. Patients were followed from kidney biopsy to end of 2012.

Results

Two hundred fifty patients with ≥10 glomeruli in the biopsy were included in our study. During a median follow-up of 3.5 years (0.7–7.6), 60 cases of ESRD occurred. Ninety-six (38%) biopsies were classified as focal, 61 (24%) biopsies were classified as mixed, 71 (28%) biopsies were classified as crescentic, and 22 (9%) biopsies were classified as sclerotic; 1- and 5-year cumulative renal survival rates were 96% and 90%, respectively, for the focal class, 86% and 75%, respectively, for the mixed class, 81% and 69%, respectively, for the crescentic class, and 56% and 51%, respectively, for the sclerotic class. By multivariate Cox regression analyses, the sclerotic class had a significantly worse renal prognosis than the focal (hazard ratio, 9.65; 95% confidence interval, 2.38 to 39.16) or combined mixed/crescentic classes (hazard ratio, 3.27; 95% confidence interval, 1.41 to 7.61), but no significant differences in outcome were observed in the crescentic class compared with the mixed class (hazard ratio, 1.13; 95% confidence interval, 0.44 to 2.87) or the combined mixed/crescentic class compared with the focal class (hazard ratio, 1.93; 95% confidence interval, 0.61 to 6.12). Accuracy by receiver operator characteristic curve analysis was estimated to be 0.72 (95% confidence interval, 0.65 to 0.80). In 108 additional patients with three to nine glomeruli in the biopsy, the prognostic value of this classification scheme was unchanged.

Conclusions

The histopathologic classification is a predictor of renal outcome of moderate quality. Merging the mixed and crescentic classes in the future could simplify the scheme.
Viral-Associated GN: Hepatitis B and Other Viral Infections
Authors: Kupin Warren L.
Published: October 2016

By definition, viral-associated GN indicates the direct pathogenic relationship between active viral replication and the development of acute GN. This definition is in sharp contrast to the semantic label and pathophysiologic foundation behind postinfectious GN that uniquely develops only during a period of resolved and absent active infection. The primary example of postinfectious GN are the glomerular lesions described after a pharyngeal or cutaneous streptococcal infection and do not represent the clinical or immunologic pattern seen with viral-associated GN. Hepatitis B (HBV) is the most common chronic viral infection in the world affecting >400 million people which is more than double the prevalence of chronic HIV and hepatitis C carriers combined. In addition, 10%–20% of HBV patients may be coinfected with hepatitis C and 5%–10% will have coinfection with HIV. Being able to distinguish the different types of GN seen with each viral infection is essential for the practicing clinician as each virus requires its own specific antiviral therapy. HBV-induced immune complex disease with renal injury lies on one end of the spectrum of disorders that occurs after a prolonged chronic carrier state. On the opposite end of the spectrum are renal diseases that develop from acute or subacute viral infections. One important glomerular lesion in this category is the association of collapsing FSGS with acute active cytomegalovirus, Epstein–Barr virus, and parvovirus B19 infection. The data supporting or disproving this relationship for each of these viruses will be discussed. A second renal manifestation of acute viral infections often occurs with many different sporadic or epidemic infections such as dengue and hantavirus and can lead to a transient proliferative GN that resolves upon viral clearance. The complex interplay of HBV and all viruses with the immune system provides conceptual lessons on the pathophysiology of immune complex GN that can be applied to all infection-related renal disease and plays an integral role in developing an approach to therapeutic intervention.
Moderating “Cry Wolf” Events with Excess MAD in Benford's Law Research and Practice
Authors: Barney Bradley J. , Schulzke Kurt S.
Published: October 2016

False positives or “Type I errors,” wherein test results indicate fraud where none actually exists, have been described as a costly “cry wolf problem” in auditing practice. Benford's Law, which is used as one tool among many in screening for financial statement manipulation, is especially prone to false positives when applied to small and moderately sized datasets. Relying in part on Monte Carlo simulations, we describe with greater precision than extant literature the mathematical correlation between N and Mean Absolute Deviation (MAD), a statistic increasingly used for assessing deviation from Benford's Law. We recommend replacing MAD with an alternative, Excess MAD, which explicitly adjusts for N in estimating deviation from Benford's Law. Applying nonparametric, generalized additive modeling to public company financial statement numbers, we demonstrate the differing outcomes expected from Excess MAD and MAD and produce evidence suggesting that, despite Sarbanes-Oxley and Dodd-Frank legislation, Benford's Law conformity of public company financial statement numbers remained relatively stable across four decades beginning in 1970.
Childhood Socioeconomic Status in Predicting Metabolic Syndrome and Glucose Abnormalities in Adulthood: The Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study
Authors: Puolakka Elina , Pahkala Katja , Laitinen Tomi T. , Magnussen Costan G. , Hutri-Kähönen Nina , Tossavainen Päivi , Jokinen Eero , Sabin Matthew A. , Laitinen Tomi , Elovainio Marko , Pulkki-Råback Laura , Viikari Jorma S.A. , Raitakari Olli T. , Juonala Markus
Published: October 2016

OBJECTIVE

We prospectively examined whether family socioeconomic status (SES) in childhood is associated with metabolic syndrome (MetS), impaired fasting glucose (IFG), or type 2 diabetes in adulthood.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

The sample comprised 2,250 participants from the longitudinal Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study cohort. Participants were 3–18 years old at baseline (mean age 10.6 years), and they were followed for 31 years. SES was characterized as reported annual income of the family and classified on an 8-point scale.

RESULTS

For each 1-unit increase in family SES in childhood, the risk for adult MetS decreased (risk ratio [95% confidence interval] 0.94 [0.90–0.98]; P = 0.003) when adjusted for age, sex, childhood cardiometabolic risk factors (lipids, systolic blood pressure, insulin, and BMI), childhood physical activity, and fruit and vegetable consumption. The association remained after adjustment for participants’ own SES in adulthood (0.95 [0.91–0.99]; P = 0.005). A similar association was seen between childhood SES and the risk of having either adult IFG or type 2 diabetes (0.96 [0.92–0.99]; P = 0.01, age and sex adjusted). This association became nonsignificant after adjustment for childhood risk factors (P = 0.08). Of the individual components of MetS, lower SES in childhood predicted large waist circumference (0.96 [0.93–0.99]; P = 0.003) and a high triglycerides concentration (0.96 [0.92–1.00]; P = 0.04) after adjustment for the aforementioned risk factors.

CONCLUSIONS

Lower SES in childhood may be associated with an increased risk for MetS, IFG, and type 2 diabetes in adulthood. Special attention could be paid to children of low SES families to decrease the prevalence of MetS in adulthood.
Use of Real-Time Operational Tactics to Synchronize Transfers in Headway-Based Public Transport Service
Authors: Nesheli Mahmood Mahmoodi , Ceder Avishai (Avi)
Published: October 2016

The problem of applying efficient vehicle synchronization at transfer points was addressed. To reduce the waiting time of transferring passengers and to provide an integrated, well-connected, public transport (PT) service, maximal synchronized transfers were employed at the planning level. However, at the operation level, synchronized transfers do not always appear because of certain stochastic and uncertain factors, such as traffic disturbances and disruptions, fluctuations of passenger demand, and the erroneous behavior of PT drivers. These factors can lead to deterioration in system reliability, missed transfers, and passenger frustration. This work presents a real-time tactic-based control (TBC) procedure to increase the service reliability and actual occurrence of synchronized transfers in a headway-based PT system. The procedure aims at minimizing additional travel time for passengers and reducing the uncertainty of meetings between PT vehicles. The TBC procedure uses selected online operational tactics, such as holding, boarding limits, and skipping stops, all of which are based on real-time data. A library of operational tactics was first built to serve as a basis for the real-time decision-making process in TBC. Then, an extensive analysis framework for event-based activity simulation with dynamic moving elements was constructed to represent the logical process of the problem of PT transfer synchronization. A case study of the Auckland PT system is described for assessing the methodology developed. The results showed improvements of system performance and yielded new findings on what control policy to use in different scenarios.
Identifying Factors That Increase Bus Accident Risk by Using Random Forests and Trip-Level Data
Authors: Huting Joel , Reid Joey , Nwoke Uchechukwu , Bacarella Elizabeth , Ky Kim Eng
Published: October 2016

Responsible bus accidents—accidents in which an operator’s actions largely explain why an accident occurred—decrease service reliability and safety, cause property damage, and lead to injury or even death. These effects make the reduction of avoidable accidents a high priority for transit authorities. This study used innovative techniques to identify factors that affected the probability of a responsible bus accident in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul, Minnesota, metropolitan area. The study examined data on the trip level and used the random forest model to identify the factors that most strongly affected the likelihood of an accident. In addition, this study used the partial dependency function of the random forest model as an aid in identifying nonlinear relationships between predictor and response variables. This function informs variable transformation in a traditional logistic model, which accurately classifies test set trips as accidents and nonaccidents at a rate of about 72%. Many results fell in line with past literature, but new insights were gained. Specifically, in keeping with most past studies, accidents were more likely when the bus operator was older, female, fatigued, inexperienced, driving a larger bus, or driving on a dense urban route. One new insight of this study is that bus drivers are at greater risk toward the middle of their shift, especially when traffic is dense. Bus drivers’ risk greatly increases if they ( a) did not work the previous day and ( b) worked longer hours the previous week. Because previous studies have not examined accidents on the trip level, they have not found these more specific work-hour relationships that capture elements of alertness, fatigue, and complacency.
Factors Affecting Critical Shear Stress of Scour of Cohesive Soil Beds
Authors: Rahimnejad Reza , Ooi Phillip S. K.
Published: October 2016

Nearly 60% of bridge failures in the United States are caused by scour. When water flows in a channel, there is a critical value of riverbed shear stress; below this value, scour will not take place. This critical shear stress is an important parameter in scour prediction. However, a standard method to estimate the critical shear stress does not exist. From a study of 33 erosion function–apparatus (EFA) curves derived for cohesive soils, a method is proposed to estimate the critical shear stress using a hyperbola to fit the data, with some constraints. The intercept of the hyperbola on the shear stress axis is the critical shear stress. The ability to use Shelby tubes for EFA testing allows for careful control of properties when cohesive soils are being reconstituted. The hyperbolic approach was used to determine the critical shear stress for four samples of the same soil consolidated to different consolidation stresses. It was observed that the critical shear stress increased with decreasing water content, decreasing void ratio, increasing unit weight, and increasing consolidation stress. That these soil samples were essentially normally consolidated also suggests that the critical shear stress increased with undrained shear strength ( Su) because Su/p = constant, where p = consolidation stress. This trend was not observed in NCHRP Project 24-15; this factor indicated the lack of a relationship between critical shear stress and some common soil parameters on the basis of observations from a large EFA test database. When soils from multiple sources are used to derive such relationships, a statistical approach that incorporates mixed effects may be needed.
The global incidence of lip, oral cavity, and pharyngeal cancers by subsite in 2012
Authors: Shield Kevin D. , Ferlay Jacques , Jemal Ahmedin , Sankaranarayanan Rengaswamy , Chaturvedi Anil K. , Bray Freddie , Soerjomataram Isabelle
Published: October 2016

By using data from the International Agency for Research on Cancer publication Cancer Incidence in 5 Continents and GLOBOCAN, this report provides the first consolidated global estimation of the subsite distribution of new cases of lip, oral cavity, and pharyngeal cancers by country, sex, and age for the year 2012. Major geographically based, sex‐based, and age‐based variations in the incidence of lip, oral cavity, and pharyngeal cancers by subsite were observed. Lip cancers were highly frequent in Australia (associated with solar radiation) and in central and eastern Europe (associated with tobacco smoking). Cancers of the oral cavity and hypopharynx were highly common in south‐central Asia, especially in India (associated with smokeless tobacco, bidi, and betel‐quid use). Rates of oropharyngeal cancers were elevated in northern America and Europe, notably in Hungary, Slovakia, Germany, and France and were associated with alcohol use, tobacco smoking, and human papillomavirus infection. Nasopharyngeal cancers were most common in northern Africa and eastern/southeast Asia, indicative of genetic susceptibility combined with Epstein‐Barr virus infection and early life carcinogenic exposures (nitrosamines and salted foods). The global incidence of lip, oral cavity, and pharyngeal cancers of 529,500, corresponding to 3.8% of all cancer cases, is predicted to rise by 62% to 856,000 cases by 2035 because of changes in demographics. Given the rising incidence of lip, oral cavity, and pharyngeal cancers and the variations in incidence by subsites across world regions and countries, there is a need for local, tailored approaches to prevention, screening, and treatment interventions that will optimally reduce the lip, oral cavity, and pharyngeal cancer burden in future decades. CA Cancer J Clin 2017;67:51–64. © 2016 American Cancer Society.
GENETIC DIVERGENCE ANALYSIS IN HRDC RICE (Oryza sativa L.) HYBRIDS IN BANGLADESH
Authors: Ahmed A. , Shaon S. G. , Islam M. S. , Saha P. S. , Islam M. M.
Published: October 2016

Genetic divergence of 48 IRRI developed F1 rice hybrids were studied through Mahalanobis D2 and principal component analysis for ten characters in Gazipur and Pabna district during dry season 2012-13. Among 48 genotypes, cluster analysis resulted in five clusters following Wards method. During dry season for both regions, cluster I incorporated the highest number of genotypes. Significant differences among the genotypes but non-significant differences among replications were noticed for most of the parameters under study. The inter-cluster distance was larger than intra-cluster distance suggesting wider diversity among the genotypes. In Gazipur, the maximum inter-cluster D2 value was recorded between cluster III and V (6.69) and the minimum between cluster II and IV (0.69). The intra-cluster distance was maximum in cluster IV (3.60) and minimum in cluster I (0.33). In Pabna, maximum inter-cluster distance was exhibited between cluster IV and II (16.43) but minimum between cluster II and III (3.98). Maximum intra-cluster distance (4.40) was recorded in cluster IV whereas minimum in cluster I (0.83). Based on positive value of vector 1 and vector 2, panicle number m-2, spikelet fertility (%) and 1000-grain wt. (g) had maximum contribution towards genetic divergence among the characters studied. Cluster means indicated considerable differences in the mean values of different parameters. The highest cluster means for panicle weight (g), spikelet fertility (%), 1000 grain wt. (g) and grain yield (kg ha-1) were derived from cluster IV. Therefore, more prominence should be given to the lines under cluster IV that having genetic potentiality to contribute better for yield maximization of hybrid rice.
CHARACTERIZATION OF BRASSICA SPP. PROGENY LINES FOR YIELD AND ITS RELATED TRAITS
Authors: Iqbal A. , Rahman L. , Kabir M. H.
Published: October 2016

The present research works were conducted to find out the variation in morphological traits and their relationship in Brassica materials at C7 (Colchiploid) alloplasmic populations and F5 generations with respect to their parents. Among the 19 Brassica progeny lines representing the cross products (Brassica napojuncea) of C7 generation of Brassica napus and Brassica juncea (BINA sharisha 5 x Daulot: colchiploid-C7) and F5 generations with their parents, inter-species EG2 (Brassica napus x Brassica juncea) and EG1 (Brassica napus x Brassica juncea) showed better agronomic performance. Phenotypic characters of the genotypes were closely associated with each other for both normal correlation coefficients and Spearmans rank correlation coefficients. The total relative ranking ranged from 1 to 20 and the first rank was estimated for the genotype EG2 genotypes. The last rank was estimated for the genotype ED1 (Brassica napus x Brassica napus). Out of 55 associations, which found in the correlation study, 10 associations were found highly significant at the morphological level. Flower set per plant (self) showed highly significant positive association with total number of siliqua per plant (self) (r = 0.934**) but the significant negative association of the total number of siliqua per plant (self) with siliqua length was very strong (-0.489*). There was a genetic basis of association in most of the cases of pairs of relations. The Spearmans rank correlation test was studied to compare the morphological characterization for distinguishing genotypes. In this present study, this test presented 12 relationships that showed 10 positive significant and two negative significant correlations. In normal correlation coefficients 10 significant associations were found but 12 associations in Spearmans rank correlation. In these techniques, number of flower set per plant (self) had highly significant positive correlation with total number of siliqua per plant (rs = 0.817**). The days to 50 % flowering and number of seed per siliqua (self) had significant negative correlation with number of seed per siliqua (open) (rs = -0.546**) and number of flowers set per plant (open) (rs = -0.563*), respectively. Finally, the study suggested that some yield related traits such as flower set per plant, number of siliqua per plant, seed per siliqua and days to 50% flowering can be selected and used in breeding program for future increasing the grain yield of rapeseed.
GENOTYPE-ENVIRONMENT INTERACTION IN SPRING WHEAT (Triticum aestivum) OF BANGLADESH
Authors: Islam M. S. , Halder T. , Hossain J. , Mahmud F. , Rahman J.
Published: October 2016

A field study was conducted to select suitable genotype(s) for varying planting dates and to compare the average performance of the genotypes in different environments. The experiment was conducted at the farm of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka, Bangladesh with ten (nine Triticum aestivum and one Triticum turgidum) wheat genotypes. The genotypes were planted at three different dates during November 2012 to March 2013. Analysis of variance for the genotypes showed significant variation which revealed the presence of considerable amount of genetic variability among different genotypes. Significant genotype x environment interaction was obtained for all studied characters and  those were tested against pooled error. Environment + (genotype ^ environment) component and genotype ^ environment (linear) component also showed significant variation and the genotypes performed differently in different environments. Except pooled deviation of linear components of genotype-environment interaction were significant for all the characters. So the differences in stability for different characters were due to the linear response and not for non-linear function. Considering all the characters, genotypes G4, G6, G9 performed better in overall environments. The genotype G10 performed better in poor condition whereas G7 performed better in favorable environment. Among three different sowing dates, optimum sowing (sowing at 20 November, 2012) performed better for most of the genotypes and gradually decreased with late sowing.