bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development of a Canadian Core Clinical Dataset to Support High-quality Care for Canadian Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: Barber Claire E.H. , Mosher Dianne P. , Ahluwalia Vandana , Zummer Michel , Marshall Deborah A. , Choquette Denis , Lacaille Diane , Bombardier Claire , Lyddiatt Anne , Chandran Vinod , Khodyakov Dmitry , Dao Emily , Barnabe Cheryl
Published: October 2017

Objective.

To develop a Canadian Rheumatoid Arthritis Core Clinical Dataset (CAN-RACCD) to standardize documentation encouraging high-quality care.

Methods.

A set of candidate elements was drafted through meetings with 27 rheumatologists, researchers, and patients, and supplemented with focused literature reviews. A 3-round online-modified Delphi consensus process was held with rheumatologists (n = 26), allied health professionals (n = 7), and patients (n = 4); for the remainder there was no demographic information. Participants rated both the importance and feasibility of documenting candidate elements on a Likert scale of 1–9, contributed to an online moderated discussion, and re-rated the elements for inclusion in the CAN-RACCD. Elements were included in the final set if importance and feasibility ratings had a median score of ≥ 6.5 and there was no disagreement among participants.

Results.

Fifty-five individual elements in 10 subgroups were proposed to the Delphi participants: measures of RA disease activity; dates to calculate waiting times, disease duration, and disease-modifying antirheumatic drug start; comorbidities; smoking status; patient-reported pain and fatigue; physical function; laboratory and radiographic investigations; medications; clinical characteristics; and vaccines. All groups were included in the final set, with the exception of vaccination status. Additionally, 3 individual elements from the smoking subgroup were eliminated with a recommendation to record smoking status as never/ever/current, and 2 elements relating to coping and effect of fatigue were eliminated due to low feasibility and importance ratings.

Conclusion.

The CAN-RACCD stands as a national recommendation on which data elements should be routinely collected in clinical practice to monitor and support high-quality RA care.
« I Hate Visual Culture »
Authors: Boidy Maxime
Published: October 2017

L’essor des Visual Studies dans le monde académique étasunien durant les années 1990 s’inscrit dans le sillage de l’institutionnalisation des Cultural Studies outre-Atlantique. Il implique spécifiquement le décentrement de la discipline de l’histoire de l’art vers l’étude interdisciplinaire des visibilités socioculturelles. Cet article revient sur la montée en puissance de ces études dans un climat encore marqué par les « guerres culturelles » engagées par la droite néoconservatrice à l’encontre de certaines franges du champ universitaire et artistique au cours des années 1980. En abordant les conflits suscités par les Visual Studies au sein de la gauche intellectuelle comme un élément inhérent à leur définition savante, il analyse certaines politisations académiques des notions de « culture visuelle » et d’ « études visuelles » dans le contexte d’une importation et d’une redéfinition françaises actives de ces catégories.
Les recherches sur le jeu vidéo en France
Authors: Meunier Sarah
Published: October 2017

Cet article présente le collectif français actuel de la recherche sur le jeu vidéo, en SHS, en questionnant son émergence dans le contexte des Game Studies. Il montre comment la formation de liens forts a favorisé celle-ci en France dans un contexte institutionnel peu favorable. Il s’appuie sur une série d’entretiens, sur un travail socio-historique à partir d’archives en ligne et privées, ainsi que sur un corpus de textes de référence sur le sujet. Ce travail fait ressortir trois éléments dans son déroulé. Il traite des enjeux de légitimation auxquels est soumis l’objet de recherche vidéoludique et qui impacte le développement des recherches. Il présente et analyse la formation d’un collectif de chercheur·e·s depuis vingt ans en portant attention à la nature des liens sociaux. Il interroge enfin la présence ou l’absence de liens entre les collectifs de recherche vidéoludique français et celui des Game Studies, en questionnant une éventuelle autonomie de la recherche française.
L’ethnographie et les mines
Authors: Lasevitz Rafael Simões
Published: October 2017

À l’exception de quelques études éparpillées dans les années 1940 et 1950, on ne verra l’émergence d’un courant d’ « études minières » suffisamment cohérent qu’après le début des années 1970. Dans cet article, on propose de mieux comprendre la trajectoire de l’ethnologie dans le domaine et les idées qui l’ont informée. Le milieu minier étant souvent coincé entre les milieux ruraux et industriels, les études minières ont souvent rapproché l’ethnographie et les milieux industriels, jusque-là un domaine peu exploré par la discipline. La notion de culture est un concept clé dans les études de Harris, Nash ou Taussig, ce qui mènera entre autres à une perception de culture minière comme étant le résultat de la confrontation entre les cultures locales et les forces colonisatrices. Le syncrétisme culturel sera un thème récurrent et rassembleur dans les études minières jusqu’à ce que le besoin d’affronter le développementalisme fasse émerger l’approche post-développement dans les années 1980. Enfin, les années 2000 verront, dans un sens, un épuisement de ce modèle, menant à de nouvelles approches.
Les STS ont-elles un Sud ?
Authors: Dumoulin Kervran David , Kleiche-Dray Mina , Quet Mathieu
Published: October 2017

Les études sociales sur les sciences (STS ou science studies), telles qu’elles se sont développées et institutionnalisées depuis les années 1980, ont constitué un pôle important du renouvellement des sciences sociales, toutefois resté longtemps indifférent aux travaux sur les sciences conduits dans les pays des Suds. La prise en compte de la diversité des perspectives qui sont développées sur/depuis les Suds permettrait pourtant de pousser plus loin la discussion entamée par les STS sur les savoirs, leurs sites et leur portée. Nous pensons en particulier que les approches postcoloniales fournissent des outils importants à la réflexion et donnent les moyens d’une « mondialisation » plus aboutie des STS, qui repose plus généralement sur une meilleure compréhension des apports des études sur les sciences dans les Suds. La proposition de l’article est développée en trois temps : 1) comprendre l’indifférence des études STS pour les recherches sur et dans les Suds, 2) analyser les processus qui ont permis les déplacements des STS aux Suds et 3) cartographier les défis posés par la « créolisation » des STS lorsque les critiques postcoloniales y sont pleinement intégrées.
The Mosaic prestige, A Reading of “Day Without Night” by Louise Glück
Authors: Olivier Marie
Published: October 2017

Publié en 1985 dans le recueil The Triumph of Achilles , le poème “Day Without Night” de la poète américaine contemporaine Louise Glück met en scène un épisode religieux dont la particularité est d’être tiré du Midrash juif, et d’être par conséquent toujours déjà pris dans l’indirection de l’exégèse et de l’interprétation. Il s’agit de la scène où l’enfant Moïse choisit le charbon ardent au lieu des joyaux de la couronne de Pharaon et se brûle la langue, expliquant ainsi son bégaiement. Composé de huit parties, le poème édifie un réseau de structures paradigmatiques tels le vrai et le faux, le paradis et l’enfer, la parole et le silence, avant de remettre chacun de ces termes en question à travers une interprétation des signes et une quête de la vérité sans cesse déjouées. En choisissant un Moïse balbutiant comme figure centrale, la voix poétique articule l’impossibilité du dire prophétique avec l’intransitivité du dire lyrique. Elle démontre que le génie du poétique consiste à surpasser l’opposition entre le vrai et le faux, le poète portant la « puissance du faux » deleuzienne à un degré extrême, celui de « la création du Nouveau ».
Joey Adler : la vision d’un monde meilleur
Authors: Auger Claudine , Girard Martin
Published: October 2017

Femme d’affaires accomplie et philanthrope acharnée, Joey Adler n’a l’esprit tranquille que si, chaque soir, elle a amélioré la vie d’au moins une personne. D’ailleurs, l’ex-PDG de Diesel Canada aime citer cet ancien proverbe chinois : un voyage de mille lieues commence toujours par un pas.
Un monde sans banques est-il possible ?
Authors: Gosselin Francis
Published: October 2017

Un par un, les secteurs d’activité économique sont ébranlés par la désintermédiation numérique. Après la musique et la presse, le voyage et la vente au détail, ce sont maintenant les services financiers qui voient poindre à l’horizon une nouvelle concurrence numérique.
Industrie mondiale du tourisme : le vent dans les voiles !
Authors: Normandin François
Published: October 2017

Derrière les plages de sable fin, les palmiers et les mers cristallines, l’industrie du tourisme a connu une croissance soutenue au cours des deux dernières décennies. La demande s’est diversifiée, tant au chapitre des pays visités qu’en ce qui concerne le type de tourisme recherché (éthique, culturel, religieux, etc.). En 2015, le secteur du tourisme a généré des revenus de 1,26 trillion $US et contribué à 10 % du PIB planétaire.
La force des liens
Authors: Julien Pierre-André , Guercini Simone , Goglio-Primard Karine , Simon Laurent , Cohendet Patrick , Beauregard François
Published: October 2017

Les entrepreneurs ne travaillent pas en vase clos. Ils font partie d’une communauté qui, bien souvent, contribue à faire d’eux des bâtisseurs. Lorsque la connexion est forte et authentique, elle permet aux deux groupes de se renforcer mutuellement. Puisque ces interrelations peuvent revêtir de nombreuses formes, nous vous présentons quatre exemples du Québec, de France et d’Italie afin d’illustrer et d’expliquer plusieurs facettes des liens qui unissent communautés et entrepreneurs.
Les modèles d’innovation et leurs enjeux de gestion ouverte
Authors: Harvey Jean-François , Cromwell Johnathan R.
Published: October 2017

Les termes « créativité » et « innovation » font maintenant partie du quotidien de la plupart des professionnels et des dirigeants. Ces concepts s’expriment habituellement par le truchement de deux modèles : centré-problème et centré-solution 1 . Quels défis de gestion accompagnent ces modèles, notamment lorsqu’il est question de collaborer au-delà des frontières organisationnelles, c’est-à-dire d’innover de façon ouverte ?
L’architecture d’affaires : le chaînon manquant dans la formulation, l’implantation et l’exécution d’une stratégie d’affaires
Authors: Hadaya Pierre , Gagnon Bernard
Published: October 2017

Une stratégie d’affaires sert à définir les lignes directrices du comportement qu’une organisation adopte pour créer un mélange unique de valeurs pour ses clients, ses propriétaires, ses employés et ses partenaires. Elle lui permet aussi de se démarquer d’une manière positive de ses concurrents actuels et potentiels. Tour d’horizon d’une approche à adopter.
Influencer, c’est la communication d’aujourd’hui, de Stéphane Attal
Authors: Jézéquel Myriam
Published: October 2017

« La communication a définitivement muté vers le partage plutôt que vers le message », affirme l’auteur Stéphane Attal, spécialiste de la communication d’influence. Encore faut-il savoir quoi partager et avec qui . Aussi important : comment mettre en scène et en débat une idée ?
La santé et le bien-être en milieu de travail : rentables et à la portée de toutes les entreprises
Authors: Durand Pierre , Marchand Alain
Published: October 2017

Comment les entreprises, même de petite taille, peuvent-elles contribuer à l’amélioration de la santé mentale de leurs employés et, du même coup, réduire les demandes d’indemnisation auprès des compagnies d’assurances ? Voici des pistes, trop rentables pour qu’on n’en tienne pas compte.
Gérez-vous une équipe agile ou un lent paquebot ?
Authors: Bertholet Jean-François , Gaudet Marie-Claude
Published: October 2017

Les organisations composent aujourd’hui avec des transformations à un rythme sans précédent. La gestion du changement est en soi ardue, mais un constat s’impose : le statu quo est impossible et l’agilité est une question de survie. Votre équipe se caractérise-t-elle par son agilité ? Faites le test !
Análisis de las estrategias bioclimáticas empleadas por Frank Lloyd Wright en la casa Jacobs I
Authors: Beltrán-Fernández M. , García-Muñoz J. , Dufrasnes E.
Published: October 2017

Frank Lloyd Wright es considerado uno de los arquitectos más influyentes de la historia de la arquitectura moderna por la calidad espacial y estética de su obra. Sin embargo, la importancia de sus soluciones constructivas y medioambientales ha quedado en un segundo plano. Con el fin de destacar dichas cualidades se ha analizado la primera casa que diseñó para la familia Jacobs (Wisconsin, EE.UU., 1937), cuyo valor arquitectónico ha sido resaltado en varias ocasiones, sin que existan análisis que cuantifiquen las ventajas sobre la calidad medioambiental y el confort interior que suponen los principios bioclimáticos de su arquitectura. Pero ¿cómo medir la influencia de la arquitectura bioclimática en el confort interior? ¿Supone una mejora la orientación elegida? ¿Y la influencia de la ventilación natural y de los voladizos? Para responder a estas cuestiones se ha construido un modelo digital y se han realizado diferentes simulaciones energéticas empleando Revit y Design Builder.
Emerging Technologies
Authors: Ukwuani Ndubuisi , Bashir Engie
Published: October 2017

The paper revises a collection of novel interactive technologies, known as post-WIMP. These technologies have been enormously cited in HCI research and recently adopted by enterprises to develop original applications in specific domain areas. The theoretical review of each technology includes a summary on what the technology is, how it works, how the user interacts with it, and in which domain areas it is being used. This paper also provides a critical comparison of these technologies using renowned models and usability criteria. However, this paper does not give a full description of the featured technologies rather it focuses more on their areas of application. Likewise, not all the upcoming technologies are discussed in this paper but most of the featured technologies fall within the “Trough of Disillusionment” and “Peak of Inflated Expectation” of the Gartner's 2015 hype cycle.
Metal Oxides for Application in Conductometric Gas Sensors: How to Choose?
Authors: Korotcenkov G. , Brinzari Vladimir , Pronin I.A. , Ham M.H. , Cho B.K.
Published: October 2017

This article gives a brief description of metal oxides, acceptable for using in advanced conductometric gas sensors, as well as a consideration of approaches, that can be used to select metal oxides for the manufacture of devices intended to sensor market.
Microstructure Transformation during Isothermal Aging of Biomedical Co-Cr-Mo Alloy
Authors: Alfirano Alfirano , Andinnie Juniarsih , Lukmanul Hakim
Published: October 2017

Co-Cr-Mo alloys are currently applied as major materials for orthopedic implant because of their excellent wear resistance. The main strengthening mechanism of this alloy is the transformation of γ-phase Co-Cr-Mo alloys to the ε-phase. In this study, the evolution of the microstructure of a Co-28Cr-6Mo-0.08C-0.2N alloy has been investigated during isothermal aging. Solution treatment at 1275°C for 15 hours was carried out for as-cast alloy, followed by aging treatments at 700°C and 800°C for up to 15 hours. Microstructure evaluation, XRD analysis and micro-hardness test were carried out for both as-cast and aged alloys. From XRD analysis showed that the transformation of γ-phase to ε-phase occurred during the isothermal aging. The amount of ε-phase increased with increasing aging temperature and time, while the hardness of the alloy increased with increasing the amount of ε-phase. This led to the increasing of the hardness of alloy at higher aging temperature and time. In addition, the very fine precipitation in the cobalt matrix was observed in the aged-specimens. Aging at 800°C caused the progressive formation of very fine precipitates along intra-granular striation and the matrix. It is suggested that the precipitation was took place in the grain on the dislocations and the stacking faults.
The Biocompatibility and Occlusion Ability of a Zein-Based Biomaterial for Bone Surgery
Authors: Wattanutchariya Wassanai , Quek Timothy , Pongmanee Suthipas
Published: October 2017

During surgical procedures on bone, a common method of producing haemostasis at bleeding cancellous bone is the occlusion of blood vessels. This is often achieved with bone wax, which is not bioresorbable, unlike the zein-based biomaterial investigated in the present research. Zein is a prolamin derived from corn, and has been gaining importance as a bio-medical material. Taking advantage of its solubility in ethanol-water solvents but insolubility in water, a zein-based viscoelastic solid can be produced which effectively occludes the flow of fluids through a porous surface modelling cancellous bone. Zein powder was dissolved into a 70% ethanol-in-water solution, and the ethanol was later leached out through exposure to an alcohol-free media. The insoluble zein ‘resin’ produced could occlude water flow through a porous surface. Experiments were conducted to determine the optimum composition of the precursor zein solution, varying the proportion of zein dissolved in the ethanol-water solvent. A 0.7 w/v composition was selected as the preferred ratio. A cell viability test using the resazurin assay showed that unleached ethanol in the zein-based biomaterial does not pose a threat, as the metabolic activity of osteoblasts on zein resin outperformed that on bone wax after 24 hours of incubation. Subsequent characterisation of the zein resin was performed with a rheometer: results showed that the 0.7 w/v composition had a higher storage modulus and loss modulus for the range of frequencies tested.
Properties of GGBFS-Based Pervious Concrete Containing Fly Ash and Silica Fume
Authors: Endawati Jul
Published: October 2017

Pervious concrete primarily is used as a means of storm water management. Taking into consideration the environment issues, the binder can also be formed by partially replaced Portland cement by cementitious materials, such as blast furnace slag fine powder, fly ash and silica fume. The combination of the binder materials was determined based on previous work, which composed of 56% Portland Composite Cement, 15% fly ash Type F, 26% air-cooled blast furnace slag from a local steel Industry and 3% condensed silica fume. The compressive strength of specimens with coarser aggregate was lower compared with the control pervious concrete, but still within the range of the requirement compressive strength according to ACI 522R-2010. The difference of the aggregate size affected the enhancement of the compressive strength. The flexural strength of pervious concrete with aggregate size of 9.5mm-12.5mm tend to be higher compared with that of pervious concrete with smaller aggregate size. Furthermore, the addition of 6% natural fine aggregate while applying higher water/cement ratio could be a contribution to the enhancement of the compressive and the flexural strength.
Sub-Zero Temperature Effect on Impact Properties of 17-4PH Stainless Steel Processed by Selective Laser Melting
Authors: Riza Syed H. , Ashok Ashish M. , Masood Syed H. , Sbarski Igor
Published: October 2017

The Selective Laser Melting (SLM) process has been proved as the most effective method among Additive Manufacturing (AM) technologies to produce hard, dense and strong metallic structures with intricate shapes and profiles from wide range of metallic alloys. The SLM generated structures from 17-4PH stainless steel high strength alloys involve layer by layer building up through laser melting of successively deposited powder layers. Therefore, the mechanical properties of such structures need to be thoroughly checked and investigated before putting these materials to practical applications. This research mainly investigates the cryogenic impact properties of SLM generated 17-4PH specimen. These characteristics are very important in applications requiring high strength customized structures that could maintain their mechanical properties at sub-zero temperatures. The experimental analysis proves that SLM is a very reliable technology to produce high strength metallic structures and these specimens can function efficiently in extreme conditions.
Nanostructured TiO2 Materials: Preparation, Properties and Potential Applications (3P’s)
Authors: Razali Mohd Hasmizam , Ismail Nur Arifah , Mat Amin Khairul Anuar
Published: October 2017

Nanostructured materials are a new class of materials which provide one of the greatest potentials for improving performance and extended capabilities of products in a number of applications. In particular nanostructured TiO2 was used as photocatalysts, gas sensor, solar cells and nanocomposite biomaterials. For each of these applications, aspects such as surface morphology, crystallinity and chemistry of the titania-based materials are the key parameters to be settled for the process optimization. A series of nanostructured TiO2 materials (TiO2 nanotubes, TiO2 nanorods, TiO2 nanoparticles) was synthesized using simple hydrothermal methods. X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Field Emission Scanning Electron microscope (FESEM) and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area characterization was carried out to study the properties of synthesized nanostructured TiO2 materials. The performance of synthesized nanostructured TiO2 was evaluated for various applications such as photocatalyst for methyl orange (MO) degradation and anti-bacterial thin film for biomedical and food packaging. Among the nanostructured TiO2 materials, TiO2 nanotubes shows the highest activity regardless of their applications. This is probably due to their nanotubular morphology in which provided high surface area materials. The surface area of TiO2 nanotubes was found to be 226.52 m2/g. The outer and inner diameters of nanotubes are 4 nm and 10 nm, respectively with several hundred nanometers in length. Anatase TiO2 phase structure and crystallinity of TiO2 nanotubes supports the good performances of the nanostructured materials.
Repeated Spontaneous Clearance of Hepatitis C Virus Infection in the Setting of Long-Term Non-Progression of HIV Infection
Authors: Kerkerian Genevieve , Alimohammadi Arshia , Raycraft Tyler , Conway Brian
Published: October 2017

Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are global pandemics that affect 170 million and 35 million individuals, respectively. Up to 45% of individuals infected with HCV clear their infections spontaneously – correlating to factors like aboriginal descent and some host specific immune factors. HIV, however, establishes true latency in infected cells and cannot be cured. In the setting of longterm non-progressors (LTNPs) of HIV, a state of immune preservation and low circulating viral load is established. Regarding HIV/HCV co-infection, little is known about the relationship between spontaneous clearance of HCV infection and long-term control of HIV infection without medical intervention. We describe a case of a HIVinfected female defined as a LTNP in whom spontaneous clearance of HCV was documented on multiple occasions. Similar cases should be documented and identified in an effort to develop novel hypotheses about the natural control of these infections and inform research on immune-based interventions to control them.
Pitt inequalities and restriction theorems for the Fourier transform
Authors: De Carli Laura , Gorbachev Dmitry , Tikhonov Sergey
Published: October 2017

We prove new Pitt inequalities for the Fourier transforms with radial and non-radial weights using weighted restriction inequalities for the Fourier transform on the sphere. We also prove new Riemann–Lebesgue estimates and versions of the uncertainty principle for the Fourier transform.
Clusters of primes with square-free translates
Authors: Baker Roger C. , Pollack Paul
Published: October 2017

Let

\mathcal R

be a finite set of integers satisfying appropriate local conditions. We show the existence of long clusters of primes

p

in bounded length intervals with

p-b

squarefree for all

b \in \mathcal R

. Moreover, we can enforce that the primes

p

in our cluster satisfy any one of the following conditions: (1)

p

lies in a short interval

[N, N+N^{{7}/{12}+\epsilon}]

, (2)

p

belongs to a given inhomogeneous Beatty sequence, (3) with

c \in ({8}/{9},1)

fixed,

p^c

lies in a prescribed interval mod

1

of length

p^{-1+c+\epsilon}

.
Higher order rectifiability of measures via averaged discrete curvatures
Authors: Kolasiński Sławomir
Published: October 2017

We provide a sufficient geometric condition for

\mathbb R^n

to be countably

(\mu,m)

rectifiable of class

\mathcal C^{1,\alpha}

(using the terminology of Federer), where

\mu

is a Radon measure having positive lower density and finite upper density

\mu

almost everywhere. Our condition involves integrals of certain many-point interaction functions (discrete curvatures) which measure flatness of simplexes spanned by the parameters.
Convolution powers of complex functions on $\mathbb Z^d$
Authors: Randles Evan , Saloff-Coste Laurent
Published: October 2017

The study of convolution powers of a finitely supported probability distribution

\phi

on the

d

-dimensional square lattice is central to random walk theory. For instance, the

n

th convolution power

\phi^{(n)}

is the distribution of the

n

th step of the associated random walk and is described by the classical local limit theorem. Following previous work of P. Diaconis and the authors, we explore the more general setting in which

\phi

takes on complex values. This problem, originally motivated by the problem of Erastus L. De Forest in data smoothing, has found applications to the theory of stability of numerical difference schemes in partial differential equations. For a complex valued function

\phi

on

\mathbb{Z}^d

, we ask and address four basic and fundamental questions about the convolution powers

\phi^{(n)}

which concern sup-norm estimates, generalized local limit theorems, pointwise estimates, and stability. This work extends one-dimensional results of I.J. Schoenberg, T.N.E. Greville, P. Diaconis and the second author and, in the context of stability theory, results by V. Thomée and M.V. Fedoryuk.
Job satisfaction of extension agents towards innovation dissemination to fish farmers in Lagos state, Nigeria.
Authors: Ogunremi J.B. , Olatunji S.O.
Published: October 2017

The study assessed job satisfaction of extension agents towards innovation dissemination to fish farmers in Lagos State, Nigeria. A simple random sampling technique was used to select 44 extension officers from which data were collected. A structured questionnaire consisting of 6 personal characteristics, 23 management procedure and 29 job satisfaction items were administered to the extension officers. Most of the respondents (68.2%) were males, 95.4% were married with mean age of 38 years and 53.6% had HND/BSc as their highest educational qualification. Furthermore, 42.4% had spent 6 to 10 years on the job. Management procedures experienced were high for concern for implementing policy priorities (93.2%), staff welfare (88.6%), annual performance and record (84.1%), control and discipline of staff (88.6%). From the job satisfaction components, extension agents showed areas for job satisfaction which include rewarding system (mean = 3.57), budgeting (mean = 3.52), identifying farmers‟ problems (mean = 3.48), qualification for job (mean = 3.45), imposing sanctions (mean = 3.45). The results showed that on the average, extension agents were satisfied on their job components. It is recommended that extension agents should be encouraged through incentives to facilitate maximal level of job satisfaction with attendant higher level of innovation dissemination to fish farmers, translating to yield increase.Keywords: dissemination, extension agents, fish farmers, job satisfaction, innovation
Does corruption matter for the environment? Panel evidence from China
Authors: Liao Xianchun , Dogan Eyup , Baek Jungho
Published: October 2017

This article examines the income-energy-SO2 emissions nexus by taking a corruption variable into account. To that end, the panel cointegration methods are applied to 29 Chinese provinces over 1999–2012. The authors´ empirical evidence shows that an increase in the number of anti-corruption cases tends to drive down SO2 emissions in China. It is also found that income growth appears to have a beneficial effect on decreasing SO2 emissions over the past two decades. Finally, energy consumption is found to increase SO2 emissions.
Response to “Phrase truncation in PubMed searches”
Authors: Duffy Steven , De Kock Shelley , Misso Kate , Noake Caro , Ross Janine , Stirk Lisa
Published: October 2017

Response to Shanman R. Phrase truncation in PubMed searches [letter to the editor]. J Med Libr Assoc. 2017 Oct;105(4). DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5195/jmla.2017.252.Comment on Duffy S, de Kock S, Misso K, Noake C, Ross J, Stirk L. Supplementary searches of PubMed to improve currency of MEDLINE and MEDLINE In-Process searches via Ovid. J Med Libr Assoc. 2016 Oct;104(4):309–12. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3163/1536-5050.104.4.011.
Examining the role of MEDLINE as a patient care information resource: an analysis of data from the Value of Libraries study
Authors: Dunn Kathel , Marshall Joanne Gard , Wells Amber L. , Backus Joyce E. B.
Published: October 2017

Objective: This study analyzed data from a study on the value of libraries to understand the specific role that the MEDLINE database plays in relation to other information resources that are available to health care providers and its role in positively impacting patient care.Methods: A previous study on the use of health information resources for patient care obtained 16,122 responses from health care providers in 56 hospitals about how providers make decisions affecting patient care and the role of information resources in that process. Respondents indicated resources used in answering a specific clinical question from a list of 19 possible resources, including MEDLINE. Study data were examined using descriptive statistics and regression analysis to determine the number of information resources used and how they were used in combination with one another.Results: Health care professionals used 3.5 resources, on average, to aid in patient care. The 2 most frequently used resources were journals (print and online) and the MEDLINE database. Using a higher number of information resources was significantly associated with a higher probability of making changes to patient care and avoiding adverse events. MEDLINE was the most likely to be among consulted resources compared to any other information resource other than journals.Conclusions: MEDLINE is a critical clinical care tool that health care professionals use to avoid adverse events, make changes to patient care, and answer clinical questions.
Presentación
Authors: Martínez Palacios Jone , Martínez García Patricia
Published: October 2017

El texto propuesto para revisión es una proposición de monográfico, por lo que el resumen y planteamiento es demasiado amplio para incluirlo en este apartado. Se ruega acudir al documento adjunto o indicarnos qué hacer en este sentido.
Reflexiones sobre el concepto de inclusión social. Una propuesta para el análisis de políticas públicas desde la teoría feminista
Authors: Cubillos Almendra Javiera
Published: October 2017

El artículo propone un modelo conceptual para el estudio de políticas públicas, a partir de algunos aportes de la teoría feminista. Para ello, se presenta una reflexión teórica sobre la noción de inclusión y exclusión social, a la luz de las críticas feministas al universalismo ético, la teoría feminista de la interseccionalidad, el concepto de colonialidad de género desarrollado por el feminismo decolonial y los aportes de Nancy Fraser e Iris Marion Young sobre justicia social. El propósito es generar insumos conceptuales para concebir políticas públicas que respondan satisfactoriamente a escenarios sociales donde emerge una diversidad de sujetos y grupos que demandan reconocimiento. A partir de este debate, se expone un modelo conceptual que plantea reparar en tres elementos que se tornan de interés al estudiar la normatividad que orienta la definición de problemas y soluciones en el policy making: el referente normativo o los principios morales que guían la política pública; la visión de sociedad y noción de cambio social que subyace al discurso político; y la concepción de sujeto supuesta.
New pediatric risk factors for amblyopia: strabismic versus refractive
Authors: Guimaraes Sandra , Vieira Maria , Queirós Tatiana , Soares Andreia , Costa Patrício , Silva Eduardo
Published: October 2017

Purpose:

To assess the role of risk factors for amblyopia, such as family history and neonatal background, for the prediction of either strabismic amblyopia or refractive amblyopia.

Methods:

In this retrospective case-control model, the study population included all children born at the Hospital de Braga during 1997-2012 (3 to 18 years old) with ophthalmologic consultation in 2014. Data collection was performed from the clinical database and through telephone questionnaire surveys.

Results:

A total of 298 (50%) controls and 298 (50%) cases (120 [40.3%] strabismic amblyopia and 178 [59.7%] refractive amblyopia) were analyzed. A significantly lower birthweight was detected in patients with strabismic amblyopia (mean 2,961 g [95% confidence interval (CI) 2,827-3,096]) compared to controls (mean 3,198 g [95% CI 3,125-3,271]) (p = 0.002). Five-minute Apgar was significantly lower in patients with strabismic amblyopia (mean 9.57 [95% CI 9.37-9.77]) than in controls (mean 9.83 [95% CI 9.77-9.90]) (p = 0.004) or patients with refractive amblyopia (mean 9.79 [95% CI 9.69-9.89]) (p = 0.031). Family history of either amblyopia or strabismus was associated with amblyopia (χ2 [2, n = 562] = 12.66; p = 0.002; Cramer V = 0.150; χ2 [2, n = 561] = 11.0; p = 0.004; Cramer V = 0.140), but was significantly more associated with strabismic amblyopia (p = 0.0023 and p = 0.0032) than with refractive amblyopia (p = 0.48 and p = 0.015, respectively). Multinomial logistic regression model explained 50.8% of the variance in amblyopia development. Low 5-minute Apgar had a relevant odds ratio (OR) for either strabismic amblyopia (OR 3.44; p = 0.066) or refractive amblyopia (OR 3.30; p = 0.077).

Conclusions:

This division in amblyopia subtypes gives a new perspective of the risk factors for amblyopia, with family history and some obstetrician/neonatal outcomes appearing to be more relevant in strabismic amblyopia. Educating health care providers to recognize these risk factors can result in an early ophthalmologic referral.
Aflibercept in the management of acute retinal necrosis syndrome-related macular edema
Authors: Ortega-Evangelio Leticia , Navarrete-Sanchis Javier , Williams Basil K. , Tomás-Torrent Juan Miguel
Published: October 2017

Purpose:

Acute retinal necrosis (ARN) is a panuveitis syndrome that may lead to severe complications such as cystoid macular edema (CME). There is no consensus about the best treatment. We report one case of CME secondary to ARN managed with intravitreal aflibercept.

Case report:

A 41-year-old woman with a history of successfully treated varicella-zoster virus-associated ARN developed an epiretinal membrane (ERM) and underwent pars plana vitrectomy, ERM removal, inner limiting membrane peel, and lensectomy. After surgery, the retinal architecture improved and the visual acuity returned to 20/20. Six months later, she developed nontractional CME, which was treated monthly with triple-dose intravitreal aflibercept (2 mg). She gained 3 lines of vision and CME resolution was achieved.

Discussion:

Cystoid macular edema is a late complication of ARN that may affect vision. Some off-label therapies have been reported to be useful in CME secondary to ARN, including pegaptanib and interferon-α-2. Since interferon-α-2a is not currently available for ophthalmic use in Spain, aflibercept was the first choice. This soluble protein blocks the placental growth factor and all isoforms of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF); its half-life is prolonged and its affinity to VEGF-A is more than 100-fold greater than bevacizumab, pegaptanib, or ranibizumab. After each injection, macular thickness decreased consistently and visual acuity improved 3 lines after the treatment.

Conclusions:

Intravitreal aflibercept is effective in the management of acute nontractional CME secondary to ARN.
Intestinal mucosal barrier dysfunction in SAP patients with MODS ameliorated by continuous blood purification
Authors: Shen Qing , Li Zhengrong , Huang Shanshan , Li Liman , Gan Hua , Du Xiao-Gang
Published: October 2017

Background:

Dysfunction of the intestinal mucosal barrier plays an important role in the pathophysiology of severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). Continuous blood purification (CBP) has been shown to improve the prognosis of SAP patients. In order to investigate the effect of CBP on intestinal mucosal barrier dysfunction in SAP patients with MODS, we conducted in vivo and in vitro experiments to explore the underlying mechanisms.

Methods:

The markers for the assessment of intestinal mucosal barrier function including serum diamine oxidase (DAO), endotoxin and intestinal epithelial monolayer permeability were detected during CBP therapy. The distribution and expression of cytoskeleton protein F-actin and tight junction proteins claudin-1 were observed. In addition, Rho kinase (ROCK) mRNA expression and serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) levels during CBP were determined.

Results:

SAP patients with MODS had increased levels of serum DAO, endotoxin and intestinal epithelial monolayer permeability when compared with normal controls. While the distribution of F-actin and claudin-1 was rearranged, and the expression of claudin-1 significantly decreased, but F-actin had no change. Meanwhile, ROCK mRNA expression and serum TNF-α level were increased. However, after CBP treatment, levels of serum DAO, endotoxin and intestinal epithelial monolayer permeability decreased. The F-actin and claudin-1 reorganization attenuated and the expression of claudin-1 increased. At the same time, ROCK mRNA expression and serum TNF-α level were decreased.

Conclusions:

CBP can effectively improve intestinal mucosal barrier dysfunction. The beneficial effect is associated with the improvement of cytoskeleton and tight junction proteins in stability by downregulation of ROCK mRNA expression through the removal of excess proinflammatory factors.
The effect of ultrasonically activated irrigation and laser based root canal irrigation methods on debris removal
Authors: Kamaci Aysenur , Aydin Berdan , Erdilek Necdet
Published: October 2017

Purpose:

To test the efficacy of debris removal of 5 in vitro irrigation protocols: conventional irrigation, irrigation activated by ultrasound, Er:YAG laser with photon-induced photoacoustic streaming (PIPS) tip, and 2 diode laser techniques.

Methods:

The root canals of 75 extracted human canine teeth were enlarged and bisected longitudinally. Standardized grooves were prepared 2-6 mm from the root apex and filled with 0.5 mm of dentine debris. The teeth were reassembled and irrigated using 1 of the following techniques (n = 15/technique): (1) conventional irrigation, (2) diode laser irrigation - tip placed 2 mm from working length, (3) diode laser irrigation - tip placed at root canal orifice, (4) Er:YAG laser - PIPS, and (5) ultrasonically activated irrigation. The root segments were disassembled, and the amount of remaining debris was evaluated by 3 examiners under a stereomicroscope at ×20 magnification using a 4-grade scoring system. The data were statistically analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn’s multiple comparison tests, with a 95% confidence level (p = 0.05). Cohen’s kappa test was used to evaluate inter-observer and intra-observer agreement.

Results:

Ultrasonically activated irrigation removed significantly more dentinal debris than conventional irrigation (p = 0.016), but there were no significant differences between the other groups.

Conclusions:

Ultrasonically activated irrigation was more effective than conventional irrigation in the removal of apically placed dentine debris.
Long Noncoding RNAZEB1-AS1 Expression Predicts Progression and Poor Prognosis of Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Fu Jining , Cui Yongyuan
Published: October 2017

Background

ZEB1-AS1 acts as an oncogene in hepatocellular carcinoma, accelerating tumor growth and promoting metastasis. However, its roles in colorectal cancer (CRC) remain unclear.

Methods

In this study, we determined the expression of ZEB1-AS1 in CRC tissues by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Additionally, we investigated the relationship between various clinicopathological features of CRC patients and ZEB1-AS1 expression, and evaluated the diagnostic and prognostic value of ZEB1-AS1 in CRC.

Results

We found that ZEB1-AS1 expression was significantly higher in CRC tissues than in adjacent normal colorectal tissues. Moreover, its expression was significantly correlated with tumor size, differentiation degree, TNM grade, metastasis, depth of invasion and Dukes' classification, but not with sex, age, location and organization. In addition, at the optimal cutoff value of 2.340, the values of diagnostic sensitivity and specificity amounted to 63.0% and 90.7%, respectively, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.846 (95% CI, 0.797-0.895). Finally, CRC patients of the high ZEB1-AS1 expression group had a poorer prognosis and a significantly lower survival rate than those of the low expression group, and Cox regression analysis indicated that ZEB1-AS1 expression and metastasis were independent predictors of poor prognosis.

Conclusions

Our data suggest that ZEB1-AS1 has no obvious early diagnostic value, but it may be utilized as a new prognostic biomarker for CRC.
Clinical implications for pro-GRP in small cell lung cancer. A single center experience
Authors: Cavalieri Stefano , Morelli Daniele , Martinetti Antonia , Galli Giulia , Nichetti Federico , de Braud Filippo , Platania Marco
Published: October 2017

Background:

Recently, pro-gastrin-releasing peptide (pro-GRP) became available as an alternative sensitive, specific and reliable tumor marker for patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC), both in limited (LD) and diffuse disease (DD).

Methods:

We retrospectively analyzed pro-GRP, neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and CEA in patients with SCLC and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Serum pro-GRP level was measured with electrochemiluminescence at our laboratory (cutoff 77.8 pg/mL). Continuous variables were analyzed with the Mann-Whitney test, contingency data with Fisher’s exact test. Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to identify threshold values to set the highest sensitivity (Sn) and specificity (Sp) values.

Results:

A total of 65 patients were studied (49 men, median age 67 years, range 27-79). Thirty-seven patients had SCLC (29 DD, 8 LD) and 28 advanced NSCLC. Median pro-GRP level was 919 pg/mL (range 22-147,350) in SCLC and 32 pg/mL (range 10-119.2) in NSCLC (p<0.0001). NSE was 4.38-fold higher in SCLC patients (p = 0.0005); CEA did not reveal significant differences between groups. Pro-GRP Sn and Sp were 86.4% and 96.4%, respectively. With ROC curve analysis, a cutoff value of 329.3 pg/mL showed a Sn of 75.8% and Sp of 87.5% in discriminating DD from LD. Pro-GRP was not influenced by either liver metastases or renal impairment.

Conclusions:

Pro-GRP is sensitive for SCLC diagnosis. Since high marker levels are related to high disease burden, pro-GRP may have a negative prognostic significance. Follow-up studies are required to define its role in clinical practice in monitoring responses to treatment and early relapses.
Certainties and uncertainties concerning the contribution of pericytes to the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis
Authors: Talotta Rossella , Atzeni Fabiola , Ditto Maria Chiara , Gerardi Maria Chiara , Batticciotto Alberto , Bongiovanni Sara , Puttini Piercarlo Sarzi
Published: October 2017

The role of pericytes in systemic sclerosis (SSc) is unclear because of the difficulty in phenotyping them. They are mainly distributed in the pre-capillary, capillary and post-capillary abluminal side of non-muscular micro-vessels, express platelet-derived growth factor receptors (PDGFRs), and preside over vascular integrity and regeneration. By establishing close contact with many endothelial cells, a single pericyte can regulate ion influx, mechanical stress, leukocyte diapedesis, and platelet activation. Moreover, under pathological conditions such as SSc, pericytes may acquire a contractile phenotype and respond to various stimuli, including endothelin, angiotensin II and reactive oxygen species. The pericytes of SSc patients share some molecular patterns with myofibroblasts or fibroblasts, including A disintegrin and metalloproteinase domain 12 (ADAM-12), α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), the extra domain A (ED-A) variant of fibronectin, and Thy-1. Following stimulation with PDGF-β or transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), pericytes may acquire a myofibroblast phenotype, and produce extracellular matrix or indirectly promote fibroblast activation. They may also contribute to fibrosis by means of epigenetic regulation. The pericyte plasmalemma is particularly rich in caveolae containing caveolin-1, a deficit of which has been associated with defective vessel tone control and lung fibrosis in mice. Consequently, dysfunctional pericytes may underlie the microangiopathy and fibrosis observed in SSc patients. However, given its variability in biological behaviour and the lack of a pan-pericyte marker, the exact role of these cells in SSc warrants further investigation.