bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Simulations to Predict Clinical Trial Outcome of Bevacizumab Plus Chemotherapy vs. Chemotherapy Alone in Patients With First‐Line Gastric Cancer and Elevated Plasma VEGF‐A
Authors: Han Kelong , Claret L , Piao Y , Hegde P , Joshi A , Powell JR , Jin J , Bruno R
Published: July 2016

To simulate clinical trials to assess overall survival (OS) benefit of bevacizumab in combination with chemotherapy in selected patients with gastric cancer (GC), a modeling framework linking OS with tumor growth inhibition (TGI) metrics and baseline patient characteristics was developed. Various TGI metrics were estimated using TGI models and data from two phase III studies comparing bevacizumab plus chemotherapy vs. chemotherapy as first‐line therapy in 976 GC patients. Time‐to‐tumor‐growth (TTG) was the best TGI metric to predict OS. TTG, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) score, albumin level, and Asian ethnicity were significant covariates in the final OS model. The model correctly predicted a decreased hazard ratio favorable to bevacizumab in patients with high baseline plasma VEGF‐A above the median of 113.4 ng/L. Based on trial simulations, in trials enrolling patients with elevated baseline plasma VEGF‐A (500 patients per arm), the expected hazard ratio was 0.82 (95% prediction interval: 0.70–0.95), independent of ethnicity.
Understanding the Behavior of Systems Pharmacology Models Using Mathematical Analysis of Differential Equations: Prolactin Modeling as a Case Study
Authors: Bakshi S , de Lange EC , van der Graaf PH , Danhof M , Peletier LA
Published: July 2016

In this tutorial, we introduce basic concepts in dynamical systems analysis, such as phase‐planes, stability, and bifurcation theory, useful for dissecting the behavior of complex and nonlinear models. A precursor‐pool model with positive feedback is used to demonstrate the power of mathematical analysis. This model is nonlinear and exhibits multiple steady states, the stability of which is analyzed. The analysis offers insight into model behavior and suggests useful parameter regions, which simulations alone could not.
Enabling fabrication of clean electrical contacts to carbon nanotubes using oxygen plasma ashing
Authors: Liu Wei , Chikkadi Kiran , Hierold Christofer , Haluska Miroslav
Published: July 2016

A fabrication approach to preserve the clean metal‐SWNT interface in individual based carbon nanotube field‐effect transistors (CNFETs) from substrate‐bond tubes is presented. The occurrence of resist residues at these interfaces is avoided because they otherwise have a strong influence on the CNFET contact resistance and variability. In this work, enabling the use of oxygen plasma ashing to remove resist impurities originating from the lithographic process by using a sacrificial alumina layer is demonstrated. Direct application of oxygen plasma in the CNFET standard fabrication process flow is not possible due to damage of unprotected SWNTs, while an alumina layer thicker than ∼18 nm is sufficient to protect substrate‐bond individual carbon nanotubes from the impact of mild ashing treatment (100 W, 1 min). Using this approach, a clear improvement of the contact resistance of the devices compared to devices fabricated without plasma treatment is demonstrated. The median on‐resistance for alumina passivated, Pd/Au‐contacted CNFETs reached 190 kΩ which is 66% lower than the one of devices prepared without using sacrificial layer and oxygen plasma treatment. Importantly, the interquartile dispersions of the device on‐resistance and hysteresis width were largely narrowed from 2050 to 247 kΩ and 3.7 to 1.2 V, respectively.
First assimilation of temperature lidar data into an NWP model: impact on the simulation of the temperature field, inversion strength and PBL depth
Authors: Adam Stephan , Behrendt Andreas , Schwitalla Thomas , Hammann Eva , Wulfmeyer Volker
Published: July 2016

The impact of assimilating lower‐tropospheric lidar temperature profiles into a numerical weather prediction (NWP) model was investigated. The profiles were measured with the Temperature Rotational Raman Lidar (TRRL) of the University of Hohenheim on 24 April 2013. The day showed the development of a typical daytime planetary boundary layer (PBL) with no optically thick clouds. The Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model was operated with 57 vertical levels covering Central Europe with 3 km horizontal resolution. Three different experiments were carried out with a rapid update cycle with hourly three‐dimensional variational data assimilation. The impact run (ALL_DA) was performed with the assimilation of conventional data and the additional assimilation of TRRL profiles between 0900 and 1800 UTC in a height range from about 500 to 3000 m above ground level with a vertical resolution of about 100 m. In CONV_DA and NO_DA, only conventional data and no data were assimilated, respectively. To consider the representativeness of the TRRL profiles, an observation error of 0.7 K was used for all heights. The assimilation was performed using the radiosonde operator. The TRRL data assimilation corrected the temperature profiles towards the lidar data. In the mean, the boundary‐layer height was improved by 60 m in ALL_DA compared to the TRRL data and the temperature gradient in the entrainment layer by 0.19 K (100 m)−1. While ALL_DA showed a root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.6 K compared to the TRRL data, the RMSE of CONV_DA was twice as large. Compared to data from radiosondes launched at the TRRL site, ALL_DA showed a significantly smaller RMSE than CONV_DA in two out of the four times radiosonde data were available. We conclude that the assimilation of TRRL data has great potential to close the critical gap of missing temperature observations in the lower troposphere.
An image‐guided automated robot for MRI breast biopsy
Authors: Chan Kathryn G. , Fielding Tim , Anvari Mehran
Published: July 2016

Background

The IGAR (Image‐guided Automated Robot) is a robotic platform capable of performing highly accurate clinical interventions under image guidance. The IGAR is unique in that it demonstrates MRI compatibility and maintains safe operation, adequate shielding, high image quality, and accurate robotic control even while in an imaging environment. The IGAR is initially intended for breast biopsy.

Methods

Tests for projectile hazards, heating, signal‐to‐noise ratio loss, and geometric distortion were used to demonstrate MR compatibility. Accuracy and repeatability of the robotic system were tested on benchtop models to establish a baseline of precision.

Results

The IGAR averaged an accuracy of 0.34 mm and a repeatability of 0.2 mm. There was no significant distortion attributable to the robot, no projectile risk, and no unacceptable levels of heating.

Conclusion

The IGAR system is safe and effective in an MRI environment Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Impact of HCV genotype on treatment regimens and drug resistance: a snapshot in time
Authors: Cuypers Lize , Ceccherini‐Silberstein Francesca , Van Laethem Kristel , Li Guangdi , Vandamme Anne‐Mieke , Rockstroh Jürgen Kurt
Published: July 2016

The introduction of highly potent direct‐acting antivirals (DAAs) has revolutionized hepatitis C virus treatment. Nevertheless, viral eradication worldwide remains a challenge also in the era of DAA treatment, because of the high associated costs, high numbers of undiagnosed patients, high re‐infection rates in some risk groups and suboptimal drug efficacies associated with host and viral factors as well as advanced stages of liver disease. A correct determination of the HCV genotype allows administration of the most appropriate antiviral regimen. Additionally, HCV genetic sequencing improves our understanding of resistance‐associated variants, either naturally occurring before treatment, acquired by transmission at HCV infection, or emerging after virological failure. Because treatment response rates, and the prevalence and development of drug resistance variants differ for each DAA regimen and HCV genotype, this review summarizes treatment opportunities per HCV genotype, and focuses on viral genetic sequencing to guide clinical decision making. Although approval of the first pan‐genotypic DAA‐only regimen is expected soon, HCV genetic sequencing will remain important because when DAA therapies fail, genotyping and resistance testing to select a new active DAA combination will be essential. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
2, 2′‐Dihydroxybenzophenones and Derivatives. Efficient Synthesis and Structure Endoscopy by DFT and NMR. Credentials as Potent Antiinflammatory Agents.
Authors: Tzeli Demeter , Kozielewicz Pawel , Zervou Maria , Potamitis Constantinos , Kokkotou Katerina , Rak Benedikt , Petrou Anthi , Tsolaki Evangelia , Gavalas Antonios , Geronikaki Athina , Petsalakis Ioannis D. , Tsoungas Petros G.
Published: July 2016

2,2’‐dihydroxybenzophenones and derivatives have been synthesized directly or by oxidation of their incipiently obtained benzylic alcohols by diverse efficient methods. Oxime and N‐acyl hydrazone derivatives have also been prepared. Their structure profile has been scrutinized by DFT/B3LYP‐6‐311++G** methodology, NMR spectroscopy and dihedral angle grid scan analysis. Energetically favorable conformations pointed to (i) an almost coplanar bifurcated 6‐membered H bridge in ketones, (ii) a single 6‐membered H bridge, accompanied by a 7‐membered H bonding interaction in oximes and (iii) a single 6‐membered H‐bridge in hydrazones. In the latter case, a stable conformation with an additional 9‐membered pseudo ring was also found. Highly deshielded protons in the NMR spectra are in accordance with the theoretically obtained findings on the H‐bonded conformers. Significant anti‐inflammatory activity of the compounds has been found by in vivo tests with their oxime and hydrazone derivatives showing the highest activity, hydrazone 11, in partucular, competing with marketed drugs. In silico docking studies point to the perspective potency of these structures as COX‐1/COX‐2 inhibitors.
Selenium‐Catalyzed Carbonylation of 2‐Aminobenzimidazole with Alcohols to 2‐Benzimidazolecarbamates
Authors: Zhang Xiaopeng , Dong Shuxiang , Wang Yan , Niu Xueli , Li Zhengwei , Zhang Guisheng
Published: July 2016

A facile, efficient and economic approach with high atom economy to 2‐benzimidazolecarbamates was reported. With cheap and easily available selenium as the catalyst, triethylamine as the cocatalyst, carbon monoxide as the carbonylation agent, the selenium‐catalyzed carbonylation reaction of 2‐aminobenzimidazole proceeded smoothly in one‐pot manner with a series of cheap and commercially available alcohols especially the less hindered alcohols in the presence of oxygen, affording the desired 2‐benzimidazolecarbamates mostly in moderate to good yields.
PMHS‐Containing Semi‐Penetrating Networks as Multifunctional Hydrosilanes for Highly Efficient Palladium‐Catalyzed Conjugate Reduction of Enones
Authors: Dong Xiao‐Yun , Lin Yan , Cui Yu‐Ming , Yang Ke‐Fang , Zheng Zhan‐Jiang , Xu Li‐Wen
Published: July 2016

The polymethylhydrosiloxane (PMHS)–containing organosilicon materials (PMHS‐SIPNs) was proved to be a useful reducing agent and palladium support in the conjugate reductions of various α,β–unsaturated ketones, providing a direct and effective route to a variety of substituted ketones. In addition, the PMHS‐SIPNs–derived palladium catalyst was shown to be recyclable up to 5 times without any observable decrease in yield and efficiency, and it exhibited low metal leaching under the mild reaction conditions. The resulting heterogeneous palladium catalyst in this reaction featured with easy preparation, facile recovery and reuse, and high selectivity.
Composition and Interface Engineering of Alloyed MoS2xSe2(1–x) Nanotubes for Enhanced Hydrogen Evolution Reaction Activity
Authors: Zhang Junjun , Wu Mei‐Hui , Shi Zheng‐Tian , Jiang Miao , Jian Wen‐Jing , Xiao Zhangru , Li Jixue , Lee Chun‐Sing , Xu Jun
Published: July 2016

Hierarchical MoS2xSe2(1−x) nanotubes assembled from several‐layered nanosheets featuring tunable chalcogen compositions, expanded interlayer spacing and carbon modification, are synthesized for enhanced electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The chalcogen compositions of the MoS2xSe2(1−x) nanotubes are controllable by adjusting the selenization temperature and duration while the expanded (002) interlayer spacing varies from 0.98 to 0.68 nm. It is found that the MoS2xSe2(1−x) (x = 0.54) nanotubes with expanded interlayer spacing of 0.98 nm exhibit the highest electrocatalytic HER activity with a low onset potential of 101 mV and a Tafel slope of 55 mV dec−1. The improved electrocatalytic performance is attributed to the chalcogen composition tuning and the interlayer distance expansion to achieve benefitting hydrogen adsorption energy. The present work suggests a potential way to design advanced HER electrocatalysts through modulating their compositions and interlayer distances.
Preliminary study of the effects of orengedokuto on breath alcohol concentration
Authors: Suzuki Sachie , Ojima Takafumi , Takayama Shin , Nakano Yusuke , Nawa Daisuke , Saito Natsumi , Arita Ryutaro , Kaneko Soichiro , Kamiya Tetsuharu , Mikami Nobuhisa , Kawamura Tsuyoshi , Nakamura Toichiro , Watanabe Hidekazu , Nishikawa Hitoshi , Ikeno Yuka , Tanaka Junichi , Ohsawa Minoru , Kikuchi Akiko , Numata Takehiro , Kuroda Hitoshi , Abe Michiaki , Ishii Tadashi
Published: July 2016

Aim

Orengedokuto (coptis detoxification decoction) is a medicinal extract widely used in Japan for the alleviation of symptoms of alcohol hangover and flush reaction. There have been no studies, however, on the effects of this medication on the concentration of alcohol in humans. The aim of this preliminary experiment was therefore to determine the effects of orengedokuto given before alcohol consumption, on breath alcohol concentration.

Methods

Three healthy adults participated in the experiment. Breath alcohol concentration was measured with a breathalyzer at multiple intervals under two conditions: one with only the alcoholic beverage and one with orengedokuto extract (Matsuura orengedokuto fine powdered extract, 1.45 g) followed by an alcoholic beverage.

Results

There was a lower peak and a faster decrease in breath alcohol concentration when the extract was given prior to alcohol consumption, suggesting that the extract accelerated the metabolism and/or inhibited the absorption of alcohol.

Conclusions

This preliminary study was limited by small sample size and lack of blood sampling. Additional trials using a cross‐over design with a larger sample size to further investigate the effects of orengedokuto on blood ethanol and acetaldehyde levels after consumption of alcohol, are currently in progress.
Effect of amoxicillin exposure on brain, gill, liver, and kidney of common carp (Cyprinus carpio): The role of amoxicilloic acid
Authors: Elizalde‐Velázquez Armando , Martínez‐Rodríguez Héctor , Galar‐Martínez Marcela , Dublán‐García Octavio , Islas‐Flores Hariz , Rodríguez‐Flores Juana , Castañeda‐Peñalvo Gregorio , Lizcano‐Sanz Isabel , Gómez‐Oliván Leobardo Manuel
Published: July 2016

Amoxicillin (AMX) is one of the most commonly prescribed antibiotics around the world due to its broad‐spectrum activity against different bacterial strains as well as its use as a growth promoter in animal husbandry. Although residues of this antibacterial agent have been found in water bodies in diverse countries, there is not enough information on its potential toxicity to aquatic organisms such as the common carp Cyprinus carpio. This study aimed to evaluate AMX‐induced oxidative stress in brain, gill, liver and kidney of C. carpio. Carp were exposed to three different concentrations of AMX (10 ng/L, 10 μg/L, 10 mg/L) for 12, 24, 48, 72, and 96 h, and the following biomarkers were evaluated: lipid peroxidation (LPX), hydroperoxide content (HPC), protein carbonyl content (PCC) and activity of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). Amoxicillin and its main degradation product amoxicilloic acid (AMA) were determined by high performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrochemical detection and UV detection (HPLC‐EC‐UV). Significant increases in LPX, HPC, and PCC (P < 0.05) were found in all study organs, particularly kidney, as well as significant changes in antioxidant enzymes activity. Amoxicilloic acid in water is concluded to induce oxidative stress in C. carpio, this damage being highest in kidney. The biomarkers used are effective for the assessment of the environmental impact of this agent on aquatic species. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 32: 1102–1120, 2017.
Biocompatibility assessment of nanomaterials for environmental safety screening
Authors: Lee Yi‐Hui , Chuang Show‐Mei , Huang Sheng‐Chi , Tan Xiaotong , Liang Ruei‐Yue , Yang Gordon C. C. , Chueh Pin Ju
Published: July 2016

In view of the extensive use of nanoparticles in countless applications, a fast and effective method for assessing their potential adverse effects on the environment and human health is extremely important. At present, in vitro cell‐based assays are the standard approach for screening chemicals for cytotoxicity because of their relative simplicity, sensitivity, and cost‐effectiveness compared with animal studies. Regrettably, such cell‐based viability assays encounter limitations when applied to determining the biological toxicity of nanomaterials, which often interact with assay components and produce unreliable outcomes. We have established a cell‐impedance‐based, label‐free, real‐time cell‐monitoring platform suitable for use in a variety of mammalian cell lines that displays results as cell index values. In addition to this real‐time screening platform, other traditional cytotoxicity assays were employed to validate cytotoxicity assessments. We suggest that the cell impedance measurement approach is effective and better suited to determining the cytotoxicity of nanomaterials for environmental safety screening. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 32: 1170–1182, 2017.
Prevalence of asymptomatic heart failure in formerly pre‐eclamptic women: a cohort study
Authors: Breetveld N. M. , Ghossein‐Doha C. , van Kuijk S. M. J. , van Dijk A. P. , van der Vlugt M. J. , Heidema W. M. , van Neer J. , van Empel V. , Brunner‐La Rocca H.‐P. , Scholten R. R. , Spaanderman M. E. A.
Published: July 2016

Objectives

After pre‐eclampsia (PE), the prevalence of structural heart disease without symptoms, i.e. heart failure Stage B (HF‐B), may be as high as one in four women in the first year postpartum. We hypothesize that a significant number of formerly pre‐eclamptic women with HF‐B postpartum are still in their resolving period and will not have HF‐B during follow‐up.

Methods

In this prospective longitudinal cohort study, we included 69 formerly pre‐eclamptic women who underwent serial echocardiographic measurements at 1 and 4 years postpartum. HF‐B was diagnosed as left ventricular hypertrophy (left ventricular mass index (LVMi) > 95 g/m2), concentric remodeling (relative wall thickness > 0.42 and LVMi ≤ 95 g/m2), mild systolic dysfunction (left ventricular ejection fraction > 40% and < 55%) or asymptomatic valvular disease. Women were subdivided and analyzed according to HF‐B outcome: no HF‐B at either visit; HF‐B at first visit only; HF‐B at second visit only; HF‐B at both visits.

Results

The prevalence of HF‐B in formerly pre‐eclamptic women was 23% in the first year postpartum and 23% after 4 years. At the second visit, HF‐B had resolved in 62.5% of affected women but was newly developed in 19% of initially unaffected women. At the first visit, 56% of women diagnosed with HF‐B had reduced systolic function whereas at the second visit 69% of women with HF‐B had concentric remodeling with mostly normal ejection fraction, consistent with diastolic dysfunction.

Conclusions

The prevalence of HF‐B can be considered consistently high (1 in 4) amongst formerly pre‐eclamptic women at follow‐up. Nonetheless, at an individual level, more than 60% of women found initially to be affected by HF‐B will recover, whilst about 20% of formerly pre‐eclamptic women with normal echocardiography in the first year postpartum will develop HF‐B over the following years. Copyright © 2016 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Estimating ungulate abundance while accounting for multiple sources of observation error
Authors: Terletzky Pat A. , Koons David N.
Published: July 2016

Whether a species is rare or overabundant, accurate estimates of population abundance are essential for the development and assessment of conservation plans and management goals. Aerial surveys are commonly used to estimate population abundance and a variety of methods have been used to account for recognized biases associated with imperfect detection. Rarely addressed, however, is the possibility of recording duplicate observations and the influence of duplicate observations on estimates of abundance. Using data provided by Global Positioning System (GPS)‐collared bison (Bison bison) and helicopter survey paths conducted during 2011–2013 in the Henry Mountains, Utah, USA, we determined whether GPS‐collared bison were observed, missed, or observed multiple times. Using these data, covariates hypothesized to influence observation errors, and generalized linear models, we found the probability of detecting a GPS‐collared bison (study‐wide mean of 95%) was consistently greater for individuals in larger groups and less rugged terrain. We also found that the probability of recording a duplicate observation (study‐wide mean of 4.4%) increased with time since the prior survey observation. By incorporating both types of observation error into a modified Horvitz–Thompson estimator, more accurate estimates of bison abundance can be attained, particularly in years when animals segregate into small groups, utilize terrain that makes them difficult to see, or have ample time to move into areas not yet surveyed and be counted again. Our approach of accounting for multiple sources of observation error can easily be applied to aerial surveys for other species in other systems, and has the potential to improve the rigor of wildlife abundance estimation from aerial surveys. © 2016 The Wildlife Society.
Production of Magnetic Nano‐bioconjugates via Ball Milling of Commercial Boron Powder with Biomolecules
Authors: Icten Okan , Hosmane Narayan Sadashiv , Kose Dursun Ali , Zumreoglu‐Karan Birgul
Published: July 2016

Mechanochemical preparation and characterization of surface‐functionalized magnetic boron nanoparticles for biomedical applications are presented. Alloying with the stainless steel ball milling material during mechanochemical activation proved to be an alternative route to introduce magnetic properties to the nanomaterials, while functionalization with biomolecules provided biocompatible surfaces for bioconjugation.
Analysis of Prehospital Transport Use for Trauma Patients in Lusaka, Zambia
Authors: Mowafi Hani , Oranmore‐Brown Rae , Hopkins Kathryn L. , White Emily E. , Mulla Yacob F. , Seidenberg Phil
Published: July 2016

Despite an increasing burden of injuries, prehospital transport systems remain underdeveloped in many low‐ and middle‐income countries. Little information exists on the use of prehospital services for trauma patients in Zambia.

Method

A prospective, observational study of trauma presentations was undertaken for 6 months in Lusaka, Zambia, to establish the epidemiology and outcomes of injury in the region. In addition to demographics and mechanism of injury, data were collected on prehospital transport as well as inpatient resources utilization. Trained study personnel gathered data on trauma presentations 24 h a day. Statistical analysis was conducted using SAS 9.3 from a Microsoft® Access database.

Results

3498 trauma patients were enrolled in the study on arrival to University Teaching Hospital (UTH). 3264 patients had a transport means recorded (95.3 %). Two‐thirds (66 %) arrived within 6 h of injury, and 23 % arrived within the first hour after injury. A majority arrived by private vehicle (53.4 %) or public transport (37.7 %); only 5.9 % were transported by public or private ambulance. Of those arriving within the first hour after injury, 69.1 % came by private car, 24.6 % by public transport and 3.1 % by ambulance. There was a small statistical increase in Kampala Trauma Score II among ambulance arrivals.

Conclusion

Trauma patient use a variety of transport methods to get to UTH. A majority of patients use no formal ambulance transport. Despite this fact, a majority arrives within 6 h of injury but receive no formal prehospital care. An integrated, multilayered prehospital care and transport system may be the most effective approach for Zambia.
Design and baseline characteristics of the LANDMARK study
Authors: Ogata Hiroaki , Fukagawa Masafumi , Hirakata Hideki , Kaneda Hideaki , Kagimura Tatsuo , Akizawa Tadao ,   On behalf of the LANDMARK Study Group
Published: July 2016

Background

Calcium (Ca)-based phosphate (P) binders, compared to non-Ca-based P binders, contribute to vascular calcification, which is associated with cardiovascular events.

Methods

The LANDMARK study is a multicenter, randomized, open-label, parallel comparative study of lanthanum carbonate (LC) and calcium carbonate (CC) in hemodialysis patients. Stable hemodialysis patients with intact parathyroid hormone ≤240 pg/mL meeting ≥1 of the following criteria (age >65 years, postmenopause, diabetes mellitus) were randomized into the LC and CC groups. LC group patients initially received LC 750 mg/day or the previously used dose and were titrated up to a maximum 2250 mg/day to achieve serum P levels of 3.5–6.0 mg/dL. CC group patients received CC 3 g/day or the previously used dose and were titrated to achieve the same P range. If the target serum P level was not achieved, non-Ca-based P binders (other than LC) could also be added. The primary endpoint is survival time free of cardiovascular events, including cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction or stroke, and unstable angina.

Results

Overall, 2309 patients were allocated to the LC (N = 1154) or CC group (N = 1155). At baseline, the mean age was 68.4 years, 40.4 % were women, 55.9 % had diabetes, 18.3 % had a history of ischemic heart disease, and 13.9 % had cerebrovascular disease. A total of 184 patients (8.4 %) had undergone coronary intervention procedures. Baseline characteristics were well balanced between groups.

Conclusions

The LANDMARK study will determine whether LC, a non-Ca-based P binder, reduces cardiovascular mortality and morbidity in chronic hemodialysis patients.
Mw6.7 Earthquake of Manipur, NE India: Some Insights
Authors: Kumar Arun , Sanoujam Manichandra , Roy L. Someshwar , Kosigyn L. , Singh W. Arun Kumar , Pandey Ajeet P.
Published: July 2016

An earthquake of Mw 6.7 occurred near the Noney village of Tamenglong district, 30 km WNW of Imphal, Manipur on 4th January 2016. This is the largest earthquake to have occurred in the region during last six decades. The last event of M 7.3 occurred on 1st July 1957 SW of Imphal in Manipur valley. The current event was recorded by a local network of BBS and located at 24.865oN and 93.653oE with a focal depth of 50 km. Data collected have been analysed to estimate source parameters, fault plane solution and assessment of damage in the vicinity of the epicenter. The seismic moment and stress drop have been estimated to be 1.096x1026 dyne.cm and 10.1 bars respectively, with the source radius of 17 km and rupture length of 44 km. The fault plane solution obtained using waveform inversion shows that the event was of strike slip type with two nodal planes, having (i) dip of 49o; strike 342o; rake 166o and (ii) with dip of 79o; strike 81o; rake 36o, respectively.
Morphometric Data on Topotype Assemblage of Miogypsina (Lepidosemicyclina) droogeri, Foraminifera from Kachchh, Gujarat
Authors: Singh S. D. , Raju D. S. N.
Published: July 2016

Miogypsina (Lepidosemicyclina) droogeri Zone occupies an important position in the Indian biochronostratigraphy since the reservoirs of the giant oil field of Bombay High pertain to this zone. A rich assemblage of the topotype material from Kachchh is morphometically analysed for the better understanding of the variation in the population and its relation with the closely related species. The mean value of V is recorded as 77.5 for 24 specimens of Miogypsina (Lepidosemicyclina) droogeri Mohan and Tewari. The detailed study of Miogypsinidae from the exposures in Kachchh and a continuously cored offshore well ED-D from Bombay Offshore has helped in the better understanding of the evolution of Lepidosemicyclina lineage from Miogypsina (Lepidosemicyclina) thecideaeformis Rutten to Miogypsina (Lepidosemicyclina) droogeri Mohan and Tewari through Miogypsina (Lepidosemicyclina) talukdari Raju and Singh.
Estimation of Hydraulic Characteristics from Electrical Resistivity Data in Coastal Aquifers of Southern India
Authors: Singh Somvir , Singh V. S.
Published: July 2016

The applicability of geophysical techniques has been examined for evaluating aquifer properties like transmissivity and hydraulic conductivity of coastal aquifers, Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu. The pumping test data of 10 wells are interpreted by using forward modelling to obtain the aquifer characteristics in the study area. The available vertical electrical soundings (VES) data in the vicinity of the sites of pumping test have been interpreted; and true resistivity and thickness are determined at each site in the study area. Empirical relationships are established for estimating the hydraulic parameters from the electrical data.

The area under study is divided into three major geological formations viz. Archaean (hard rock), Tertiary and coastal sediments. The empirical relationships have been shown (1) between formation factor and hydraulic conductivity; (2) between transmissivity and transverse resistance and (3) between aquifer resistivity and hydraulic conductivity, in three different geological formations. The result shows a linear relationship between hydraulic conductivity and transverse unit resistance and between hydraulic conductivity and formation factor. These relations are further used to estimate the hydrogeological parameters viz transmissivity and hydraulic conductivity at remaining 18 vertical electrical sounding points, where pumping test data is not available. The hydraulic properties of aquifer at different points are then used to generate the corresponding contour maps. The thematic maps are finally utilized for the selection of suitable well sites in the study area using the electrical and aquifer parameters. The results indicate that the hard rock formation near the coast ofTuticorin is the most potential zone of groundwater for future exploitation.
Interpretation of Aeromagnetic Data of Idah Area in North Central Nigeria Using Combined Methods
Authors: Obiora Daniel N. , Yakubu John A. , Okeke Francisca N. , Chukudebelu Josiah U. , Oha Andrew I.
Published: July 2016

Aeromagnetic data of Idah area (sheet 267), north-central Nigeria, has been interpreted by applying source parameter imaging (SPI), Euler deconvolution and forward and inverse modeling methods. Quantitatively, depth estimates obtained by employing SPI have shown minimum to maximum depth to anomalous source at 57.591m to 664.841m. Applying Euler deconvolution for various structural indices (SI), the depth obtained for SI=1, ranges from 5.6m to 197.6m, 22.0m to 204.7m for SI=2 and for SI=3, the depth to magnetic source obtained ranges from 38.0m to 205.5m. The results from forward and inverse modeling for profiles 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 indicate depths of 95.6m, 103.9m, 477.5m, 1239.8m and 76.8m respectively. From the results of susceptibility values; the result obtained from profile 1 with susceptibility value of -0.0175 suggests that the body is associated with non-magnetic sedimentary deposits. Profile 2 with a susceptibility value of 0.07 is typical of basic igneous rock; gabbro and basalts. The results for profiles 3, 4 and 5 having susceptibility values of 0.01 to 0.013 are typical of intermediate igneous rocks; diorite and andesite.
Down Syndrome Screening: Evidence that Test Results Differ According to Phenotype
Authors: Arbuzova Svetlana , Falach Aya Cohen , Wiener Yifat , Nikolenko Margaryta , Maymon Ron , Cuckle Howard , Sharony Reuven
Published: July 2016

The purpose of the present study was to examine screening marker levels in Down syndrome (DS) pregnancies with and without cardiac defects and in euploid pregnancies. Retrospective series in two centers with one or more markers—ultrasound nuchal translucency (NT), first trimester maternal serum pregnancy associated plasma protein (PAPP-A), free-β human chorionic gonadotrophin (free β-hCG), and second trimester serum α-fetoprotein (AFP), unconjugated estriol (uE3), hCG, and free-β hCG. Levels were expressed as multiples of the gestation-specific median (MoM). Differences were assessed by the Wilcoxon rank sum test and 95 % confidence intervals. There were 318 DS pregnancies including 53 (17 %) with cardiac defects. Median NT was higher in cardiac defects (1.82 compared with 1.62 MoM), but not statistically significant (P = 0.17). Median free β-hCG was significantly highly reduced in the first trimester (1.14 and 2.17 MoM; P < 0.005) and similarly but nonsignificantly in the second trimester (1.59 and 2.32 MoM; P = 0.14). PAPP-A was reduced and AFP increased nonsignificantly with no material differences for uE3 and hCG. The results on NT and free β-hCG were consistent with a series of 62 euploid pregnancies with cardiac defects screened in one of the centers. The distribution of some markers differs in DS pregnancies with cardiac defects. Depending on the screening protocol, this may affect the phenotype of DS births.
The effect of thermal boundary conditions on forced convection heat transfer to fluids at supercritical pressure
Authors: Nemati Hassan , Patel Ashish , Boersma Bendiks J. , Pecnik Rene
Published: July 2016

We use direct numerical simulations to study the effect of thermal boundary conditions on developing turbulent pipe flows with fluids at supercritical pressure. The Reynolds number based on pipe diameter and friction velocity at the inlet is$Re_{{\it\tau}0}=360$and Prandtl number at the inlet is$Pr_{0}=3.19$. The thermodynamic conditions are chosen such that the temperature range within the flow domain incorporates the pseudo-critical point where large variations in thermophysical properties occur. Two different thermal wall boundary conditions are studied: one that permits temperature fluctuations and one that does not allow temperature fluctuations at the wall (equivalent to cases where the thermal effusivity ratio approaches infinity and zero, respectively). Unlike for turbulent flows with constant thermophysical properties and Prandtl numbers above unity – where the effusivity ratio has a negligible influence on heat transfer – supercritical fluids shows a strong dependency on the effusivity ratio. We observe a reduction of 7 % in Nusselt number when the temperature fluctuations at the wall are suppressed. On the other hand, if temperature fluctuations are permitted, large property variations are induced that consequently cause an increase of wall-normal velocity fluctuations very close to the wall and thus an increased overall heat flux and skin friction.
A Great Leap Forward for Democracy and the Rule of Law? Brazil's Mensalão Trial
Authors: MICHENER GREGORY , PEREIRA CARLOS
Published: July 2016

The Mensalão trial was Brazil's most important political corruption trial ever and an emblematic ex post accountability success. More than 28 individuals were convicted in relation to a legislative vote-buying scheme, many by the very officials they helped appoint. We relay the trajectory of the scandal cum trial, explain its successful prosecution and assess its implications. The article argues that the Mensalão has proved pivotal for Brazil's institutional and legal advances and asks – more than a quarter of a century after a new constitution – whether the country is entering into a stronger, more enduring relationship with the rule of law.
Plato's Minos: The Soul of the Law
Authors: Davis Michael
Published: July 2016

The account of law in Plato's Minos is on its surface strange. Law is both what “wants to be the finding out of what is” and “the finding out of what is.” It is a faculty in us like sight or hearing, and its stability requires that it be independent of us. It makes universal claims but always does so for a particular people in a particular place. Law must be grounded in what is beyond the law, and yet, once established, must assert its own final authority. Lawgivers must be at once above the law, almost a different species from those for whom they legislate, and, like everyone else, subject to the law. These ambiguities, indeed duplicities, are not so much defects of law to be resolved as indications of its fundamental nature. What follows is an account of this dual nature, especially in its necessary connection to poetry.
Alfarabi and the Creation of an Islamic Political Science
Authors: Burns Daniel E.
Published: July 2016

When discussing the preconditions of liberal Islamic politics, liberal theorists often advocate the reinterpretation of traditional religious texts in light of liberal political theory. Such an interpretive project is worth comparing to a similar project conceived by the medieval Islamic philosopher Alfarabi, whose effort to introduce Greek political philosophy into his political-religious community parallels these efforts to introduce liberal theory into Islamic communities. Alfarabi argued that traditional texts should be reinterpreted in light of a new political science, one based on Greek sources but adapted to the unique needs of a community like his. This article shows how Alfarabi conceived of these adaptations, emphasizing the flexibility that he thought students of Greek political philosophy should adopt in accommodating even Islamic doctrines that they could not fully accept.
Later, if ever: Family influences on the transition from first to second birth in Soviet Ukraine
Authors: HILEVYCH YULIYA
Published: July 2016

What was the role of the family in individual reproductive decisions during state socialism? Can the family help to understand regional variations in fertility decline? This study provides an in-depth analysis of family relationships and their influences on individual reproductive decisions during the transition from first to second birth in Soviet Ukraine. Life history interviews are used to compare the western and eastern borderland cities of Lviv and Kharkiv, respectively, around 1950–1975. The findings reveal that regional differences in intergenerational ties and spousal cooperation shaped two reproductive strategies of transition to second birth, specifically postponing in Kharkiv and spacing in Lviv.
Deaf and unwanted? Marriage characteristics of deaf people in eighteenth- and nineteenth-century Belgium: a comparative and cross-regional approach
Authors: DE VEIRMAN SOFIE , HAAGE HELENA , VIKSTRÖM LOTTA
Published: July 2016

In this article, the marriage characteristics of deaf men and women born in eighteenth- and nineteenth-century Belgium are compared to each other, as well as to a group of non-deaf siblings and a group of Swedish deaf persons. The aim is to determine the extent to which the marriage pattern of deaf persons lined up with that of non-disabled persons and to see how experiences of disablement interacted with the environment in which persons dwelt. This article challenges the belief in a universal disability experience by arguing that although deaf individuals generally encountered more difficulties in finding a marriage partner, marriage chances were significantly dependent on personal characteristics such as gender, living environment and birth date. As such, we demonstrate that the relationship between being deaf and being vulnerable on the marriage market was not an inescapable one, but the product of specific environments.
Poor relief systems in rural Italy: the territory of the diocese of Tortona in the eighteenth century
Authors: MAFFI LUCIANO , ROCHINI MARCO
Published: July 2016

This article studies the development of poor relief in the rural areas of the diocese of Tortona in the eighteenth century, through the analysis of the parish reports written for the pastoral visits of bishops Giulio Resta and Giuseppe Lodovico Andujar in 1741 and 1743. The reports record the most important assistance activities organised by different social actors: dowries for poor girls; bread, money and clothing to distribute to the poor; but also formal support in the form of hospitals providing shelter and care for pilgrims and the sick; the monti di pietà, which loaned money and the grain stores, which provided essential loans of grain. The diocese of Tortona in the eighteenth century represents a privileged point of view for understanding how the development of poor relief in the ancien régime was influenced by the political and institutional, geographical, landowning and socio-ecomomic context. Here, a complex institutional situation, combined with a diverse geographical and socio-economic context, gave rise to a variety of poor relief systems.
Improving mention detection for Basque based on a deep error analysis
Authors: SORALUZE ANDER , ARREGI OLATZ , ARREGI XABIER , DÍAZ DE ILARRAZA ARANTZA
Published: July 2016

This paper presents the improvement process of a mention detector for Basque. The system is rule-based and takes into account the characteristics of mentions in Basque. A classification of error types is proposed based on the errors that occur during mention detection. A deep error analysis distinguishing error types and causes is presented and improvements are proposed. At the final stage, the system obtains an F-measure of 74.57% under the Exact Matching protocol and of 80.57% under Lenient Matching. We also show the performance of the mention detector with gold standard data as input, in order to omit errors caused by the previous stages of linguistic processing. In this scenario, we obtain an F-measure of 85.89% with Strict Matching and of 89.06% with Lenient Matching, i.e., a difference of 11.32 and 8.49 percentage points, respectively. Finally, how improvements in mention detection affect coreference resolution is analysed.
Anthropology and the law: historicising the epistemological divide
Authors: Bens Jonas
Published: July 2016

Focusing on the history of US anthropology between World War II and the high point of the Vietnam War protests in the late 1960s, this paper aims to historicise the assumed epistemological divide between anthropological and legal thinking. It is shown how anthropology as a discipline in the US has restructured some of its basic assumptions and changed its institutional structure in the context of legal interventions in larger struggles, specifically the court-based battles against racial segregation and the legal proceedings related to indigenous land rights before the Indian Claims Commission. Special consideration is given to an analysis of how objectivity is conceptualised in the literature on anthropological expert witnessing: from mechanical objectivity before 1970 to critical objectivity after 1970. The paper concludes with a caveat against exaggerating existing epistemological differences between anthropology and law, and suggests a more pragmatic approach to interdisciplinary communication.
Inflation von falsch-positiven Befunden in der psychologischen Forschung
Authors: Ulrich Rolf , Erdfelder Edgar , Deutsch Roland , Strauß Bernhard , Brüggemann Anne , Hannover Bettina , Tuschen-Caffier Brunna , Kirschbaum Clemens , Blickle Gerhard , Möller Jens , Rief Winfried
Published: July 2016

Zusammenfassung. In letzter Zeit mehren sich Hinweise darauf, dass gehäuft falsch-positive Befunde in wissenschaftlichen Publikationen berichtet werden und so die Forschungsliteratur ein verzerrtes Bild der Realität widerspiegelt. Das Fachkollegium Psychologie der Deutschen Forschungsgemeinschaft hat dieses Problem aufgegriffen und die möglichen Ursachen von falsch-positiv Befunden diskutiert. Dieser Artikel gibt den Inhalt dieser Diskussion wieder und möchte Antragssteller auffordern, diese Problematik bei Forschungsanträgen stärker zu beachten. Auch appellieren wir an Antragsteller, Gutachter und Herausgeber, den Stellenwert von negativen Befunden sowie von Replikationen bei Forschungsanträgen und wissenschaftlichen Arbeiten einschließlich klinischer Studien stärker zu berücksichtigen.
Mental Numerosity Line in the Human’s Approximate Number	System
Authors: Zhou Xinlin , Shen Chaoran , Li Leinian , Li Dawei , Cui Jiaxin
Published: July 2016

Abstract. Previous studies have demonstrated existence of a mental line for symbolic numbers (e.g., Arabic digits). For nonsymbolic number systems, however, it remains unresolved whether a spontaneous spatial layout of numerosity exists. The current experiment investigated whether SNARC-like (Spatial-Numerical Association of Response Codes) effects exist in approximate processing of numerosity, as well as of size and density. Participants were asked to judge whether two serially presented stimuli (i.e., dot arrays, pentagons) were the same regarding numbers of dots, sizes of the pentagon, or densities of dots. Importantly, two confounds that were overlooked by most previous studies were controlled in this study: no ordered numerosity was presented, and only numerosity in the approximate number system (beyond the subitizing range) was used. The results demonstrated that there was a SNARC-like effect only in the numerosity-matching task. The results suggest that numerosity could be spontaneously aligned to a left-to-right oriented mental line according to magnitude information in human’s approximate number system.
A review of UHMWPE wear-induced osteolysis: the role for early detection of the immune response
Authors: Kandahari Adrese M , Yang Xinlin , Laroche Kevin A , Dighe Abhijit S , Pan Dongfeng , Cui Quanjun
Published: July 2016

In a world where increasing joint arthroplasties are being performed on increasingly younger patients, osteolysis as the leading cause of failure after total joint arthroplasty (TJA) has gained considerable attention. Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene wear-induced osteolysis is the process by which prosthetic debris mechanically released from the surface of prosthetic joints induces an immune response that favors bone catabolism, resulting in loosening of prostheses with eventual failure or fracture. The immune response initiated is innate in that it is nonspecific and self-propagating, with monocytic cells and osteoclasts being the main effectors. To date, detecting disease early enough to implement effective intervention without unwanted systemic side effects has been a major barrier. These barriers can be overcome using newerin vivoimaging techniques and modules linked with fluorescence and/or chemotherapies. We discuss the pathogenesis of osteolysis, and provide discussion of the challenges with imaging and therapeutics. We describe a positron emission tomography imaging cinnamoyl-Phe-(D)-Leu-Phe-(D)-Leu-Phe-Lys module, specific to macrophages, which holds promise in early detection of disease and localization of treatment. Further research and increased collaboration among therapeutic and three-dimensional imaging researchers are essential in realizing a solution to clinical osteolysis in TJA.