bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Validation of a Rapid Visual Screening of Campylobacter jejuni in Chicken Using Antibody-Conjugated Fluorescent Dye-Doped Silica Nanoparticle Reporters
Authors: Poonlapdecha Wanwisa , Seetang-Nun Yortyot , Tuitemwong Kooranee , Tuitemwong Pravate
Published: August 2018

The objective of this work was to validate the antibody-conjugated fluorescent dye-doped silica nanoparticle- (FDS-NP-) based assay for the rapid detection of Campylobacter jejuni in chicken samples using ISO16140:2003 single-laboratory validation guidelines. This assay reversed the paradigm of microbial testing. The noncultured FDS-NPs increased the fluorescent light signal of the test, not the cell numbers, and significantly reduced the detection time. Validation results showed that relative detection level (LOD) of the assay was 103 cfu/ml. The antibody-conjugated FDS-NPs were evaluated for the detection of C. jejuni in 140 chicken samples collected from slaughterhouses (50 carcass rinse water, 60 rectal swabs, and 30 viscera contents) against ISO 10272 reference method with duplex PCR confirmation. The relative accuracy (AC), relative specificity (SP), and relative sensitivity (SE) were 95.67%, 100%, and 94.87%, respectively. The inclusivity test of C. jejuni strains was 100% positive. The exclusivity test demonstrated no cross-reactivity with 32 strains of non-Campylobacter strains. The FDS-NP assay was very fast and specific, with time to result of 30 min compared with the 2–5 days required by the reference method. The noncultured FDS-NPs demonstrated comparable performance to the cultured reference method to detect C. jejuni in poultry samples. It is applicable for effective screening of poultry product category.
Chemocatalytic Conversion of Cellulose into Key Platform Chemicals
Authors: Li Guangbi , Liu Wei , Ye Chenliang , Li Xiaoyun , Si Chuan-Ling
Published: August 2018

Chemocatalytic transformation of lignocellulosic biomass to value-added chemicals has attracted global interest in order to build up sustainable societies. Cellulose, the first most abundant constituent of lignocellulosic biomass, has received extensive attention for its comprehensive utilization of resource, such as its catalytic conversion into high value-added chemicals and fuels (e.g., HMF, DMF, and isosorbide). However, the low reactivity of cellulose has prevented its use in chemical industry due to stable chemical structure and poor solubility in common solvents over the cellulose. Recently, homogeneous or heterogeneous catalysis for the conversion of cellulose has been expected to overcome this issue, because various types of pretreatment and homogeneous or heterogeneous catalysts can be designed and applied in a wide range of reaction conditions. In this review, we show the present situation and perspective of homogeneous or heterogeneous catalysis for the direct conversion of cellulose into useful platform chemicals.
A Security Situation Prediction Algorithm Based on HMM in Mobile Network
Authors: Liang Wei , Long Jing , Chen Zuo , Yan Xiaolong , Li Yanbiao , Zhang Qingyong , Li Kuan-Ching
Published: August 2018

The increasingly severe network security situation brings unanticipated challenges to mobile networking. Traditional HMM (Hidden Markov Model) based algorithms for predicting the network security are not accurate, and to address this issue, a weighted HMM based algorithm is proposed to predict the security situation of the mobile network. The multiscale entropy is used to address the low speed of data training in mobile network, whereas the parameters of HMM situation transition matrix are also optimized. Moreover, the autocorrelation coefficient can reasonably use the association between the characteristics of the historical data to predict future security situation. Experimental analysis on DARPA2000 shows that the proposed algorithm is highly competitive, with good performance in prediction speed and accuracy when compared to existing design.
Frequency of Hospitalized Infections Is Reduced in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients Who Received Biological and Targeted Synthetic Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs after 2010
Authors: Ichinose Kunihiro , Shimizu Toshimasa , Umeda Masataka , Fukui Shoichi , Nishino Ayako , Koga Tomohiro , Kawashiri Shin-ya , Iwamoto Naoki , Tamai Mami , Nakamura Hideki , Sato Shuntaro , Origuchi Tomoki , Kawakami Atsushi
Published: August 2018

Background. Biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) and targeted synthetic (ts) DMARDs are important in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treatment. The risk of hospitalized infection associated with bDMARDs/tsDMARDs in RA patients is unclear. Methods. We retrospectively analyzed the cases of the 275 RA patients with 449 treatment episodes who were administered a bDMARD/tsDMARD at Nagasaki University Hospital in July 2003–January 2015. We determined the incidence and risk factors of infection requiring hospitalization in the patients during a 3-year observation period. Results. Thirty-five (12.7%) of the patients experienced a hospitalized infection. The hospitalized infection risk did not differ significantly among several bDMARDs/tsDMARDs. A multivariate analysis revealed that the comorbidities of chronic lung disease (adjusted HR 5.342, 95% CI 2.409–12.42, p<0.0001) and the initiation of bDMARDs/tsDMARDs before 2010 (adjusted HR 4.266, 95% CI 1.827–10.60, p=0.0007) are significant independent risk factors for hospitalized infection. Compared to the before-2010 group, the group of patients whose treatment initiated in 2010 or later showed higher patient ages at the initiation of bDMARD/tsDMARD treatment and a higher rate of the use of prophylaxis with an antituberculosis agent, whereas the disease activities and number of the patients who received >5 mg of prednisolone were lower in the after-2010 group. Conclusions. This is the first report that the frequency of hospitalized infection significantly decreased when the patients were treated with a bDMARD or tsDMARD after 2010. Our results indicate that the updated announcement of diagnosis and treatment criteria might contribute to a reduced risk of hospitalized infection and a better understanding of the use of bDMARDs/tsDMARDs by rheumatologists.
Protective Effect of Matricaria chamomilla Ethanolic Extract on Hippocampal Neuron Damage in Rats Exposed to Formaldehyde
Authors: Sayyar Zahra , Yazdinezhad Alireza , Hassan Maryam , Jafari Anarkooli Iraj
Published: August 2018

Formaldehyde, as a frequently used compound in many applications, crosses the blood‐brain barrier and leads to hippocampal cell death and memory impairment. This study investigates the effects of ethanolic extract of Matricaria chamomilla (MC) on passive avoidance learning induced by damaged hippocampal cells and evaluates the antioxidant traits of MC. The male Wistar rats were divided into six (6 in each) groups: control (10 mg/kg normal saline), 200 (200 mg/kg MC extract), 500 (500 mg/kg MC extract), F (10 mg/kg formaldehyde), F200 (10 mg/kg formaldehyde and 200 mg/kg MC extract), and F500 (10 mg/kg formaldehyde and 500 mg/kg MC extract). Shuttle box assay was used for evaluation of passive avoidance learning. The apoptosis rate of hippocampal tissue, malondialdehyde (MDA) free radicals, and total antioxidant capacity was evaluated to determine the positive effect of the ethanolic extract of MC. We found that the ethanolic extract of MC reduced the cell death, time spent in a dark room, and MDA free radicals in the hippocampus, leading to increased total antioxidant capacity in this region. In conclusion, the ethanolic extract of MC could ameliorate formaldehyde‐induced memory damage through decreasing cell death and MDA activity of the hippocampal region and increasing total antioxidant capacity.
Effects of Juglans regia Root Bark Extract on Platelet Aggregation, Bleeding Time, and Plasmatic Coagulation: In Vitro and Ex Vivo Experiments
Authors: Amirou A. , Bnouham M. , Legssyer A. , Ziyyat A. , Aziz M. , Berrabah M. , Mekhfi H.
Published: August 2018

Platelets have an important role in thrombosis and haemostasis. Hyperactivity of the platelets has been associated with thromboembolic diseases and represents the main cause of complications of cardiovascular diseases. Crude aqueous extract (CAE) of Juglans regia root bark was evaluated for bleeding time, antiaggregant activity by using agonists, thrombin, ADP, collagen, or arachidonic acid (in vitro and ex vivo), and anticoagulant activity by measuring the clotting parameters: activated partial thromboplastin time, prothrombin time, thrombin time, and fibrinogen dosage (in vitro and ex vivo). The result of this study reported that the strongest antiaggregant effect of CAE in vitro was observed on the ADP‐induced aggregation with inhibitions up to 90 %, while, in ex vivo experiments, the inhibition (more than 80 %) was observed with all agonists. Anticoagulant effect of CAE significantly prolonged the TT and decreased the fibrinogen level in vitro and ex vivo without interfering with APTT and PT. The bleeding time in mice and rats was significantly increased by CAE. The antiplatelet and anticoagulant effect observed in this study suggest that Juglans regia could have antithrombotic and/or thrombolytic activities and provide an alternative therapy against thrombotic complications related to cardiovascular diseases.
Modelling of Multiservice Networks with Separated Resources and Overflow of Adaptive Traffic
Authors: Głąbowski Mariusz , Kmiecik Damian , Stasiak Maciej
Published: August 2018

The article proposes a new method of determining traffic characteristics of multiservice overflow systems that carry adaptive traffic. When the total offered load in primary resources exceeds a certain value, this type of traffic is admitted for service with lower bitrate. A particular attention is given in the article to a method for a determination of the parameters of traffic that overflows to secondary resources as well as to the way adaptive traffic is serviced. The method takes into consideration three possible types of traffic: Erlang, Engset, and Pascal traffic. It is based on a generalization of Hayward’s concept and its application to model systems with adaptive traffic with threshold compression. The method can be used for optimal dimensioning of logical networks (slices) in modern mobile systems due to possibility of analytical determination of grade of service parameters (blocking probability, carried traffic, and network load). To verify the accuracy of the proposed model the results of analytical calculations, obtained on the basis of the proposed model, are then compared with the results of simulation experiments for a number of selected structures of overflow systems that service adaptive traffic. The results of the study demonstrate high accuracy of the proposed theoretical model.
Feature Preserving Filling of Holes on Point Sampled Surfaces Based on Tensor Voting
Authors: Lin Hongbin , Chen Jieyun , Zhang Yaru , Wang Wei , Kong Deming
Published: August 2018

This paper presents a novel hole filling method for the scattered point sampled surfaces, particularly for recovering the missing points at featured curves or corners. Firstly, a tensor voting based multicriterion is proposed to identify the hole boundary points; accordingly, the holes on point sampled surface are classified into featured holes and nonfeatured holes. Secondly, a novel spline curve guided tensor voting mechanism is proposed and used in inference of missing feature points. Thirdly, the featured holes are split into nonfeatured holes using local projection. Then, a plane guided tensor voting mechanism is proposed to recover the missing surface points. Experimental results validate the effectiveness and accuracy of proposed methods in filling holes on point sampled surface including the sharp features.
Prevalence and Determinants of Complete Postnatal Care Service Utilization in Northern Shoa, Ethiopia
Authors: Akibu Mohammed , Tsegaye Wintana , Megersa Tewodros , Nurgi Sodere
Published: August 2018

Background. Postnatal period presents the highest risk of death for mothers and newborns. Although progress has been made in expanding the coverage for most of maternal health services, national prevalence of postnatal care service utilization in Ethiopia is still extremely limited. Hence, this study aims to determine the prevalence and factors associated with complete postnatal care service utilization in Northern Shoa, Ethiopia. Methods. Community based cross-sectional survey was conducted between November 2016 and February 2017. A total of 510 mothers were included in the study using multistage sampling technique. The data were collected through face-to-face interview. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression models were fitted to identify factors associated with complete postnatal care utilization at p value of < 0.05. SPSS version 20 was used to analyze the data. Results. The prevalence of complete postnatal care utilization was found to be 28.4% in the study area. Mode of delivery (AOR=5.7, 95% CI = 3.9, 19), number of children (AOR= 2.5 95% CI, 1.4, 14.2), and level of education (AOR=3.2 95% CI, 1.1, 9.2) were the factors statistically associated with complete postnatal service uptake. Being healthy was the major (48.8%) reason mentioned for not complying with the recommended three postnatal visits. Conclusion. The prevalence of complete postnatal care service in the study area was found to be low, and it is far less than the targeted zonal and regional plan. Reinforcing the existing policies and strategies to increase women level of awareness about postnatal care and intensive counseling during antenatal care and delivery are the recommendations based upon the current finding.
Mechanical and Electrical Characteristics of Graphite Tailing Concrete
Authors: Liu Hongbo , Liu Kun , Lan Zhu , Zhang Dashuang
Published: August 2018

The graphite tailing causes serious environmental pollution, and the pollution problem becomes worse and worse with the increase in graphite demands. This paper focuses on the graphite tailing concrete, which can alleviate the environment problem through utilizing graphite tailings. With the orthogonal experimental design, 16 groups of specimens were designed to investigate the compressive strength of the graphite tailing concrete, and each group had 6 specimens. The significance sequence of the influencing factors for the compressive strength was studied, including the ratio of water to cement, sand ratio, graphite tailings content, and carbon fiber content. The optimal contents of graphite tailings and carbon fiber were obtained from the further experimental study on the electrical characteristics of the graphite tailing concrete, and a regression analysis was conducted to develop the predictive mixture design relationships for the electrical resistivity of the conductive graphite tailing concrete. The experimental results show that the conductive concrete mixture containing graphite tailings and carbon fiber has satisfactory mechanical strength along with well electrical conductivity. With the increase in graphite tailings content, the compressive strength decreases slowly, but the electrical resistivity decreases much more obviously. Predictions with the proposed relationship are in reasonable agreement with experimental results. This study provides references for the graphite tailing utilization alleviating the environment problems.
Integration of Gene Expression Profile Data to Screen and Verify Hub Genes Involved in Osteoarthritis
Authors: Li Zhaoyan , Wang Qingyu , Chen Gaoyang , Li Xin , Yang Qiwei , Du Zhenwu , Ren Ming , Song Yang , Zhang Guizhen
Published: August 2018

Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most common diseases worldwide, but the pathogenic genes and pathways are largely unclear. The aim of this study was to screen and verify hub genes involved in OA and explore potential molecular mechanisms. The expression profiles of GSE12021 and GSE55235 were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, which contained 39 samples, including 20 osteoarthritis synovial membranes and 19 matched normal synovial membranes. The raw data were integrated to obtain differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and were deeply analyzed by bioinformatics methods. The Gene Ontology (GO) and pathway enrichment of DEGs were performed by DAVID and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) online analyses, respectively. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks of the DEGs were constructed based on data from the STRING database. The top 10 hub genes VEGFA, IL6, JUN, IL1β, MYC, IL4, PTGS2, ATF3, EGR1, and DUSP1 were identified from the PPI network. Module analysis revealed that OA was associated with significant pathways including TNF signaling pathway, cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, and osteoclast differentiation. The qRT-PCR result showed that the expression level of IL6, VEGFA, JUN, IL-1β, and ATF3 was significantly increased in OA samples (p < 0.05), and these candidate genes could be used as potential diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets of OA.
A Closer Look at Intrusion Detection System for Web Applications
Authors: Agarwal Nancy , Hussain Syed Zeeshan
Published: August 2018

Intrusion Detection System (IDS) acts as a defensive tool to detect the security attacks on the web. IDS is a known methodology for detecting network-based attacks but is still immature in monitoring and identifying web-based application attacks. The objective of this research paper is to present a design methodology for efficient IDS with respect to web applications. In this paper, we present several specific aspects which make it challenging for an IDS to monitor and detect web attacks. The article also provides a comprehensive overview of the existing detection systems exclusively designed to observe web traffic. Furthermore, we identify various dimensions for comparing the IDS from different perspectives based on their design and functionalities. We also propose a conceptual framework of a web IDS with a prevention mechanism to offer systematic guidance for the implementation of the system. We compare its features with five existing detection systems, namely, AppSensor, PHPIDS, ModSecurity, Shadow Daemon, and AQTRONIX WebKnight. This paper will highly facilitate the interest groups with the cutting-edge information to understand the stronger and weaker sections of the domain and provide a firm foundation for developing an intelligent and efficient system.
(Co,Mn)3O4 Spinel Coating for Protecting Metallic Interconnects Thermally Converted from an Electro‐Codeposited Co‐Mn3O4 Composite Coating
Authors: Li Yelong , Song Jianli , Zhu Jiahong , Li Yongtang , Yang Wen
Published: August 2018

Electro‐codeposition was used to prepare the Co and Co‐Mn3O4 precursor coatings on ferritic stainless steel E‐brite. Plated samples were exposed at 800°C in air for different durations (i.e., 10 min and 4 h) for thermal conversion of the deposited layer to a spinel coating. The converted layer was characterized with scanning electron microscopy/energy‐dispersive spectroscopy (SEM/EDS) and X‐ray diffraction (XRD). The results showed that after 10 min heat treatment, the plated Co layer was not fully oxidized and converted into a double‐layer microstructure with an inner CoO layer and outer Co3O4 layer, while for the Co‐Mn3O4 layer, the Mn3O4 particles were not completely dissolved into the oxide layer. After 4 h of exposure, the surface layer was fully converted into the Co3O4 or (Co,Mn)3O4 spinel coating. Though the Mn content in (Co,Mn)3O4 was relatively low, the Mn‐doped spinel coating was advantageous over the pure cobalt spinel coating, as the thermally grown Cr2O3 scale at the coating/substrate interface was more compact and protective. Co diffusion from the deposited layer into the alloy substrate was observed for both coatings.
Cytokine Clearances in Critically Ill Patients on Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy
Authors: Chen Ling-Xin , Demirjian Sevag , Udani Suneel M. , Trevino Sharon A. , Murray Patrick T. , Koyner Jay L.
Published: August 2018

Background/Aims: We sought to quantify any differences in cytokine clearance between continuous venovenous hemofiltration (CVVH-convective) compared to continuous venovenous hemodialysis (CVVHD-diffusive). Methods: We conducted a 20 patient, multicenter, prospective, open-label randomized trial (CVVH or CVVHD) at continuous renal ­replacement therapy (CRRT) initiation. Blood, urine, and effluent were collected at 0, 4, 24, and 48 h after initiation of CRRT. Serum electrolytes, cytokines levels, and clearances were measured. Cytokines studies included IL-1β, IL-1RA, IL-6, IL-10, and TNFα. Results: We randomized 20 patients to receive CRRT. After 4 h of CRRT there was no difference in total cytokine levels or change in cytokine concentrations across the 2 groups. With the exception of IL-1 RA, all cytokines levels decreased across patient groups regardless of modality. There was no significant difference in cytokine concentration across CRRT modality for any time point. Conclusion: Within the first 4 h of CRRT initiation, there is no significant difference between cytokine or solute clearance between CVVH and CVVHD.
Neoadjuvant Model as a Platform for Research in Breast Cancer and Novel Targets under Development in this Field
Authors: Escrivá-de-Romaní Santiago , Arumí Miriam , Zamora Esther , Bellet Meritxell
Published: August 2018

For decades, the neoadjuvant setting has provided a useful scenario for research in breast cancer. Historically, neoadjuvant clinical trials, either hormone therapy-based or chemotherapy-based, have tried to recapitulate the results of their counterpart adjuvant studies, but with smaller patient numbers, more rapid outcomes (clinical response and/or pathologic complete response (pCR)), together with additional biologic information. As for neoadjuvant chemotherapy trials, the increase in pCR rates has been recently accepted as an appropriate surrogate marker to accelerate drug approval in high-risk breast cancer patients. In this setting, with the exception of luminal A tumors, pCR has been associated with improved long-term outcomes, particularly when the analysis is based on specific trials for each breast cancer subtype. For luminal tumors receiving neoadjuvant endocrine therapy, Ki67 at 2-4 weeks and the preoperative endocrine prognostic index score are the most accepted intermediate markers of efficacy, which will be validated in ongoing larger trials. In this review, we describe the different neoadjuvant designs: from the classical randomized trials in which treatment is delivered for 6 or more months to short non-therapeutic presurgical studies lasting just 2 or 3 weeks. We also review the main neoadjuvant trials, either ongoing or completed, for luminal, triple-negative, and HER2-positive breast cancer. The translational effort and research of biomarkers conducted in these studies will be particularly addressed.
Genetic Causes of Craniosynostosis: An Update
Authors: Goos Jacqueline A.C. , Mathijssen Irene M.J.
Published: August 2018

In 1993, Jabs et al. were the first to describe a genetic origin of craniosynostosis. Since this discovery, the genetic causes of the most common syndromes have been described. In 2015, a total of 57 human genes were reported for which there had been evidence that mutations were causally related to craniosynostosis. Facilitated by rapid technological developments, many others have been identified since then. Reviewing the literature, we characterize the most common craniosynostosis syndromes followed by a description of the novel causes that were identified between January 2015 and December 2017.
Forgotten Industrial Heritage in Virtual Reality—Case Study: Old Power Plant in Piešt’any, Slovakia
Authors: Hain Vladimír , Ganobjak Michal
Published: August 2018

An industrial heritage provides one of the most important records of urban development and of the progress of human civilization in the last two centuries. Monumental industrial buildings reflect extraordinary technical and economic development and progress in science and technology. Even after the termination of their original function, industrial heritage buildings and equipment, along with their architecture, still participate in a significant way in the atmosphere of many cities. The research process in our study used the methods of industrial archaeology. In combination with the identified preserved and still valuable parts of the building and preserved original equipment and archival plans, it was possible to reconstruct the hypothetical virtual appearance of the historical monument. For this purpose, the article examines the case study: virtual reality reconstruction of the Old Power Plant in the city of Piešt’any. The contribution of a brief experience in the VR scene of Machinery Hall in the exhibition with its high immersion, located in the historical environment of the original Machinery Hall, had an educational effect (understanding by experience), bringing out the look and functionality of the lost industrial heritage. This effect appears to be an appropriate and meaningful use of VR in practice.
Description of two new species of Cnemaspis Strauch, 1887 (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from the Western Ghats of Kerala, India
Authors: CYRIAC VIVEK PHILIP , JOHNY ALEX , UMESH P. K. , PALOT MUHAMED JAFER
Published: August 2018

Two new species of geckos of the genus Cnemaspis Strauch, 1887 are described from the southern Western Ghats of Kerala. Both species are medium to large sized Cnemaspis and can be differentiated from all other Indian congeners by a suite of distinct morphological characters. Both species are found in the high elevation forests of the two major massifs—       Anaimalai Hills and Agasthyamalai Hills and are presently known to have very restricted distributional ranges. The discovery of these novel species highlights the understudied diversity of reptiles in the high mountain ranges of the Western Ghats.
Postscript to Gastil and Wright: The Anticapitalist Argument for Sortition
Authors: Wright Erik Olin
Published: August 2018

The author makes the case for sortition from a Marxist perspective, explaining how sortition could become part of an anticapitalist political strategy.
Random Assemblies for Lawmaking? Prospects and Limits
Authors: Fishkin James S.
Published: August 2018

A randomly selected microcosm of the people can usefully play an official role in the lawmaking process. However, there are serious issues to be confronted if such a random sample were to take on the role of a full-scale, full-time second chamber. Some skeptical considerations are detailed. There are also advantages to short convenings of such a sample to take on some of the roles of a second chamber. This article provides a response to the skeptical considerations. Precedents from ancient Athens show how such short-term convenings of a deliberating microcosm can be positioned before, during, or after other elements of the lawmaking process. The article draws on experience from Deliberative Polling to show how this is both practical and productive for the lawmaking process.
Intercameral Relations in a Bicameral Elected and Sortition Legislature
Authors: Vandamme Pierre-Étienne , Jacquet Vincent , Niessen Christoph , Pitseys John , Reuchamps Min
Published: August 2018

The idea of a hybrid bicameral system combining election and sortition is investigated. More precisely, the article imagines how an elected and a sortition chamber would interact, taking into account their public perception and their competing legitimacies. The article draws on a survey of a representative sample of the Belgian population and Belgian members of parliament assessing their views about sortition in political representation. Findings are combined with theoretical reflections on election’s and sortition’s respective sources of legitimacy. The possibility of conflicting legitimacies and mutually detrimental interactions leads to considerations of the effects of different possible distributions of power between the chambers as a crucial determinant of their interactions and perceived legitimacy.
Sortition, Rotation, and Mandate: Conditions for Political Equality and Deliberative Reasoning
Authors: Owen David , Smith Graham
Published: August 2018

The proposal to create a chamber selected by sortition would extend this democratic procedure into the legislative branch of government. However, there are good reasons to believe that, as currently conceived by John Gastil and Erik Olin Wright, the proposal will fail to realize sufficiently two fundamental democratic goods, namely, political equality and deliberative reasoning. It is argued through analysis of its historic and contemporary application that sortition must be combined with other institutional devices, in particular, rotation of membership and limited mandate, in order to be democratically effective and to realize political equality and deliberative reasoning. An alternative proposal for a responsive sortition legislature is presented as more realistic and utopian: one that increases substantially the number of members, makes more extensive use of internal sortition and rotation, and recognizes the importance of establishing limited mandates.
Why Hybrid Bicameralism Is Not Right for Sortition
Authors: Bouricius Terrill
Published: August 2018

Structural problems are examined with pairing two chambers, one selected by election and the other by sortition, into a traditional bicameral system. It is argued that an all-purpose legislative chamber modeled on existing elected chambers is a mismatch for sortition and that purported benefits of maintaining partisan elections alongside sortition are illusory. Alleged benefits of a hybrid bicameral system are shown to be outweighed by a variety of harmful effects. Furthermore, even if those harms are not substantiated, the continued existence of an elected chamber will likely result in the delimitation of the sortition chamber. Combining many different sorts of minipublics with different characteristics and functions is preferable, and a possible multibody sortition legislative system is presented. Finally, an alternative way forward for sortition is proposed by peeling away individual topic areas from elected bodies and transferring them to sortition bodies.
Biliteracy of African American and Latinx Kindergarten Students in a Dual-Language Program: Understanding Students’ Translanguaging Practices Across Informal Assessments
Authors: Bauer Eurydice Bouchereau , Colomer Soria Elizabeth , Wiemelt Joe
Published: August 2018

This article uses a translanguaging framework, together with critical case sampling and qualitative analysis, to explore how six students approached literacy in an integrated dual-language (DL) program in a low-income, working-class, predominantly African American school. Students’ translanguaging practices encompassed a broad repertoire of features that included home language, academic language, metalinguistic awareness, and lived experiences across home, school, and community contexts—many of which likely to go unexamined with traditional standardized testing. Educators working with minoritized DL students are encouraged to adopt a translanguaging lens when assessing students’ bilingualism and biliteracy to more fully capture students’ linguistic repertoire.
Real-World Evidence in the Real World: Beyond the FDA
Authors: Krause Joan H. , Saver Richard S.
Published: August 2018

The 21st Century Cures Act (“Cures Act”) relies on the concept of real-world evidence (“RWE”) to improve the Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) approval process. This has amplified interest and furthered momentum in applying RWE more broadly, beyond FDA regulation. In this article, we discuss the understandable appeal of RWE's pragmatic application and its many potential benefits. But we also caution that claims about RWE's wide-ranging, ameliorative impact on the health care system are likely overstated.

The real world of RWE is messy and uncertain. Successfully incorporating RWE into regular health care system decision-making, beyond the FDA, faces considerable obstacles and limitations. We review the reasons to be wary about RWE as a game-changer. These concerns including data reliability, insufficient incentives for stakeholders to generate and engage with high-quality RWE, and lack of comprehensive regulatory oversight. In addition, the push for RWE may impact the enforcement of the health care fraud and abuse laws, perhaps not in necessarily positive ways. Increased reliance on RWE may have significant implications for off-label fraud enforcement, further conflating the distinction between claims that are false for reimbursement rather than for scientific purposes.
An enhanced operation model for energy storage system of a typical combined cool, heat and power based on demand response program: The application of mixed integer linear programming
Authors: Eshraghi Amirhossein , Salehi Gholamreza , Heibati Seyedmohammadreza , Lari Kamran
Published: August 2018

A model for operating an energy hub-based multiple energy generation micro-grid is optimized using the demand response program. The optimized objective model is validated against energy demand of a residential building in Tehran, Iran. The mathematical model and optimal analysis of the proposed tri-generation micro-grid are implemented by using a real-world modelling and considering the constraints of the storage system, demand response program and the performance of the devices and the power and gas grids. The dynamic optimal operation model is prepared on the basis of the mixed integer linear programming on the subsequent day and is solved to minimize the costs of energy supply. To demonstrate the improvements, different scenarios are developed so that the renewable energy resources and storages are fed into the combined cool, heat and power system gradually. The results reveal that the inclusion of each element results in a significant improvement in the operational parameters of the micro energy grid. Scenario 1 includes a combined cool, heat and power system alone, Scenario 2 is supplemented with renewable wind and solar energy resources in addition to combined cool, heat and power system and Scenario 3 includes electrical, heat and cold storages in addition to combined cool, heat and power system and renewable energy sources. Scenario 4 is similar to Scenario 3 in terms of equipment, but the only difference lies in the use of the demand response program in the former. Total operational cost is 12.7% lower in Scenario 2 than in Scenario 1, 9.2% lower in Scenario 3 than in Scenario 2 and 8.6% lower in Scenario 4 than in Scenario 3.

Practical application: An optimized operation method is prepared for combined cool, heat and power systems running in different operation modes in which renewable energy sources and storages are added to the combined cool, heat and power and the demand response program is applied. The results reveal that the cost of energy supply, including the cost of electricity, gas and pollutant emissions, is reduced and the qualitative parameters of the operation, including efficiency and reliability of building micro-grid, are increased. The proposed algorithm and the evaluation method will enable building operators to plan demand response activity on the residential building in Tehran, while this can be extended to other buildings too.
Surgical Management of Normocalcemic Primary Hyperparathyroidism and the Impact of Intraoperative Parathyroid Hormone Testing on Outcome
Authors: Trinh Gina , Rettig Eleni , Noureldine Salem I. , Russell Jonathon O. , Agrawal Nishant , Mathur Aarti , Prescott Jason D. , Zeiger Martha A. , Tufano Ralph P.
Published: August 2018

Objective

To review our surgical experience and the impact of intraoperative parathyroid hormone (IOPTH) testing among patients with normocalcemic primary hyperparathyroidism.

Study Design

Case series with chart review.

Setting

Academic referral hospital.

Subject and Methods

Normocalcemic hyperparathyroidism (NCHPT) patients were identified with normal‐range blood ionized calcium and serum elevated parathyroid hormone. Patient demographics, intraoperative findings, IOPTH dynamics, and biochemical outcomes were compared with those of classic primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) patients.

Results

Of the 2120 patients who underwent parathyroidectomy, 616 patients met the inclusion criteria: 119 (19.5%) patients had NCHPT, and 497 (80.5%) had classic PHPT. NCHPT patients had higher rates of multigland hyperplasia as compared with classic PHPT (12% vs 4%, P =. 002) and smaller gland size (P <. 001). Of 119 NCHPT patients, 114 (97%) achieved >50% drop in IOPTH intraoperatively, as opposed to 492 (99%) among 497 classic PHPT patients (P =. 014). IOPTH drop >50% had an equivalent positive predictive value for long‐term cure in both groups.

Conclusions

Surgeons treating NCHPT patients should suspect the presence of multigland disease and have a low threshold for converting to bilateral exploration depending on IOPTH decay dynamics.
Global environmental governance should be participatory: Five problems of scale
Authors: Gunderson Ryan
Published: August 2018

The goals of this project are twofold: (1) to show how research on, and normative-theoretical justifications for, public participation in environmental decision-making can inform discussions about how to improve global environmental governance (GEG) and (2) to present a series of questions that follow any attempt to scale up results from research on local, regional, and national public participation to meet global environmental challenges. It seeks to clarify what the ‘problem of scale’ means for democratizing GEG by classifying, and proposing partial answers to, multiple problems of scale: (1) The social barriers question: What political-economic barriers stand in the way? (2) The institutional formation question: What institutions need (re)forming? (3) The ‘who’ question: Who should participate and how should they be selected? (4) The procedural question: How and when should the global public participate? (5) The evaluative question: What are the criteria for process and outcome evaluation?
Discriminative ability and clinical utility of the Timed Up and Go (TUG) in identifying falls risk in people with multiple sclerosis: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Quinn Gillian , Comber Laura , McGuigan Chris , Galvin Rose , Coote Susan
Published: August 2018

Objective:

To investigate discriminative ability and clinical utility of the Timed Up and Go under single- and dual-task conditions between fallers and non-fallers in multiple sclerosis (MS).

Design:

Prospective cohort study.

Setting:

Neurology service in a tertiary hospital.

Subjects:

Participants were 101 people with MS and Expanded Disability Status Scale score of 3–6.5. One participant withdrew after the baseline assessment, and hence the data were analysed for 100 participants.

Interventions:

No specific intervention.

Main Measures:

Timed Up and Go and Timed Up and Go-Cognitive. Three-month prospective diaries recorded falls.

Results:

Mean age was 52.6 (SD 10.7) and 66 were female. Majority of the participants had progressive MS (72) and 73 used a walking aid; 56 participants recorded 791 falls. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve values for Timed Up and Go and Timed Up and Go-Cognitive in distinguishing fallers (person with ⩾1 fall) from non-fallers are 0.60 and 0.57, respectively, and in distinguishing multiple fallers (⩾2 falls) the values are 0.46 and 0.43. A Timed Up and Go score of ⩾9 seconds has a sensitivity of 0.82 and a specificity of 0.34 to identify fallers and a sensitivity of 0.79 and a specificity of 0.27 to identify multiple fallers. A Timed Up and Go-Cognitive score of ⩾11 seconds has a sensitivity of 0.77 and a specificity of 0.30 to identify fallers and a sensitivity of 0.71 and a specificity of 0.26 to identify multiple fallers.

Conclusion:

The Timed Up and Go and Timed Up and Go-Cognitive do not demonstrate sufficient clinical utility or discriminative ability for assessing falls risk in MS.
Case study: Industry-sponsored mechanical engineering capstone senior design program
Authors: Abu-Mulaweh Hosni I , Abu-Mulaweh Nusaybah A
Published: August 2018

In the mechanical engineering program at Purdue University Fort Wayne, capstone senior design projects are accomplished during an undergraduate’s senior year and span two semesters. In the first semester, the formulation of the problem statement occurs and basic conceptual designs are generated and evaluated. After evaluation, the best design that satisfies the requirements is selected, and a complete detailed design is obtained by the end of the first semester. In the second semester, a prototype of the finished design is built, tested, and evaluated. Over the years, partnerships with local industry have been formed to provide students with real-world projects for senior design. The aim of this paper is to present how industry partnerships have been developed, discuss the degree of involvement and the role of industry-sponsors in the course of the design project, and briefly describe the industry-sponsored design projects that were completed in the 2016/2017 academic year.
‘The Going Out of the Voluntary and the Coming in of the Compulsory’: The Impact of the 1838 Irish Poor Law on Voluntary Charitable Societies in Dublin City
Authors: McCabe Ciarán
Published: August 2018

The introduction of the workhouse-centred Poor Law system into Ireland on the eve of the Great Famine transformed the provision of poor assistance in the country. Throughout various urban centres, the plethora of charitable societies that had been prominent in the provision of corporate assistance to the poor faced an increasingly uncertain future, fearing that the levying of compulsory poor rates would result in a withdrawal of support from subscribers and donors. This article analyses the impact of the Poor Law system on charitable societies in Dublin city, covering the fifteen-year period between the 1830 Select Committee on the State of the Poor in Ireland to the eve of the Great Famine in 1845. The article outlines how the establishment of the statutory Poor Law system resulted in confusion among the managers of existing welfare institutions and demonstrates that the opening of Poor Law Union workhouses greatly affected charitable societies’ pauper lists and income levels; yet the impact on the many charities that dotted Dublin’s crowded welfare landscape was not uniform.
Stabilization of Acute High-Grade Acromioclavicular Joint Separation: A Prospective Assessment of the Clavicular Hook Plate Versus the Double Double-Button Suture Procedure
Authors: Stein Thomas , Müller Daniel , Blank Marc , Reinig Yana , Saier Tim , Hoffmann Reinhard , Welsch Frederic , Schweigkofler Uwe
Published: August 2018

Background:

The stabilization strategy for acute high-grade acromioclavicular (AC) joint separations with AC-stabilizing clavicular hook plate (cHP) or coracoclavicular (CC)–stabilizing double double-button suture (dDBS) is still under consideration.

Hypothesis:

The CC-stabilizing dDBS is superior to the cHP according to an AC-specific radiologic assessment and score system.

Study Design:

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2.

Methods:

Seventy-three consecutive patients with acute high-grade AC joint separation were prospectively followed in 2 treatment groups (64.4% randomized, 35.6% patient-selected treatment): open reduction and cHP (cHP group) or arthroscopically assisted dDBS (dDBS group) performed within 14 days of injury. Patients were prospectively analyzed by clinical scores (Taft, Constant score [CS], numeric analog scale for pain) and AC-specific radiographs (AC distance, CC distance [CCD], relative CCD [rCCD; 100 / AC distance × CCD]) at points of examination (preoperative and 6, 12, and 24 months). The minimal clinically important differences (MCIDs) were assessed by the anchor-based method.

Results:

Twenty-seven of 35 patients (mean age ± SD: 37.7 ± 9.7 years) after cHP implantation and 29 of 38 patients (34.2 ± 9.7 years) after dDBS implantation were continuously followed until the 24-month follow-up. All patients showed significantly increased scores after surgery as compared with preoperative status (all P < .05). As compared with GI, GII had significantly better outcomes at 24 months (Taft: cHP = 9.4 ± 1.7 vs dDBS = 10.9 ± 1.1, P < .05, MCID = 2.9; CS: cHP = 90.2 ± 7.8 vs dDBS = 95.3 ± 4.4, P < .02, MCID = 16.6) and at 24 months for Rockwood IV/V (Taft: cHP = 9.4 ± 1.7 vs dDBS = 11.1 ± 0.8, P < .0005; CS: cHP = 90.1 ± 7.7 vs dDBS = 95.5 ± 3.1, P < .04). Clinically assessed horizontal instability persisted in 18.52% (GI) and 6.89% (GII; P = .24). The rCCD showed equal loss of reduction at 24 months (GII = 130.7% [control = 111%] vs GI = 141.8% [control = 115%], MCID = 11.1%).

Conclusion:

This prospective study showed significantly superior outcomes in all clinical scores between GII and GI. The subanalysis of the high-grade injury type (Rockwood IV/V) revealed that these patients showed significant benefits from the dDBS procedure in the clinical assessments. The cHP procedure resulted in good to excellent clinical outcome data and displayed an alternative procedure for patients needing less restrictive rehabilitation protocols.
A Case Series of Parechovirus Encephalopathy: Apnea and Autonomic Dysregulation in Critically Ill Infants
Authors: Ristagno Elizabeth H. , Bhalla Sonam C. , Rasmussen Lindsey K.
Published: August 2018

This article aims to describe a rare cause of severe encephalitis in 2 cases of infants with signs of intracranial hypertension and severe autonomic dysregulation. The authors conclude that human parechoviruses are becoming a more recognized cause of encephalitis because of the increasing use of rapid detection methods. With early recognition of this clinical entity, improved care can be administered.
Patching the Melting Pot: Sociability in Facebook Groups for Engagement, Trust, and Perceptions of Difference
Authors: Bouchillon Brandon C.
Published: August 2018

The more racial or ethnic diversity a person lives around in America, the less likely they are to take part in civic life, or to profess feelings of trust for the average person. Differences have instead become reasons to pull back, prompting a mass erosion of social capital, by undermining social contact. The present study moves the conversation online, to the Facebook group setting in particular, as a means of highlighting shared interests while downplaying other differences at first. Results of a national web survey ( N = 1,005) indicate the use of Facebook groups for meeting new people relates to civic participation, along with added weak-tie discussions, which spill over to participation again indirectly. Sociability use of Facebook groups is also a source of bridging social capital, or having more active weak ties upon which to draw, and this contributes to trusting in people. Localized diversity becomes a reason to trust as well, but only for sociable Facebook group users. Less sociable users still mistrust at the sight of difference, but online social efforts appear to swing the direction of influence, for converting neighborhood-level racial and ethnic diversity into trust.