bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Role of high-risk human papillomavirus in the etiology of oral and oropharyngeal cancers in Thailand: A case–control study
Authors: Chotipanich Adit , Siriarechakul Surattaya , Mungkung On-ong
Published: March 2018

Background:

Among developing countries, Thailand shows no increase in the incidence of human papillomavirus–driven oropharyngeal cancer. The causal role of human papillomavirus infection in this pathology has not been researched thoroughly.

Methods:

A hospital-based, case–control study was performed which included 104 patients with newly diagnosed oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas and 104 individuals without cancer. The Cervista high-risk human papillomavirus and 16/18 assays were used to detect human papillomavirus. Odds ratios were used to assess the association between high-risk genotypes of human papillomavirus and the cancers.

Results:

High-risk human papillomavirus was detected in 4 of 52 (7.7%) oral cancer cases, 6 of 52 (11.5%) oropharyngeal cancer cases, and 1 of 104 (0.96%) control subjects. Of 104 cancer patients in the study, 83 were smokers. High-risk human papillomavirus was significantly associated with oropharyngeal cancer (odds ratio = 13.44, 95% confidence interval = 1.6–114.8) but was nonsignificantly associated with oral cancer (odds ratio = 8.58, 95% confidence interval = 0.9–78.9). However, after adjustment for smoking, high-risk human papillomavirus was determined to be nonsignificantly associated with oropharyngeal cancer (adjusted odds ratio = 5.83, 95% confidence interval = 0.8–43.5).

Conclusion:

Although low human papillomavirus prevalence was observed, the rate of high-risk human papillomavirus infection in the cancer group was still higher than that in the control group. Smoking may have an influence on the etiology of human papillomavirus–related cancers. However, the study is underpowered to clarify the role of human papillomavirus as the independent risk factor for oral and oropharyngeal cancers in the Thai population.
Of Whites and men: How gender and race impact authorship of published and unpublished opinions in the US courts of appeals
Authors: Tillman Elizabeth A. , Hinkle Rachael K.
Published: March 2018

While authorship assignment has been studied extensively in the US Supreme Court, relatively little is known about such decisions in the intermediate federal courts. Moreover, what we know about circuit courts relates only to published opinions (those which constitute precedent under the doctrine of stare decisis and, thus, influence policy). Little is known about authorship of less influential unpublished opinions. Distinguishing between the costs, benefits, and risks inherent in authoring published versus unpublished opinions, we develop and test theoretical expectations about how demographic characteristics of opinion assignors and assignees influence authorship across opinion type. We conduct empirical tests using an exhaustive original dataset containing all authored dispositive circuit panel opinions issued in 2012. The results reveal that White and male judges are more likely to assign White and male judges to write published opinions and less likely to assign them to write unpublished opinions. The substantive sizes of the discrepancies are somewhat modest, but our results indicate that judges from historically disadvantaged groups have fewer opportunities to shape policy and they shoulder a disproportionately larger share of the routine chore of resolving individual cases.
An Examination of the Application of the Kidney Donor Risk Index in British Columbia
Authors: Rose Caren , Sun Yvonne , Ferre Ed , Gill John , Landsberg David , Gill Jagbir
Published: March 2018

Background:

The Kidney Donor Risk Index (KDRI) is a continuous measure of deceased donor kidney transplant failure risk that was derived in US patients based on 10 donor characteristics. In the United States, the KDRI is utilized to guide organ allocation and to inform clinical decisions regarding organ acceptance.

Objective:

To examine the application of the US-derived KDRI in a large Canadian province.

Patients:

All deceased donor kidney-only transplant recipients in British Columbia (BC) between 2005 and 2014.

Methods:

We examined the predictive performance of KDRI in BC transplant recipients and compared the overall performance of KDRI with donor age alone in predicting transplant failure (from all causes including death).

Results:

Donors in BC (N = 785) were older but included no black donors and few Hepatitis C virus (HCV)-positive donors compared with the original derivation cohort of the KDRI in the United States. The KDRI was moderately predictive of transplant failure ( c statistic, 0.63) and had similar predictive performance to donor age alone ( c statistic, 0.64).

Conclusion:

Our findings suggest that the US-derived KDRI does not improve the prediction of kidney transplant failure compared with donor age alone in a Canadian cohort and highlight the need to determine the applicability of KDRI in different regions.
Predictors of Poor Outcomes in Pediatric Venoarterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation
Authors: Mistry Maanasi S. , Trucco Sara M. , Maul Timothy , Sharma Mahesh S. , Wang Li , West Shawn
Published: March 2018

Background:

Venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) provides respiratory and hemodynamic support to pediatric patients in severe cardiac failure. We aim to identify risk factors associated with poorer outcomes in this population.

Methods:

A retrospective chart review was conducted of pediatric patients requiring VA-ECMO support for cardiac indications at our institution from 2004 to 2015. Data were collected on demographics, indication, markers of cardiac output, ventricular assist device (VAD) insertion, heart transplantation, or left atrial (LA) decompression. Univariate Cox proportional hazards models were used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) for variables associated with the composite primary outcome of transplant-free survival (TFS).

Results:

Of the 68 reviewed patients, 65% were male, 84% were white, 38% had a prior surgery, 13% had a prior transplant, 10% had a prior ECMO support, and 87.5% required vasoactive support within six hours of cannulation. The ECMO indications included congenital heart disease repaired >30 days prior (12%), cardiomyopathy (41%), posttransplant rejection (7%), and cardiorespiratory failure (40%). The TFS was 54.5% at discharge and 47.7% at one year. Predictors of transplant and/or death include epinephrine use (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.269, P = .041), elevated lactate (HR = 1.081, P = 0005), and elevated creatinine (HR = 1.081, P = .005) within six hours prior to cannulation. Sixteen (23.6%) patients underwent LA decompression. Placement of VAD occurred in 16 (23.5%) patients, for which nonwhite race (HR = 2.94, P = .034) and prior ECMO (HR = 3.42, P = .053) were the only identified risk factors.

Conclusions:

Need for VA-ECMO for cardiac support carries high inpatient morbidity and mortality. Epinephrine use and elevated lactate and creatinine were associated with especially poor outcomes. Patients who survived to discharge had good short-term follow-up results.
Outcomes After Spine Surgery Among Patients Who Have Had Prior Bariatric Surgery
Authors: Jensen Brooke A. , Garvey Grace A. , Dawson John M. , Garvey Timothy A.
Published: March 2018

Study Design:

Retrospective cohort study.

Objectives:

We hypothesized that spine surgery patients with a history of bariatric surgery do not differ in expectations of surgery, perceived benefit of surgical intervention, or physician determined outcome of surgery from patients with no history of bariatric surgery.

Methods:

Patients seen in our spine clinic between January 1, 2 009 and December 30, 2 010 were reviewed. Included patients had a history of bariatric surgery and were 18 to 89 years old. We compared their expectations for recovery, self-perceived clinical outcome (Oswestry Disability Index [ODI] or Neck Disability Index [NDI] and visual analog scale [VAS]), satisfaction with surgery, and physician-perceived clinical outcome (Odom’s criteria) to a matched cohort with no such history. Patients were matched by type of surgery (approach, levels, and procedure), diagnosis, sex, body mass index (BMI), weight category, age, and smoking status.

Results:

Of 210 included patients, 89 underwent spine surgery. One bariatric patient could not be matched. Seventeen received cervical spine surgery; 71 received lumbar spine surgery. The 2 cohorts had similar expectations and satisfaction. Patients with no history of bariatric surgery tended to be more satisfied than the bariatric surgery patients, but not significantly so. ODI/NDI and VAS scores were statistically worse for the bariatric cohort. Differences were attributed to differences among lumbar spine surgery patients; neck surgery patients were not different. Odom’s scores were not different between the two.

Conclusions:

Postoperative expectations and satisfaction of bariatric patients are similar to those of nonbariatric patients. Bariatric patients receiving lumbar spine surgery experienced inferior clinical outcomes compared with nonbariatric patients. Cervical spine surgery bariatric patients have similar clinical outcomes as nonbariatric patients.
Etiology unknown: Qualitative analysis of patient attributions of causality in scleroderma
Authors: Gholizadeh Shadi , Drizin Julia H , Hansdottir Ingunn , Weisman Michael H , Clements Philip J , Furst Daniel E , Malcarne Vanessa L
Published: March 2018

Background

Questions about the etiology of disease can concern patients living with any chronic disease and may impact disease-related adjustment. These causal attributions may be of particular interest when individuals are living with diseases for which etiologies have not been definitively identified, such as scleroderma. This study qualitatively explored patient attributions of causality for scleroderma.

Methods:

Patients with confirmed diagnoses of scleroderma responded to an open-ended prompt. The cross-sectional sample of scleroderma patients ( N = 114) was recruited through registries maintained at the University of California, Los Angeles and University of California, San Diego Schools of Medicine and the Virginia Mason Medical Center. Content analysis was used to analyze the qualitative data and group the responses via an inductively derived codebook using the text analysis tool Dedoose Version 4.5.

Results:

Patients provided a variety of possible causes for scleroderma, which grouped into seven themes: (1) stress, (2) environment, (3) genetics, (4) medical conditions or surgeries, (5) diet, (6) medications or substance use, and (7) spirituality.

Conclusion:

Patients’ causal attributions for scleroderma were varied, but many patients identified stress as a cause of scleroderma, often focusing on acute or chronic stressors that were present before disease onset. Identifying patient theories of causality for scleroderma can contribute to an increased understanding of disease-related behaviors and adjustment.
Retrosplenial cortex and its role in spatial cognition
Authors: Mitchell Anna S. , Czajkowski Rafal , Zhang Ningyu , Jeffery Kate , Nelson Andrew J. D.
Published: March 2018

Retrosplenial cortex is a region within the posterior neocortical system, heavily interconnected with an array of brain networks, both cortical and subcortical, that is, engaged by a myriad of cognitive tasks. Although there is no consensus as to its precise function, evidence from both human and animal studies clearly points to a role in spatial cognition. However, the spatial processing impairments that follow retrosplenial cortex damage are not straightforward to characterise, leading to difficulties in defining the exact nature of its role. In this article, we review this literature and classify the types of ideas that have been put forward into three broad, somewhat overlapping classes: (1) learning of landmark location, stability and permanence; (2) integration between spatial reference frames; and (3) consolidation and retrieval of spatial knowledge (schemas). We evaluate these models and suggest ways to test them, before briefly discussing whether the spatial function may be a subset of a more general function in episodic memory.
The Anthropocene’s animal? Coywolves as feral cotravelers
Authors: Rutherford Stephanie
Published: March 2018

This article considers the irreducible indeterminacy of the coywolf and how this shapes human perceptions of the animal, as well as attempts to manage it. The hybridity of the coywolf matters very much to its interactions with humans, as well as the panic that has ensued over its evolutionary success. They are genetic and morphological intermediaries, an admixture of western coyote, eastern wolf, and dog. They hunt in packs like wolves but demonstrate a fearlessness to humans more common of coyotes. They thrive in urban or semiurban environs, moving along our highway, transit, and green space systems in search of food and shelter. I suggest it is the putative ferality of the coywolf—its margin—dwelling between urban and wild, between wolf and coyote—that disrupts our prevailing narratives about how, and on whose terms, animals can occupy the world. But it is also an animal that offers an opening to think about mutual flourishing. I contend this is a fruitful place to start tackling the questions raised by the Anthropocene, and reimagining all creatures as cotravelers.
Producing juridical knowledge: “Rights of Nature” or the naturalization of rights?
Authors: Rawson Ariel , Mansfield Becky
Published: March 2018

Rights of Nature, the idea of extending legal personhood to nature, is today’s most prominent alternative to mainstream environmental governance. Proponents describe Rights of Nature as a grassroots movement of diverse actors opposing commodification of life and anthropocentric dualism of western thought. In Rights of Nature, indigenous cosmologies validate holistic models of life to overcome dualities of nature and humans. We argue this move enacts a paradoxical dichotomy between the West and the rest and, in so doing, treats rights as existing outside western history. In this article, we push against the image of Rights of Nature as a global consensus converging on the inevitability of rights. Applying decolonial, black feminist perspectives on historical mobilizations of rights, we ask how rights for nature becomes rights as natural. We trace individuals, institutions, and ideas associated with Rights of Nature, conceptualized as a Transnational Policy Network. We find tight linkages among a small number of actors, mostly from the global North, who draw on western holism and jurisprudence to present nature’s rights as an indigenous and natural alternative to western development. Rights of Nature is not just connected to the same ideas of nature and law it rejects, but through these connections Rights of Nature universalizes colonial modes of existence as natural.
Epigenetic silencing of miR-125b is required for normal B-cell development
Authors: Li Guideng , So Alex Yick-Lun , Sookram Reeshelle , Wong Stephanie , Wang Jessica K. , Ouyang Yong , He Peng , Su Yapeng , Casellas Rafael , Baltimore David
Published: March 2018

Key Points

miR-125b is epigenetically silenced in B cells. Physiological silencing of miR-125b is required for normal B-cell development.
Upper airway involvement in bronchiectasis is marked by early onset and allergic features
Authors: Shteinberg Michal , Nassrallah Najwan , Jrbashyan Jenny , Uri Nechama , Stein Nili , Adir Yochai
Published: March 2018

The association of bronchiectasis with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) has been reported. However, apart from primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) and cystic fibrosis (CF), predisposing conditions have not been established. We aimed to define clinical and laboratory features that differentiate patients with bronchiectasis with upper airway symptoms (UASs) and without PCD from patients without UASs.

We reviewed charts of adults with bronchiectasis, excluding CF and PCD. UASs were defined as nasal discharge most days of the year, sinusitis or nasal polyps. Laboratory data included IgG, total IgE, blood eosinophils, sputum bacteriology and lung function. A radiologist blinded to UAS presence scored bronchiectasis (Reiff score) and sino-nasal pathology (Lund–Mackay score).

Of 197 patients, for the 70 (35%) with UASs, symptoms started earlier (34±25versus46±24 years; p=0.001), disease duration was longer (median 24versus12 years; p=0.027), exacerbations were more frequent (median 3versus2 per year; p=0.14), and peripheral blood eosinophil (median 230versus200 μL−1; p=0.015) and total IgE (median 100versus42 IU·mL−1; p=0.085) levels were higher. The sinus computed tomography score was independently associated with exacerbations, with 1 point on the Lund–Mackay score associated with a 1.03-fold increase in the number of exacerbations per year (95% CI 1.0–1.05; p=0.004).

These findings may implicate a higher disease burden in patients with UASs. We hypothesise that UASs precede and may in some cases lead to the development of bronchiectasis.
Maudsley International: improving mental health and well-being around the world
Authors: Bouras Nick , Davey Silvia , Power Tracey , Rolfe Jonathan , Craig Tom , Thornicroft Graham
Published: March 2018

Maudsley International was set up to help improve people's mental health and well-being around the world. A variety of programmes have been developed by Maudsley International over the past 10 years, for planning and implementing services; building capacity; and training and evaluation to support organisations and individuals, professionals and managers to train and develop health and social care provisions. Maudsley International's model is based on collaboration, sharing expertise and cultural understanding with international partners.
Aurora A kinase activity is required to maintain an active spindle assembly checkpoint during prometaphase
Authors: Courtheoux Thibault , Diallo Alghassimou , Damodaran Arun Prasath , Reboutier David , Watrin Erwan , Prigent Claude
Published: March 2018

During the prometaphase stage of mitosis, the cell builds a bipolar spindle of microtubules that mechanically segregates sister chromatids between two daughter cells in anaphase. The spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC) is a quality control mechanism that monitors proper attachment of microtubules to chromosome kinetochores during prometaphase. Segregation occurs only when each chromosome is bi-oriented with each kinetochore pair attached to microtubules emanating from opposite spindle poles. Overexpression of the protein kinase Aurora A is a feature of various cancers and is thought to enable tumour cells to bypass the SAC, leading to aneuploidy. Here, we took advantage of a chemical and chemical-genetic approach to specifically inhibit Aurora A kinase activity in late prometaphase. We observed that a loss of Aurora A activity directly affects SAC function, that Aurora A is essential for maintaining the checkpoint protein Mad2 on unattached kinetochores and that inhibition of Aurora A leads to loss of the SAC, even in the presence of nocodazole or Taxol. This is a new finding that should affect the way Aurora A inhibitors are used in cancer treatments.

This article has an associated First Person interview with the first authors of the paper.
Structure Studies of BaO-TiO2-SiO2 Glass-Ceramics Using 29Si MAS NMR and Raman Spectroscopy
Authors: Masai Hirokazu
Published: March 2018

The structural correlation between the BaO-TiO2-SiO2 (BTS) glass and the corresponding (BTS) glass-ceramic is examined by 29Si magic-angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (MAS NMR) analysis along with Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements. From the deconvoluted spectrum of each Si unit, denoted by Qn, in both the BTS glasses and the BTS glass-ceramics, it is found that structural rearrangement of Si occurs from the Q2 and Q3 units to Ba2TiSi2O8 and the residual amorphous region, respectively. These results of 29Si MAS NMR analysis and Raman spectroscopy, together with XRD measurements, show that the local structure of the BTS mother glass reflects that of the corresponding crystals. This finding is expected to be valuable for tailoring the structure of functional glass-ceramics.
Needle lost in the haystack: multiple reaction monitoring fails to detect Treponema pallidum candidate protein biomarkers in plasma and urine samples from individuals with syphilis
Authors: Van Raemdonck Geert A. , Osbak Kara K. , Van Ostade Xaveer , Kenyon Chris R.
Published: March 2018

Background:Current syphilis diagnostic strategies are lacking a sensitive manner of directly detectingTreponema pallidumantigens. A diagnostic test that could directly detectT. pallidumantigens in individuals with syphilis would be of considerable clinical utility, especially for the diagnosis of reinfections and for post-treatment serological follow-up.

Methods:In this study, 11 candidateT. pallidumbiomarker proteins were chosen according to their physiochemical characteristics,T. pallidumspecificity and predicted abundance. Thirty isotopically labelled proteotypic surrogate peptides (hPTPs) were synthesized and incorporated into a scheduled multiple reaction monitoring assay. Protein extracts from undepleted/unenriched plasma (N = 18) and urine (N = 4) samples from 18 individuals with syphilis in various clinical stages were tryptically digested, spiked with the hPTP mixture and analysed with a triple quadruple mass spectrometer.

Results:No endogenous PTPs corresponding to the eleven candidate biomarkers were detected in any samples analysed. To estimate the Limit of Detection (LOD) of a comparably sensitive mass spectrometer (LTQ-Orbitrap), two dilution series of rabbit cultured purifiedT. pallidumwere prepared in PBS. Polyclonal anti-T. pallidumantibodies coupled to magnetic Dynabeads were used to enrich one sample series; no LOD improvement was found compared to the unenriched series. The estimated LOD of MS instruments is 300T. pallidum/ml in PBS.

Conclusions:Biomarker protein detection likely failed due to the low (femtomoles/liter) predicted concentration ofT. pallidumproteins. Alternative sample preparation strategies may improve the detectability ofT. pallidumproteins in biofluids.
Bankruptcy Risk of Public Significant Economic Entities As an Object of Control
Authors: Сивкова А. , Sivkova A.
Published: March 2018

Th e article shows the essence and role of socially signifi cant economic entities. On the basis of a thorough analysis of the literature, the authors determined the theoretical mechanism of state control over the bankruptcy of socially signifi cant economic entities. In addition, a multi-level comparative analysis of existing approaches to the assessment of the bankruptcy probability has been carried out and the importance of using a risk-oriented approach for this has been shown to the socially signifi cant economic entities.
Questions of the Regulation of the Accounting Not Portioned Profit
Authors: Поленова С. , Polenova S.
Published: March 2018

The article considers the problems of methodical support of accounting of fi nancial results, points of view of scientists on the possible variants of its solving. The attempt is made to justify proposals for improving the methodology of accounting for education and the use of undistributed profits of economic entities.
Business combination and consolidated financial statements
Authors: Плотников Виктор , Plotnikov Viktor , Плотникова Олеся , Plotnikova Olesya
Published: March 2018

Regularities and prospects of development of one of the difficult directions in activity of professional accountants – processes of accounting reflection of transactions on consolidation of business and formation of the consolidated financial statements are investigated. A new paradigm of the business accounting model is proposed, which provides a reflection of business processes-business unification processes and, on its basis, the formation of the introductory consolidated financial statements. The proposals for the development of a model of consolidated accounting, providing the formation of the current consolidated reporting.
The book can be used as a textbook for professional accountants, economists, auditors and students, masters and post-graduate students, teachers of economic faculties and high schools, listeners of system of improvement of qualification and retraining.
Processing of experimental data on the computer
Authors: Логунова Оксана , Logunova Oksana , Романов Петр , Romanov Petr , Ильина Елена , Il'ina Elena , Кухта Юлия , Kuhta Yuliya , Егорова Людмила , Egorova Lyudmila
Published: March 2018

The manual provides information about the main methods and tools for automation of computational processes used in data processing, methods of presentation and model generation of experimental data, data models and classification of processing tasks, the organization of the user interface in automated systems for processing experimental data. The work contains structured chapters devoted to the peculiarities of experimental studies. Features of application of software for processing of experimental data are accurately and logically described. The course of lectures contains theoretical material and basic algorithms for processing experimental data used in industrial statistics.
Meets the requirements of the Federal state educational standard of higher education of the last generation. For students and postgraduates of the enlarged group of specialties "computer Science and computer engineering".
Kejadian Demam Neutropenia pada Anak dengan Keganasan
Authors: Nursyirwan Sarah Rafika , Windiastuti Endang
Published: March 2018

Latar belakang. Demam merupakan salah satu manifestasi awal dari infeksi berat, terutama selama periode neutropenia. Infeksi menjadi penyebab utama morbiditas dan mortalitas pada pasien kanker. Data mikroorganisme tersering beserta sensitivitasnya dapat memberikan pola dan menjadi petunjuk tata laksana pasien anak dengan demam neutropenia.Tujuan. Mengetahui kejadian demam neutropenia pada pasien anak dengan keganasan. Metode. Penelitian potong lintang retrospektif dilakukan pada 65 pasien usia 0-18 tahun dengan penyakit keganasan yang dirawat di Departemen Kesehatan Anak, RSCM Jakarta dalam kurun waktu satu tahun sejak 1 April 2015 sampai dengan 30 April 2016. Diagnosis keganasan ditegakkan berdasarkan aspirasi sumsum tulang atau biopsi tumor. Dilakukan pengumpulan dan analisis data kejadian demam neutropenia, kejadian infeksi, serta pola sensitivitas antibiotik dari isolat patogen.Hasil. Keganasan darah (LLA dan LMA) lebih sering ditemukan daripada tumor padat. Dalam satu tahun terjadi 83 episode rawat karena demam neutropenia. Bakteremia tersering disebabkan oleh bakteri Gram positif (6,4%) dibandingkan Gram negatif (5,7%). Hasil kultur dari sampel darah, urin, tinja, sputum, dan apusan luka tersering adalah steril (55,2%). Luaran pasien demam neutropenia yang meninggal tersering didapatkan pada pasien LMA (18,8%), LLA (17,2%), rabdomiosarkoma (12,5%), limfoma maligna non Hodgkin (LMNH) (10%), diikuti tumor padat lainnya. Sensitivitas antibiotik tertinggi didapatkan pada vankomisin.Kesimpulan. kejadian demam neutropenia lebih sering terjadi pada pasien dengan keganasan darah. Patogen ditemukan pada sebagian pasien dengan demam neutropenia. Penyebab terbanyak bakteremia adalah bakteri Gram positif. Sensitivitas antibiotik tertinggi didapatkan pada vankomisin. Data mengenai pola sensitivitas antibiotik terbaru diperlukan untuk pedoman tata laksana pasien demam neutropenia.
Vieillissement de la population et politiques publiques réunionnaises à l’échelle infra-territoriale
Authors: Klein Armelle , Sandron Frédéric
Published: March 2018

Résumé

L’île de La Réunion est un département français d’outre-mer situé dans le Sud-Ouest de l’océan Indien, peuplé d’environ 850 000 personnes. La forte diminution de la fécondité entre les années 1960 et 1980 entraîne un vieillissement de la population réunionnaise extrêmement rapide, puisque la proportion de personnes âgées devrait doubler entre 2010 et 2030. Ce constat général masque cependant des différences infra-territoriales importantes, que ce soit en termes de proportion de personnes âgées par commune ou de la proportion des personnes âgées qui perçoivent une aide sociale liée à la perte d’autonomie. Si l’on ajoute à ces facteurs la géographie très accidentée de ce territoire montagneux et les inégalités d’accès aux services de santé, on perçoit mieux la nécessité de décliner à un échelon infra-territorial la problématique de l’aménagement du territoire face au vieillissement de la population.

Abstract

Reunion Island is a French overseas department in the Southwest Indian Ocean, populated by about 850’000 people. The sharp decline in fertility between the 1960s and the 1980s led to an extremely rapid aging of the population of Reunion Island. The share of people over the age of 60 is expected to double between 2010 and 2030. However, at a smaller scale, this general observation masks territorial differences like the share of old people in the population per commune or the share of old people receiving social assistance related to the loss of autonomy. In addition to these factors, the very harsh landscape of this mountainous territory and inequalities of access to health services, encourage us to deal with the problem of spatial planning and aging of the population at a sub-territorial level.
Triple bottom line in Green Supply Chain Management: a chemical industry study
Authors: Cardoso Abdala Etienne , J. de Oliveira Eder , Oranges Cezarino Luciana
Published: March 2018

The management of the green supply chain aims to add practices to preserve the environment in the integrated network of supplies, in order to minimize the use of natural resources and to increase the use of the reuse of materials. The purpose of this article is to identify sustainable practices used by chemical industries of the Triple Bottom Line. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with mangers of medium and small business enterprises. Results show that sustainability is present in both; however, not fully completely obeying the sustainability tripod concept. The medium-sized company has a higher development of its environmental practices and could be considered as a focal company between the supply chain and their suppliers. Small businesses have to develop strategies, especially in terms of providing legal compliance to maintain their partnership with suppliers. None of them performed literature practices of a Green Supply Chain, but the first company, medium sized is ahead in terms of sustainable practices.
Public policies and productive systems of creative economy: the case of the FIA Project (Artisans Workshop)
Authors: Lima Guilherme Luciana , Gondim Raquel Viana
Published: March 2018

The FIA (Artisans' Workshop) project is a creative economy initiative that helps to broaden the understanding of new ways and methodologies to create, produce and market creative goods and services in the field of authorial fashion. As a result from the Municipality of Sobral's (CE) action, the FIA Project was used as a study of this case and through it the issues related to public policy, state-network and production systems were analyzed, as well as the sector's economic dynamics, impacted by a new logic of production and consumption. Finally, despite the understanding that entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation go together as pillars for the development of differentiated creative products, with the power to create new niches and generators of local and regional development opportunities, the Sobral government did not ensure, in its constitution, the creation and maintenance of a network composed by public and private agents to ensure the medium and long term continuity of initiatives such as the FIA Project.
A manufacturing bottleneck case study trough the theory of constraints and computational simulation of the proposed bottleneck solution
Authors: Lemes Leite Barbosa Gustavo , Cooper Ordoñez Robert Eduardo , Anholon Rosley , Sanchez Mauricio Andrés
Published: March 2018

In 2016, the Brazilian pet industry had revenue of R$ 18.9 billion and ranked third place worldwide. Thus, it is a sector that is always looking for enhancements in its productivity levels. Based on the previous statements, a case study was conducted in a selected company of the pet care business, with the goal to augment its monthly revenue, identify the bottleneck that impedes reaching this goal, and proposed solutions to bring the production and loading fluxes of merchandise to its optimal state, making the company’s revenue also optimal. The classical tools of the theory of constraints were used in this analysis. The first step was to obtain the undesirable effects of the process to define the bottleneck. After that, some injections were proposed as solutions to eliminate the undesirable effects and bring the production and loading model of the company to its full state. Finally, by means of a computational tool, the current situation of the company (with the bottleneck), and the situation in a virtual state (without the bottleneck) were simulated and compared, showing the potential of the found solution.
Advertisement quantity optimization to maximize profit in a Publishing House
Authors: Boff Medeiros Natalia , Vidor Gabriel
Published: March 2018

This study aims to determine the optimal quantity of pages and the optimal quantity of each size advertisement that a magazine should have to maximize profit in a publishing house. The solution of this problem is based on operations research method application and is composed by four steps: (i) defining the problem, (ii) algorithm application, (iii) modeling scenarios and (iv) decision-making. The application of the method is performed in a publishing house data and the problem is solved by linear programming perspective. The results indicate that it is possible to maximize the total profit finding the optimal quantity of advertisements. The main contribution of the paper is to illustrate the use of operations research at service industries through a publishing house case. In conclusion, the method proposed to improve the ads allocation regarding the maximum profit.
Design of Sliding Mode Speed Controller for Switched Reluctance Motor
Authors: Ali Mohammed Moanes E. , Fakhir Yousif Khudhair
Published: March 2018

Switched Reluctance motors (SRM) can be classified into a group of multi-speed electrical motors. The low cost,
rugged constructions and simple are feature advantages for this motor. The simplicity is the result of their torque
generation principle, which known as variable reluctance principle. The SRM has many more features that have made
it to be common for applications in commercial and industrial markets. The main disadvantage of SRM is the
nonlinearity that it appears in their dynamics because of the magnetic saturation. It is required for SRM speed
controllers to have features such as fast dynamic responses, parameter insensitivity and quick recovery from load
disturbances. In this paper, a design of a robust sliding mode speed controller based on a nonlinear mathematical
model is proposed. Matlab/Simulink software is used to simulate switched reluctance motor drive system under
control of SMC. 6/8 switched reluctance motor has been taken as case study. The performance of proposed sliding
mode control is tested at different load and speed conditions, and comparisons with conventional PI control for
switched reluctance motor are presented. The sliding mode controller exhibits a better performance than the PI
controller for all the studied cases.
A Review on the Strengthening of Nanostructured Materials
Authors: Tian Liang , Li Lin
Published: March 2018

Nanostructured materials, whose characteristic microstructure size is under 100 nm, can be either single-phase
nanocrystalline materials or multi-phase nanocomposite materials. Nanocrystalline materials can also be treated as
nanocomposites with grain interior as matrix and grain boundary as secondary phase. The strengthening models of
nanostructured materials resemble those strengthening models of conventional composite structures, but have
substantial deviations from conventional strengthening mechanisms due to their distinctive nanoscale structure and
the complex hierarchy of their nanoscale microstructure. This paper reviewed the current progress in developments
of strengthening models for nanostructured materials with emphasis on single-phase nanocrystalline and multiphase
nanocomposite materials, which would help guide the design of new nanostructured materials and other
similar nanoscale composite structures. Furthermore, practical large scale industrial applications of high strength
nanostructured materials require these materials to possess decent formability, ductility or other functional
properties to satisfy both structural and multifunctional applications. Therefore, the latest developments of novel
nanostructured materials are discussed to highlight their potential of overcoming the strength ductility trade-off and
strength-conductivity trade-off by various approaches. Their complex and distinctive nanoscale microstructure
suggests the potential challenges and opportunities in developing new strengthening models for designing future
advanced nanostructured materials with unprecedented properties.
Removal of Organic material contaminants from wastewater of a petroleum refinery by Employing Ultrasound
Authors: Majeed Najwa S. , Abdullah Samira Najem
Published: March 2018

In this study, the reduction of organic pollutants from wastewater was investigated. Ultrasonic radiation was
approved as the usage method. Effective parameters such as the period of ultrasonic radiation (10-35min), ultrasonic
power (40-200watt) and initial organic material concentration (123-150 mg/l) were tested to determine their effects
on organic material removal percentage and turbidity regress. It has been found that a time interval of 30 minutes of
continuous exposition of dissolved organic material to the field of ultrasound come to 76% removal at initial organic
material concentration of 123 mg/l. Significant temperature change occurred which was about (20-33 ) rise in 35
minutes. However, this temperature change had no significant influence on efficiency of the treatment .Also it was
found that the turbidity deceases with time from 98 to 34 at 35 min of exposure to Ultrasonic irradiation.
Common Sense in Choice: The Effect of Sensory Modality on Neural Value Representations
Authors: Shuster Anastasia , Levy Dino J.
Published: March 2018

Although it is well established that the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) represents value using a common currency across categories of rewards, it is unknown whether the vmPFC represents value irrespective of the sensory modality in which alternatives are presented. In the current study, male and female human subjects completed a decision-making task while their neural activity was recorded using functional magnetic resonance imaging. On each trial, subjects chose between a safe alternative and a lottery, which was presented visually or aurally. A univariate conjunction analysis revealed that the anterior portion of the vmPFC tracks subjective value (SV) irrespective of the sensory modality. Using a novel cross-modality multivariate classifier, we were able to decode auditory value based on visual trials and vice versa. In addition, we found that the visual and auditory sensory cortices, which were identified using functional localizers, are also sensitive to the value of stimuli, albeit in a modality-specific manner. Whereas both primary and higher-order auditory cortices represented auditory SV (aSV), only a higher-order visual area represented visual SV (vSV). These findings expand our understanding of the common currency network of the brain and shed a new light on the interplay between sensory and value information processing.
Robust Visual Responses and Normal Retinotopy in Primate Lateral Geniculate Nucleus following Long-term Lesions of Striate Cortex
Authors: Yu Hsin-Hao , Atapour Nafiseh , Chaplin Tristan A. , Worthy Katrina H. , Rosa Marcello G.P.
Published: March 2018

Lesions of striate cortex (V1) trigger massive retrograde degeneration of neurons in the LGN. In primates, these lesions also lead to scotomas, within which conscious vision is abolished. Mediation of residual visual capacity within these regions (blindsight) has been traditionally attributed to an indirect visual pathway to the extrastriate cortex, which involves the superior colliculus and pulvinar complex. However, recent studies have suggested that preservation of the LGN is critical for behavioral evidence of blindsight, raising the question of what type of visual information is channeled by remaining neurons in this structure. A possible contribution of LGN neurons to blindsight is predicated on two conditions: that the neurons that survive degeneration remain visually responsive, and that their receptive fields continue to represent the region of the visual field inside the scotoma. We tested these conditions in male and female marmoset monkeys (Callithrix jacchus) with partial V1 lesions at three developmental stages (early postnatal life, young adulthood, old age), followed by long recovery periods. In all cases, recordings from the degenerated LGN revealed neurons with well-formed receptive fields throughout the scotoma. The responses were consistent and robust, and followed the expected eye dominance and retinotopy observed in the normal LGN. The responses had short latencies and preceded those of neurons recorded in the extrastriate middle temporal area. These findings suggest that the pathway that links LGN neurons to the extrastriate cortex is physiologically viable and can support residual vision in animals with V1 lesions incurred at various ages.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTPatients with a lesion of the primary visual cortex (V1) can retain certain visually mediated behaviors, particularly if the lesion occurs early in life. This phenomenon (“blindsight”) not only sheds light on the nature of consciousness, but also has implications for studies of brain circuitry, development, and plasticity. However, the pathways that mediate blindsight have been the subject of debate. Recent studies suggest that projections from the LGN might be critical, but this finding is puzzling given that the lesions causes severe cell death in the LGN. Here we demonstrate in monkeys that the surviving LGN neurons retain a remarkable level of visual function and could therefore be the source of the visual information that supports blindsight.
EEG Correlates of Preparatory Orienting, Contextual Updating, and Inhibition of Sensory Processing in Left Spatial Neglect
Authors: Lasaponara Stefano , D'Onofrio Marianna , Pinto Mario , Dragone Alessio , Menicagli Dario , Bueti Domenica , De Lucia Marzia , Tomaiuolo Francesco , Doricchi Fabrizio
Published: March 2018

Studies with event-related potentials have highlighted deficits in the early phases of orienting to left visual targets in right-brain-damaged patients with left spatial neglect (N+). However, brain responses associated with preparatory orienting of attention, with target novelty and with the detection of a match/mismatch between expected and actual targets (contextual updating), have not been explored in N+. Here in a study in healthy humans and brain-damaged patients of both sexes we demonstrate that frontal activity that reflects supramodal mechanisms of attentional orienting (Anterior Directing Attention Negativity, ADAN) is entirely spared in N+. In contrast, posterior responses that mark the early phases of cued orienting (Early Directing Attention Negativity, EDAN) and the setting up of sensory facilitation over the visual cortex (Late Directing Attention Positivity, LDAP) are suppressed in N+. This uncoupling is associated with damage of parietal-frontal white matter. N+ also exhibit exaggerated novelty reaction to targets in the right side of space and reduced novelty reaction for those in the left side (P3a) together with impaired contextual updating (P3b) in the left space. Finally, we highlight a drop in the amplitude and latency of the P1 that over the left hemisphere signals the early blocking of sensory processing in the right space when targets occur in the left one: this identifies a new electrophysiological marker of the rightward attentional bias in N+. The heterogeneous effects and spatial biases produced by localized brain damage on the different phases of attentional processing indicate relevant functional independence among their underlying neural mechanisms and improve the understanding of the spatial neglect syndrome.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTOur investigation answers important questions: are the different components of preparatory orienting (EDAN, ADAN, LDAP) functionally independent in the healthy brain? Is preparatory orienting of attention spared in left spatial neglect? Does the sparing of preparatory orienting have an impact on deficits in reflexive orienting and in the assignment of behavioral relevance to the left space? We show that supramodal preparatory orienting in frontal areas is entirely spared in neglect patients though this does not counterbalance deficits in preparatory parietal-occipital activity, reflexive orienting, and contextual updating. This points at relevant functional dissociations among different components of attention and suggests that improving voluntary attention in N+ might be behaviorally ineffective unless associated with stimulations boosting the response of posterior parietal-occipital areas.
The potential and challenges of alternative sources of β cells for the cure of type 1 diabetes
Authors: Cito Monia , Pellegrini Silvia , Piemonti Lorenzo , Sordi Valeria
Published: March 2018

The experience in the field of islet transplantation shows that it is possible to replace β cells in a patient with type 1 diabetes (T1D), but this cell therapy is limited by the scarcity of organ donors and by the danger associated to the immunosuppressive drugs. Stem cell therapy is becoming a concrete opportunity to treat various diseases. In particular, for a disease like T1D, caused by the loss of a single specific cell type that does not need to be transplanted back in its originating site to perform its function, a stem cell-based cell replacement therapy seems to be the ideal cure. New and infinite sources of β cells are strongly required. In this review, we make an overview of the most promising and advanced β cell production strategies. Particular hope is placed in pluripotent stem cells (PSC), both embryonic (ESC) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC). The first phase 1/2 clinical trials with ESC-derived pancreatic progenitor cells are ongoing in the United States and Canada, but a successful strategy for the use of PSC in patients with diabetes has still to overcome several important hurdles. Another promising strategy of generation of new β cells is the transdifferentiation of adult cells, both intra-pancreatic, such as alpha, exocrine and ductal cells or extra-pancreatic, in particular liver cells. Finally, new advances in gene editing technologies have given impetus to research on the production of human organs in chimeric animals and on in situ reprogramming of adult cells through in vivo target gene activation.