bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Associations Between Substance Use in Commission of Sexual Crimes and Offense Characteristics Among Youth: Mitigating Effects of Substance Use Treatment
Authors: Yoder Jamie , Caserta Deborah A.
Published: June 2016

The small extant research base on substance use and youth sexual offending has very few descriptive details. Furthermore, research has yet to test associations between the use of substances in the commission of sexual crimes and offense-related characteristics and how substance use treatment can mitigate these effects. In a sample of residentially housed youth adjudicated of a sexual crime ( N = 332), prevalence patterns are broken down by type of substance use behavior. Sequential regression models are run to test the associations between substance use prior to a sexual crime and number of victims, sexual deviance, and non-sexual criminality. Substance use treatment is tested as a mitigating factor in these relationships. Results reveal high levels of family substance use, and high rates of alcohol, marijuana, and other substance use. There were associations between substance use prior to sexual criminality and sexual deviance and non-sexual criminality. Substance use treatment reduced the effects of substance use on non-sexual criminality. Research and treatment implications are offered.
Burning anticipation: Wildfire, risk mitigation and simulation modelling in Victoria, Australia
Authors: Neale Timothy
Published: June 2016

Wildfire is a global environmental ‘problem’ with significant socioeconomic and socionatural impacts that does not lend itself to simple technical fixes (Gill et al., 2013: 439). In Australia, a country with a pronounced history of disastrous landscape fires, these impacts are expected to increase as the peri-urban population continues to grow and the climate continues to change. This paper draws upon the burgeoning literature on anticipatory regimes to analyse an in-depth case study of a government pilot in the highly fire-prone State of Victoria, where practitioners have utilised a simulation model to measure and intervene in the distribution of wildfire risk. The pilot presents the ‘calculative collective device’ (Callon and Muniesa, 2005) of wildfire management at a moment of what I label ‘calculative rearticulation’, wherein figurations of the future are rebooted, reconstructed or recalibrated; such moments, I suggest, can reorient the institutionally conservative spaces – such as environmental or risk management – providing opportunities for practitioners and others to interrogate the existing distribution of hazards and anticipatory interventions. Through such opportunities ‘hazardous’ more-than-human landscapes can be imagined otherwise.
The Cattell–Horn–Carroll Model of Cognition for Clinical Assessment
Authors: Jewsbury Paul A. , Bowden Stephen C. , Duff Kevin
Published: June 2016

The Cattell–Horn–Carroll (CHC) model is a comprehensive model of the major dimensions of individual differences that underlie performance on cognitive tests. Studies evaluating the generality of the CHC model across test batteries, age, gender, and culture were reviewed and found to be overwhelmingly supportive. However, less research is available to evaluate the CHC model for clinical assessment. The CHC model was shown to provide good to excellent fit in nine high-quality data sets involving popular neuropsychological tests, across a range of clinically relevant populations. Executive function tests were found to be well represented by the CHC constructs, and a discrete executive function factor was found not to be necessary. The CHC model could not be simplified without significant loss of fit. The CHC model was supported as a paradigm for cognitive assessment, across both healthy and clinical populations and across both nonclinical and neuropsychological tests. The results have important implications for theoretical modeling of cognitive abilities, providing further evidence for the value of the CHC model as a basis for a common taxonomy across test batteries and across areas of assessment.
Atypical Manifestations in Glut1 Deficiency Syndrome
Authors: De Giorgis V. , Varesio C. , Baldassari C. , Piazza E. , Olivotto S. , Macasaet J. , Balottin U. , Veggiotti P.
Published: June 2016

Glucose transporter type 1 deficiency syndrome is a genetically determined, treatable, neurologic disorder that is caused by an insufficient transport of glucose into the brain. It is caused by a mutation in the SCL2A1 gene, which is so far the only known to be associated with this condition. Glucose transporter type 1 deficiency syndrome consists of a wide clinical spectrum that usually presents with cognitive impairment, epilepsy, paroxysmal exercise-induced dyskinesia, acquired microcephaly, hemolytic anemia, gait disturbance, and dyspraxia in different combinations. However, there are other clinical manifestations that we consider equally peculiar but that have so far been poorly described in literature. In this review, supported by a video contribution, we will accurately describe this type of clinical manifestation such as oculogyric crises, weakness, paroxysmal kinesigenic and nonkinesigenic dyskinesia in order to provide an additional instrument for a correct, rapid diagnosis.
When Is It Appropriate to Use Arginine in Critical Illness?
Authors: Patel Jayshil J. , Miller Keith R. , Rosenthal Cameron , Rosenthal Martin D.
Published: June 2016

In health, arginine is considered a nonessential amino acid but can become an essential amino acid (ie, conditionally essential amino acid) during periods of metabolic or traumatic stress as endogenous arginine supply is inadequate to meet physiologic demands. Arginine depletion in critical illness is associated with impairments in microcirculatory blood flow, impaired wound healing, and T‐cell dysfunction. The purpose of this review is to (1) describe arginine metabolism and role in health and critical illness, (2) describe the relationship between arginine and asymmetric dimethylarginine, and (3) review studies of supplemental arginine in critically ill patients.
Effect of Promoter Polymorphisms on Cytokine Concentration in Preterm Breast Milk and Subsequent Infant Outcomes
Authors: Baumgartel Kelley L. , Groer Maureen W. , Cohen Susan M. , Ren Dianxu , Spatz Diane L. , Conley Yvette P.
Published: June 2016

Background:

Breast milk concentrations of immune components are variable between women and interleukin (IL) differences may be associated with infant outcomes. Molecular mechanisms for milk variability remain unknown.

Objective:

The aims were to (1) examine the relationship between maternal IL genotypes and milk concentrations of IL4, IL6, and IL10, (2) describe the trajectories of milk IL change, (3) examine whether maternal IL genotypes predict IL trajectories and/or average weekly IL concentration, and (4) examine if weekly IL levels and/or IL trajectories are associated with infant outcomes.

Methods:

Milk aliquots were collected from each feeding of mother’s own milk and pooled weekly. DNA was extracted from 1 sample of each mother’s breast milk whey (n = 64), and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of IL genes were genotyped. Milk IL concentrations were measured and trajectory analysis examined IL milk change over time. Multivariate breast milk IL concentration analyses controlled for gestational age and prepregnancy body mass index. Multivariate infant outcome (n = 73) analyses controlled for gestational age and the ratio of human milk to total milk.

Results:

Trajectory analysis resulted in linear group shapes, with 2 distinct subgroups in IL6 and 3 subgroups in IL4 and IL10. Trajectory groups trended toward significance with calprotectin, intraventricular hemorrhage, and blood transfusions. Multivariate analyses resulted in trending associations between maternal SNPs and subsequent IL6 and IL10 milk levels. There was a trending relationship between IL milk levels and both fecal calprotectin and intraventricular hemorrhage.

Conclusion:

Maternal IL SNPs may affect IL breast milk levels and IL milk levels may be associated with infant outcomes.
Nonlinear dynamic modeling and adaptive sliding control of the milling head for efficient and powerful machining
Authors: Zhao Pengbing , Huang Jin , Shi Yaoyao
Published: June 2016

Milling head is an essential assembly in the five-axis computer numerical control machine tools, positioning precision of which directly affects the machining accuracy and surface quality of the processed parts. Considering the influence of nonlinear friction in the transmission mechanism and the uncertain cutting force disturbance on the control precision of the milling head, the static and dynamic performances of the milling head are analyzed; relationships among the drive torque, load torque, motion direction and system parameters are discussed; and, finally, nonlinear dynamic model of the milling head is established. A novel adaptive sliding mode control scheme based on the variable switching gain and the adjustable boundary thickness is proposed for this nonlinear dynamic model; the stability of the closed-loop system is guaranteed by the Lyapunov theory. Experimental results show that the proposed adaptive sliding mode control can reduce the chattering in the traditional sliding mode control and can achieve high control precision without knowing the boundaries of uncertainties in advance.
Collision-free path planning of a novel reconfigurable mobile parallel mechanism
Authors: Nozari Porshokouhi Pouria , Tale Masouleh Mehdi , Kazemi Hossein
Published: June 2016

This paper initially deals with the design of a new customized reconfigurable mobile parallel mechanism. This mechanism is called the ‘Taar Reconfigurable ParaMobile’ (TRPM), consisting of three mobile robots as the main actuators. Then, the kinematics and path planning for this mechanism are presented. The newly proposed mechanism is expected to circumvent some shortcomings of inspection operation in unknown environments with unexpected changes in their workspace, for example, in a water pipe with a non-uniform cross-sectional area. In this paper, ‘Artificial Potential Field’ (APF) has been assumed to be the path planning algorithm and its resulting attractive and repulsive forces are only applied to the end-effector to generate the desired path. It is worth mentioning that the obstacle considered in this paper is a wedge which models an environment with non-uniform cross-sectional area along the path travelled by the end-effector. The inverse kinematics of the TRPM is then solved by resorting to the Resultant method as well as the Homotopy continuation method. The objective of utilizing these two well-known methods is to verify the correctness of the upper bound of solutions. It should be mentioned that solving the inverse kinematic problem obtained from both above-mentioned methods, leads to 12 solutions: eight real and four complex solutions. As a novel parallel mechanism, the TRPM yields a three-degrees-of-freedom kinematic redundancy. Despite the fact that the redundancy is sometimes beneficial for the control procedure, solving the inverse kinematics of the TRPM would be feasible only by adding some constraints. As a result, there will be a system of equations consisting of three kinematic equations and three auxiliary equations. Results from this study reveal that, by applying APF as the path planning algorithm to the TRPM, it is possible to track proper paths to reach the target.
A new manual Steering torque estimation model for steer-by-wire systems
Authors: Kim Seong Han , Chu Chong Nam
Published: June 2016

This study proposed a new model to estimate the manual steering torque of steer-by-wire systems. The current steer-by-wire system uses the steering-actuator torque at the end of the rack-and-pinion gear to obtain the manual steering torque. However, there is a need for a new method to obtain the manual steering torque because a steer-by-wire system is expected to develop as it eliminates or at least simplifies more mechanical parts in order to enable them to be combined with other technologies such as an in-wheel motor. In order to propose a new estimation model, this study employs vehicle dynamics modeling and steering-system modeling. Vehicle dynamics modeling is used to estimate the self-aligning moment that arises between the tires and the ground. The slip angle and the normal force, as well as the tire properties of the vehicle, were considered to obtain the self-aligning moment. In addition, the steering system was also considered in this study because the calculated self-aligning moment is transferred through the steering system. The universal joint, the rack-and-pinion gear, and the lower-body linkages were modeled to calculate the manual steering torque delivered to the driver’s hands. For validation of the new model, there are two sets of simulation and verification processes in this study. First, the steering-system model was verified through experiments. A steering system was set as the target system, and its mechanical characteristics such as the inertial coefficient, the damping coefficient, and the stiffness were adopted for modeling and verification. Second, the manual steering torque estimation model was verified using field tests. A vehicle was set as the target vehicle, and its specifications such as the dimensions, the steering system, and the lower-body linkages were adopted for modeling and verification. The verification results were presented and show accurate estimation results. The new model proposed in this study does not need mechanical parts to estimate the manual steering torque apart from the steering actuator and the steering feedback actuator and, therefore, it can contribute to the development of a steer-by-wire system.
Evaluation of nanoselenium (Nano-Se) effect on hematological and serum biochemical parameters of rat in experimentally lead poisoning
Authors: Dehkordi A Jafari , Mohebbi AN , Aslani MR , Ghoreyshi SM
Published: June 2016

The present study was designed to evaluate the effect of nanoselenium (Nano-Se) on hematological and biochemical parameters of rats experimentally intoxicated with lead (Pb). Thirty male rats were randomly divided into six groups as follows: the control, selenite, Nano-Se, Pb group, Pb + selenite, and Pb + Nano-Se groups. After 35 days, blood was collected from rats and hematology and serum biochemical parameters of oxidative stress were measured. The thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) level of Pb group was significantly higher than other groups. Also, TBARS level was significantly lower in the Pb + Nano-Se group than Pb + selenite group. The serum superoxide dismutase activities were significantly lower in Pb group than the control, Pb + selenite, and Pb + Nano-Se groups. The catalase activities in the Pb group showed no significant change when compared to other groups. In the Pb group, packed cell volume was lower than the control group. A significant difference was observed between the control group and the Pb, Pb + selenite, and Pb + Nano-Se groups. In the Pb group, the numbers of white blood cell (WBC) decreased in comparison with the control group. Also, there was significant increase in WBC counts in the Pb + Nano-Se and Pb + selenite groups in comparison with Pb group. The number of lymphocytes in the Pb group decreased in comparison with the control group. By comparing the means of the Pb + Nano-Se and Pb + selenite groups together, it was determined that there were significant differences in the lymphocytes and neutrophil counts. In conclusion, usage of selenium compounds particularly Nano-Se particles inhibits the adverse effects of Pb on antioxidant activity and immune system function in the Pb poisoning.
Nonlinear performances of an autoparametric vibration-based piezoelastic energy harvester
Authors: Yan Zhimiao , Hajj Muhammad R
Published: June 2016

Nonlinear characterizations of an autoparametric vibration-based energy harvester are investigated. The harvester consists of a base structure subjected to an external excitation and a cantilever beam with a tip mass. Two piezoelectric sheets bounded to both sides of the cantilever beam are used to harvest the energy. The governing equations accounting for the coupled effects of the base vibration, the response of the cantilever beam and the generated power are derived. Approximate analysis of the simplified governing equations is then performed by the method of multiple scales. The usefulness of this approach is demonstrated by deriving analytical expressions for the global frequency and damping ratio of the cantilever beam. Their dependence on the electrical load resistance is quantified. Analytical expressions for the amplitudes of the base displacement and the displacement of the tip mass are derived. An expression that relates the output power to the load resistance, global damping, and displacement of the tip mass is derived. The effects of the external force and electric load resistance on the nonlinear responses of the system are determined. The results show different responses for different operational electric loads. The broadening of the excitation regime over which energy can be harvested is analyzed. The effects of the load resistance on the types of bifurcations near resonance are determined.
From retina to behavior: prey-predator recognition by convolutional neural networks and their modulation by classical conditioning
Authors: Yoshida Naoto
Published: June 2016

Visual object-recognition plays a crucial role in animals that utilize visual information. In this study, we address the prey-predator recognition problem by optimizing artificial convolutional neural networks, based on neuroethological studies on toads. After the optimization of the overall network by supervised learning, the network showed a reasonable performance, even though various types of image noise existed. Also, we modulated the network after the optimization process based on the computational theory of classical conditioning and the reinforcement learning algorithm for the adaptation to environmental changes. This adaptation was implemented by separated modules that implement the “innate” term and “acquired” term of outputs. The modulated network exhibited behaviors that were similar to those of real toads. The neural basis of the amphibian visual information processing and the behavioral modulation mechanism have been substantially studied by biologists. Recent advances in parallel distributed processing technologies may enable us to develop fully autonomous, adaptive artificial agents with high-dimensional input spaces through end-to-end training methodology.
A constrained optimal Rayleigh damping coefficients for structures with closely spaced natural frequencies in seismic analysis
Authors: Pan DG , Chen GD , Gao LL
Published: June 2016

A constrained optimization method is proposed to determine Rayleigh damping coefficients for the accurate analysis of complex structures. To this end, an objective function was defined to be a complete quadratic combination of the modal errors of a peak base reaction evaluated by response spectral analysis. An optimization constraint was enforced to make the damping ratio of a prominent contribution mode exact. Parametric studies were conducted to investigate the effects of the constraint, the cross term of modes, and weighting factors on the optimization objective. A two-story building and a real-world lattice structure were analyzed under six earthquake ground motions to understand the characteristics and demonstrate the accuracy and effectiveness of the proposed optimization method. Unlike the conventional Rayleigh damping, the optimization method provided an optimal load-dependent reference frequencies that account for varying frequency characteristics of earthquakes around the prominent contribution mode.
Seismic fragility assessment of long-span cable-stayed bridges in China
Authors: Zhong Jian , Pang Yutao , Jeon Jong-Su , DesRoches Reginald , Yuan Wancheng
Published: June 2016

In the existing fragility assessment, most bridges are short-span bridges and a few bridges have long spans such as cable-stayed bridges. In this study, a procedure is proposed to conduct the component and system seismic fragility analysis of long-span cable-stayed bridges. Three critical issues are addressed in the procedure: (1) the optimal intensity measure of cable-stayed bridges, (2) limit state models of various components, and (3) contribution of individual components to the entire system failure of bridges. This study chooses a long-span cable-stayed bridge with the most common configuration in China and builds the numerical model of its multiple components using OpenSEES that can account for their nonlinear response and uncertainties in the ground motion and material properties. Four typical intensity measures are compared with respect to four characteristic properties including efficiency, practicality, sufficiency, and proficiency. Peak ground velocity turns out to be the optimal intensity measure. Limit states of pylon sections are derived by a numerical simulation based on pushover analysis and China’s guidelines. The pushover results indicate that the limit state of their section curvature depends highly on the section type and axial compression coefficient. A joint probabilistic seismic demand model and Monte Carlo simulation are employed to obtain an accurate system fragility estimate of cable-stayed bridges by accounting for the contribution of each component to the overall bridge system. The system fragility curves based on Monte Carlo simulation lie much closer to the upper bound fragilities given small correlation coefficients, implying that seismic demands of various components conditioned on the peak ground velocity are not correlated.
Problems, theories, and governing the crowd
Authors: Nickerson Jackson A , Wuebker Robert , Zenger Todd
Published: June 2016

Research and recommendations on innovation through crowdsourcing are diverse and often contradictory, providing little guidance on when, where, and under what conditions to use various forms of crowdsourcing. This article responds by arguing that focal economic actors, as organization designers, catalyze innovation when they efficiently match attributes of the problem or attributes of a domain of problems to modes of organizing problem finding and solution search. Four basic insights drive this approach. First, sourcing from the crowd is, fundamentally, a governance choice. Second, crowdsourcing is an amalgam of both problem finding and problem solving through the crowd. Third, the attributes of focal actors, including the theories of value creation they possess, shape problem formulation, solution-search, and the governance of these processes. Fourth, the act of defining problems reveals, and often generates, a vast residual domain of problems—often unseen by the focal economic actor—that is implicitly deferred to the crowd to find and potentially solve.
Does expression choice affect the analysis of light spectrum and facial emotion recognition?
Authors: Fotios S , Castleton H , Yang B
Published: June 2016

Facial emotion recognition has been used as a representative pedestrian activity in studies examining the effect of changes in road lighting. Past studies have drawn conclusions using results averaged across performance with the six universally recognised expressions. This paper asks whether expression choice matters. A reanalysis of past data for each unique expression does not suggest a change in the conclusion that facial emotion recognition is not significantly affected by the spectral power distribution of the lighting.
Legal and psychological considerations for obtaining informed consent for reverse total shoulder arthroplasty
Authors: Blackwood Craig , Dixon Jen , Reilly Peter , Emery Roger J
Published: June 2016

This paper seeks to outline recent legal developments and requirements pertinent to obtaining informed consent. We argue that this is of particular relevance to patients considering a reverse total shoulder arthroplasty, due to the high complication rate associated with this procedure. By examining the cognitive processes involved in decision-making, and other clinician-related factors such as delivery of information, gender bias and conflict of interest, we explore some of the barriers that can undermine the processes of shared decision-making and obtaining genuine informed consent. We argue that these issues highlight the importance for surgeons in understanding the cognitive processes and other influential factors involved in patients’ comprehension and decision-making. We recommend, based on strong evidence, that decision aids could prove useful in overcoming such challenges and could provide one way of mitigating the ethical, professional and legal consequences of failing to obtain proper informed consent. They are not widely used in orthopaedics at present, although it would be in the interests of both the surgeon and patient for such measures to be explored.
Motivated open-mindedness: Rectify biased perceptions in preparation for deliberation
Authors: Zheng Jiawen
Published: June 2016

The research on naïve realism suggests that people have a tendency of impugning opponents’ cognitive biases and interacting with them in conflict-escalating approaches. Taking this to be a basic intrapersonal process in interpersonal deliberation, an experiment was conducted to examine potential rectifying effects of the epistemic motive of the need for openness on such perceptions of bias so as to improve individuals’ deliberation preparedness. Results show that the tendency of imputing greater bias to others based upon self-other opinion incongruence is mitigated by the induced need for openness. This study also finds that participants are better prepared to partake in a group discussion with another person whose opinion is congruent rather than incongruent with theirs, and this relationship is through perceptions of bias in the opinion incongruent other. But this indirect path is weakened when participants are induced to have an elevated epistemic motive of the need for openness.
Effect of 2 Models of Care and Factors Predicting Patients’ Adherence to Doctor’s Appointment Attendance in Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria
Authors: Aderemi-Williams Roseline Iberi , Tayo Fola , Sagoe Aba , Zachariah Mathew P.
Published: June 2016

Background:

Provision of antiretroviral therapy in resource limited settings has put pressure on the available infrastructure.

Objectives:

The study examined patients’ adherence to Doctor’s appointment attendance after an intervention changing the model of care and factors that predicted adherence.

Methods:

Observational study was carried out over four years. The model of care was changed in the last year and the effect assessed. SPSS version 15.0 was used for analysis. Predictors of adherence were determined using logistic regression model.

Results:

Over half 148 (59.7%) of the patients were females, with a mean age of 40.4±8.8 years and baseline CD4 cells of 143.5±92.7cells/microliters. “Adherence” rates were 51.3% in 2007, 35.9% in 2008 and 14.9% in 2009 giving patients’ average adherence to Doctor’s appointment attendance of 34.03%. Intervention changing the model of care in 2010 recorded an adherence rate of 93.1%.

Conclusions:

The change in model of care greatly improved patients’ “adherence”. Patients’ knowledge of management, adherence, and smoking and drinking habits were identified as statistically significant predictors of adherence.
A Healthy Person
Authors: Høye Sevald , Kvigne Kari , Aiyub Ilyas , Gillund Margrethe V. , Hermansyah Hasan , Nordström Gun , Rystedt Ingrid , Suwarni Abubakar , Trollvik Anne , Wilde-Larsson Bodil , Hov Reidun
Published: June 2016

The purpose of this exploratory study was to investigate how nursing students in Indonesia and Scandinavia characterize a healthy person. Two hundred thirty-two nursing students from Indonesia, 50 students from Sweden, and 119 students from Norway participated by answering an open-ended question. Qualitative content analysis was used to identify patterns of health in a cultural and national context. The characteristics of a healthy person were summarized in the theme “external and inner balance,” which are intertwined because of the wholeness of self-image and appearance. The subcategories were having a strong and positive body image, feeling well and having inner harmony, following the rules of life, coping with challenges, and acting in unison with the environment. There were more similarities than differences between the Indonesian and Scandinavian nursing students’ understanding of being a healthy person. The difference is that the Scandinavian students mentioned individuality, whereas the Indonesian students referred to collective values.
Predictors of Infective Outcomes Following Hip Fracture
Authors: Hotchen Andrew J. , Vonberg Frederick W. , Ironside Emily C. , Ross-Thriepland Stephen , Avery Naomi , Pearce Oliver J. N.
Published: June 2016

Objectives: This study sought to assess the value of differing pre-operative measures in prediction of post-operative non-surgical site infection (NSSI) and length of hospital stay following hip fracture surgery. Methods: All patients admitted during a one year period with a hip fracture to our department were included in the study (n=207). Primary outcome measures were ten independent risk factors correlated to the development of non-surgical site infection following surgery for hip fracture. Secondary outcome measures were duration of hospital stay and inpatient mortality. Results: The patients who had severe cognitive impairment had a 71.0% risk of developing non-surgical site infection. Patients who had multiple medical co-morbidities also had increased risk of developing non-surgical site infection at 59.1%. Patients who developed NSSI on average stayed in hospital 13.1 days longer than patients who did not (31.6 vs. 18.5, p < .001). Conclusions: This study demonstrates the importance of reducing post-operative infection in hip fracture patients in view of reducing morbidity, mortality and cost. These patients can be stratified by risk factors and interventions can be employed in view of reducing inpatient post-operative infection rates in this cohort.
Protective mitochondrial transfer from bone marrow stromal cells to acute myeloid leukemic cells during chemotherapy
Authors: Moschoi Ruxanda , Imbert Véronique , Nebout Marielle , Chiche Johanna , Mary Didier , Prebet Thomas , Saland Estelle , Castellano Rémy , Pouyet Laurent , Collette Yves , Vey Norbert , Chabannon Christian , Recher Christian , Sarry Jean-Emmanuel , Alcor Damien , Peyron Jean-François , Griessinger Emmanuel
Published: June 2016

Key Points

Bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells transfer functional mitochondria to AML cells in vitro and in vivo through endocytic pathways. This mitochondria transfer is enhanced by some chemotherapies and confers a survival advantage to leukemic blasts and leukemia initiating cells.
Synthetic arsenic sulfides in Japanese prints of the Meiji period
Authors: Luo Yanbing , Basso Elena , Smith Henry D. , Leona Marco
Published: June 2016

A multi-analytical investigation of Japanese woodblock prints ranging in date from 1864 to 1895 and covering essentially the time span between the very end of the Edo period and the middle of the Meiji period showed a widespread use of arsenic sulfides for yellow and green colored areas (the latter obtained by mixing Prussian blue to the yellow arsenic sulfides). Analysis by optical microscopy, X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, Raman microscopy, and Scanning Electron Microscopy confirmed that the yellow pigment is usually a compound belonging to the solid solution series (As8S8)–(As8S9). The poor crystallinity of the pigment as shown by Raman microscopy, the non-stoichiometric As/S ratio, as well as the presence of excess uncombined sulfur point to a synthetic origin for the pigment. Period literary sources suggest that synthetic arsenic sulfide pigments manufacture might have started in the Iwashiro province in 1846. This is to our knowledge the first conclusive evidence for the use of synthetic arsenic sulfides in woodblock prints in Japan.
Early Engagement in Course-Based Research Increases Graduation Rates and Completion of Science, Engineering, and Mathematics Degrees
Authors: Rodenbusch Stacia E. , Hernandez Paul R. , Simmons Sarah L. , Dolan Erin L.
Published: June 2016

National efforts to transform undergraduate biology education call for research experiences to be an integral component of learning for all students. Course-based undergraduate research experiences, or CUREs, have been championed for engaging students in research at a scale that is not possible through apprenticeships in faculty research laboratories. Yet there are few if any studies that examine the long-term effects of participating in CUREs on desired student outcomes, such as graduating from college and completing a science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) major. One CURE program, the Freshman Research Initiative (FRI), has engaged thousands of first-year undergraduates over the past decade. Using propensity score–matching to control for student-level differences, we tested the effect of participating in FRI on students’ probability of graduating with a STEM degree, probability of graduating within 6 yr, and grade point average (GPA) at graduation. Students who completed all three semesters of FRI were significantly more likely than their non-FRI peers to earn a STEM degree and graduate within 6 yr. FRI had no significant effect on students’ GPAs at graduation. The effects were similar for diverse students. These results provide the most robust and best-controlled evidence to date to support calls for early involvement of undergraduates in research.
Hybrid combination genetic algorithm and controlled gradient method to train a neural network
Authors: Kobrunov Alexander , Priezzhev Ivan
Published: June 2016

Multivariate predictive analysis is a widely used tool in the petroleum industry in situations in which the deterministic nature of the relationship between a variable that requires prediction and a variable that is used for the purposes of such prediction is unknown or very complex. For example, to perform a sweet-spot analysis, it is necessary to predict potential oil and gas production rates on a map, using various geologic and geophysical attribute maps (porosity, density, seismic attributes, gravity, magnetic, etc.) and the initial oil and gas production rates of several control or training wells located in the area of interest. We have developed a new technology that allows for building a stable nonlinear predictive operator by using the combination of a neural network, a genetic algorithm, and a controlled gradient method. The main idea behind the proposed technology is to combine stochastic and deterministic approaches during the construction of the predictive operator at the training stage. The proposed technology avoids many disadvantages of the genetic algorithm and gradients methods, such as a high level of dependency on the initial values; the phenomenon of over-fitting (overtraining), which results in creation of an operator with unstable predictability; and a low speed of decreasing error during iteration, and, as a result, a low level of prediction quality. However, the above-mentioned combination uses the advantages of both methods and allows for finding a solution significantly closer to a global minimum for the objective function, compared to simple gradient methods, such as back propagation. The combination of these methods together with Tikhonov regularization allows for building stable predictions in spatial or/and time coordinates.
Influence of HIV/AIDS on Cervical Cancer: A Retrospective Study From Tanzania
Authors: Chambuso Ramadhani S. , Shadrack Stephen , Lidenge Salum J. , Mwakibete Ntoli , Medeiros Rui M.
Published: June 2016

Purpose

Cervical cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality in women in Tanzania. Any impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic on cervical precancerous lesions and invasive cervical cancer has a significant implication, as for any public health concern, especially in an area such as the Morogoro region in Tanzania, which has one of the highest rates of cervical cancer in the world.

Methods

A comparative retrospective study was performed of 536 women screened for cervical cancer by visual inspection methods at the Morogoro Regional Referral Hospital over a period of 3 years; the women were grouped according to their HIV status. The odds ratios (OR) with 95% CIs were estimated using χ2 test and multivariate analysis. The test statistics were evaluated with a significance level of P < .05.

Results

The prevalence of precancerous lesions was 71.8% in HIV-positive women and 27.3% in HIV-seronegative women. Furthermore, the prevalence of extensive or large precancerous lesions was 40.5% in HIV-positive women and 13.5% in HIV-seronegative women. The prevalence of invasive cervical cancer was 8% in HIV-seronegative women and 11% in HIV-positive women. The risk factors for the cervical lesions were HIV-positive status (OR, 6.8; 95% CI, 4.2 to 11.2; P < .001) and being older than 30 years of age (OR, 11.99; 95% CI, 6.86 to 21.21; P < .001).

Conclusion

HIV/AIDS has a highly statistically significant association with ( P < .001) and a great influence on the development of cervical precancerous lesions in HIV-positive women; however, its direct involvement in the progression to invasive cervical cancer, especially in this era of highly active antiretroviral therapy, is questionable.
Anesthetic Management of 65 Cases of Ex Utero Intrapartum Therapy: A 13-Year Single-Center Experience
Authors: Lin Elaina E. , Moldenhauer Julie S. , Tran Kha M. , Cohen David E. , Adzick N. Scott
Published: June 2016

The anesthetic management for open fetal surgery has been described, but many therapeutic tenets have not been supported with data. We present data on the anesthetic management and outcomes of 65 patients undergoing ex utero intrapartum therapy procedures at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia between 1998 and 2011. Patients were identified, and medical records were retrospectively reviewed. Maternal general anesthesia combined with postoperative epidural analgesia was commonly used. High levels of volatile anesthetic were used for uterine relaxation. Case characteristics such as fetal procedure, operative time, blood loss, transfusion requirements, vasopressor use, and fetal resuscitative measures are described.
The Gates of Greece: Refugees and Policy Choices
Authors: Lamb Ismini A.
Published: June 2016

The scale of the migrant crisis took Europe by surprise in 2015, but 2016 promised to be far worse. Europe dithered on how to respond, confusing the demands of compassion with migrant relocation policy and failing to recognize Greece's inability to resolve the crisis independently. Pioneering academic work on refugees and assimilation limns the essential choices policy makers have: (1) throw open the gates to Europe and hope new Muslims citizens will eventually assimilate, (2) exclude Muslim immigrants and try to subordinate Islamic beliefs to European norms for those already in Europe, or (3) test whether Islamic countries are able and willing to support the current international liberal order, including freedom of conscience on matters of faith. Greece's current weakness means it will have to accommodate whatever choice European leaders make.
Surgical Resection and Interstitial Iodine-125 Brachytherapy for High-Grade Meningiomas: A 25-Year Series
Authors: Magill Stephen T. , Lau Darryl , Raleigh David R. , Sneed Penny K. , Fogh Shannon E. , McDermott Michael W.
Published: June 2016

BACKGROUND: Atypical and malignant meningiomas can recur despite resection and radiation.

OBJECTIVE: To determine outcomes of patients with recurrent atypical or malignant meningioma treated with repeat resection and permanent iodine-125 (125I) brachy-therapy.

METHODS: Charts of patients who underwent surgical resection and 125I brachyther-apy implantation for atypical and malignant meningiomas between 1988 and 2013 were retrospectively reviewed. The Kaplan-Meier actuarial method was used to calculate progression-free and overall survival. The log-rank test was used to compare groups. Significance was set at P < .05.

RESULTS: Forty-two patients underwent 50 resections with 125I brachytherapy im-plantations. All patients had undergone previous resections and 85% had previously undergone radiation. Median follow-up was 7.5 years after diagnosis and 2.3 years after brachytherapy. Median time to progression after resection with 125I brachytherapy was 20.9 months for atypical meningioma, 11.4 months for malignant meningioma, and 11.4 months for the combined groups. Median survival after re-resection and 125I brachytherapy was 3.5 years for atypical meningioma, 2.3 years for malignant menin-gioma, and 3.3 years for all subjects. Median overall survival after diagnosis was 11.1 years for atypical meningioma, 9.1 years for malignant meningioma, and 9.4 years for all subjects. Complications occurred in 17 patients and included radiation necrosis (n = 8, 16%), wound breakdown (n = 6, 12%), hydrocephalus (n = 4, 8%), infection (n = 3, 6%), and a pseudomeningocele (n = 2, 5%).

CONCLUSION: This is the largest experience with adjuvant 125I brachytherapy for recurrent high-grade meningiomas. The outcomes support the use of adjuvant brachytherapy as an option for these aggressive tumors.
Quality of Postoperative Venous Thromboembolism Prophylaxis in Neuro-oncologic Surgery
Authors: Zacharia Brad E. , Youngerman Brett E. , Bruce Samuel S. , Hershman Dawn L. , Neugut Alfred I. , Bruce Jeffrey N. , Wright Jason D.
Published: June 2016

BACKGROUND: Given the vagaries of published guidelines and the lack of high-quality evidence on the method, timing, and dose of venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis in neurological surgery, little is known about practice patterns regarding VTE prophylaxis in the United States.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the use of VTE prophylaxis in patients who underwent surgery for a cerebral neoplasm and to identify patient, physician, and hospital characteristics associated with prophylaxis.

METHODS: Using the Premier Perspective database, we classified patients undergoing surgery for intracranial neoplasm between 2006 and 2012 on the basis of the type of VTE prophylaxis they received (mechanical, pharmacological, or combination). Generalized estimating equations were used to analyze the effects of pretreatment patient and system variables, including hospital and surgeon volume, on prophylaxis while controlling for hospital clustering.

RESULTS: A total of 43 327 patients were identified. Venous thromboembolism prophylaxis was given to 70.2% of patients. Overall, 16 957 (39.2%) had only mechanical prophylaxis, 5628 (13%) received only pharmacological prophylaxis, and 7826 (18.1%) received combination prophylaxis. Patients with high-volume providers (odds ratio, 2.22; 95% confidence interval, 1.33-3.69) were more likely to receive prophylaxis.

CONCLUSION: Nearly one-third of patients who underwent surgery for an intracranial tumor did not receive any VTE prophylaxis. We noted that the rate of overall VTE prophylaxis did not significantly change over the course of the 7 years analyzed despite an increasing focus on complication prevention. High-volume surgeons were more likely to provide VTE prophylaxis.
TFEB at a glance
Authors: Napolitano Gennaro , Ballabio Andrea
Published: June 2016

The transcription factor EB (TFEB) plays a pivotal role in the regulation of basic cellular processes, such as lysosomal biogenesis and autophagy. The subcellular localization and activity of TFEB are regulated by mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR)-mediated phosphorylation, which occurs at the lysosomal surface. Phosphorylated TFEB is retained in the cytoplasm, whereas dephosphorylated TFEB translocates to the nucleus to induce the transcription of target genes. Thus, a lysosome-to-nucleus signaling pathway regulates cellular energy metabolism through TFEB. Recently, in vivo studies have revealed that TFEB is also involved in physiological processes, such as lipid catabolism. TFEB has attracted a lot of attention owing to its ability to induce the intracellular clearance of pathogenic factors in a variety of murine models of disease, such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's, suggesting that novel therapeutic strategies could be based on the modulation of TFEB activity. In this Cell Science at a Glance article and accompanying poster, we present an overview of the latest research on TFEB function and its implication in human diseases.
Meerwein–Ponndorf–Verley-type Reduction over a Metal-free TiO2 Photocatalyst in Alcohol: Chemoselective Hydrogenation of Chlorobenzaldehyde to Chlorobenzyl Alcohol
Authors: Fukui Makoto , Tanaka Atsuhiro , Hashimoto Keiji , Kominami Hiroshi
Published: June 2016

p-Chlorobenzaldehyde was almost quantitatively and chemoselectively reduced to p-chlorobenzyl alcohol in alcoholic suspensions of a metal-free titanium(IV) oxide photocatalyst under hydrogen-free conditions. Since alcohols act as electron donors and hydrogen sources, this reaction can be regarded as a heterogeneous Meerwein–Ponndorf–Verley-type reduction over a photocatalyst. Excellent chemoselectivity was also observed in the intermolecular competitive reduction of benzaldehyde (BA) and chlorobenzene (CB), i.e., only BA was reduced to benzyl alcohol, with CB not being reduced.
Ruthenium-catalyzed Decarboxylative and Dehydrogenative Formation of Highly Substituted Pyridines from Alkene-tethered Isoxazol-5(4H)-ones
Authors: Okamoto Kazuhiro , Sasakura Kohei , Shimbayashi Takuya , Ohe Kouichi
Published: June 2016

A ruthenium-catalyzed reaction of alkene-tethered isoxazol-5(4H)-ones affording pyridines has been developed. Di-, tri-, and tetrasubstituted pyridines were obtained from various isoxazolones in good yields.
Near-infrared Emissive Donor–Acceptor-type Molecules Containing Thiazole-fused Benzothiadiazole as an Electron-acceptor Moiety
Authors: Satou Motoi , Nakamura Tomoya , Aramaki Yoshitaka , Okazaki Shuhei , Murata Michihisa , Wakamiya Atsushi , Murata Yasujiro
Published: June 2016

Two donor–acceptor-type (D–A-type) molecules containing thiazole-fused benzothiadiazole (BT) as the acceptor moiety were designed and synthesized. The thiazole-fused BT skeleton enables fine-tuning of the solubility and the electronic structure as well as two-dimensional extension of the π-conjugation. The combination with common donor units such as diphenylaminothiophene or triphenylamine-substituted thiophene resulted in the formation of D–A–D-type molecules, which exhibited fluorescence in the NIR region.
Rational Inattention and Organizational Focus
Authors: Dessein Wouter , Galeotti Andrea , Santos Tano
Published: June 2016

This paper studies optimal communication flows in organizations. A production process can be coordinated ex ante, by letting agents stick to a prespecified plan of action. Alternatively, agents may adapt to task-specific shocks, in which case tasks must be coordinated ex post, using communication. When attention is scarce, an optimal organization coordinates only a few tasks ex post. Those tasks are higher performing, more adaptive to the environment, and influential. Hence, scarce attention requires setting priorities, not just local optimization. Our results provide microfoundations for a central idea in the management literature that firms should focus on a limited set of core competencies. (JEL D23, D83, D85, L23, M11, M54)
Measuring Discounting without Measuring Utility
Authors: Attema Arthur E. , Bleichrodt Han , Gao Yu , Huang Zhenxing , Wakker Peter P.
Published: June 2016

We introduce a new method to measure the temporal discounting of money. Unlike preceding methods, our method requires neither knowledge nor measurement of utility. It is easier to implement, clearer to subjects, and requires fewer measurements than existing methods. (JEL C91, D11, D12, D91)