bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Warmerdam and van DijkWhat’s Your Story? Chinese Private Enterprises in Kampala, Uganda
Authors: Warmerdam Ward , Pieter van Dijk Meine
Published: January 2016

China has been engaged with Africa since the 1956. Following the domestic economic reforms of 1978, politically and ideologically motivated engagement gave way to economically and commercially driven cooperation. Successive waves of reforms in China have made the engagement more economically and commercially driven. Initially China’s engagement with Africa in general was dominated by China’s state-owned enterprises. More recently private enterprises have entered the arena.

In discussions on China–Africa, China is often presented as a single actor. In fact, there are many ‘Chinas’ in Africa. More nuanced literature has disaggregated ‘China’ in Africa into different actors. With regard to China’s economic cooperation, the literature has either focused on its state-owned enterprises or the impacts of its commercial relations on local African business and populations. This paper intends to contribute to the growing literature on Chinese private enterprises in Africa. It provides a characterization of Chinese private companies in Kampala, Uganda, based on a recent survey of 42 Chinese enterprises there. It will present the data, analysis and stories of how and when they came, what problems they encountered and how these were solved based on the in-depth interviews that were carried out. The paper will show that many of these companies are relatively small, recent entrants in Uganda, motivated by the potential of the markets and increasingly facing problems with the authorities concerning their visas and work permits. It will be concluded that life for these private enterprises in Uganda is becoming gradually more difficult. There will be a shaking out of the companies that do not provide positive contributions to the local economy and society in general. This leaves many, especially smaller, Chinese private entrepreneurs uncertain about their future in Uganda.
Microstructure evolution of 15 wt% boron carbide/aluminum composites during liquid-stirring process
Authors: Zheng Jiyun , Li Qiulin , Liu Wei , Shu Guogang
Published: January 2016

Microstructure evolution of 15 wt% boron carbide particle reinforced aluminum matrix composites (B4C/Al composites) with titanium addition during liquid-stirring process was dynamically characterized in this paper. B4C particles were rapidly dispersed under the mechanical stirring. Many B4C clusters were formed in the melt before 20 min, but gradually scattered in matrix beyond 20 min, owing to further reactive wetting through interface reaction in addition to stirring. After rapid improvement, distribution uniformity slowly approached to completely uniform distribution during 20–55 min, even better than random distribution at 55 min. Interface reaction produced Al3BC, TiB2, and AlB2 by B4C erosion and Al3Ti decomposition; however, AlB2 only precipitated in matrix after long time stirring. The growth of TiB2 transformed from a fine layer to discretely coarse crystals on the B4C surface. Reaction mechanism and relationship between reactive wetting and particle dispersion were discussed.
Advantages of continuous excavation in lightweight planetary robotic operations
Authors: Skonieczny K , Wettergreen DS , Whittaker WL “Red”
Published: January 2016

Planetary excavator robots face unique and extreme engineering constraints relative to terrestrial counterparts. In space missions mass is always at a premium because it is the main driver behind launch costs. Lightweight operation, due to low mass and reduced gravity, hinders excavation and mobility by reducing the forces a robot can effect on its environment. This work shows that there is a quantifiable, non-dimensional threshold that distinguishes the regimes of lightweight and nominal excavation. This threshold is crossed at lower weights for continuous excavators (e.g. bucket-wheels) than discrete scrapers. This research introduces novel experimentation that for the first time subjects excavators to gravity offload (a cable pulls up on the robot with five-sixths its weight, to simulate lunar gravity) while they dig. A 300 kg excavator robot offloaded to 1/6 g successfully collects 0.5 kg/s using a bucket-wheel, with no discernible effect on mobility. For a discrete scraper of the same weight, production rapidly declines as rising excavation resistance stalls the robot. These experiments suggest caution in interpreting low-gravity performance predictions based solely on testing in Earth gravity. Experiments were conducted in GRC-1, a washed industrial silica-sand devoid of agglutinates and of the sub-75-micron basaltic fines that make up 40% of lunar regolith. The important dangers related to dust are thus not directly addressed. The achieved densities for experimentation are 1640 kg/m3 (very loose/loose) and 1720 kg/m3 (medium dense). This work develops a novel robotic bucket-wheel excavator, featuring unique direct transfer from bucket-wheel to dump bed as a solution to material transfer difficulties identified in past literature.
Maltreatment and Emotional and Behavioral Problems in Chinese Children With and Without Oppositional Defiant Disorder
Authors: Li Longfeng , Lin Xiuyun , Chi Peilian , Heath Melissa Allen , Fang Xiaoyi , Du Hongfei , Wang Zhonghui
Published: January 2016

Maltreatment has negative effects on the parent–child relationship and the emotional and behavioral development of children. The current study aimed to examine the associations among maltreatment, parent–child relationship, and emotional and behavioral problems in Chinese children with or without oppositional defiant disorder (ODD). Participants in the study included 259 children with ODD and their 269 non-ODD counterparts from northern, eastern, and southwestern China. We also collected data from their teachers and fathers or mothers. The results showed that ODD children suffered more maltreatment and had more emotional and behavioral problems than their non-ODD peers. For all children (both ODD and non-ODD children), emotional abuse predicted emotional problems but not behavioral problems. Physical abuse predicted behavioral problems but not emotional problems. Parent–child relationship mediated the effects of emotional abuse and physical abuse on emotional problems among ODD children but not among non-ODD children. Implications for prevention of emotional and physical abuse and ODD in the Chinese cultural context are discussed.
Endocrine disruption and oxidative stress implications of artemether–lumefantrine combination therapy in the ovary and uterus of rats
Authors: Abolaji AO , Adesanoye OA , Awogbindin I , Farombi EO
Published: January 2016

In the current study, we evaluated the endocrine disruption effect and oxidative stress implication of therapeutic dose of artemether–lumefantrine combination therapy on the ovary and uterus of rats. In this respect, female rats were divided into four groups: animals were per orally treated with tween 80 (control), artemether (4 mg kg−1 body weight), lumefantrine (24 mg kg−1 body weight) and artemether–lumefantrine (artemether, 4 mg kg−1 body weight and lumefantrine, 24 mg kg−1 body weight). We found that therapeutic doses of the drugs did not change the levels of ovarian hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and malondialdehyde (MDA), but increased uterine levels of H2O2 and MDA and reduced ovarian and uterine levels of reduced glutathione. In addition, whilst ovarian glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity reduced in the lumefantrine monotherapy group, uterine GPx increased in the artemether monotherapy as well as the artemether–lumefantrine groups. Furthermore, the drugs reduced ovarian and uterine glutathione- S-transferase and uterine superoxide dismutase activities. The drugs reduced oestrogen level, whereas follicle-stimulating hormone was reduced by lumefantrine and artemether–lumefantrine therapies. Additionally, artemether and lumefantrine monotherapies significantly increased prolactin and progesterone levels compared with the control ( p < 0.05). The results suggest that in the absence of malarial parasite infection, the drugs induced oxidative stress in the ovary and uterus and disrupt hormonal balance in the rats.
Overall and cause-specific mortality in systemic lupus erythematosus: an updated meta-analysis
Authors: Lee Y H , Choi S J , Ji J D , Song G G
Published: January 2016

Aims

This study aimed to assess all-cause and cause-specific standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Methods

We surveyed studies examining all-cause and/or cause-specific SMR in patients with SLE compared to the general population using PUBMED, EMBASE and Cochrane databases and manual searches. We performed a meta-analysis of all-cause, sex-specific, ethnicity-specific, and cause-specific SMRs in SLE patients.

Results

Fifteen reports including 26,101 patients with SLE with 4640 deaths met the inclusion criteria. Compared to the general population, all-cause SMR was significantly increased 2.6-fold in patients with SLE (SMR 2.663, 95% CI 2.090–3.393, p < 1.0 × 10−8). Stratification by ethnicity showed that all-cause SMR was 2.721 (95% CI 1.867–3.966, p = 1.9 × 10−6) in Caucasians and 2.587 (95% CI 1.475–4.535, p = 0.001) in Asians. Sex-specific meta-analysis revealed that all-cause SMR was 3.141 (95% CI 2.351–4.198, p < 1.0 × 10−8) for women and 3.516 (95% CI 2.928–4.221, p < 1.0 × 10−8) for men. The risk of mortality was significantly increased for mortality due to renal disease (SMR 4.689, 95% CI 2.357–9.330, p = 1.10 × 10−5), cardiovascular disease (CVD) (SMR 2.253, 95% CI 1.304–3.892, p = 0.004), and infection (SMR 4.980, 95% CI 3.876–6.398, p < 1.0 × 10−8), although there was no significant increase in SMR for mortality due to cancer (SMR 1.163, 95% CI 0.572–2.363, p = 0.676).

Conclusions

Patients with SLE had higher rates of death from all causes, regardless of sex, ethnicity, renal disease, CVD or infection. However, the risk of death due to malignancy was not increased.
Nurses’ and patients’ perceptions of privacy protection behaviours and information provision
Authors: Kim Kyunghee , Han Yonghee , Kim Ji-su
Published: January 2016

Background:

With increased attention to patient privacy and autonomy, privacy protection and information provision for patients are becoming increasingly important.

Objectives:

The aim of this study was to identify and analyse nurses’ and patients’ perceptions of the importance and performance of protecting patients’ privacy and providing them with relevant information.

Research design:

This study is a descriptive cross-sectional investigation. Participants and research context: Participants were 168 patients hospitalised in medical and surgical wards and 176 nurses who cared for them.

Ethical consideration:

This study was approved by the Chung-Ang University Bioethics Committee, and informed written consent was collected from all participants.

Findings:

Nurses’ recognition of the importance of protecting patients’ privacy and providing adequate information was higher compared to their actual performance, and the nurses’ level of performance was higher in comparison with the patients’ recognition of its importance.

Discussion:

Although a holistic approach to patient privacy protection and information provision is needed, the medical field has not embraced this model of care.

Conclusions:

These findings provide empirical data to create an ethical environment for the future, as considerable attention has been devoted to patients’ rights and medical institutions’ liability for providing explanations to patients.
Violence against new graduated nurses in clinical settings
Authors: Ebrahimi Hossein , Hassankhani Hadi , Negarandeh Reza , Jeffrey Carol , Azizi Azim
Published: January 2016

Background:

Ethical studies in nursing are very important topics, and it is particularly crucial with vulnerable populations such as new graduated nurses. Neglecting ethical principles and violence toward graduates can lead to their occupational burnout, job dissatisfaction, and leaving the nursing profession.

Objective:

This study was designed with the aim of understanding the experience of Iranian experienced nurses’ use of lateral and horizontal violence against new graduated nurses.

Research design:

This qualitative study used a conventional content analysis approach; it was conducted with 18 experienced nurses. Data were collected through unstructured and semi-structured interviews of various general hospital departments in northwest of Iran and analyzed using methods as described by Graneheim and Lundman.

Ethical considerations:

This study was approved by the Regional Committee of Medical Research Ethics. The ethical principles of voluntary participation, anonymity, and confidentiality were considered.

Findings:

“Psychological violence,” “Verbal violence,” “Physical violence,” and “Source of violence” were four categories extracted through data analysis.

Discussion:

Violence behaviors are instances of workplace maltreatment that damage individual nurses, quality of care, and the ethical climate of the healthcare settings. The lateral and hierarchical violence in nursing were explained by oppressed group model.

Conclusion:

This study provided the context for identifying details of various types of workplace violence against new graduated nurses. It should be approached as a health system priority that requires specific multi-dimensional methods to manage consisting of identification, strategic planning, policymaking, prevention, education, and research.
Cutting-tool delivery method in the context of industrial product service systems
Authors: Sun Peilu , Zhang Chaoyang , Jiang Pingyu , Cao Wei
Published: January 2016

Nowadays, as the manufacturing outsourcing activities are becoming increasingly explosive, cutting-tools are gradually being considered as a kind of strategical socialized manufacturing resource. Therefore, focusing on cutting-tools, this article proposes a novel cutting-tool service mode called industrial product service system for cutting-tools. Based on industrial product service system for cutting-tools, the methodology of cutting-tool delivery in the context of industrial product service system is further studied, which comprises two sub-models. First, a cutting-tool demand prediction model is established to obtain the types and quantities of cutting-tool demands in the next day from each industrial product service system for cutting-tool customer. Then, the second sub-model is a just-in-time cutting-tool delivery model, wherein, a modified economic order quantity model and genetic algorithm are applied to optimize the delivery time and routing constrained by the delivery time window. Finally, a comprehensive use case is studied to illustrate the feasibility and applicability of the proposed models.
Lipodystrophia Centrifugalis Abdominalis Infantilis
Authors: Paluzzi Daniel , Peters Tess , Haber Richard M.
Published: January 2016

Background:

Lipodystrophia centrifugalis abdominalis infantilis (LCAI) is an uncommon dermatological condition characterized by a centrifugally expanding area of lipoatrophy involving the lower abdominal area and is frequently associated with inguinal lymphadenopathy. The average age of onset is 4 years and female individuals from Japan, China, and Korea are affected more often.

Objectives:

To report the first case of LCAI in a Vietnamese patient.

Methods:

A complete clinical assessment was done and a biopsy from the affected area was performed.

Results:

There was an atrophic, slightly hyperpigmented patch at the lower abdomen with prominent underlying vasculature. Inguinal lymphadenopathy was noted on the ipsilateral side. A biopsy showed a lobular panniculitis with fat necrosis and lymphohistiocytic infiltrate with scattered plasma cells and multinucleated giant cells.

Conclusion:

To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of LCAI in a Vietnamese patient.
Revealing rays: X-posing corruption of the body and the body politic
Authors: Brennen J Scott
Published: January 2016

Drawing on theoretical insights from science and technology studies, this historical analysis addresses how late 19th century American science journalism helped translate the X-ray, as a new media technology, from the physics laboratory into the public sphere. Described as a form of light, the X-ray was given the moral and physical agency to see into concealed spaces and reveal and cure the ailments within, whether of the body or the body politic. As part of a general epistemological framework distinct from photographic realism, these assumptions about the possibilities of knowing can also be seen across public culture at the turn of the 20th century from politics, to journalism, to philosophy, to popular culture. Ultimately, this study highlights how newspaper coverage helped construct the X-ray as a heterogeneous public object while contributing to a larger set of understandings about what can be known and done in public life.
So you qualified as a social worker: Are you ready for this?
Authors: Oehlers Kirsty
Published: January 2016

This short piece was written as an auto-ethnograpic letter from myself as teacher, to graduating social work students. In this letter, I challenge them to consider the learning that will come from the feelings and thoughts evoked by the social work journey ahead.
Idiopathic pleuroparenchymal fibroelastosis, a new idiopathic interstitial pneumonia
Authors: Hurtado Enrique Javier Soto , González Maria Luisa Amaya , Soto Maria del Mar Elena , Rueda Francisco Jose Cabello , Nadal Francisco Javier Pérez , Cantero Alberto Ruíz
Published: January 2016

Idiopathic pleuroparenchymal fibroelastosis (IPPFE) is a rare disease, idiopathic in most of the cases described in the literature. We report the case of a 55-year-old patient, non-smoker with tuberculosis treated in his youth, starting with progressive dyspnoea and cough, with radiographic abnormalities consisting of pleural thickening, bronchiectasis and structural distortion predominantly in the upper lobes. Due to functional impairment and persistent radiographic abnormalities, biopsy by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgical was decided. The presence of striking elastosis, absence of interstitial damage and abrupt boundary of the fibrous lesion with healthy lung allowed the diagnosis of IPPFE. Currently, the patient has no specific treatment and is in follow-up in the Transplant Unit.
Influence of bias angle of stitching on tensile characteristics of lapped seam parachute canopy fabric – Part II: Study on optimized test specimen dimension
Authors: Mukhopadhyay A , Chatterjee A , Singh Harabansh
Published: January 2016

The influence of bias angle of stitching on tensile characteristics of lapped seam parachute canopy fabric has been studied based on proposed test specimen dimension as reported in Part I of this paper. Test results obtained using the postulated test specimen dimension exhibit reliable tensile properties of canopy fabrics. It is also therefore possible for comparative analysis of tensile strength and elongation of unseamed and seamed fabric at different bias angle. During comparative analysis, the data obtained from the previous test dimension (as mentioned in Part I of this paper) and new test dimension show that there is significantly large difference in absolute values of tensile data obtained by these two methods. The trend of breaking elongation is same in both the cases, but the trend of tensile strength is somewhat different with these two dimensions. Besides these, the absolute values of tensile data obtained through proposed specimen dimension are found to be realistic as compared to the results based on previous test dimension.
Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice in the Management of Mixed Arteriovenous Leg Ulcers
Authors: Woo Kevin Y. , Sears Kim
Published: January 2016

Leg ulceration is a chronic health condition that constitutes a significant disease burden. In this cross-sectional descriptive study, a sample of wound care clinicians were asked to respond to a web-based survey. Based on a review of literature and recommended best practices in the management of mixed arteriovenous (AV) ulcers, a questionnaire was developed to examine the knowledge, attitude, and practice pattern in the management of AV ulcers. A total of 436 clinicians participated in the survey. A number of assessment techniques were perceived to be relevant for the assessment of AV ulcers; medical history and the appearance of ulcers were the most commonly used methods in clinical practice. While over 80% of the participants conceded that compression should be used to promote wound healing, half of them would consider using compression for AV ulcers if ankle brachial index was less than 0.8. Half of the participants considered an ankle brachial index of 0.8 or higher as the optimal cutoff value for safe compression. The majority of respondents disagreed with the perception that caring for people with AV ulcers was unrewarding. However, challenges to promote treatment adherence, address psychosocial concerns, and optimize symptom management are common.
Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells effectively regenerate fibrotic liver in bile duct ligation rat model
Authors: Mohamed Hoda E , Elswefy Sahar E , Rashed Laila A , Younis Nahla N , Shaheen Mohamed A , Ghanim Amal MH
Published: January 2016

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have attracted lots of attention for the treatment of acute liver failure and end-stage liver diseases. This study aimed at investigating the fundamental mechanism by which bone marrow-derived MSCs (BM-MSCs) induce liver regeneration of fibrotic liver in rats. Rats underwent bile duct ligation (BDL) surgery and four weeks later they were treated with either BM-MSCs (3 × 106 cells /rat, once, tail vein injection) or silymarin (100 mg/kg, daily, orally) for four weeks. Liver function tests and hepatic oxidative stress were determined. Hepatic injury and fibrosis were assessed by H and E, Sirus red staining and immunohistochemical expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA). Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and the gene expression of cytokeratin-19 ( CK-19) and matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) in liver tissue were determined. BDL induced cholestatic liver injury characterized by elevated ALT and AST activities, bilirubin and decreased albumin. The architecture damage was staged as Metavir score: F3, A3. Fibrosis increased around proliferating bile duct as indicated by sirus red staining and α-SMA immunostaining. Fibrogenesis was favored over fibrolysis and confirmed by decreased HGF with increased expression of CK-19, but decreased MMP-2 expression. BM-MSCs treatment restored deteriorated liver functions and restored the histological changes, resolved fibrosis by improving liver regenerative capabilities ( P < 0.001), increases in HGF and MMP-2 mRNA and downregulating CK-19 mRNA. Sliymarin, however, induced similar but less prominent effects compared to BM-MSCs. In conclusion, liver regenerative capabilities can be stimulated by BM-MSCs via augmentation of HGF that subsequently up-regulate MMP-2 mRNA while downregulating CK-19 mRNA.
Effects of Abusive Supervision, Psychological Climate, and Felt Violation on Work Outcomes
Authors: Kernan Mary C. , Racicot Bernadette M. , Fisher Allan M.
Published: January 2016

This study adds to the existing literature by empirically demonstrating that psychological climate is an important variable in understanding the relationships between abusive supervision and employee outcomes. Using psychological contract theory as a framework, we examined the relationships among abusive supervision, psychological climate, felt violation, and three work outcomes: organizational commitment, job satisfaction, and turnover intentions. Results from a survey of 448 civilian managers employed by the U.S. government showed that the relationship between abusive supervision and felt violation was moderated by psychological climate, suggesting that an abuse-intolerant climate heighted rather than buffered the effects of abuse on felt violation. Felt violation also partially mediated the relationship between abuse and the outcome variables. Using Muller, Judd, and Yzerbyt’s method for testing moderated mediation, we found partial support for felt violation mediating the effect of the interaction between abuse and psychological climate on job satisfaction and organizational commitment. This model was not supported for turnover intentions. Implications of the results and suggestions for future research on abusive supervision are discussed.
High resolution MRI in treatment decision of anterior communicating artery aneurysm accompanied by visual symptoms: Endovascular treatment or surgical clipping? A report of two cases and literature review
Authors: Liu Peng , Lv Xianli , Li Youxiang , Lv Ming
Published: January 2016

Anterior communicating artery (AComA) aneurysm accompanied by visual symptoms is rarely reported. The first case is an asymptomatic 65-year-old woman who presented with an AComA aneurysm, and the pre-procedure high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed an AComA aneurysm compressed the left optic nerve and the chiasma with a size of 8.3 × 9.2 mm. She suffered a sudden onset of left eye visual loss and the temporal hemianopia of the right eye after endovascular embolization. She had a light sensation of the left eye and minor enlargement of the visual field in the right eye at the six-month follow-up. The second case is a symptomatic 55-year-old woman suffering a visual loss in the left eye and inferior nasal quadrantanopsia in her right eye. Pre-operative high-resolution MRI found an AComA aneurysm compressing the left part of the chiasma with a size of 7.1 × 8.3 mm. Her visual symptoms improved after surgical clipping. High-resolution MRI could depict the anatomic relationship between the AComA aneurysm and the surrounding optic pathways. Endovascular treatment of an AComA aneurysm may result in visual deterioration due to the mass effect or ischemia after the procedure. Surgical clipping of the AComA aneurysm could relieve the compression symptoms.
Rogues, unrulies, and nomads: Disrupting the casual tyranny of the schoolroom
Authors: Leafgren Sheri L , Bornhorst Catherine
Published: January 2016

In many primary school classrooms, there exists a casual tyranny of control and separation that distorts the bodied humanity of schoolchildren. The intent of this article is to make more visible and so, more actionable, the school structures that devalue and oppress the spirited needs and desires of schoolchildren. This article is directed toward examining the nature of schooling as manifested in the day-to-day lives of children while looking askance at the under-challenged state of those school-lives. Relevant to every aspect of our lives, the potential conflict between rule-following and morally/humanly motivated disobedience is a major theme in this work, leading us to consider the spiritual aspects of childhood—such as wonder, joy, and being in the moment—and how they can be repressed, even denied, by the often arbitrary exercises of power and control inherent in schoolrooms. In this article, classroom-based narratives will rhizomatically meander and intersect with/in a diverse range of texts (including George Leonard’s discussion of the rogue, Hesse’s poetry, Batman Begins, and lyrics of Tupac Shakur) in ways that resist the structures of schooling that serve to assimilate us into a collective consciousness of docility.
Disease Control Among Patients With Diabetes and Severe Depressive Symptoms
Authors: Werremeyer Amy , Maack Brody , Strand Mark A. , Barnacle Mykell , Petry Natasha
Published: January 2016

Objective: Major depressive disorder and type 2 diabetes commonly co-occur and disease control tends to be poorer when both conditions are present. However, little research has examined the disease characteristics of patients with diabetes and more severe depressive symptoms. Methods: We report a retrospective observational study of 517 patients with diabetes from 2 primary care centers. Patients with diabetes and moderately-severe/severe depression symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire [PHQ-9] score >15) were compared with patients with diabetes without moderate or severe depression symptoms (PHQ-9 score <15; the comparison group) with regard to control of diabetes, blood pressure, and lipid parameters. Frequency of HbA1c and PHQ-9 testing were also examined. Results: Patients with diabetes and moderately severe/severe depressive symptoms had higher HbA1c (7.56% vs 7.09%), diastolic blood pressure (78.43 vs 75.67 mm Hg), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (109.12 vs 94.22 mg/dL) versus the comparison group. Patients with diabetes and moderately-severe/severe depression underwent HbA1c and PHQ-9 testing with similar frequency to the comparison group. Conclusions: The presence of moderately severe/severe depressive symptoms was associated with poorer glucose, lipid, and blood pressure control among patients with diabetes. Further research should prospectively examine whether a targeted depression treatment goal (PHQ-9 score <15) in patients with diabetes results in improved control of these important disease parameters.
Impact of Patient Factors on Recurrence Risk and Time Dependency of Oxaliplatin Benefit in Patients With Colon Cancer: Analysis From Modern-Era Adjuvant Studies in the Adjuvant Colon Cancer End Points (ACCENT) Database
Authors: Shah Manish A. , Renfro Lindsay A. , Allegra Carmen J. , André Thierry , de Gramont Aimery , Schmoll Hans-Joachim , Haller Daniel G. , Alberts Steven R. , Yothers Greg , Sargent Daniel J.
Published: January 2016

Purpose

Fluorouracil plus leucovorin (FU + LV) adjuvant chemotherapy reduced the risk of recurrence and death across all time points in a pooled analysis of 20,898 patients with colon cancer from 18 randomized studies. The impact of oxaliplatin added to FU + LV on the time course of recurrence and survival remains unknown.

Patients and Methods

A total of 12,233 patients enrolled to the randomized trials C-07, C-08, N0147, MOSAIC (Adjuvant Treatment of Colon Cancer), and XELOXA (Adjuvant XELOX) were pooled to examine the impact of oxaliplatin and tumor-specific factors on the time course of recurrence and death. For each end point, continuous-time risk was modeled over 6 years post treatment in all oxaliplatin-treated patients and patients concurrently randomized to FU + LV with or without oxaliplatin; the latter analyses supported time-dependent treatment comparisons.

Results

Addition of oxaliplatin significantly reduced the risk of recurrence within the first 14 months post treatment for patients with stage II disease and within the first 4 years for patients with stage III disease. Oxaliplatin also significantly reduced risk of death from 2 to 6 years post treatment for patients with stage III disease, with no differences in timing of outcomes between treatment groups (ie, oxaliplatin did not simply postpone recurrence or death compared with FU + LV alone). Patients with stage II disease receiving oxaliplatin did not exhibit a significant reduction in risk of death in the first 6 years post treatment. Recurrence risk peaked near 14 months for both treatments, and risk of recurrence and death increased with increased tumor and nodal burden.

Conclusions

These analyses support the addition of oxaliplatin to fluoropyrimidine-based adjuvant therapy in patients with stage III disease and underscore the need for adequate surveillance of patients with colon cancer during the first 3 years after adjuvant therapy.
Local pivotal method sampling design combined with micro stands utilizing airborne laser scanning data in a long term forest management planning setting
Authors: Saad Rami , Wallerman Jörgen , Holmgren Johan , Lämås Tomas
Published: January 2016

A new sampling design, the local pivotal method (LPM), was combined with the micro stand approach and compared with the traditional systematic sampling design for estimation of forest stand variables. The LPM uses the distance between units in an auxiliary space â in this case airborne laser scanning (ALS) data â to obtain a well-spread sample. Two sets of reference plots were acquired by the two sampling designs and used for imputing data to evaluation plots. The first set of reference plots, acquired by LPM, made up four imputation alternatives (varying number of reference plots) and the second set of reference plots, acquired by systematic sampling design, made up two alternatives (varying plot radius). The forest variables in these alternatives were estimated using the nonparametric method of most similar neighbor imputation, with the ALS data used as auxiliary data. The relative root mean square error (RelRMSE), stem diameter distribution error index and suboptimal loss were calculated for each alternative, but the results showed that neither sampling design, i.e. LPM vs. systematic, offered clear advantages over the other. It is likely that the obtained results were a consequence of the small evaluation dataset used in the study (nâ=â30). Nevertheless, the LPM sampling design combined with the micro stand approach showed potential for improvement and might be a competitive method when considering the cost efficiency.
The Addition Theorem for algebraic entropies induced by non-discrete length functions
Authors: Salce Luigi , Virili Simone
Published: January 2016

The validity of the Addition Theorem for algebraic entropies

ent
L

$\operatorname{ent}_{L}$

induced by a non-discrete length function L on the category of locally L-finite modules over an arbitrary ring is proved. Concrete examples of non-discrete length functions and their induced algebraic entropies are provided.
Die Treiber der räumlichen Emergenz und Konzentration der Photovoltaik- Industrie in Deutschland
Authors: Breul Moritz , Broekel Tom , Brachert Matthias
Published: January 2016

The drivers of the spatial emergence and clustering of the photovoltaic industry in Germany. Following the relatedness literature, we explore to what extent related industries influenced the regional emergence of the photovoltaic (PV) industry. In addition, we shed light on factors explaining selective processes of clustering. We particularly argue that generic resources and resources of related activities have been crucial for the regional concentration in early phases of the industry life cycle. With increasing maturity, industry-specific resources became more important. Based on a unique dataset containing population dynamics of the German PV industry, the hypotheses are tested empirically. Our results partially confirm the assumed beneficial effects of related industries for the emergence of the PV industry. Moreover, we observe changes in the relative importance of factors supporting regional concentration, with industry-specific resources becoming dominant as the industry matures.
Zwei Erzählungen regionaler Entwicklung in Süddeutschland – vom Sektorenmodell zum Produktionssystem
Authors: Glückler Johannes , Schmidt Anna Mateja , Wuttke Christian
Published: January 2016

Two narratives of regional development in Southern Germany - from the three-sector model to the production system. The ongoing regional economic change from industry to services employment has long been framed from the perspective of the three-sector model established by Clark, Fisher and Fourastié. While the repeatedly found regularity between service employment and economic growth seems in favour of the model, this paper demonstrates its conceptual and empirical limits. Theoretically, it deploys the approach of the production system to replace an understanding of separate and independent sectors by a perspective of interdependent roles of divided labor. Methodologically, we borrow the distinction of four functional roles - production, circulation, distribution and regulation - and improve existing methodologies to assign these roles to regional economies. We use both models to capture the regional economic change over a period of fifteen years in Southern Germany. Although the evidence seems to confirm the three-sector model, the comparative approach conveys its falsity in understanding economic growth: Regional value creation is not a function of services per se but of the interplay between manufacturing and business services (circulation). The observations that regions with lopsided service growth in distribution fall behind regional growth, and that even rural regions pertaining to strong specializations in manufacturing run ahead of economic growth, are clearly incongruous with the three-sector model. We conclude that the production system concept is a theoretically richer and empirically more valid approach to understand regional development as duality of production and circulation rather than dualism of manufacturing and services.
Conformational and Vibrational Analysis of 2-, 3- and 4-Pyridinecarbonyl Chloride Using DFT
Authors: Abdalla Sahar , Umar Yunusa , Mokhtar Issraa
Published: January 2016

The conformation and vibration analysis of 2-, 3- and
4-pyridinecarbonyl chlorides have been computed using B3LYP hybrid
density functional with 6-311++G** basis set. All structures have
been fully optimized, and the optimized geometries, dipole moments,
infrared vibrational frequencies and relative energies are
reported. From the computations, 2-pyridinecarbonyl chloride is
predicted to exist predominantly in trans conformation, while
the 3-pyridinecarbonyl chloride is predicted to exist predominantly
in cis conformation with the trans-cis rotational
barrier of 4.63 and 5.48 kcal/mol respectively. The two
equivalent planar structures of 4-pyridinecarbonyl chloride are
separated by an energy barrier of 4.55 kcal/mol. The effect
of solvents on the conformational stability have been examined for
nine different solvents (heptane, chloroform, THF, dichloroethane,
acetone, ethanol, methanol, DSMO and water). The Integral Equation
Formalism version of Polarized Continuum model (IEF-PCM) used for all
solution phase computations. The trans conformer of
2-pyridinecarbonyl chloride and the cis conformer of
3-pyridinecarbonyl chloride which are more stable in gas phase
remain the stable confomers in solution, but the stability decreases
as the dielectric constant of the solvent increases. The variation of
relative energies, dipole moments, solvation energies as function of
the dielectric constant of solvents has been investigated.
Genome-Wide Investigation of MicroRNAs and Their Targets in Response to Freezing Stress in Medicago sativa L., Based on High-Throughput Sequencing
Authors: Shu Yongjun , Liu Ying , Li Wei , Song Lili , Zhang Jun , Guo Changhong
Published: January 2016

Winter damage, especially in northern climates, is a major limitation of the utilization of perennial forages such as alfalfa. Therefore, improving freezing tolerance is imperative in alfalfa genetic breeding. However, freezing tolerance is a complex trait that is determined by many genes. To understand the complex regulation mechanisms of freezing tolerance in alfalfa, we performed small RNA sequencing analysis under cold (4°) and freezing (−8°) stress. The sequencing results revealed that 173 known, and 24 novel miRNAs were expressed, and that the expression of 35 miRNAs was affected by cold and/or freezing stress. Meanwhile, 105 target genes cleaved by these miRNAs were characterized by degradome sequencing. These targets were associated with biological regulation, cellular processes, metabolic processes, and response to stress. Interestingly, most of them were characterized as transcription factors (TFs), including auxin response factors, SBP, NAC, AP2/ERF, and GRF, which play important roles in plant abiotic responses. In addition, important miRNAs and mRNAs involved in nodulation were also identified, for example, the relationship between miR169 and the TF CCAAT (also named as NF-YA/HAP2), which suggested that nodulation has an important function in freezing tolerance in alfalfa. Our results provide valuable information to help determine the molecular mechanisms of freezing tolerance in alfalfa, which will aid the application of these miRNAs and their targets in the improvement of freezing tolerance in alfalfa and related plants.
Evidences of Existence of Serotoninergic Nerves, Enhancing Duodenal Motility
Authors: Smirnov Viktor Mihajlovich , Sveshnikov Dmitrij Sergeevich , Myasnikov Igor Leonidovich , Kuznecova Tat'jana Evgen'evna , Samko Jurij Nikolaevich
Published: January 2016

The review is devoted to the mechanism of duodenal motility activation caused by sympathetic nerves. The authors have found that stimulation of the sympathetic trunk in the thoracic cavity in dogs in most cases provide not inhibitory but excitatory motor responses of the duodenum. Excitatory effects were eliminated during 5HT-receptors blockade by promedol and lysergol. Analysis of publications showed that sympathetic trunk contains serotoninergic fibers, providing excitatory motor responses of the duodenum to electrical nerve stimulation. According to histochemical and physiological studies, amount of serotonergic fibers in the sympathetic trunk is several times more than the adrenergic. This means that the body has sertoninergic nerves. Serotoninergic nerve as well as the sympathetic is a collective notion. There are: sympathetic trunks, their ramifications and branches that innervate the internal organs. Since promedol blocks serotonergic nerves, this is plausible cause of constipation in patients after surgical treatment along with the application of this drug.
Sparse Online Learning for Collaborative Filtering
Authors: Lin Fan , Zhou Xiuze , Zeng Wenhua
Published: January 2016

With the rapid growth of Internet information, our individual processing capacity has become over-whelming. Thus, we really need recommender systems to provide us with items online in real time. In reality, a user’s interest and an item’s popularity are always changing over time. Therefore, recommendation approaches should take such changes into consideration. In this paper, we propose two approaches, i.e., First Order Sparse Collaborative Filtering (SOCFI) and Second Order Sparse Online Collaborative Filtering (SOCFII), to deal with the user-item ratings for online collaborative filtering. We conduct some experiments on such real data sets as Movie- Lens100K and MovieLens1M, to evaluate our proposed methods. The results show that, our proposed approach is able to effectively online update the recommendation model from a sequence of rating observation. And in terms of RMSE, our proposed approach outperforms other baseline methods.
A PSICODINÂMICA DO DEPENDENTE DE SUBSTÂNCIAS PSICOATIVAS
Authors: SARDINHA Luís Sérgio , Pombo de Moraes Cibele
Published: January 2016

O trabalho teve como objetivo compreender como ocorre o funcionamento da psicodinâmica do indivíduo dependente de substâncias psicoativas, procurando entender o significado da substância na vida deste sujeito. Por meio de levantamento bibliográfico foi possível verificar importantes características deste dinamismo psíquico do indivíduo dependente. A partir da análise deste material, pode-se observar que o sujeito dependente de substâncias psicoativas possui um déficit no funcionamento psíquico, o que faz com que este não saiba lidar com as frustrações e angústias oriundas das situações do cotidiano, recorrendo às drogas como consolo para seus sofrimentos. Ressalta-se aqui o papel das figuras materna e paterna no desenvolvimento psíquico deste sujeito. No entanto, a relação própria entre indivíduo e substância psicoativa só pode ser conhecida mediante a escuta de cada discurso singular dos sujeitos dependentes.
A CLÍNICA AMPLIADA NO ENFOQUE DA GESTALT-TERAPIA: UM RELATO DE EXPERIÊNCIA EM SUPERVISÃO DE ESTÁGIO
Authors: Campos Aline Ferreira , Daltro Monica
Published: January 2016

O presente trabalho inicia com uma discussão sobre a clínica ampliada em psicologia, para relatar a experiência de uma das autoras como supervisora de estágio específico no Serviço de Psicologia de uma faculdade privada que incluía atendimentos na unidade de saúde da família do mesmo distrito sanitário da instituição de ensino. Discute e foca na utilização de metodologias para o estágio, a Gestalt-Terapia de curta duração e a ação terapêutica nos moldes gestálticos no contexto de plantão psicológico. Concluiu-se que as metodologias em questão prestaram suporte ao trabalho terapêutico e à formação dos alunos em estágio, cada uma com sua singularidade e seus desafios.
MULTIPLICIDADE DA PSICOLOGIA BRASILEIRA
Authors: Castelar Marilda , Daltro Monica
Published: January 2016

A psicologia, jovem profissão de 53 anos, ao longo de seu processo de consolidação identitária, vem sendo convocada a dar respostas ao que não é alcançado pelas ciências naturais ou pelas pedagogias adaptativas. Com este desafio, a psicologia no Brasil se inventa e reinventa a partir das suas práticas profissionais, investindo em suas múltiplas possibilidades de encontro com os sujeitos da complexidade.
La conformación de una política exterior mexicana en torno al corolario Roosevelt a la Doctrina Monroe, 1904-1906
Authors: Corzo González Diana
Published: January 2016

Entre 1904 y 1906 , el presidente Roosevelt y el secretario de Estado Root, manifestaron a la representación mexicana en Estados Unidos su deseo de que las naciones latinoamericanas sostuvieran el corolario Roosevelt a la Doctrina Monroe. El ensayo reflexiona sobre esta propuesta y las acciones del gobierno mexicano dentro del contexto internacional.
México y Estados Unidos frente a Centroamérica: las Conferencias de Paz de 1906 y 1907
Authors: Toussaint Mónica
Published: January 2016

Durante los primeros años del siglo xx , los conflictos políticos entre los países centroamericanos se incrementaron . Por ello los presidentes de Estados Unidos y de México, Theodore Roosevelt y Porfirio Diaz, optaron por una política mediadora para promover la paz en la región y defender sus intereses en el istmo
Reseña del libro: Pragmatismo y principios. La relación conflictiva entre México y Estados Unidos, 1810-1942, Suárez Argüello, Ana Rosa, coord.
Authors: Avila Alfredo
Published: January 2016

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La izquierda en las transiciones a la democracia. El caso uruguayo
Authors: Allier Montaño Eugenia
Published: January 2016

En este artículo se lleva a cabo un segui­miento histórico-­político de la actuación del Frente Amplio en la transición a la de­mocracia en Uruguay. Si bien este proceso ocurrió de 1980 a 1989 , en este artículo sólo se analiza el papel del Freme de 1980 a 1984, periodo en el cual los militares to­davía estaban en el gobierno. Fue enton­ces cuando el papel del Frente sería determinante en el proceso general, además de ser cuando consolidaría su papel coma actor imprescindible en la escena política uruguaya . Se pueden ubicar tres momen­tos fundamentales de su actuación en esa etapa:

1) su participación en las elecciones internas de los partidos tradicionales en
1982 ;

2) su fortalecimiento en 1983, y

3) su participación en la salida pactada del gobierno de la dictadura en 1984.
Los regocijos de un Estado liberal: la discusión en las Cortes Generales y Extraordinarias de Cádiz sobre las fiestas que celebrarían a la monarquía constitucional
Authors: Garrido Asperó María José
Published: January 2016

Este artículo recoge las propuestas hechas por algunos diputados en las Cortes de Cadiz para festejar anualmente la soberanía nacio­nal, el poder legislativo y la igualdad políti­ca de los españoles. Plantea que esas propues­tas y las disposiciones emitidas por las Cortes fueron la expresión festiva de la revolución
política liberal.
Reseña del libro: Diplomacias en conflicto. Cuba y España en el horizonte latinoamericano del 98, Morales Pérez, Salvador E. ; Sánchez Andrés, Agustín
Authors: Muñoz Laura
Published: January 2016

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Reseña del libro: Km Cí62 : un nómada del riel, Roca, Lourdes
Authors: Giron Ncole
Published: January 2016

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