bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
How can Common Rational Capacities Confirm the Correctness of the Deduction in Groundwork III—and Why does it Matter?
Authors: Sticker Martin
Published: July 2014

Kant claims in Groundwork IV:454 that the correctness of his complex philosophical deduction is confirmed by the ‘practical use of common human reason’. My paper discusses how this confirmation is possible, and why it is important for Kant’s project in the Groundwork. I argue that agents without philosophical training consider an intelligible standpoint, which is one of the central elements of the deduction, to be possible (i), that they take up this standpoint insofar as they reason under the idea of freedom (ii), and that they can be brought to acknowledge the higher normative authority of this standpoint (iii). Kant’s complex deduction is not alien to common agents insofar as it spells out these three elements of our ordinary understanding of metaphysics, agency, and morality. I conclude that the confirmation of the deduction by common human reason shows that even the content of Groundwork III can become popular, and can serve to inform and direct moral education and moral improvement.
Experimental investigation of flow development and gap vortex street in an eccentric annular channel. Part 1. Overview of the flow structure
Authors: Choueiri George H. , Tavoularis Stavros
Published: July 2014

Flow visualization, laser Doppler velocimetry and planar and stereoscopic particle image velocimetry were used to investigate the isothermal velocity field along an eccentric annular channel with a diameter ratio of 0.5 and an eccentricity of 0.8 for a Reynolds number of 7300. Observation of the flow development has identified three distinct regions: the entrance region, the fluctuation-growth (FG) region and the rapid-mixing (RM) region. Weak quasi-periodic velocity fluctuations were first detected in the downstream part of the entrance region, and grew into very strong ones, reaching peak-to-peak amplitudes in the narrow gap that were nearly 60 % of the bulk velocity. Two mixing layers were identified on either side of the gap, which generated a street of counter rotating vortices and thorough large-scale mixing of the fluid in the channel.
Low-level seaweed supplementation improves iodine status in iodine-insufficient women
Authors: Combet Emilie , Ma Zheng Feei , Cousins Frances , Thompson Brett , Lean Michael E. J.
Published: July 2014

Iodine insufficiency is now a prominent issue in the UK and other European countries due to low intakes of dairy products and seafood (especially where iodine fortification is not in place). In the present study, we tested a commercially available encapsulated edible seaweed (Napiers Hebridean Seagreens®Ascophyllum nodosumspecies) for its acceptability to consumers and iodine bioavailability and investigated the impact of a 2-week daily seaweed supplementation on iodine concentrations and thyroid function. Healthy non-pregnant women of childbearing age, self-reporting low dairy product and seafood consumption, with no history of thyroid or gastrointestinal disease were recruited. Seaweed iodine (712 μg, in 1 g seaweed) was modestly bioavailable at 33 (interquartile range (IQR) 28–46) % of the ingested iodine dose compared with 59 (IQR 46–74) % of iodine from the KI supplement (n22). After supplement ingestion (2 weeks, 0·5 g seaweed daily,n42), urinary iodine excretion increased from 78 (IQR 39–114) to 140 (IQR 103–195) μg/l (P< 0·001). The concentrations of thyroid-stimulating hormone increased from 1·5 (IQR 1·2–2·2) to 2·1 (IQR 1·3–2·9) mIU/l (P< 0·001), with two participants having concentrations exceeding the normal range after supplement ingestion (but normal free thyroxine concentrations). There was no change in the concentrations of other thyroid hormones after supplement ingestion. The seaweed was palatable and acceptable to consumers as a whole food or as a food ingredient and effective as a source of iodine in an iodine-insufficient population. In conclusion, seaweed inclusion in staple foods would serve as an alternative to fortification of salt or other foods with KI.
Heterogeneous associations of insoluble dietary fibre intake with subsequent glycosylated Hb levels among Chinese adults with type 2 diabetes: a quantile regression approach
Authors: Tan Ziwen , Ruan Xiaonan , Chen Yue , Jiang Junyi , Zhou Yi , Qiu Hua , Qin Guoyou , Xu Wang Hong
Published: July 2014

Dietary fibre intake has been suggested to reduce blood glucose levels in diabetic patients, particularly when glycosylated Hb (HbA1c) levels are high. In the present study, we used a quantile regression (QR) approach to characterise the possible heterogeneous associations of dietary fibre intake with HbA1c levels in Chinese diabetic patients. A total of 497 diabetic patients participated in the baseline survey in 2006 and in the follow-up survey in 2011, both of which were conducted in Pudong New Area of Shanghai, China. Structured in-person interviews were conducted to collect information on demographic characteristics and lifestyle factors. Dietary intake was assessed using a validated FFQ. Blood samples were collected during the interviews for biochemical assays. QR models were used to examine the heterogeneous associations of dietary factors with HbA1c levels. A significant marginal association of insoluble dietary fibre intake with subsequent HbA1c levels was observed only when the HbA1c level was over 6·8 %. The associations appeared to be greater when the quantile levels of HbA1c were higher. The coefficient estimates were − 0·174 (95 % CI − 0·433, − 0·025) at the quantile of 0·60, − 0·200 (95 % CI − 0·306, − 0·008) at 0·70, − 0·221 (95 % CI − 0·426, − 0·117) at 0·80, and − 0·389 (95 % CI − 0·516, − 0·018) at 0·90. A similar pattern was observed for the associations of dietary glycaemic index (GI) value with HbA1c levels. In conclusion, the present results indicate that the associations of insoluble dietary fibre intake and GI value with subsequent HbA1c levels depend on glycaemic control status in Chinese diabetic patients. More studies are required to confirm our findings.
Introduction
Authors: Rubin Eli
Published: July 2014

The essays in this special issue all focus on the city of Berlin, in particular, its relationship with its margins and borders over thelongue dureé. The authors—Kristin Poling, Marion Gray, Barry Jackisch, and Eli Rubin—all consider the history of Berlin over the last two centuries, with special emphasis on how Berlin expanded over this time and how it encountered the open spaces surrounding it and within it—the “green fields” (grüne Wiesen) referred to in the theme title. Each of them explores a different period in Berlin's history, and so together, the essays form a long dureé history of Berlin, although each of the essays in its own way explores the roots of Berlin's history in deeper time scales, from the early modern period, to the Middle Ages, and even to the very end of the last ice age, more than 10,000 years ago.
Shantytowns and Pioneers beyond the City Wall: Berlin's Urban Frontier in the Nineteenth Century
Authors: Poling Kristin
Published: July 2014

In 1783, Friedrich Gedike wondered whether the city of Berlin was growing disproportionately to the rest of the country. Like any good enlightened observer of the city, Gedike praised the open vistas of newly planned suburbs over the cramped streets of the medieval city core. But, though a spacious city allowed for healthy use and recreation and Berlin remained much smaller than great capitals such as Paris and London, Gedike feared that Berlin's growth was becoming too rapid to control. Something, he worried, was out of proportion. Hundreds of buildings had been erected in place of the city's now demolished ramparts. This newly won land had not sufficed, however, and new suburbs with thousands of new buildings arose, streets irregularly placed, without adequate linkages to the inner city. This immoderate growth was evident in the failure to overcome the boundary between the city core and newly developed suburbs. The number of streets broken through the former fortifications land proved inadequate. This continued division, Gedike feared, would impede the city's ongoing development.
Urban Sewage and Green Meadows: Berlin's Expansion to the South 1870–1920
Authors: Gray Marion W.
Published: July 2014

On May 23, 1908, Frau Treppens, the proprietress of aGasthausnear the agricultural estate Klein Ziethen contacted the governing council of Steglitz regarding an urgent concern about water damage. Steglitz was five kilometers south of Berlin's southern boundary; Klein Ziethen was twelve kilometers southeast of Steglitz. Writing on the advice of attorney Georg Hillman, Frau Treppens urgently inquired what the council was going to do about the water on her property, which had already caused “enormous damage.” Like many other property owners near Klein Ziethen, she had been battling water in her basement; for some this had been going on for two years. Frau Treppens inquired what steps Steglitz was taking against Rixdorf, another rapidly growing suburb, located on Berlin's southeast perimeter sixteen kilometers from Klein Ziethen. Why was Frau Treppens turning to the officials of Steglitz, and why did she and her attorney assume that Steglitz and Rixdorf bore responsibility for her water-soaked cellar?
Amnesiopolis: FromMietskasernetoWohnungsbauserie 70in East Berlin's Northeast
Authors: Rubin Eli
Published: July 2014

On April 11, 1977, near a small village northeast of Berlin called Marzahn, construction teams from the Volkseigener Betrieb (VEB) Tiefbau Berlin began digging the first foundation for what became the largest construction site and the largest prefabricated housing settlement (Plattenbausiedlung) not just in the German Democratic Republic (GDR), but in all of Europe (see Figure 1). An army of more than 6,000 workers arrived, and over the course of the next decade, built more than 200,000 apartments in Marzahn and the surrounding areas of the northeast edge of Berlin. These came to house more than 400,000 residents, who moved there from the older neighborhoods of East Berlin and from all over the GDR.
The late-surviving ‘duck-billed’ dinosaur Augustynolophus from the upper Maastrichtian of western North America and crest evolution in Saurolophini
Authors: PRIETO-MÁRQUEZ ALBERT , WAGNER JONATHAN R. , BELL PHIL R. , CHIAPPE LUIS M.
Published: July 2014

We amend the taxonomy and provide new anatomical information on the hadrosaurid dinosaur Saurolophus morrisi (upper Maastrichtian Moreno Formation, central California, USA) derived from full preparation of the referred skull roof. The cranial morphology of this species is distinct enough to justify the new combination Augustynolophus morrisi gen. nov. The morphology of the nasals and surrounding cranial bones indicates that A. morrisi sported a solid nasal crest ending in an elongate triangular plate that extended above the skull roof. Autapomorphies include a crescentic base of the frontal caudodorsal process and extension of the process caudal to the frontal ‘dome’; distal end of nasal crest with knob-like process inflected rostrally; circumnarial depression lightly incised and weakly emarginated, adjacent to caudolateral margin of nasal and occupying two-thirds the width of lateral surface of distal region of crest; and caudal surface of distal nasal crest subrectangular. We formally establish the new tribe Saurolophini consisting of Prosaurolophus, Augustynolophus and Saurolophus. Saurolophin synapomorphies include a premaxilla with broad arcuate contour of rostrolateral region of thin everted oral margin and flat and steeply inclined occlusal surface of dentary dental battery, among other characters. Saurolophin crests evolved towards increasing caudodorsal length, along with caudal extension of the circumnarial fossa and involvement into the crest of adjacent facial elements. Augustynolophus is the second described genus of North American late Maastrichtian hadrosaurids. Its recognition implies a greater diversity among late Maastrichtian dinosaur faunas than previously recognized and is congruent with hypotheses of endemism and/or provinciality during Late Cretaceous time.
Helminth parasites in the endangered Ethiopian wolf,Canis simensis
Authors: van Kesteren F. , Piggott K.J. , Bengui T. , Kubri S.B. , Mastin A. , Sillero-Zubiri C. , Paris M. , Millar R.P. , Macdonald D.W. , Shiferaw F. , Craig P.S.
Published: July 2014

Ethiopian wolves,Canis simensis, are an endangered carnivore endemic to the Ethiopian highlands. Although previous studies have focused on aspects of Ethiopian wolf biology, including diet, territoriality, reproduction and infectious diseases such as rabies, little is known of their helminth parasites. In the current study, faecal samples were collected from 94 wild Ethiopian wolves in the Bale Mountains of southern Ethiopia, between August 2008 and February 2010, and were screened for the presence of helminth eggs using a semi-quantitative volumetric dilution method with microscopy. We found that 66 of the 94 faecal samples (70.2%) contained eggs from at least one group of helminths, includingCapillaria,Toxocara,Trichuris, ancylostomatids,Hymenolepisand taeniids. Eggs ofCapillariasp. were found most commonly, followed byTrichurissp., ancylostomatid species andToxocaraspecies. Three samples containedHymenolepissp. eggs, which were likely artefacts from ingested prey species. Four samples contained taeniid eggs, one of which was copro-polymerase chain reaction (copro-PCR) and sequence positive forEchinococcus granulosus, suggesting a spillover from a domestic parasite cycle into this wildlife species. Associations between presence/absence ofCapillaria,ToxocaraandTrichuriseggs were found; and egg burdens ofToxocaraand ancylostomatids were found to be associated with geographical location and sampling season.
Induction of ulcerative colitis in mice influences the course of infection with the nematode Trichuris muris
Authors: Vegas-Sánchez M.C. , Rollán-Landeras E. , García-Rodríguez J.J. , Bolás-Fernández F.
Published: July 2014

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of infection with the nematode whipworm Trichuris muris on the course of chemically induced acute ulcerative colitis in CBA/J mice, a strain proven to be highly resistant to infection with T. muris. Each mouse was infected with 50 embryonated eggs of T. muris by oral gavage. Acute colitis was triggered by administering 4% dextran sulphate sodium (DSS) in the drinking water for nine consecutive days at different times after infection. Concurrent infection and DSS administration exacerbate the severity of the colitis while favouring the permanence of parasites in the intestine. The induction of ulcerative colitis from days 54 to 62 post-infection (p.i.), when all worms had been expelled, ameliorated the course of the inflammatory disease. When ulcerative colitis was triggered earlier on, from days 27 to 35 p.i., the beneficial effects on inflammatory events were clearly shown with signs of mucosal epithelization and regeneration as early as day 1 after DSS administration. Previous infections by T. muris therefore accelerate recovery from subsequently induced inflammatory bowel disease and such an effect assists the nematode to persist in the intestinal niche.
The helminth community of the wood mouseApodemus sylvaticusfrom the Erro River valley, Navarre, Spain
Authors: Debenedetti A.L. , Sainz-Elipe S. , Sáez-Durán S. , Galicia D. , Imaz A. , Galán-Puchades M.T. , Fuentes M.V.
Published: July 2014

The helminth fauna of the wood mouse,Apodemus sylvaticus, in the Erro River valley (Navarre, Spain) was investigated from a total of 150 mice between February 2001 and July 2002. An overall prevalence of 90.7% was recorded and up to 14 helminth species identified. The most prevalent species was the nematodeHeligmosomoidespolygyrus(78.0%), whereasSyphacia stromawas the species with the highest median abundance (19.8). The detection ofCalodium hepaticum,Rodentolepis stramineaand the larvae ofHydatigera taeniaeformisare significant, since these helminth species could be considered potential human parasites. The helminth infracommunity comprised no more than five species. A significant predominance of monoxenous species was detected. Statistically significant differences were also found between prevalences, helminth abundance, species richness and helminth diversity of sub-populations of the wood mouse determined by host age and season of capture, which agree with most of the studies carried out on this host. This study will shed light on the helminth community of the wood mouse from a region of Spain which has not previously been documented.
Why do States Commit to International Labor Standards? Interdependent Ratification of Core ILO Conventions, 1948–2009
Authors: Baccini Leonardo , Koenig-Archibugi Mathias
Published: July 2014

Ratifying core conventions adopted by the International Labor Organization (ILO) creates legal obligations to improve labor standards in the domestic economy, notably with regard to union rights, minimum age and discrimination in employment, and forced labor. Why and when do states choose to ratify them? Two influential theoretical approaches lead to the expectation that states are influenced by the ratification behavior of other states. Drawing on rationalist institutionalism, the authors expect states to use institutions such as the ILO to improve or consolidate their preferred standards domestically while reducing the risk of suffering competitive disadvantages in world markets. In this view, ILO conventions are devices for the prevention and mitigation of regulatory races to the bottom among trade rivals. Drawing on sociological institutionalism, they expect states to ratify ILO conventions if doing so conforms to a norm of appropriate behavior that is prevalent in a state's peer groups. This article develops observable implications of these hypotheses and tests them by applying spatial regression models to seven core ILO conventions and 187 countries between 1948 and 2009. The analysis yields strong evidence in support of both hypotheses.
Securitizing Immigration in the Age of Terror
Authors: Messina Anthony M.
Published: July 2014

In the context of the evidence presented in both the collected scholarship under review and other select works, this article asks if and to what extent migration-related issues have been securitized in Europe and the United States. In addressing these questions it executes three tasks. First, it critically assesses the four major dimensions across which contemporary immigration purportedly is securitized: on one side, rhetorically addressing immigration-related issues through political elite discourse, public opinion, and the mass media; and on the other, the policy processes through which immigration is securitized. Second, this article identifies the strengths and weaknesses of securitization theory as it has been applied to immigration. Finally, it draws mostly negative conclusions about the veracity of the central claims of the securitization of immigration literature and, specifically, its causal story.
Characteristics analysis and stabilization of a planar 2R underactuated manipulator
Authors: He Guang-Ping , Wang Zhi-Lü , Zhang Jie , Geng Zhi-Yong
Published: July 2014

The weightless planar 2R underactuated manipulators with passive last joint are considered in this paper for investigating a feasible method to stabilize the system, which is a second-order nonholonomic-constraint mechanical system with drifts. The characteristics including the controllability of the linear approximation model, the minimum phase property, the Small Time Local Controllability (STLC), the differential flatness, and the exactly nilpotentizable properties, are analyzed. Unfortunately, these negative characteristics indicate that the simplest underactuated mechanical system is difficult to design a stable closed-loop control system. In this paper, nilpotent approximation and iterative steering methods are utilized to solve the problem. A globally effective nilpotent approximation model is developed and the parameterized polynomial input is adopted to stabilize the system to its non-singularity equilibrium configuration. In accordance with this scheme, it is shown that designing a stable closed-loop control system for the underactuated mechanical system can be ascribed to solving a set of nonlinear algebraic equations. If the nonlinear algebraic equations are solvable, then the controller is asymptotically stable. Some numerical simulations demonstrate the effectiveness of the presented approach.
Redundantly actuated 3-RRR spherical parallel manipulator used as a haptic device: improving dexterity and eliminating singularity
Authors: Saafi Houssem , Laribi Med Amine , Zeghloul Said
Published: July 2014

This paper discusses the study of a spherical parallel manipulator (SPM) used as a haptic device for tele-operation applications. The SPM presents poor behavior in singular configurations. Redundancy is used to eliminate the parallel singularity without major changes in the mechanical structure. Comparisons in terms of kinematic and dynamic behavior between the non-redundant and redundant SPM are presented. The results prove the advantage of introducing redundancy in the actuator and sensor to improve the behavior of the SPM. A new control strategy for the redundant SPM is also proposed. The control strategy has been successfully tested and validated on a SimMechanics model.
Optimal synthesis of a spherical parallel mechanism for medical application
Authors: Essomba T. , Laribi M. A. , Zeghloul S. , Poisson G.
Published: July 2014

This paper introduces the design and the optimization of a probe holder robot for tele-echography applications. To define its kinematic architecture, an approach based on motion capture of an expert's gestures during ultrasound examinations was proposed. The medical gestures analyzed consisted of ultrasound probe movements and were used to characterize the kinematic specifications of the proposed manipulator. The selected architecture was a Spherical Parallel Mechanism (SPM) with 3 degrees of freedom (DoF) and its optimal synthesis was performed using real-coded Genetic Algorithms (GA). The optimization criteria and constraints were established thanks to the collaboration of medical experts and were successively formulated and solved using mono-objective and multi-objective functions.
Taylor coefficients of mock-Jacobi forms and moments of partition statistics
Authors: BRINGMANN KATHRIN , MAHLBURG KARL , RHOADES ROBERT C.
Published: July 2014

We develop a new technique for deriving asymptotic series expansions for moments of combinatorial generating functions that uses the transformation theory of Jacobi forms and “mock” Jacobi forms, as well as the Hardy-Ramanujan Circle Method. The approach builds on a suggestion of Zagier, who observed that the moments of a combinatorial statistic can be simultaneously encoded as the Taylor coefficients of a function that transforms as a Jacobi form. Our use of Jacobi transformations is a novel development in the subject, as previous results on the asymptotic behavior of the Taylor coefficients of Jacobi forms have involved the study of each such coefficient individually using the theory of quasimodular forms and quasimock modular forms.

As an application, we find asymptotic series for the moments of the partition rank and crank statistics. Although the coefficients are exponentially large, the error in the series expansions is polynomial, and have the same order as the coefficients of the residual Eisenstein series that are undetectable by the Circle Method. We also prove asymptotic series expansions for the symmetrized rank and crank moments introduced by Andrews and Garvan, respectively. Equivalently, the former gives asymptotic series for the enumeration of Andrews k-marked Durfee symbols.
The Random Connection Model on the Torus
Authors: DEVROYE LUC , FRAIMAN NICOLAS
Published: July 2014

We study the diameter of a family of random graphs on the torus that can be used to model wireless networks. In the random connection model two pointsxandyare connected with probabilityg(y−x), wheregis a given function. We prove that the diameter of the graph is bounded by a constant, which depends only on ‖g‖1, with high probability as the number of vertices in the graph tends to infinity.
A New Upper Bound for 1324-Avoiding Permutations
Authors: BÓNA MIKLÓS
Published: July 2014

We prove that the number of 1324-avoiding permutations of lengthnis less than$(7+4\sqrt{3})^n$. The novelty of our method is that we injectively encode such permutations by a pair of words of lengthnover a finite alphabet that avoid a given factor.
QuickSelect Tree Process Convergence, With an Application to Distributional Convergence for the Number of Symbol Comparisons Used by Worst-Case Find
Authors: FILL JAMES ALLEN , MATTERER JASON
Published: July 2014

We define a sequence of tree-indexed processes closely related to the operation of the QuickSelect search algorithm (also known as Find) for all the various values of n (the number of input keys) and m (the rank of the desired order statistic among the keys). As a ‘master theorem’ we establish convergence of these processes in a certain Banach space, from which known distributional convergence results as n → ∞ about

(1)

the number of key comparisons required

are easily recovered

(a)

when m/n → α ∈ [0, 1], and

(b)

in the worst case over the choice of m.

From the master theorem it is also easy, for distributional convergence of

(2)

the number of symbol comparisons required,

both to recover the known result in the case (a) of fixed quantile α and to establish our main new result in the case (b) of worst-case Find.

Our techniques allow us to unify the treatment of cases (1) and (2) and indeed to consider many other cost functions as well. Further, all our results provide a stronger mode of convergence (namely, convergence in Lp or almost surely) than convergence in distribution. Extensions to MultipleQuickSelect are discussed briefly.
Hitting Time Theorems for Random Matrices
Authors: ADDARIO-BERRY LOUIGI , ESLAVA LAURA
Published: July 2014

Starting from ann-by-nmatrix of zeros, choose uniformly random zero entries and change them to ones, one at a time, until the matrix becomes invertible. We show that with probability tending to one asn→ ∞, this occurs at the very moment the last zero row or zero column disappears. We prove a related result for random symmetric Bernoulli matrices, and give quantitative bounds for some related problems. These results extend earlier work by Costello and Vu [10].
Asymptotic Properties of Some Minor-Closed Classes of Graphs
Authors: BOUSQUET-MÉLOU MIREILLE , WELLER KERSTIN
Published: July 2014

Let${\cal A}$be a minor-closed class of labelled graphs, and let${\cal G}_{n}$be a random graph sampled uniformly from the set ofn-vertex graphs of${\cal A}$. Whennis large, what is the probability that${\cal G}_{n}$is connected? How many components does it have? How large is its biggest component? Thanks to the work of McDiarmid and his collaborators, these questions are now solved when all excluded minors are 2-connected.

Using exact enumeration, we study a collection of classes${\cal A}$excluding non-2-connected minors, and show that their asymptotic behaviour may be rather different from the 2-connected case. This behaviour largely depends on the nature of the dominant singularity of the generating functionC(z) that counts connected graphs of${\cal A}$. We classify our examples accordingly, thus taking a first step towards a classification of minor-closed classes of graphs. Furthermore, we investigate a parameter that has not received any attention in this context yet: the size of the root component. It follows non-Gaussian limit laws (Beta and Gamma), and clearly merits a systematic investigation.
Approximately Counting Embeddings into Random Graphs
Authors: FÜRER MARTIN , KASIVISWANATHAN SHIVA PRASAD
Published: July 2014

LetHbe a graph, and letCH(G) be the number of (subgraph isomorphic) copies ofHcontained in a graphG. We investigate the fundamental problem of estimatingCH(G). Previous results cover only a few specific instances of this general problem, for example the case whenHhas degree at most one (the monomer-dimer problem). In this paper we present the first general subcase of the subgraph isomorphism counting problem, which is almost always efficiently approximable. The results rely on a new graph decomposition technique. Informally, the decomposition is a labelling of the vertices such that every edge is between vertices with different labels, and for every vertex all neighbours with a higher label have identical labels. The labelling implicitly generates a sequence of bipartite graphs, which permits us to break the problem of counting embeddings of large subgraphs into that of counting embeddings of small subgraphs. Using this method, we present a simple randomized algorithm for the counting problem. For all decomposable graphsHand all graphsG, the algorithm is an unbiased estimator. Furthermore, for all graphsHhaving a decomposition where each of the bipartite graphs generated is small and almost all graphsG, the algorithm is a fully polynomial randomized approximation scheme.

We show that the graph classes ofHfor which we obtain a fully polynomial randomized approximation scheme for almost allGincludes graphs of degree at most two, bounded-degree forests, bounded-width grid graphs, subdivision of bounded-degree graphs, and major subclasses of outerplanar graphs, series-parallel graphs and planar graphs of large girth, whereas unbounded-width grid graphs are excluded. Moreover, our general technique can easily be applied to proving many more similar results.
Hospital Preparedness in Advance of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil
Authors: Shoaf Kimberley , Osorio de Castro Claudia G.S. , Miranda Elaine Silva
Published: July 2014

Introduction

Regardless of the capacity of the health care system of the host nation, mass gatherings require special planning and preparedness efforts within the health system. Brazil will host the 2014 Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World Cup and the 2016 Olympics. This paper represents the first results from Project “Prepara Brasil,” which is investigating the preparedness of the health sector and pharmaceutical services for these events.

Hypothesis/Problem

This study was designed to identify the efforts engaged in to prepare the health sector in Brazil for the FIFA World Cup 2014 event, as well as the 2016 Summer Olympics.

Methods

Key informant interviews were conducted with representatives of both the municipality and hospital sectors in each of the 12 host cities where matches will be played. A semi-structured key informant interview guide was developed, with sections for each type of participant. One of each municipality's reference hospitals was identified and seven additional general hospitals were randomly selected from all of the inpatient facilities in each municipality. The interviewers were instructed to contact a reference hospital, and two of the other hospitals, in the jurisdiction for participation in the study. Questions were asked about plans for mass-gathering events, the interaction between hospitals and government officials in preparation for the World Cup, and their perceptions of their surge capacity to meet the potential demands generated by the presence of the World Cup events in their municipalities.

Results

In all, 11 representatives of the sampled reference hospitals, and 24 representatives of other general private and public hospitals in the municipalities, were interviewed. Most of the hospitals had some interaction with government officials in preparation for the World Cup 2014. Approximately one-third (34%) received training activities from the government. Fifty-four percent (54%) of hospitals had no specific plans for communicating with the government or other agencies during the World Cup. Approximately half (51%) had plans for surge capacity during the event, but only 27% had any surge capacity for isolation of potentially infectious patients.

Conclusion

Overall, although there has been mention of a great deal of planning on the part of the government officials for the World Cup 2014, hospital surge to meet the potential increase in demand still falls short.

ShoafK, Osorio de CastroCGS, MirandaES. Hospital preparedness in advance of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2014;29(4):1-4.
Willingness of International Delegations to be Deployed to Areas With High Risk of Radiation
Authors: Shenhar Gilead , Radomislensky Irina , Rosenfeld Michael , Peleg Kobi
Published: July 2014

Background

An earthquake of 9.0 magnitude, followed by a tsunami, hit Japan in 2011 causing widespread destruction. Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant had been damaged, causing a spread of radioactive materials.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to assess personal willingness to respond to a disaster as a part of an international delegation, to an area with unknown and unclear risk of radioactive materials. The Israeli delegation to the Japan 2011 earthquake had been chosen as a case study.

Method

The survey was conducted during the first two weeks after the tsunami in Japan. The population was selected randomly. After distributing the survey form, 94 anonymous answers were received, which give a 69% participation rate. The sample was divided into two groups (participated or didn't participate in an international delegation in the past).

Results

It was found that as the situation on the ground became worse, the willingness to be deployed dropped dramatically, although no significant difference was found in willingness between the two study groups. When both groups were combined into one group, significant differences were found in their willingness to be deployed in a delegation between the three levels (no radioactive leak, possible radioactive leak, and uncontrolled leak).

Conclusions

The willingness to serve on a delegation that responds to a scene with a potential radioactive leak will be dramatically influenced by the risk at the site.

ShenharG, RadomislenskyI, RosenfeldM, PelegK. Willingness of international delegations to be deployed to areas with high risk of radiation. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2014;29(4):1-5.
Address by the President of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries Dr David Hare
Authors: Hare David
Published: July 2014

In his Presidential Address, Dr Hare talks about the theme for his presidency, ensuring that the profession is relevant in the current environment. He outlines some of the recent changes in the economic environment and the financial services industry. He then sets out each element of the profession’s strategy and discusses elements that he intends to champion during his Presidency to ensure that it remains relevant. He concludes by stating the profession’s vision.
A case report of long-term survival of metastatic extraskeletal myxoid chondrosarcoma treated with surgery and hypofractionated radiotherapy
Authors: Qiu Haoming , Hare Mary , Chen Yuhchyau
Published: July 2014

We describe the case of a patient with a 10-year history of metastatic extraskeletal myxoid chondrosarcoma (EMC), who underwent repeated surgical excision and ten courses of hypofractionated radiotherapy to locally recurrent or metastatic disease. We review the literature on EMC’s and propose that surgery and radiotherapy can be used to control disease progression and palliate symptoms for extended periods of time with acceptable toxicity profiles.
Interaction Effects of the COMT and DRD4 Genes with Anxiety-Related Traits on Selective Attention
Authors: Alfimova Margarita , Korovaitseva Galina , Lezheiko Tatiana , Golimbet Vera
Published: July 2014

The study investigated whether the DRD4 and COMT genes can modify relations between trait anxiety and selective attention. Two hundreds and sixty-six subjects performed a visual search task in which they had to find words looking through a sheet with rows of letters. After finishing the first sheet the subject was presented the second one, this time with an instruction to perform the task as quickly and accurate as possible. To study top-down attention, the number of correctly identified words (accuracy) and the time for completion of each trial were analyzed. To study bottom-up attention, the letters ‘o’ and ‘n’ were written in green, whilst the others were in black, and subjects were asked whether they had noticed that 2–3 minutes after the task completion. Genotypes for the COMT Val158Met and DRD4 VNTR-48 polymorphisms and TCI Harm Avoidance and MMPI Depression scales’ scores were obtained as well. High anxious individuals showed a more pronounced increase in accuracy in the second trial and more profound processing of irrelevant stimuli (colored letters). There was a significant interaction effect of DRD4 and Harm avoidance on the accuracy dynamics F(1, 210), = 7.65, p = .006, η2 = .04. Among DRD4 long allele carriers, high anxious subjects significantly improved accuracy (p = .013) and tended to slow speed, while those with lower Harm avoidance demonstrated the opposite trend. These effects were more robust in less educated individuals. It was concluded that the DRD4 polymorphism may modify the influence of trait anxiety on the speed-accuracy tradeoff.
The Influence of Culture of Honor and Emotional Intelligence in the Acculturation of Moroccan Immigrant Women
Authors: Lopez-Zafra Esther , El Ghoudani Karima
Published: July 2014

Migration is a normal process of people seeking new opportunities, work, or leisure in societies. The way people adapt to a new country (acculturation) is a complex process in which immigrants’ evaluations about the culture of origin and their perceptions of the host country interact. The combination of these two factors produces four types of acculturation: separation, assimilation, integration, and marginalization. Several variables, such as personality, attitudes, and emotional intelligence, have been studied to help explain this process. However, the impact of a culture of honor and its interaction with other variables remains an open question that may help to explain how migrants can better adjust to their host culture. In this study, we examine the influence of the culture of honor (social) and emotional intelligence (individual) on acculturation. In a sample of 129 Moroccan women (mean age = 29, SD = 9.40) immigrants in Spain (mean time in Spain = 6 years, SD = 3.60), we investigated the relations among the variables of interest. Our results show that no significant differences emerged in the scores given for culture of honor (CH) and the acculturation strategies of the Moroccan immigrant women F(3, 99) = .233; p = .87. However women who preferred the integration strategy scored highest on emotional intelligence (EI), whereas the assimilated immigrants showed the lowest scores for EI F(3, 92) = 4.63; p = .005. Additionally, only in the case of integration does EI mediate between CH and the value given to the immigrant’s own and host cultures (p <.001).
Psychische Gesundheit von Einzelkindern und Kindern mit Geschwistern, deren Eltern an Krebs erkrankt sind
Authors: Bojanowski Sabine , Führer Daniel , Romer Georg , Bergelt Corinna , von Klitzing Kai , Brähler Elmar , Keller Monika , Resch Franz , Flechtner Hans-Henning , Lehmkuhl Ulrike , Weschenfelder-Stachwitz Heike
Published: July 2014

Theoretischer Hintergrund: Kinder krebskranker Eltern wurden als Risikogruppe für die Entwicklung von psychischen Störungen identifiziert. Ergebnisse der Scheidungsforschung zeigten, dass auch Geschwisterbeziehungen bei belastenden Lebensereignissen vor psychischen Störungen schützen können. Fragestellung: Kann das Vorhandensein eines Geschwisters die Bewältigung einer elterlichen onkologischen Erkrankung unterstützen und somit auch dort als protektiver Faktor wirken? Methodik: In einer multizentrischen Studie wurden 271 Kinder untersucht. 54 % waren Inanspruchnehmer eines psychosozialen Beratungsangebotes. Einzelkinder (N = 89) und Kinder mit Geschwistern (N = 182) wurden im Hinblick auf ihre psychische Belastung (Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire, SDQ, Selbst- und Fremdurteil) miteinander verglichen. Ergebnisse: Im Gruppenvergleich zeigten sich zwischen Einzelkindern und Kindern mit Geschwistern keine signifikanten Unterschiede im Gesamturteil der Eltern. Dies galt sowohl für die Einschätzung durch den gesunden als auch durch den erkrankten Elternteil. In der Selbsteinschätzung zeigten sich bei 2 % der Einzelkinder und bei 9 % der Geschwister klinisch auffällige Werte im Gesamtproblemwert des SDQ. Der Gruppenvergleich zwischen Einzelkindern und Kindern mit Geschwistern offenbarte im Hinblick auf deren psychische Belastung keine bedeutsamen Unterschiede. Es ergaben sich Hinweise darauf, dass eine negative Beziehungsqualität (Sibling Relationship Questionnaire, SRQ) mit verstärkten Problemen in der Peer-Group assoziiert ist. Schlussfolgerungen: Das Vorhandensein eines Geschwisters ist nicht per se ein protektiver Faktor. Einzelkinder wiesen im Vergleich zu Kindern mit Geschwistern keine höhere psychische Belastung auf.
Das dimensional-kategoriale Hybridmodell für Persönlichkeits- störungen im DSM-5 aus jugendpsychiatrischer Perspektive
Authors: Sevecke Kathrin , Schmeck Klaus , Krischer Maya
Published: July 2014

Mit dem dimensional-kategorialen Hybridmodell wird im Kapitel III des DSM-5 eine grundsätzliche Neuerung in der Klassifikation von Persönlichkeitsstörungen mit dem Ziel der Reduktion von Komorbiditäten, der Verbesserung von Konstrukt- und diskriminanter Validität sowie einer höheren Stabilität der Diagnose vorgeschlagen, wenngleich die bekannte kategoriale Klassifikation in Kapitel II nach wie vor gültig ist. Nach dem Hybridmodell sind die wesentlichen Kriterien einer Persönlichkeitsstörung: Die dimensionale Erfassung der Funktionsfähigkeit im Hinblick auf selbstbezogene (Identität und Selbststeuerung) und zwischenmenschliche (Empathie und Nähe) Persönlichkeitsanteile sowie das Vorhandensein pathologisch ausgeprägter Persönlichkeitstraits. Neben fünf übergeordneten Traits gibt es 25 spezifische untergeordnete Trait-Facetten. Vorgeschlagen wird außerdem eine Reduktion der Persönlichkeitsstörungstypen auf die am besten validierten sechs Kategorien von den bisher bestehenden zehn. Die nun aufgehobene Altersbeschränkung ist als eindeutige Stellungnahme bezüglich der Fragen von Diagnostizierbarkeit und Behandlungsnotwendigkeit von Persönlichkeitspathologien im Jugendalter anzusehen. Grundsätzlich scheint das neue Hybridmodell durch die Einführung des zusätzlichen dimensionalen Ansatzes mit detaillierter Beschreibung der Funktionalität der Persönlichkeit sowie der spezifischen pathologischen Persönlichkeitstraits sowohl für klinische Belange als auch für Forschungsfragen nützlich.
Implementationsforschung: Grundbegriffe und Konzepte
Authors: Petermann Franz
Published: July 2014

Die Implementationsforschung operationalisiert Schritte einer erfolgreichen Umsetzung von Forschungsergebnissen. Im vorliegenden Beitrag wird das Konzept der Implementationsforschung jenseits von Konzepten der praktischen Umsetzung und der erzielten Evaluationsergebnisse betrachtet. Hierzu wird eine Taxonomie von acht konzeptionell unterscheidbaren Outcomeparametern vorgeschlagen: Akzeptanz, Übernahme, Angemessenheit, Machbarkeit, Wiedergabetreue, Kosten, Durchdringung und Nachhaltigkeit. Das Konzeptualisieren und Ermitteln von Implementationsergebnissen tragen dazu bei, die Effizienz der Implementationsforschung zu erhöhen und den Weg für ein besseres Verständnis von Umsetzungsstrategien zu ebnen.
Implementationsfaktoren und -prozesse in der Präventionsforschung: Strategien, Probleme, Ergebnisse, Perspektiven
Authors: Beelmann Andreas , Karing Constance
Published: July 2014

Die Implementation von evidenz-basierten Maßnahmen hat sich in den letzten Jahren zu einem zentralen Thema der Interventionsforschung entwickelt. Auslöser war der allenthalben beklagte defizitäre Transfer wissenschaftlicher Erkenntnisse in praktisches Handeln, der nunmehr nicht einfach hingenommen, sondern systematisch aufgeklärt werden sollte. Der vorliegende Beitrag gibt einen Überblick zum Stand der Implementationsforschung im Bereich der Prävention. Nach einer kurzen Einführung zu zentralen Implementationsfragen wird zunächst dargelegt, warum Implementationsprozessen in der Prävention eine besondere Bedeutung zukommt. Im Anschluss folgt eine Diskussion wichtiger Implementationsfaktoren, die sich in empirischen Untersuchungen als bedeutsam erwiesen haben. Sie werden im Hinblick auf individuelle, organisationsbezogene und politisch-administrative Implementationsprozesse erörtert und mit Bezug auf Strategien diskutiert, wie die Implementationsqualität und damit die Wirksamkeit von Maßnahmen in der Praxis gesichert werden kann. Abschließend werden Hinweise auf die Weiterentwicklung der Implementationsforschung und -praxis gegeben.
Imaging Endogenous Opioid Peptide Release with [11C]Carfentanil and [3H]Diprenorphine: Influence of Agonist-Induced Internalization
Authors: Quelch Darren R , Katsouri Loukia , Nutt David J , Parker Christine A , Tyacke Robin J
Published: July 2014

Understanding the cellular processes underpinning the changes in binding observed during positron emission tomography neurotransmitter release studies may aid translation of these methodologies to other neurotransmitter systems. We compared the sensitivities of opioid receptor radioligands, carfentanil, and diprenorphine, to amphetamine-induced endogenous opioid peptide (EOP) release and methadone administration in the rat. We also investigated whether agonist-induced internalization was involved in reductions in observed binding using subcellular fractionation and confocal microscopy. After radioligand administration, significant reductions in [11C]carfentanil, but not [3H]diprenorphine, uptake were observed after methadone and amphetamine pretreatment. Subcellular fractionation and in vitro radioligand binding studies showed that amphetamine pretreatment only decreased total [11C]carfentanil binding. In vitro saturation binding studies conducted in buffers representative of the internalization pathway suggested that μ-receptors are significantly less able to bind the radioligands in endosomal compared with extracellular compartments. Finally, a significant increase in μ-receptor-early endosome co-localization in the hypothalamus was observed after amphetamine and methadone treatment using double-labeling confocal microscopy, with no changes in δ- or κ-receptor co-localization. These data indicate carfentanil may be superior to diprenorphine when imaging EOP release in vivo, and that alterations in the ability to bind internalized receptors may be a predictor of ligand sensitivity to endogenous neurotransmitter release.
Mechanistic Modeling Reveals the Critical Knowledge Gaps in Bile Acid–Mediated DILI
Authors: Woodhead JL , Yang K , Brouwer KLR , Siler SQ , Stahl SH , Ambroso JL , Baker D , Watkins PB , Howell BA
Published: July 2014

Bile salt export pump (BSEP) inhibition has been proposed to be an important mechanism for drug‐induced liver injury (DILI). Modeling can prioritize knowledge gaps concerning bile acid (BA) homeostasis and thus help guide experimentation. A submodel of BA homeostasis in rats and humans was constructed within DILIsym, a mechanistic model of DILI. In vivo experiments in rats with glibenclamide were conducted, and data from these experiments were used to validate the model. The behavior of DILIsym was analyzed in the presence of a simulated theoretical BSEP inhibitor. BSEP inhibition in humans is predicted to increase liver concentrations of conjugated chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) and sulfate‐conjugated lithocholic acid (LCA) while the concentration of other liver BAs remains constant or decreases. On the basis of a sensitivity analysis, the most important unknowns are the level of BSEP expression, the amount of intestinal synthesis of LCA, and the magnitude of farnesoid‐X nuclear receptor (FXR)‐mediated regulation.

CPT Pharmacometrics Syst. Pharmacol. (2014) 3, e123; doi:10.1038/psp.2014.21; published online 09 July 2014