bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Incremental Value of Platelet Reactivity Over a Risk Score of Clinical and Procedural Variables in Predicting Bleeding After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention via the Femoral Approach
Authors: Mangiacapra Fabio , Ricottini Elisabetta , Barbato Emanuele , Demartini Chiara , Peace Aaron , Patti Giuseppe , Vizzi Vincenzo , De Bruyne Bernard , Wijns William , Di Sciascio Germano
Published: May 2015

Background—

Growing evidence suggests that platelet reactivity (PR) may predict bleeding. We investigate the incremental value of PR in predicting bleeding after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) via the femoral approach over a validated bleeding risk score (BRS) of clinical and procedural variables.

Methods and Results—

A total of 800 patients undergoing elective PCI via the femoral approach were included. PR was measured before PCI with the VerifyNow P2Y12 assay and low PR was defined as a P2Y12 reaction unit value ≤178. Calculation of the BRS included the following: age, sex, intra-aortic balloon pump, glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors, chronic kidney disease, anemia, and low-molecular-weight heparin within 48-hour pre-PCI. A new risk score including low PR (BRS-PR) was developed and validated in an independent cohort of patients (n=310). Bleeding events at 30 days after PCI were defined according to the thrombolysis in myocardial infarction, Randomized Evaluation in PCI Linking Angiomax to Reduced Clinical Events (REPLACE)-2, and Bleeding Academic Research Consortium criteria. Both BRS and PR showed high discriminatory power for bleeding (area under the curve [AUC] >0.7 for all definitions). Discriminatory power of BRS-PR (AUC=0.809 for thrombolysis in myocardial infarction bleeding; AUC=0.814 for Bleeding Academic Research Consortium class ≥2 bleeding; AUC=0.708 for Bleeding Academic Research Consortium class ≥3 bleeding; and AUC=0.813 for REPLACE-2 bleeding) was significantly higher than that of BRS alone (
P
<0.001 for all bleeding definitions). In the validation set, BRS-PR showed higher discriminatory power for thrombolysis in myocardial infarction bleeding than BRS alone (AUC=0.788 versus 0.709;
P
=0.036).

Conclusions—

PR has incremental predictive value on bleeding events after elective PCI via the femoral approach over a validated risk score of clinical and procedural variables. A risk score including PR yields significantly better prognostic performance compared with the original BRS.
Elhamma Walker (Lepidoptera: Hepialidae) revisited: adult morphology, assessment of recently proposed synonyms and descriptions of two species
Authors: SIMONSEN THOMAS J.
Published: May 2015

I revise the Australian-New Guinean ghost moth genus Elhamma. Two recent synonymies are assessed, and two new species from New Guinea, E. grehani sp. nov. and E. viettei sp. nov. are described. I provide an updated diagnosis for the genus and conclude that the presence of only 2 M-veins in the hind wing in both sexes (when females are known) and a strongly cup-shape juxta in the male genitalia are unique diagnostic characters among Hepialidae. I give a detailed description of the adult morphology based on male E. australasiae, and provide a key to all known species based on adult male characters.
Redescription of the adults and new descriptions of the previously unknown immature stages of Culex (Culex) articularis Philippi, 1865 (Diptera: Culicidae) from central Chile
Authors: GONZÁLEZ CHRISTIAN R. , REYES CAROLINA , RADA VIVIANA
Published: May 2015

Male and female adults of Culex (Culex) articularis Philippi are redescribed, and the 4th-instar larva and pupa are described and illustrated for the first time. Culex articularis is compared with other species of the subgenus Culex. Illustrations of diagnostic characters of the female, male genitalia, 4th-instar larva, and pupa are also provided.
Description of a new species of Aclastus Förster (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Cryptinae) from the Peruvian Andes, with dimorphic females
Authors: BORDERA SANTIAGO , MAZON MARINA
Published: May 2015

The aim of this paper is to describe and illustrate a new species of Aclastus with dimorphic females and to provide the diagnostic characters to distinguish it from Holarctic species of the genus. In addition, we provide data on the habitat and phenology of the species.
The New World genus Rhinoleucophenga (Diptera: Drosophilidae): new species and notes on occurrence records
Authors: POPPE JEAN LUCAS , SCHMITZ HERMES JOSÉ , VALENTE VERA LÚCIA DA SILVA
Published: May 2015

The genus Rhinoleucophenga Hendel comprises 26 nominal species with New World distribution. In the present study, two new species are described from samples in the Pampa and Caatinga biomes in Brazil, R. punctuloides sp. nov. and R. trivisualis sp. nov., respectively. Rhinoleucophenga punctuloides sp. nov. is a sibling species of R. punctulata Duda. Furthermore, two females of R. joaquina Schmitz, Gottschalk & Valente were found for the first time and a description is presented. A taxonomic dichotomous key with pictures is given for the Rhinoleucophenga species recorded in the Caatinga and Pampa biomes. The Neotropical open environments are areas of high diversity for Rhinoleucophenga. The description of new species and review of some older descriptions can change the area of species distribution and improve the faunistic knowledge of other localities in which previous studies have shown unidentified or misidentified Rhinoleucophenga species.
A new genus and species of micro bee flies from Brazil (Diptera: Mythicomyiidae: Psiloderoidinae)
Authors: LAMAS CARLOS J. E. , FALASCHI RAFAELA L. , EVENHUIS NEAL L.
Published: May 2015

A new genus of Mythicomyiidae, Amydrostylus triadicophallus gen. nov. et sp. nov., is described from the Chaco of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. The type-series was collected by Malaise traps during the development of the SISBIOTA–Brasil project. Amydrostylus is closely related to the genus Acridophagus Evenhuis in the subfamily Psiloderoidinae, but it is distinguished by the minute apical stylus and the same length of br and bm cells. The species is described and illustrated in detail, including the male terminalia and female spermathecae. This is the first record of the subfamily Psiloderoidinae in South America.
Two new Craspedophorus species (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Panagaeini) from the Philippines
Authors: HÄCKEL Martin , ANICHTCHENKO ALEXANDR
Published: May 2015

Two new species of the genus Craspedophorus Hope, 1838 from the Philippine Islands namely, C.luzonensis sp. nov. and C. kirschenhoferi sp. nov. are described and their affinities are discussed, illustrated and compared with related taxa. Craspedophorus luzonensis sp. nov., from Luzon, belongs to the “obscurus species group, whereas C. kirschenhoferi sp. nov., from Mindanao, stands isolated in the genus.
Interpolation of Global Monthly Rain Gauge Observations for Climate Change Analysis
Authors: Grieser Jürgen
Published: May 2015

Long-term global gridded datasets of observed precipitation are essential for the analysis of the global water and energy cycle, its variability, and possible changes. Several institutions provide those datasets. In 2005 the Global Precipitation Climatology Centre (GPCC) published the so-called Variability Analysis of Surface Climate Observations (VASClimO) dataset. This dataset is especially designed for the investigation of temporal change and variability. To date, however, the GPCC has not published how this dataset has been produced. This paper aims to fill this gap. It provides detailed information on how stations are selected and how data are quality controlled and interpolated. The dataset is based only on station records covering at least 90% of the period 1951–2000. The time series of 9343 stations were used. However, these stations are distributed very inhomogeneously around the globe; 4094 of these stations are within Germany and France. The VASClimO dataset is interpolated from relative deviations of observed monthly precipitation, leading to considerably lower interpolation errors than direct interpolation or the interpolation of absolute deviations. The retransformation from interpolated relative deviations to precipitation is done with local long-term averages of precipitation interpolated from data of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The VASClimO dataset has been interpolated with a method that is based on local station correlations (LSC) that is introduced here. It is compared with ordinary kriging and three versions of Shepard’s method. LSC outperforms these methods, especially with respect to the spatial maxima of interpolation errors.
Dissipation of Internal Wave Energy Generated on a Critical Slope
Authors: Gemmrich Johannes , Klymak Jody M.
Published: May 2015

Two-dimensional simulations of stratified flow over an isolated ridge are used to evaluate energy dissipation associated with barotropic tidal flow over topography with critical or near-critical slope. In the midslope region, a shallow borelike flow forms along the bottom in a layer where dissipation rates are increased by several orders of magnitude, and the flow speed is about twice the barotropic background velocity. The height and turbulence in this layer depend on predictable functions of stratification, rotation, and the characteristic forcing speed. A physically sound power-law parameterization of the total energy dissipation associated with this turbulent layer is presented. This simple parameterization is also applicable to coarser-resolution models, where it may be included to compute energy dissipation above continental slopes, even for cases where the slope angle differs somewhat from criticality.
Documenting a Rare Tornado Merger Observed in the 24 May 2011 El Reno–Piedmont, Oklahoma, Supercell*
Authors: French Michael M. , Skinner Patrick S. , Wicker Louis J. , Bluestein Howard B.
Published: May 2015

Unique observations of the interaction and likely merger of two cyclonic tornadoes are documented. One of the tornadoes involved in the interaction was the enhanced Fujita scale (EF5) El Reno–Piedmont, Oklahoma, tornado from 24 May 2011 and the other was a previously undocumented tornado. Data from three S-band radars: Twin Lakes, Oklahoma (KTLX); Norman, Oklahoma (KOUN); and the multifunction phased-array radar (MPAR), are used to detail the formation of the second tornado, which occurred to the northwest of the original tornado in an area of strong radial convergence. Radar data and isosurfaces of azimuthal shear provide evidence that both tornadoes formed within an elongated area of mesocyclone-scale cyclonic rotation. The path taken by the primary tornado and the formation location of the second tornado are different from previous observations of simultaneous cyclonic tornadoes, which have been most often observed in the cyclic tornadogenesis process. The merger of the two tornadoes occurred during the sampling period of a mobile phased-array radar—the Mobile Weather Radar, 2005 X-Band, Phased Array (MWR-05XP). MWR-05XP electronic scanning in elevation allowed for the merger process to be examined up to 4 km above radar level every 11 s. The tornadic vortex signatures (TVSs) associated with the tornadoes traveled around each other in a counterclockwise direction then merged in a helical manner up through storm midlevels. Upon merging, both the estimated intensity and size of the TVS associated with the resulting tornado increased dramatically. Similarities between the merger observed in this case and in previous cases also are discussed.
Learning cloud service and Internet applications using automatic emergency lights checking system
Authors: Lin Hsiung-Cheng , Liu Liang-Yih
Published: May 2015

With increasing applications in cloud service and Internet, learning about how to use such technologies is an important topic for engineering students in the automation discipline. Unfortunately, the current textbooks usually do not supply sufficient material for this purpose. Therefore, this paper aims to provide a practical case study for students to learn more about a cloud service and Internet technology. The case uses a remote automatic emergency lights checking system via Internet and cloud technique. Based on transmission control protocol/Internet protocol, the remote computer can connect with the Nearby Computer for carrying out a remote monitoring and control mechanism. All checked outcomes received by the Nearby Computer can be automatically uploaded to the cloud site. The content using “learn by doing” concept is integrated with a lab project for a specific course so that it can help students learn efficiently. The expected outcomes, practical improvement, impact on student learning, performance assessment, and course evaluation are provided and discussed for details in terms of its value in enhancing the students’ learning in automation engineering.
Participation in school sport and post-school pathways: evidence from ireland
Authors: Lunn Peter D. , Kelly Elish
Published: May 2015

We examine the impact of participation in sport at secondary school on post-school pathways using a survey of Irish school-leavers, distinguishing between those who dropped out of sport during their secondary school years and those who continued playing in their final school years. We find that members of this latter group are, on completion of secondary schooling, significantly and substantially more likely to continue their education rather than to join the labour market. This effect survives controlling for individual background traits, school characteristics, attachment to the school and academic achievement. Our results are also robust to the use of propensity score matching to control for selection into participation in sport based on observable characteristics. We relate our findings to previous work on the potential labour market benefits of participation in sport and to the emerging literature on the role of consumption value in educational choice.
Predictors of acute kidney injury after coronary artery surgery in Jordanians
Authors: Ibrahim Khalid , Kherallah Khalid , AlWaqfi Nizar , Mayyas Fadia , Abdallat Sager , Alawami Murtada
Published: May 2015

Background

Acute kidney injury after coronary artery bypass surgery is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. We investigated the predictors of acute kidney injury in a major hospital in Jordan.

Methods

A retrospective analysis was conducted of clinical, operative, and outcome data of 867 patients (mean age 59 ± 9.8 years) who underwent isolated coronary bypass surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. Acute kidney injury postoperatively, defined as ≥100% increase in serum creatinine level, was the outcome variable. Retrospective clinical, laboratory, and demographic data, and medication use, were obtained from electronic medical records.

Results

Univariate analysis revealed that chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, recent myocardial infarction, emergency surgery, preoperative intraaortic balloon pump use, left atrial size >4 cm, grade 1 mitral regurgitation, pneumonia, intensive care unit stay, prolonged vasopressor support, and stroke or transient ischemic attack were significantly associated with postoperative renal failure. On multivariate logistic regression, emergency surgery (adjusted odds ratio = 2.17, p = 0.017), grade 1 mitral regurgitation (adjusted odds ratio = 2.05, p = 0.020), prolonged support (adjusted odds ratio = 3.16, p = 0.000), and stroke (adjusted odds ratio = 20.1, p = 0.004) were independent predictors of kidney injury following coronary bypass surgery.

Conclusion

Emergency coronary surgery, mitral regurgitation, prolonged inotropic support, and stroke or transient ischemic attack are independent predictors of acute kidney injury following coronary bypass surgery. Further studies involving patients with isolated coronary bypass surgery as well as valve and combined surgeries may be necessary to complete our understanding of this subject.
Spontaneous pneumomediastinum: A complication of swine flu
Authors: Padhy Ajit Kumar , Gupta Anubhav , Aiyer Palash , Jhajhria Narender Singh , Grover Vijay , Gupta Vijay Kumar
Published: May 2015

The occurrence of spontaneous pneumomediastinum in swine flu, or H1N1 influenza A infection, is a rare phenomenon and only few cases have been reported in children. We describe a case of spontaneous pneumomediastinum in adult infected with swine flu.
“A great moment . . . because of the music”: An exploratory study on music therapy and early interaction with children with visual impairment and their sighted caregivers
Authors: Metell Maren
Published: May 2015

The focus of this article is on how musical interaction can contribute to bonding and early interaction. This article is based on a music therapy project in a pedagogical institution for people with visual impairment. The study is qualitative and exploratory, where children with visual impairments (aged 1–4 years) and their caregivers participated in music therapy sessions over 10 weeks. Data have been collected by participant observation, video recordings, and interviews. Moments of positive interactions in music were selected and analyzed, and the selections were triangulated by interviews with the caregivers. The data material indicates that music therapy promotes positive bonding patterns and enhances early interaction. Musical interaction facilitates elements of early interaction that can be challenging for children with visual impairments and their sighted caregivers. Both caregivers and children seemed to experience one another as a source of joyful interaction. This article discusses the findings in the broader perspective of disability studies and community music therapy and argues that music therapy promotes positive interactions and empowerment of children with visual impairment and their caregivers.
Multisource evaluation of multidisciplinary low-vision services for children and young people
Authors: Thomas Rachel , Crossland Michael D , Dahlmann-Noor Annegret H
Published: May 2015

Professional bodies and healthcare commissioners recommend the provision of care for children and young people with sight impairment (SI) as a topic for quality improvement and service evaluation, but no unified evaluation tool is available. We aimed to develop and implement a tool to evaluate the quality of children’s low-vision services (LVS). We identified and reviewed available standards for LVS from government documents and surveys carried out by patient support organisations, developed a clinic proforma and six survey tools for families and professionals, and used these tools to carry out a first service evaluation of multidisciplinary LVS provided by children’s eye clinics, social services, and education teams for SI students in Bedfordshire and London, United Kingdom. The first service evaluation round showed that services provided are of high standard, but also identified specific areas for improvement such as provision of information in preferred format, formation of parent and young people support groups, and an unmet need for emotional support.
Academic attainment in visually impaired students in distance education
Authors: Richardson John TE
Published: May 2015

This investigation studied attainment in visually impaired students taking modules by distance learning with the Open University in 2012. Students with visual impairment alone were less likely to complete their modules and less likely to pass the modules that they had completed than non-disabled students, but they were just as likely to obtain good grades on the modules that they had passed. Students with visual impairment plus additional disabilities were less likely to complete their modules, less likely to pass the modules that they had completed, and less likely to obtain good grades on the modules that they had passed than non-disabled students. These findings are in contrast to those of earlier studies, which suggested that visual impairment had little or no impact upon attainment in higher education. The disparity is attributed to a student population which is nowadays much more diverse both in its abilities and in its disabilities.
Brain Pathology in Adult Rats Treated With Domoic Acid
Authors: Vieira A. C. , Alemañ N. , Cifuentes J. M. , Bermúdez R. , Peña M. López , Botana L. M.
Published: May 2015

Domoic acid (DA) is a neurotoxin reported to produce damage to the hippocampus, which plays an important role in memory. The authors inoculated rats intraperitoneally with an effective toxic dose of DA to study the distribution of the toxin in major internal organs by using immunohistochemistry, as well as to evaluate the induced pathology by means of histopathologic and immunohistochemical methods at different time points after toxin administration (6, 10, and 24 hours; 5 and 54 days). DA was detected by immunohistochemistry exclusively in pyramidal neurons of the hippocampus at 6 and 10 hours after dosing. Lesions induced by DA were prominent at 5 days following treatment in selected regions of the brain: hippocampus, amygdala, piriform and perirhinal cortices, olfactory tubercle, septal nuclei, and thalamus. The authors found 2 types of lesions: delayed death of selective neurons and large areas of necrosis, both accompanied by astrocytosis and microgliosis. At 54 days after DA exposure, the pathology was characterized by still-distinguishable dying neurons, calcified lesions in the thalamus, persistent astrocytosis, and pronounced microgliosis. The expression of nitric oxide synthases suggests a role for nitric oxide in the pathogenesis of neuronal degeneration and chronic inflammation induced by DA in the brain.
Placing fashion
Authors: Crewe Louise
Published: May 2015

This paper explores the spaces in which fashion is displayed and consumed. In order to ‘place’ fashion space within the contemporary city, the paper focuses on a set of alliances between art and fashion in the making of current consumption space. The collaboration between art and fashion opens up a means to critically explore how representational worlds are brought into being and offers new ways to understand how creative activity can be rooted in (and reflective of) broader social, economic and cultural concerns. Such collisions and collusions represent a key means of making and shaping commodity and brand value.
Evaluation of patient care cascade for HIV-positive patients diagnosed in La Romana, Dominican Republic in 2011: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Bowman Alex S , Lerebours Leonel , Amesty Silvia , de la Rosa Milagros , Gil Elizabeth , Halpern Mina , Nicholas Stephen , Lamb Matthew R
Published: May 2015

The Caribbean has the highest adult HIV prevalence in the world after sub-Saharan Africa (2011). One sub-population in the Dominican Republic is the migratory Batey community primarily comprised of Haitian immigrants with limited access to healthcare and HIV prevalence rates of between 3.0% and 9.0%, compared to 0.7% nationally. This retrospective cohort study describes the cumulative retention from diagnosis to virological suppression for newly-diagnosed HIV-infected adults presenting to the Clínica de Familia and its Batey programme in La Romana, during 2011. Of the patients diagnosed with HIV, 65% entered into care, 59% completed immunologic testing, 53% were eligible for antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation, 36% initiated ART within three months of eligibility and 27% were retained in care. Seventeen per cent of those retained on ART with a 12-month viral load measure had undetectable viral load. Attrition primarily occurred before ART initiation. The Batey programme had a first step lost-to-follow-up of 88% compared to 20% at the clinic ( p < 0.001). This retrospective study details the continuum of care and indicates where structural changes must occur to increase continuity between steps. The manuscript results are important to help implement programmes to enhance engagement and retention in HIV primary care.
Sexually transmitted infection screening uptake and knowledge of sexually transmitted infection symptoms among female sex workers participating in a community randomised trial in Peru
Authors: Kohler Pamela K , Campos Pablo E , Garcia Patricia J , Carcamo Cesar P , Buendia Clara , Hughes James P , Mejia Carolina , Garnett Geoff P , Holmes King K
Published: May 2015

This study aims to evaluate condom use, sexually transmitted infection (STI) screening, and knowledge of STI symptoms among female sex workers in Peru associated with sex work venues and a community randomised trial of STI control. One component of the Peru PREVEN intervention conducted mobile-team outreach to female sex workers to reduce STIs and increase condom use and access to government clinics for STI screening and evaluation. Prevalence ratios were calculated using multivariate Poisson regression models with robust standard errors, clustering by city. As-treated analyses were conducted to assess outcomes associated with reported exposure to the intervention. Care-seeking was more frequent in intervention communities, but differences were not statistically significant. Female sex workers reporting exposure to the intervention had a significantly higher likelihood of condom use, STI screening at public health clinics, and symptom recognition compared to those not exposed. Compared with street- or bar-based female sex workers, brothel-based female sex workers reported significantly higher rates of condom use with last client, recent screening exams for STIs, and HIV testing. Brothel-based female sex workers also more often reported knowledge of STIs and recognition of STI symptoms in women and in men. Interventions to promote STI detection and prevention among female sex workers in Peru should consider structural or regulatory factors related to sex work venues.
Filling the Care Gap
Authors: Luz Clare , Hanson Katherine
Published: May 2015

With an aging population and provider shortages, personal care aides (PCAs) hold potential for providing low-cost, high-quality in-home supports and services. They comprise an unprecedented workforce in terms of size and rapid growth. However, this workforce is also characterized by costly high-turnover rates that threaten quality of care and outcomes. It is imperative that measures be taken to improve PCA skills and stabilize their employment. In 2010, a PCA training program was developed titled “Building Training . . . Building Quality” as part of a national demonstration. Key findings were that learners’ skills, employability, and job satisfaction significantly improved, and “intent to stay” was associated with increased confidence in ability to do the job. This report details findings of value to those interested in retaining high-quality PCAs.
Longitudinal Smoking Patterns: Do They Predict Symptoms of ADHD in Adults?
Authors: Brook Judith S. , Balka Elinor B. , Zhang Chenshu , Brook David W.
Published: May 2015

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess whether comparisons of longitudinal smoking trajectories predict differences in symptoms of ADHD in adults. Method: Participants were interviewed 7 times between 14 and 43 years of age. ADHD symptoms at outcome were assessed with the World Health Organization ADHD Self-Report Scale. Bivariate and multivariate linear regression analyses assessed the associations between the trajectories of smoking and ADHD symptoms. Results: The multivariate analysis ( R2 = .12) indicated that compared with being nonsmokers, the probability of being in the heavy/continuous group (standardized regression coefficient [SRC] = .17, p < .01) and in the late starter group (SRC = .11, p < .05) were significantly associated with adult ADHD symptoms. Conclusion: Longitudinal smoking patterns were associated with ADHD symptoms in adults. Chronic smoking jeopardizes both physical health and the ability to fulfill adult roles as employees, family members, and friends. Smoking cessation in adolescence may lessen the likelihood of ADHD symptoms in adulthood.
The Positivist Dispute after 50 years – An unrepentant ‘positivist’ view
Authors: Neck Reinhard
Published: May 2015

The article reconstructs the scientific, political and methodological issues debated by the two camps in the Positivist Dispute. The main issues considered controversial were: methodological individualism versus holism, different notions of ‘critical’, methodological differences related to hypothetic-deductive explanation versus hermeneutic ‘understanding’ and to analytic versus dialectic reasoning. After more than 50 years, it is maybe easier to pass a sober verdict on what was discussed at the time and start a new long-term oriented dialogue on fundamental issues in the social sciences and science in general.
Combination of the dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor linagliptin with insulin-based regimens in type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease
Authors: McGill Janet B , Yki-Järvinen Hannele , Crowe Susanne , Woerle Hans-Juergen , von Eynatten Maximilian
Published: May 2015

Glucose-lowering treatment options for type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with chronic kidney disease are limited. We evaluated the potential for linagliptin in combination with insulin in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with mild-to-severe renal impairment. Data for participants in two phase 3 trials with linagliptin who were receiving insulin were analysed separately ( n = 811). Placebo-adjusted mean HbA1c changes from baseline were −0.59% (mild renal impairment) and −0.69% (moderate renal impairment) after 24 weeks and −0.43% (severe renal impairment) after 12 weeks. Drug-related adverse events with linagliptin were similar to placebo (mild renal impairment: 19.9% vs 26.5%; moderate renal impairment: 22.0% vs 25.0%; severe renal impairment: 46.3% vs 43.6%, respectively). Frequencies of hypoglycaemia in patients with mild, moderate and severe renal impairment were 34.9%, 35.6% and 66.7% with linagliptin and 37.5%, 39.7% and 49.1% with placebo, respectively. Episodes of severe hypoglycaemia were low (⩽5.6%). Adding linagliptin to insulin in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with chronic kidney disease improved glucose control and was well tolerated.
Methods for a permanent binding of functionalized micro-particle on polyester fabric for the improvement of the barrier effect
Authors: Kuhr Marlena , Synytska Alla , Bellmann C , Aibibu Dilbar , Cherif Chokri
Published: May 2015

Polyethylene terephthalate multifilament fabrics used as filtration and operating room textiles possess through-thickness pore channels at the yarn intersections (meso-pores). These pore channels pose a risk for the penetration of contaminated fluids and particles. The size of pore channels may be reduced by high-density weaving. However, this leads to reduced drapability and thus to degraded application properties of the fabric. To satisfy the requirements without impeding the physiological properties of the textile, fluid- and particle-tight fabrics are developed. This was realized by partial immobilization of functionalized micro particles into the meso-pores. A reduction of the pore size without complete pore-closure is achieved by establishing a net-like particle structure in the meso-pores. To match the requirements of intensive use, permanent particle-bonding to the fiber surface is necessary. This can be achieved by suitable polyethylene terephthalate fabric surface-modification, dependent on the particle functionalization. The investigations have shown that functionalized particles establish a very good inter particle bonding as well as to the fiber surface. An increased permanent bonding can be realized by a modification of the fabric surface which is tuned to the functionalization of the particle.
Silence of a scream: application of the Silences Framework to provision of nurse-led interventions for ex-offenders
Authors: Eshareturi Cyril , Serrant Laura , Galbraith Victoria , Glynn Martin
Published: May 2015

The Silences Framework and its underpinning concept of ‘Screaming Silences’ was originally presented with the invitation for further peer review and utilisation in other contexts in order to test its usefulness and enable critique by a wider audience. This paper reports the use of the framework in a study researching nurse-led interventions for released ex-offenders. Screaming Silences were situated in how an issue, as experienced by ex-offenders, screams out to them in relation to their health and its impact on their reality while remaining silent in the consciousness of society and the application of practice. In addressing these Screaming Silences, we associated the Silences Framework within marginal discourses as they are less prioritised by policy and frequently positioned as far removed from what society considers as normal. Screaming Silences were situated in the subjective experiences of ex-offenders known as the ‘listener’ and the social and personal context in which these experiences occurred. We affirmed that the framework is ideally suited for researching issues which are under-researched, silent from policy discourse and excluded from practice, as it is oriented towards exploring individual experiences by valuing individual interpretations of events.
Planning simple step-stress accelerated life tests using reference optimality criterion
Authors: Xu Ancha , Tang Yincai , Guan Qiang , Lian Xinze
Published: May 2015

A reference optimality criterion has been proposed by Xu and Tang based on the expected Kullback–Leibler divergence between the posterior and the prior distributions of the parameters of interest. In this paper, we use the reference optimality criterion to plan simple step-stress accelerated life tests for log-location-scale distributions. Monte Carlo algorithms are developed to find the optimal plans. Effects of the priors on the optimal plans are also investigated. Results indicate that the optimal Bayesian plans are robust to the choice of the priors.
Tensile mechanical properties of human forearm tendons
Authors: Weber J. F. , Agur A. M. R. , Fattah A. Y. , Gordon K. D. , Oliver M. L.
Published: May 2015

Previous studies of the mechanical properties of tendons in the upper limb have used embalmed specimens or sub-optimal methods of measurement. The aim of this study was to determine the biomechanical properties of all tendons from five fresh frozen cadaveric forearms using updated methodology. The cross-sectional area of tendons was accurately measured using a laser reflectance system. Tensile testing was done in a precision servo-hydraulic device with cryo-clamp fixation. We determined that the cross-sectional area of some tendons is variable and directly influences the calculated material properties; visual estimation of this is unreliable. Data trends illustrate that digital extensor tendons possess the greatest tensile strength and a higher Young’s modulus than other tendon types.
Colorblindness in Black and White
Authors: Manning Alex , Hartmann Douglas , Gerteis Joseph
Published: May 2015

The concept of colorblind racism has been developed in recent years to explain racial attitudes held by white Americans in the post–civil rights era. The authors use data from a new nationally representative survey with an oversample of black Americans to investigate the prevalence of core elements of colorblind ideology and to see the extent to which both black and white Americans adhere to three core dimensions of colorblindness theory: (1) abstract liberalism, (2) minimization of racism, and (3) cultural racism. They find that there are differences between black and white Americans with regard to their awareness of systemic dimensions of racial inequality. Yet they also find that the differences are not always large and that there is more awareness of racial inequality among whites than existing theories might suggest. Additionally, although blacks are much more likely than whites to reject some elements of colorblindness, the ideals of one element, abstract liberalism, are widely adopted by black and white Americans alike. The authors conclude with a discussion of the implications of these findings and the underlying tensions and variations for existing theories of colorblindness.
Visibly White
Authors: Doering Jan
Published: May 2015

The invisibility of whiteness has been a foundational concept in whiteness studies since the late 1980s. Invisibility refers to low levels of racial self-awareness among whites, who generally consider their race to be irrelevant to their actions and perspectives on the world. Scholars have examined how biographical experience limits or heightens white racial self-awareness, but little is known about how whites enact their whiteness in racially charged contexts or situations. The author reports findings from an ethnographic study of two “positive loitering” groups operating in multiracial Chicago neighborhoods. The members of these two groups negotiated their whiteness in systematically different ways. One group (the “Northtowners”) acknowledged positive loitering as a racially charged context, engaged critics, and successfully bridged black-white racial divides. A second group (the “Lakesiders”) seemed oblivious to the racially charged context, dismissed critics, and arguably deepened black-white racial divides. The author discusses implications for the study of white racial practice, racial self-awareness, and the racial dynamics of community policing.
Electroless deposition of gold on silicon and its potential applications: review
Authors: Lahiri A. , Kobayashi S.-I.
Published: May 2015

Metal–semiconductor hybrid structures are important in a number of technologies such as sensors, catalysis, integrated circuits and more broadly in nano- and microsystem technologies. Electroless deposition, in this case, galvanic displacement process, is a simple way to develop such metal–semiconductor hybrid systems. In this review, we will first briefly discuss on the electroless deposition of gold nanoparticles and then look into the details of galvanic displacement of gold on silicon. From the fundamental aspects of galvanic displacement of gold on silicon, we will see how the experimental parameters such as deposition time, silicon surface, influence of light/laser during deposition, etc. affect the gold morphology on silicon. We will then explore the potential applications of such hybrid structures, especially its sensoric and catalytic properties.
Oxygen and glucose deprivation induces widespread alterations in mRNA translation within 20 minutes
Authors: Andreev Dmitry E , O’Connor Patrick BF , Zhdanov Alexander V , Dmitriev Ruslan I , Shatsky Ivan N , Papkovsky Dmitri B , Baranov Pavel V
Published: May 2015

Background

Oxygen and glucose metabolism play pivotal roles in many (patho)physiological conditions. In particular, oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD) during ischemia and stroke results in extensive tissue injury and cell death.

Results

Using time-resolved ribosome profiling, we assess gene expression levels in a neural cell line, PC12, during the first hour of OGD. The most substantial alterations are seen to occur within the first 20 minutes of OGD. While transcription of only 100 genes is significantly altered during one hour of OGD, the translation response affects approximately 3,000 genes. This response involves reprogramming of initiation and elongation rates, as well as the stringency of start codon recognition. Genes involved in oxidative phosphorylation are most affected. Detailed analysis of ribosome profiles reveals salient alterations of ribosome densities on individual mRNAs. The mRNA-specific alterations include increased translation of upstream open reading frames, site-specific ribosome pauses, and production of alternative protein isoforms with amino-terminal extensions. Detailed analysis of ribosomal profiles also reveals six mRNAs with translated ORFs occurring downstream of annotated coding regions and two examples of dual coding mRNAs, where two protein products are translated from the same long segment of mRNA, but in two different frames.

Conclusions

These findings uncover novel regulatory mechanisms of translational response to OGD in mammalian cells that are different from the classical pathways such as hypoxia inducible factor (HIF) signaling, while also revealing sophisticated organization of protein coding information in certain genes.
Generalized coupled common fixed point results in partially ordered A-metric spaces
Authors: Abbas Mujahid , Ali Bashir , Suleiman Yusuf I
Published: May 2015

Sedghi et al. (Mat. Vesn. 64(3):258-266, 2012) introduced the notion of a S-metric as a generalized metric in 3-tuples $S:X^{3} \rightarrow[0,\infty)$
S
:

X
3

→
[
0
,
∞
)
, where X is a nonempty set. The aim of this paper is to introduce the concept of an n-tuple metric $A: X^{n} \rightarrow[0,\infty)$
A
:

X
n

→
[
0
,
∞
)
and to study its basic topological properties. We also prove some generalized coupled common fixed point theorems for mixed weakly monotone maps in partially ordered A-metric spaces. Some examples are presented to support the results proved herein. Our results generalize and extend various results in the existing literature.
Convergence and stability theorems for the Picard-Mann hybrid iterative scheme for a general class of contractive-like operators
Authors: Akewe Hudson , Okeke Godwin Amechi
Published: May 2015

In this paper we use the general class of contractive-like operators introduced by Bosede and Rhoades (J. Adv. Math. Stud. 3(2):1-3, 2010) to prove strong convergence and stability results for Picard-Mann hybrid iterative schemes considered in a real normed linear space. We establish the strong convergence and stability of the Picard iterative scheme as a corollary. Our results generalize and improve a multitude of results in the literature, including the recent results of Chidume (Fixed Point Theory Appl. 2014:233, 2014).
Efficient gravity inversion of discontinuous basement relief
Authors: Santos Darcicléa F. , Silva João B. C. , Martins Cristiano M. , dos Santos Raphael Di Carlo S. , Ramos Laisse C. , de Araújo Ana Carolina M.
Published: May 2015

We have developed a gravity inversion method to estimate a discontinuous basement relief based on an extended version of Bott’s method that allows variable density contrasts between sediments and basement, optimizes the modulus of the solution correction at each iteration, and provides for solution stabilization. Initially, we obtain a linear approximation stabilized by the total variation functional that correctly maps the horizontal positions of the existing high-angle faults but produced poor estimates of the basin depths. Subsequent iterations update the depth estimates toward the correct values, at the same time preserving the correct fault horizontal positions. Additionally, we stabilize each solution correction by the smoothness constraint without inverting any matrix. The method was substantially more efficient than the nonlinear method, which solves a system of linear equations by the conjugate gradient method at each iteration. For 3000 parameters, it is almost four times faster than the conjugate gradient, and this ratio increased with the number of parameters.
Randomized Multicenter Placebo-Controlled Trial of Omega-3 Fatty Acids for the Control of Aromatase Inhibitor–Induced Musculoskeletal Pain: SWOG S0927
Authors: Hershman Dawn L. , Unger Joseph M. , Crew Katherine D. , Awad Danielle , Dakhil Shaker R. , Gralow Julie , Greenlee Heather , Lew Danika L. , Minasian Lori M. , Till Cathee , Wade James L. , Meyskens Frank L. , Moinpour Carol M.
Published: May 2015

Purpose

Musculoskeletal symptoms are the most common adverse effects of aromatase inhibitors (AIs) and can result in decreased quality of life and discontinuation of therapy. Omega-3 fatty acids (O3-FAs) can be effective in decreasing arthralgia resulting from rheumatologic conditions and reducing serum triglycerides.

Patients and Methods

Women with early-stage breast cancer receiving an AI who had a worst joint pain/stiffness score ≥ 5 of 10 using the Brief Pain Inventory–Short Form (BPI-SF) were randomly assigned to receive either O3-FAs 3.3 g or placebo (soybean/corn oil) daily for 24 weeks. Clinically significant change was defined as ≥ 2-point drop from baseline. Patients also completed quality-of-life (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy–Endocrine Symptoms) and additional pain/stiffness assessments at baseline and weeks 6, 12, and 24. Serial fasting blood was collected for lipid analysis.

Results

Among 262 patients registered, 249 were evaluable, with 122 women in the O3-FA arm and 127 in the placebo arm. Compared with baseline, the mean observed BPI-SF score decreased by 1.74 points at 12 weeks and 2.22 points at 24 weeks with O3-FAs and by 1.49 and 1.81 points, respectively, with placebo. In a linear regression adjusting for the baseline score, osteoarthritis, and taxane use, adjusted 12-week BPI-SF scores did not differ by arm (P = .58). Triglyceride levels decreased in patients receiving O3-FA treatment and remained the same for those receiving placebo (P = .01). No between-group differences were seen for HDL, LDL, or C-reactive protein.

Conclusion

We found a substantial (> 50%) and sustained improvement in AI arthralgia for both O3-FAs and placebo but found no meaningful difference between the groups.
Germline BRCA Mutations in a Large Clinic-Based Cohort of Patients With Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Holter Spring , Borgida Ayelet , Dodd Anna , Grant Robert , Semotiuk Kara , Hedley David , Dhani Neesha , Narod Steven , Akbari Mohammad , Moore Malcolm , Gallinger Steven
Published: May 2015

Purpose

The main purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of pathogenic BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations in a consecutively ascertained clinic-based cohort of patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and describe the clinical and family history characteristics.

Patients and Methods

Unselected, consecutive, incident patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma were recruited at a single cancer center over a 2-year period. Participants provided blood for DNA analysis and cancer family history, and cancer treatment records were reviewed. DNA from all patients was analyzed by Sanger sequencing and multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification for germline variants in BRCA1 and BRCA2.

Results

Three hundred six patients were eligible for analysis. Pathogenic germline BRCA mutations were identified in 14 patients (4.6%; 95% CI, 2.2% to 6.9%), including 11 patients with a BRCA2 mutation and three patients with a BRCA1 mutation. Having a cancer family history that met genetic testing criteria of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network or the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care or self-reporting as Ashkenazi Jewish was significantly associated with BRCA mutation carrier status (P = .02, P < .001, and P = .05, respectively). However, the majority of the BRCA mutation–positive patients did not actually meet these genetic testing criteria.

Conclusion

Pathogenic BRCA mutations were identified in 4.6% of a large cohort of clinic-based patients. Considering the implications for family members of BRCA carriers, and possibly tailored chemotherapeutic treatment of patients, our finding has implications for broader BRCA genetic testing for patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.