bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
COMPARISON OF THREE DISTINCT PROPHYLACTIC AGENTS AGAINST INVASIVE FUNGAL INFECTIONS IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING HAPLO-IDENTICAL HEMATOPOIETIC STEM CELL TRANSPLANTATION AND POST-TRANSPLANT CYCLOPHOSPHAMIDE
Authors: Elcheikh Jean
Published: September 2015

Over the past decade, invasive fungal infections (IFI) have remained an important problem in patients undergoing allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (Allo-HSCT). The optimal approach for prophylactic antifungal therapy has yet to be determined.We conducted a retrospective, bi-institutional comparative clinical study, and compared the efficacy and safety of micafungin 50mg/day (iv) with those of fluconazole (400mg/day) or itraconazole 200mg/day (iv) as prophylaxis for adult patients with various haematological diseases receiving haplo-identical allogeneic stem cell transplantation (haplo).Overall, 99 patients were identified; 30 patients received micafungin, and 69 patients received fluconazole or itraconazole. After a median follow-up of 13 months (range: 5-23), Proven or probable IFIs were reported in 3 patients (10%) in the micafungin group and 8 patients (12%) in the fluconazole or itraconazole group. Fewer patients in the micafungin group had invasive aspergillosis (1 [3%] vs. 5 [7%], P=0.6). A total of 4 (13%) patients in the micafungin group and 23 (33%) patients in the fluconazole or itraconazole group received empirical antifungal therapy (P = 0.14).No serious adverse events related to treatment were reported by patients and there was no treatment discontinuation because of drug-related adverse events in both groups.Despite the retrospective design of the study and limited sample, it contributes reassuring data to confirm results from randomised clinical trials, and to define a place for micafungin in prophylaxis after haplo.
NASAL NK/T- CELL LYMPHOMA. COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF A MEXICAN POPULATION
Authors: Avilès Augustine
Published: September 2015

Nasal, natural-killer T-cell lymphoma (nasal NKTCL ), is a rare presentation of extranodal lymphoma in North-America and Europe, but in some countries, as China and Korea, it is extremely common: 20 to 46 % of  T-cell lymphomas. Some studies, analyzed the incidence in Latin-America, but Mexico,  based on political and geographic  considerations, was not  included in these reports. Thus, we performed a retrospective analysis of the patients diagnosed and treated  as nasal, NKTCL, in our institution, that is an academic tertiary national reference hospital. From 1988 to 2014, we diagnosed and treated  14,816 cases of non-Hodgkin’s  lymphoma,  10,957 (73%) were of B-cell  histology and 3822 (26%) were of T-cell histology. Nasal, NKTCL, was the most frequent  of  the T-cell histology: 40%. We compare our results with  other countries and  observed that  nasal, NKTCL  has a low  number of cases in North-America, and some countries in Latin-America, as Argentina, Brazil  and Chile,  but our  number will be similar to Guatemala and Peru, that were  similar to China and Korea.  We think that this neoplasm has a racial basis, independent  of environmental factors.
Using Remote Control Aerial Vehicles to Study Variability of Airborne Particulates
Authors: Harrison William A. , Lary David J. , Nathan Brian J. , Moore Alec G.
Published: September 2015

Airborne particulates play a significant role in the atmospheric radiative balance and impact human health. To characterize this impact, global-scale observations and data products are needed. Satellite products allow for this global coverage but require in situ validations. This study used a remote-controlled aerial vehicle to look at the horizontal, vertical, and temporal variability of airborne particulates within the first 150 m of the atmosphere. Four flights were conducted on December 4, 2014, between 12:00 pm and 5:00 pm local time. The first three flights flew a pattern of increasing altitude up to 140 m. The fourth flight was conducted at a near-constant altitude of 60 m. The mean PM2.5 concentration for the three flights with varying altitude was 36.3 μg/m3, with the highest concentration occurring below 10 m altitude. The overall vertical variation was very small with a standard deviation of only 3.6 μg/m3. PM2.5 concentration also did not change much throughout the day with mean concentrations for the altitude-varying flights of 35.1, 37.2, and 36.8 μg/m3. The fourth flight, flown at a near-constant altitude, had a lower concentration of 23.5 μg/m3.
Gemcitabine-Induced Pulmonary Toxicity: A Case Report of Pulmonary Veno-Occlusive Disease
Authors: Turco Célia , Jary Marine , Kim Stefano , Moltenis Mélanie , Degano Bruno , Manzoni Philippe , Nguyen Thierry , Genet Bruno , Rabier Marie-Blanche Valnet , Heyd Bruno , Borg Christophe
Published: September 2015

Introduction

Gemcitabine is a chemotherapeutic agent frequently used by for the treatment of several malignancies both in the adjuvant and metastatic setting. Although myelosuppression is the most adverse event of this therapy, gemcitabine might induce severe pulmonary toxicities. We describe a case of pulmonary veno-occlusive disease (PVOD) related to gemcitabine.

Case Presentation

The patient was an 83-year-old man with a metastatic pancreatic cancer who was treated by gemcitabine as first-line therapy. He was in good health and received no other chemotherapy. A dose of 1000 mg/m2 of gemcitabine was administered over a 30-minute intravenous infusion on days 1, 8, and 15 of a 28-day cycle. After a period of 6 months, a complete response was observed. Nevertheless, the patient developed a severe dyspnea, with arterial hypoxemia and very low lung diffusion for carbon monoxide. A CT scan showed diffuse ground glass opacities with septal lines, bilateral pleural effusion, and lymph node enlargement. On echocardiography, there was a suspicion of pulmonary hypertension with elevated systolic pulmonary artery pressure and normal left ventricular pressures. Right heart catheterization confirmed pulmonary hypertension and normal pulmonary artery occlusion pressure. Diagnosis of PVOD was made, and a gemcitabine-induced toxicity was suspected. A symptomatic treatment was started. At last follow-up, patient was in functional class I with near-normal of CT scan, arterial blood gases, and echocardiography. A gemcitabine-induced PVOD is the more likely diagnosis.
Genomic Characterization of Yogue, Kasokero, Issyk-Kul, Keterah, Gossas, and Thiafora Viruses: Nairoviruses Naturally Infecting Bats, Shrews, and Ticks
Authors: Walker Peter J. , Widen Steven G. , Firth Cadhla , Blasdell Kim R. , Wood Thomas G. , Travassos da Rosa Amelia P. A. , Guzman Hilda , Tesh Robert B. , Vasilakis Nikos
Published: September 2015

The genus Nairovirus of arthropod-borne bunyaviruses includes the important emerging human pathogen, Crimean–Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV), as well as Nairobi sheep disease virus and many other poorly described viruses isolated from mammals, birds, and ticks. Here, we report genome sequence analysis of six nairoviruses: Thiafora virus (TFAV) that was isolated from a shrew in Senegal; Yogue (YOGV), Kasokero (KKOV), and Gossas (GOSV) viruses isolated from bats in Senegal and Uganda; Issyk-Kul virus (IKV) isolated from bats in Kyrgyzstan; and Keterah virus (KTRV) isolated from ticks infesting a bat in Malaysia. The S, M, and L genome segments of each virus were found to encode proteins corresponding to the nucleoprotein, polyglycoprotein, and polymerase protein of CCHFV. However, as observed in Leopards Hill virus (LPHV) and Erve virus (ERVV), polyglycoproteins encoded in the M segment lack sequences encoding the double-membrane-spanning CCHFV NSm protein. Amino acid sequence identities, complement-fixation tests, and phylogenetic analysis indicated that these viruses cluster into three groups comprising KKOV, YOGV, and LPHV from bats of the suborder Yingochiroptera; KTRV, IKV, and GOSV from bats of the suborder Yangochiroptera; and TFAV and ERVV from shrews (Soricomorpha: Soricidae). This reflects clade-specific host and vector associations that extend across the genus.
Ackee Fruit Poisoning in Eight Siblings: Implications for Public Health Awareness
Authors: Katibi Oludolapo Sherifat , Olaosebikan Rasaq , Abdulkadir Mohammed Baba , Ogunkunle Taofik Oluwaseun , Ibraheem Rasheedah Mobolaji , Murtala Rukayat
Published: September 2015

Ackee apple fruit is a native fruit to Jamaica and some parts of west Africa. Its toxicity known as “Jamaican vomiting sickness” dates back to the nineteenth century. However, there is a dearth of reported published data on toxicity from Nigeria where it is popularly known in the southwest as “ishin.” We report a case series of eight previously well Nigerian siblings who presented at various intervals after ingestion of roasted seeds and aril of the ackee fruit.
Mycobacterium tuberculosis Bacteremia Among Acutely Febrile Children in Western Kenya
Authors: Pavlinac Patricia B. , Naulikha Jaqueline M. , John-Stewart Grace C. , Onchiri Frankline M. , Okumu Albert O. , Sitati Ruth R. , Cranmer Lisa M. , Lokken Erica M. , Singa Benson O. , Walson Judd L.
Published: September 2015

In children, Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) frequently disseminates systemically, presenting with nonspecific signs including fever. We determined prevalence of M. tuberculosis bacteremia among febrile children presenting to hospitals in Nyanza, Kenya (a region with high human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and M. tuberculosis prevalence). Between March 2013 and February 2014, we enrolled children aged 6 months to 5 years presenting with fever (axillary temperature ≥ 37.5°C) and no recent antibiotic use. Blood samples were collected for bacterial and mycobacterial culture using standard methods. Among 148 children enrolled, median age was 3.1 years (interquartile range: 1.8–4.1 years); 10.3% of children were living with a household member diagnosed with M. tuberculosis in the last year. Seventeen percent of children were stunted (height-for-age z-score < −2), 18.6% wasted (weight-for-height z-score < −2), 2.7% were HIV-infected, and 14.2% were HIV-exposed uninfected. Seventeen children (11.5%) had one or more signs of tuberculosis (TB). All children had a Bacille Calmette-Guerin vaccination scar. Among 134 viable blood cultures, none (95% confidence interval: 0–2.7%) had Mycobacterium isolated. Despite exposure to household TB contacts, HIV exposure, and malnutrition, M. tuberculosis bacteremia was not detected in this pediatric febrile cohort, a finding consistent with other pediatric studies.
Ciguatoxic Potential of Brown-Marbled Grouper in Relation to Fish Size and Geographical Origin
Authors: Chan Thomas Y. K.
Published: September 2015

To determine the ciguatoxic potential of brown-marbled grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus) in relation to fish size and geographical origin, this review systematically analyzed: 1) reports of large ciguatera outbreaks and outbreaks with description of the fish size; 2) Pacific ciguatoxin (P-CTX) profiles and levels and mouse bioassay results in fish samples from ciguatera incidents; 3) P-CTX profiles and levels and risk of toxicity in relation to fish size and origin; 4) regulatory measures restricting fish trade and fish size preference of the consumers. P-CTX levels in flesh and size dependency of toxicity indicate that the risk of ciguatera after eating E. fuscoguttatus varies with its geographical origin. For a large-sized grouper, it is necessary to establish legal size limits and control measures to protect public health and prevent overfishing. More risk assessment studies are required for E. fuscoguttatus to determine the size threshold above which the risk of ciguatera significantly increases.
Residents as Medical Student Mentors During an Obstetrics and Gynecology Clerkship
Authors: Sobbing Jackson , Duong Jennifer , Dong Frank , Grainger David
Published: September 2015

Background

Resident physicians provide much of the clinical teaching for medical students during their clerkship rotations, but often receive no formal preparation or structure for teaching and mentoring students.

Objective

We sought to evaluate a medical student mentoring program (MSMP) for students during their obstetrics and gynecology clerkship at a midwestern teaching hospital during the 2013–2014 academic year.

Methods

A senior resident physician was assigned 1 to 2 medical students for a 6-week rotation. Students were provided MSMP information during clerkship orientation; residents were given information on MSMP requirements and were randomly assigned to students. We surveyed students and residents about their experience with the MSMP.

Results

Of 49 eligible medical students, 43 (88%) completed postsurveys. All students reported not having a mentoring program on other clerkships. Postclerkship, students indicated that they would participate in the MSMP again (32 of 38, 84%), and felt that having a mentor on other clerkships (30 of 36, 83%) would be beneficial. Students reported receiving educational (20 of 41, 49%) and procedural (33 of 41, 80%) instruction, personal development feedback (23 of 41, 56%), and career advice (14 of 41, 34%) from resident mentors. Out of a total of 45 possible surveys by residents, 17 (38%) were completed. Residents did not feel burdened by students (14 of 17, 82%), and all responded that they would participate in the MSMP again.

Conclusions

Feedback from medical students suggests that a mentoring program during clerkships may provide potential benefits for their careers and in 1-on-1 instruction.
Emissions factors for gaseous and particulate pollutants from offshore diesel engine vessels in China
Authors: Zhang F. , Chen Y. , Tian C. , Li J. , Zhang G. , Matthias V.
Published: September 2015

Abstract. Shipping emissions have significant influence on atmospheric environment as well as human health, especially in coastal areas and the harbor districts. However, the contribution of shipping emissions on the environment in China still need to be clarified especially based on measurement data, with the large number ownership of vessels and the rapid developments of ports, international trade and shipbuilding industry. Pollutants in the gaseous phase (carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, total volatile organic compounds) and particle phase (particulate matter, organic carbon, elemental carbon, sulfates, nitrate, ammonia, metals) in the exhaust from three different diesel engine power offshore vessels in China were measured in this study. Concentrations, fuel-based and power-based emissions factors for various operating modes as well as the impact of engine speed on emissions were determined. Observed concentrations and emissions factors for carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, total volatile organic compounds, and particulate matter were higher for the low engine power vessel than for the two higher engine power vessels. Fuel-based average emissions factors for all pollutants except sulfur dioxide in the low engine power engineering vessel were significantly higher than that of the previous studies, while for the two higher engine power vessels, the fuel-based average emissions factors for all pollutants were comparable to the results of the previous studies. The fuel-based average emissions factor for nitrogen oxides for the small engine power vessel was more than twice the International Maritime Organization standard, while those for the other two vessels were below the standard. Emissions factors for all three vessels were significantly different during different operating modes. Organic carbon and elemental carbon were the main components of particulate matter, while water-soluble ions and elements were present in trace amounts. Best-fit engine speeds during actual operation should be based on both emissions factors and economic costs.
Non-OH chemistry in oxidation flow reactors for the study of atmospheric chemistry systematically examined by modeling
Authors: Peng Z. , Day D. A. , Ortega A. M. , Palm B. B. , Hu W. W. , Stark H. , Li R. , Tsigaridis K. , Brune W. H. , Jimenez J. L.
Published: September 2015

Abstract. Oxidation flow reactors (OFRs) using low-pressure Hg lamp emission at 185 and 254 nm produce OH radicals efficiently and are widely used in atmospheric chemistry and other fields. However, knowledge of detailed OFR chemistry is limited, allowing speculation in the literature about whether some non-OH reactants, including several not relevant for tropospheric chemistry, may play an important role in these OFRs. These non-OH reactants are UV radiation, O(1D), O(3P), and O3. In this study, we investigate the relative importance of other reactants to OH for the fate of reactant species in OFR under a wide range of conditions via box modeling. The relative importance of non-OH species is less sensitive to UV light intensity than to relative humidity (RH) and external OH reactivity (OHRext), as both non-OH reactants and OH scale roughly proportional to UV intensity. We show that for field studies in forested regions and also the urban area of Los Angeles, reactants of atmospheric interest are predominantly consumed by OH. We find that O(1D), O(3P), and O3 have relative contributions to VOC consumption that are similar or lower than in the troposphere. The impact of O atoms can be neglected under most conditions in both OFR and troposphere. Under "pathological OFR conditions" of low RH and/or high OHRext, the importance of non-OH reactants is enhanced because OH is suppressed. Some biogenics can have substantial destructions by O3, and photolysis at non-tropospheric wavelengths (185 and 254 nm) may also play a significant role in the degradation of some aromatics under pathological conditions. Working under low O2 with the OFR185 mode allows OH to completely dominate over O3 reactions even for the biogenic species most reactive with O3. Non-tropospheric VOC photolysis may have been a problem in some laboratory and source studies, but can be avoided or lessened in future studies by diluting source emissions and working at lower precursor concentrations in lab studies, and by humidification. SOA photolysis is shown to be insignificant for most functional groups, except for nitrates and especially aromatics, which may be photolyzed at high UV flux settings. Our work further establishes the OFR's usefulness as a tool to study atmospheric chemistry and enables better experiment design and interpretation, as well as improved future reactor design.
The Paleoclimate reanalysis project
Authors: Browning S. A. , Goodwin I. D.
Published: September 2015

Abstract. Recent advances in proxy-model data assimilation have made feasible the development of proxy-based reanalyses. Proxy-based reanalyses aim to make optimum use of both proxy and model data while presenting paleoclimate information in an accessible format – they will undoubtedly play a pivotal role in the future of paleoclimate research. In the Paleoclimate Reanalysis Project (PaleoR) we use "off-line" data assimilation to constrain the CESM1 (CAM5) Last Millennial Ensemble (LME) simulation with a globally distributed multivariate proxy dataset, producing a decadal resolution reanalysis of the past millennium. Discrete time periods are "reconstructed" by using anomalous (±0.5σ) proxy climate signals to select an ensemble of climate state analogues from the LME. Prior to assimilation the LME simulates internal variability that is temporally inconsistent with information from the proxy archive. After assimilation the LME is highly correlated to almost all included proxy data, and dynamical relationships between modelled variables are preserved; thus providing a "real-world" view of climate system evolution during the past millennium. Unlike traditional regression based approaches to paleoclimatology, PaleoR is unaffected by temporal variations in teleconnection patterns. Indices representing major modes of global ocean–atmosphere climate variability can be calculated directly from PaleoR spatial fields. PaleoR derived ENSO, SAM, and NAO indices are consistent with observations and published multiproxy reconstructions. The computational efficiency of "off-line" data assimilation allows easy incorporation and evaluation of new proxy data, and experimentation with different setups and model simulations. PaleoR spatial fields can be viewed online at http://climatefutures.mq.edu.au/research/themes/marine/paleor/.
Modelling socio-hydrological systems: a review of concepts, approaches and applications
Authors: Blair P. , Buytaert W.
Published: September 2015

Abstract. Interactions between humans and the environment are occurring on a scale that has never previously been seen; one environmental facet that has seen particular co-evolution with society is water. The scale of human interaction with the water cycle, along with the coupling present between social and hydrological systems, means that decisions that impact water also impact people. Models are often used to assist in decision-making regarding hydrological systems, and so in order for effective decisions to be made regarding water resource management, these interactions and feedbacks should be accounted for in models used to analyse systems in which water and humans interact. This paper reviews literature surrounding aspects of socio-hydrological modelling. It begins with background information regarding the current state of socio-hydrology as a discipline, before covering reasons for modelling and potential applications. Some important concepts that underlie socio-hydrological modelling efforts are then discussed, including ways of viewing socio-hydrological systems, space and time in modelling, complexity, data and model conceptualisation. Several modelling approaches are described, the stages in their development detailed and their applicability to socio-hydrological cases discussed. Gaps in research are then highlighted to guide directions for future research. The review of literature suggests that the nature of socio-hydrological study, being interdisciplinary, focusing on complex interactions between human and natural systems, and dealing with long horizons, is such that modelling will always present a challenge; it is, however, the task of the modeller to use the wide range tools afforded to them to overcome these challenges as much as possible. The focus in socio-hydrology is on understanding the human–water system in a holistic sense, which differs from the problem solving focus of other water management fields, and as such models in socio-hydrology should be developed with a view to gaining new insight into these dynamics. There is an essential choice that socio-hydrological modellers face in deciding between representing individual system processes, or viewing the system from a more abstracted level and modelling it as such; using these different approaches have implications for model development, applicability and the insight that they are capable of giving, and so the decision regarding how to model the system requires thorough consideration of, among other things, the nature of understanding that is sought.
B-spline parameterized optimal motion trajectories for robotic systems with guaranteed constraint satisfaction
Authors: Van Loock W. , Pipeleers G. , Swevers J.
Published: September 2015

Abstract. When optimizing the performance of constrained robotic system, the motion trajectory plays a crucial role. In this research the motion planning problem for systems that admit a polynomial description of the system dynamics through differential flatness is tackled by parameterizing the system's so-called flat output as a polynomial spline. Using basic properties of B-splines, sufficient conditions on the spline coefficients are derived ensuring satisfaction of the operating constraints over the entire time horizon. Furthermore, an intuitive relaxation is proposed to tackle conservatism and a supporting software package is released. Finally, to illustrate the overall approach and potential, a numerical benchmark of a flexible link manipulator is discussed.
Probabilistic tsunami hazard assessment for the Makran region with focus on maximum magnitude assumption
Authors: Hoechner A. , Babeyko A. Y. , Zamora N.
Published: September 2015

Abstract. Despite having been rather seismically quiescent for the last decades, the Makran subduction zone is capable of hosting destructive earthquakes and tsunami. In particular, the well-known thrust event in 1945 (Balochistan earthquake) led to about 4000 casualties. Nowadays, the coastal regions are more densely populated and vulnerable to similar events. Furthermore, some recent publications discuss rare but significantly larger events at the Makran subduction zone as possible scenarios. We analyze the instrumental and historical seismicity at the subduction plate interface and generate various synthetic earthquake catalogs spanning 300 000 years with varying magnitude–frequency relations. For every event in the catalogs we compute estimated tsunami heights and present the resulting tsunami hazard along the coasts of Pakistan, Iran and Oman in the form of probabilistic tsunami hazard curves. We show how the hazard results depend on variation of the Gutenberg–Richter parameters and especially maximum magnitude assumption.
Late summer sea ice segmentation with multi-polarisation SAR features in C- and X-band
Authors: Fors A. S. , Brekke C. , Doulgeris A. P. , Eltoft T. , Renner A. H. H. , Gerland S.
Published: September 2015

Abstract. In this study we investigate the potential of sea ice segmentation by C- and X-band multi-polarisation synthetic aperture radar (SAR) features during late summer. Five high-resolution satellite SAR scenes were recorded in the Fram Strait covering iceberg-fast first-year and old sea ice during a week with air temperatures varying around zero degrees Celsius. In situ data consisting of sea ice thickness, surface roughness and aerial photographs were collected during a helicopter flight at the site. Six polarimetric SAR features were extracted for each of the scenes. The ability of the individual SAR features to discriminate between sea ice types and their temporally consistency were examined. All SAR features were found to add value to sea ice type discrimination. Relative kurtosis, geometric brightness, cross-polarisation ratio and co-polarisation correlation angle were found to be temporally consistent in the investigated period, while co-polarisation ratio and co-polarisation correlation magnitude were found to be temporally inconsistent. An automatic feature-based segmentation algorithm was tested both for a full SAR feature set, and for a reduced SAR feature set limited to temporally consistent features. In general, the algorithm produces a good late summer sea ice segmentation. Excluding temporally inconsistent SAR features improved the segmentation at air temperatures above zero degrees Celcius.
Recente internationale ontwikkelingen in de aanpak van belastingontwijking door multinationals
Authors: van Herwaarden A.J.
Published: September 2015

Recente internationale ontwikkelingen in de aanpak van belastingontwijking door multinationals

De belastingheffing van multinationals staat vandaag de dag in het middelpunt van de publieke belangstelling. Met behulp van fiscale structuren kunnen multinationals op legale wijze hun effectieve (wereldwijde) belastingdruk op behaalde winsten aanzienlijk verlagen. Ter bestrijding van belastingontwijking door multinationals hebben de OESO en de G20 in 2013 het grootschalige project ‘Base Erosion and Profit Shifting’ (BEPS) opgezet. Ook binnen de EU staat belastingontwijking door multinationals hoog op de politieke agenda. Deze bijdrage bevat een bespreking van belastingontwijkingsmogelijkheden voor multinationals en de daartegen door de OESO/G20 en de EU voorgestelde oplossingsrichtingen.
Vorderingen in b2c-verstekken: toetsen of toewijzen?
Authors: Seinen C.J-A. , Ancery A.G.F.
Published: September 2015

Vorderingen in b2c-verstekken: toetsen of toewijzen? Ambtshalve toetsen op grond van Heesakkers/Voets, de waarheidsplicht en art. 139 Rv

Ook in verstekzaken tussen een professionele eiser en een gedaagde consument zal de civiele rechter ambtshalve moeten toetsen of de vordering (deels) berust op een beding dat dwingendrechtelijke consumentenbeschermende bepalingen schendt. De auteurs schetsen het toetsingskader in het licht van art. 139 Rv. Nu verstekzaken het leeuwendeel van de civiele zaken vormen, kan de plicht tot ambtshalve toetsing tot veel extra werk, kosten en vertraging leiden. De auteurs stellen voor om in verstekzaken een op de waarheidsplicht geënt standaardformulier te gebruiken dat recht doet aan zowel de openbare belangen van consumentenbescherming, waarheidsvinding en efficiënte inzet van overheidsmiddelen als het particuliere belang van efficiënte incasso.
AQUAZONE: A Spatial Decision Support System for Aquatic Zone Management
Authors:   Department of Computer Science, University of Oran, BP. 1524 El Mnaouer, Oran, Algeria, Arezki Sekhri A. , B. Djamila Hamdadou , Bouziane Beldjilali C.
Published: September 2015

During the last years, the Sebkha Lake of Oran (Algeria) has been the subject of many studies for its protection and recovery. Many environmental and wetlands experts are a hope on the integration of this rich and fragile space, ecologically, as a pilot project in "management of water tides". Support the large of Sebkha (Lake) of Oran is a major concern for governments looking to make this a protected natural area and viable place. It was a question of putting in place a management policy to respond to the requirements of economic, agricultural and urban development and the preservation of this natural site through management of its water and the preservation of its quality. The objective of this study is to design and develop a Spatial Decision Support System, namely AQUAZONE, able to assist decision makers in various natural resource management projects. The proposed system integrates remote sensing image processing methods, from display operations, to analysis results, in order to extract useful knowledge to best natural resource management, and in particular define the extension of Sebkha Lake of Oran (Algeria). Two methods were applied to classify LANDSAT 5 TM images of Oran (Algeria): Fuzzy C-Means (FCM) applied on multi spectral images, and the other that comes with the manual which is the Ordered Queue-based Watershed (OQW). The FCM will serve as initialization phase, to automatically discover the different classes (urban, forest, water, etc..) from a LANDSAT 5 TM images, and also minimize ambiguity in grayscale and establish Land cover map of this region.
Implementation of Computer Vision Based Industrial Fire Safety Automation by Using Neuro-Fuzzy Algorithms
Authors:   M/s. Prakash Sponge Iron and Power (P) Ltd (ERM Group), Chitradurga - 577501, India, K.C. Manjunatha , H.S Mohana , Vijaya P.A
Published: September 2015

A computer vision-based automated fire detection and suppression system for manufacturing industries is presented in this paper. Automated fire suppression system plays a very significant role in Onsite Emergency System (OES) as it can prevent accidents and losses to the industry. A rule based generic collective model for fire pixel classification is proposed for a single camera with multiple fire suppression chemical control valves. Neuro-Fuzzy algorithm is used to identify the exact location of fire pixels in the image frame. Again the fuzzy logic is proposed to identify the valve to be controlled based on the area of the fire and intensity values of the fire pixels. The fuzzy output is given to supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system to generate suitable analog values for the control valve operation based on fire characteristics. Results with both fire identification and suppression systems have been presented. The proposed method achieves up to 99% of accuracy in fire detection and automated suppression.
Closing Thoughts & Open Questions
Authors: Puranam Phanish , Håkonsson Dorthe Døjbak
Published: September 2015

Our goal in putting the spotlight on Valve Corporation is to stimulate thinking about what (if anything) this specimen in the zoo of organizational forms teaches us. We thank our panel of distinguished commentators for kindly (and sportingly) joining us in this exercise. So is Valve simply unusual? Or is it also instructive? The commentators, to our gratification, seem to argue that it is both.
Networks, Clusters, and Small Worlds: Are they related?
Authors: Giustiniano Luca , D'Alise Chiara
Published: September 2015

In recent years, many industries have seen the rise of new inter-organizational forms. Among those new forms, organizational networks, clusters, and small worlds are attracting increasing interest, both in academic research and management practice. While economic theory considers such forms to be market failures, organization theory highlights their potential positive effects on the participating organizations. The organizational literature often uses the terms “networks”, “clusters”, and “small worlds” as synonymous even though there are differences between them. Moreover, given the sometimes-spontaneous emergence of these organizational forms, the extent to which they can be designed is not always clear. This article discusses the characteristics of networks, clusters, and small worlds; their operational parameters; and how these organizational forms are related. Further, we identify the role of design in these types of organizations.
Le Tribunal des droits de la personne devant la Cour d’appel du Québec : appel à plus de déférence
Authors: Senécal Sébastien , Brunelle Christian
Published: September 2015

À titre de tribunal spécialisé, le Tribunal des droits de la personne du Québec est protégé par une clause privative qui le met, en principe, à l’abri de l’exercice du contrôle judiciaire par la Cour supérieure du Québec. Toutefois, les décisions finales du Tribunal peuvent être l’objet d’un appel, sur permission, devant la Cour d’appel du Québec. Dans l’exercice de cette compétence d’appel, la Cour tend à faire preuve de très peu de déférence envers le Tribunal, n’hésitant pas à remettre en cause non seulement ses conclusions de droit, mais aussi, assez fréquemment, son appréciation des faits. Les auteurs soutiennent que cet interventionnisme bat en brèche le principe de la spécialisation des fonctions, observé dans la jurisprudence de la Cour suprême du Canada, et compromet ainsi la capacité du Tribunal à appliquer et imposer un raisonnement propre aux droits et libertés de la personne, conformément au mandat qui lui échoit en vertu de la Charte des droits et libertés de la personne du Québec.
Challenges to Assessing Same-Sex Relationships under Refugee Law in Canada
Authors: Hersh Nicholas
Published: September 2015

This article suggests that there are reasons to be concerned about the way relationship history impacts credibility assessments for refugee claims based on sexual orientation. Decision makers’ written assessments often reveal insufficient consideration of the psychosocial barriers that may impinge on sexual minority refugees’ ability to testify on their relationships. The multinational and multicultural setting of refugee-status proceedings poses unique challenges for sexual minority refugee claimants in having their membership in a particular social group established. Understanding and expressing sexual identity spans cultural divides, and therefore, a claimant’s expressed identity may not match the decision maker’s expectations. Notions of love and intimacy may also be culturally construed, and therefore expectations of how these notions manifest in long-term relationships may be inappropriate in the context of refugee status determination.

This article emphasizes that implausibility findings concerning claimants’ relationships should be made cautiously. Decision makers should not assume that sexual minorities in countries in which homosexuality is stigmatized or criminalized are devoid of the volition to have same-sex partners. Nor should they assume that sexual minority refugees are necessarily willing to embrace same-sex relationships soon after arriving in Canada. Evaluating same-sex relationships according to the Cass Staged-Identity model can lead to persistent doubts about claimants’ credibility.

In sum, this article attempts to canvass the potential pitfalls of Canadian adjudication methods in cases of sexual minority refugee claimants, and to propose recommendations for evaluating testimony and evidence of these relationships.
Bedford and the Structure of Section 7
Authors: Stewart Hamish
Published: September 2015

In Canada (A.G.) v. Bedford, the Supreme Court of Canada invalidated three prostitution-related provisions of the Criminal Code on grounds of overbreadth and gross disproportionality. The implications of Bedford go well beyond the particular context of sex work and even of criminal law. First, the Court held that the three constitutional norms against overbreadth, arbitrariness, and gross disproportionality are distinct from each other rather than aspects of a single norm against overbreadth. Second, the Court held that a Charter applicant could establish a violation of section 7 by showing that a law is overbroad, arbitrary, or grossly disproportionate in its impact on the life, liberty, or security of only one person and that the effectiveness of the law in achieving its policy objectives was not relevant to these norms. There are some difficulties in understanding this highly individualistic approach to section 7, and those difficulties lead to the third implication. By deferring any consideration of the effectiveness of the law to the question of whether it is a proportional limit on a section 7 right, the Court may be indicating a willingness to do something it has never done before: recognize an infringement of a section 7 right as a justified limit under section 1. The Court’s clarification of the relationship between the norms against overbreadth, arbitrariness, and gross disproportionality is welcome, but its individualistic articulation of those norms is difficult to understand and its suggestion that section 7 violations may now be easier to save under section 1 is troubling.
A Hybrid Model Based on Support Vector Machine for Bus Travel-Time Prediction
Authors: Zhong Shiquan , Hu Juanjuan , Ke Shuiping , Wang Xuelian , Zhao Jingxian , Yao Baozhen
Published: September 2015

Effective bus travel time prediction is essential in transit operation system. An improved support vector machine (SVM) is applied in this paper to predict bus travel time and then the efficiency of the improved SVM is checked. The improved SVM is the combination of traditional SVM, Grubbs’ test method and an adaptive algorithm for bus travel-time prediction. Since error data exists in the collected data, Grubbs’ test method is used for removing outliers from input data before applying the traditional SVM model. Besides, to decrease the influence of the historical data in different stages on the forecast result of the traditional SVM, an adaptive algorithm is adopted to dynamically decrease the forecast error. Finally, the proposed approach is tested with the data of No. 232 bus route in Shenyang. The results show that the improved SVM has good prediction accuracy and practicality.
An Analysis of Vehicular Traffic Flow Using Langevin Equation
Authors: Koşun Çağlar , Çelik Hüseyin Murat , Özdemir Serhan
Published: September 2015

Traffic flow data are stochastic in nature, and an abundance of literature exists thereof. One way to express stochastic data is the Langevin equation. Langevin equation consists of two parts. The first part is known as the deterministic drift term, the other as the stochastic diffusion term. Langevin equation does not only help derive the deterministic and random terms of the selected portion of the city of Istanbul traffic empirically, but also sheds light on the underlying dynamics of the flow. Drift diagrams have shown that slow lane tends to get congested faster when vehicle speeds attain a value of 25 km/h, and it is 20 km/h for the fast lane. Three or four distinct regimes may be discriminated again from the drift diagrams; congested, intermediate, and free-flow regimes. At places, even the intermediate regime may be divided in two, often with readiness to congestion. This has revealed the fact that for the selected portion of the highway, there are two main states of flow, namely, congestion and free-flow, with an intermediate state where the noise-driven traffic flow forces the flow into either of the distinct regimes.
Waste Collection Vehicle Routing Problem: Literature Review
Authors: Han Hui , Cueto Eva Ponce
Published: September 2015

Waste generation is an issue which has caused wide public concern in modern societies, not only for the quantitative rise of the amount of waste generated, but also for the increasing complexity of some products and components. Waste collection is a highly relevant activity in the reverse logistics system and how to collect waste in an efficient way is an area that needs to be improved. This paper analyzes the major contribution about Waste Collection Vehicle Routing Problem (WCVRP) in literature. Based on a classification of waste collection (residential, commercial and industrial), firstly the key findings for these three types of waste collection are presented. Therefore, according to the model (Node Routing Problems and Arc Routing problems) used to represent WCVRP, different methods and techniques are analyzed in this paper to solve WCVRP. This paper attempts to serve as a roadmap of research literature produced in the field of WCVRP.
Preventing Chronic Pain: A Human Systems Approach—Results from a Massive Open Online Course
Authors: Fricton James , Anderson Kathleen , Clavel Alfred , Fricton Regina , Hathaway Kate , Kang Wenjun , Jaeger Bernadette , Maixner William , Pesut Daniel , Russell Jon , Weisberg Mark B. , Whitebird Robin
Published: September 2015

Chronic pain conditions are the top reason patients seek care, the most common reason for disability and addiction, and the biggest driver of healthcare costs; their treatment costs more than cancer, heart disease, dementia, and diabetes care. The personal impact in terms of suffering, disability, depression, suicide, and other problems is incalculable. There has been much effort to prevent many medical and dental conditions, but little effort has been directed toward preventing chronic pain. To address this deficit, a massive open online course (MOOC) was developed for students and healthcare professionals. “Preventing Chronic Pain: A Human Systems Approach” was offered by the University of Minnesota through the online platform Coursera. The first offering of this free open course was in the spring of 2014 and had 23 650 participants; 53% were patients or consumers interested in pain. This article describes the course concepts in preventing chronic pain, the analytic data from course participants, and postcourse evaluation forms.
Advancing One Health Policy and Implementation through the Concept of One Medicine One Science
Authors: Cardona Carol , Travis Dominic A. , Berger Kavita , Coat Gwenaële , Kennedy Shaun , Steer Clifford J. , Murtaugh Michael P. , Sriramarao P.
Published: September 2015

Numerous interspecies disease transmission events, Ebola virus being a recent and cogent example, highlight the complex interactions between human, animal, and environmental health and the importance of addressing medicine and health in a comprehensive scientific manner. The diversity of information gained from the natural, social, behavioral, and systems sciences is critical to developing and sustainably promoting integrated health approaches that can be implemented at the local, national, and international levels to meet grand challenges. The Concept of One Medicine One Science (COMOS) as outlined herein describes the interplay between scientific knowledge that underpins health and medicine and efforts toward stabilizing local systems using 2 linked case studies: the food system and emerging infectious disease. Forums such as the International Conference of One Medicine One Science (iCO-MOS), where science and policy can be debated together, missing pieces identified, and science-based collaborations formed among industry, governmental, and non-governmental policy makers and funders, is an essential step in addressing global health. The expertise of multiple disciplines and research foci to support policy development is critical to the implementation of one health and the successful achievement of global health security goals.
The ER Stress Surveillance (ERSU) pathway regulates daughter cell ER protein aggregate inheritance
Authors: Piña Francisco J , Niwa Maho
Published: September 2015

Stress induced by cytoplasmic protein aggregates can have deleterious consequences for the cell, contributing to neurodegeneration and other diseases. Protein aggregates are also formed within the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), although the fate of ER protein aggregates, specifically during cell division, is not well understood. By simultaneous visualization of both the ER itself and ER protein aggregates, we found that ER protein aggregates that induce ER stress are retained in the mother cell by activation of the ER Stress Surveillance (ERSU) pathway, which prevents inheritance of stressed ER. In contrast, under conditions of normal ER inheritance, ER protein aggregates can enter the daughter cell. Thus, whereas cytoplasmic protein aggregates are retained in the mother cell to protect the functional capacity of daughter cells, the fate of ER protein aggregates is determined by whether or not they activate the ERSU pathway to impede transmission of the cortical ER during the cell cycle.
Models of Inflammation: Carrageenan‐ or Complete Freund's Adjuvant (CFA)–Induced Edema and Hypersensitivity in the Rat
Authors: McCarson Kenneth E.
Published: September 2015

Animal models of inflammation are used to assess the production of inflammatory mediators at sites of inflammation, the processing of pain sensation at CNS sites, the anti‐inflammatory properties of agents such as nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and the efficacy of putative analgesic compounds in reversing cutaneous hypersensitivity. Detailed in this unit are methods to elicit and measure carrageenan‐ and complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)–induced cutaneous inflammation. Due to possible differences between the dorsal root sensory system and the trigeminal sensory system, injections into either the footpad or vibrissal pad are described. In this manner, cutaneous inflammation can be assessed in tissue innervated by the lumbar dorsal root ganglion neurons (footpad) or by the trigeminal ganglion neurons (vibrissal pad). © 2015 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Overview of Genetically Engineered Mouse Models of Breast Cancer Used in Translational Biology and Drug Development
Authors: Greenow Kirsty R. , Smalley Matthew J.
Published: September 2015

Breast cancer is a heterogeneous condition with no single standard of treatment and no definitive method for determining whether a tumor will respond to therapy. The development of murine models that faithfully mimic specific human breast cancer subtypes is critical for the development of patient‐specific treatments. While the artificial nature of traditional in vivo xenograft models used to characterize novel anticancer treatments has limited clinical predictive value, the development of genetically engineered mouse models (GEMMs) makes it possible to study the therapeutic responses in an intact microenvironment. GEMMs have proven to be an experimentally tractable platform for evaluating the efficacy of novel therapeutic combinations and for defining the mechanisms of acquired resistance. Described in this overview are several of the more popular breast cancer GEMMs, including details on their value in elucidating the molecular mechanisms of this disorder. © 2015 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.